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A Modern Civil Service

The theme for One Big Thing 2025 is AI for All

“AI has arrived. Our defining opportunity is here, and together, we will harness it for the good of our country.”

Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

One Big Thing is back for 2025!

This year, the focus is on ‘AI for All’.

One Big Thing is an annual initiative with two aims – to upskill all civil servants, and to make culture change happen. It’s about investing in equipping every civil servant with the skills, knowledge, and tools to deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

Last year, One Big Thing 2024 demystified innovation for 160,000 civil servants and over 2400 case studies of changes made by teams were shared across the Civil Service. The year before that, One Big Thing 2023 delivered over half a million hours of data learning to 212,000 civil servants.

Why AI for All?

Civil servants have a crucial role in shaping how AI is used responsibly to deliver better for the public. In January, the ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’ recognised AI as potentially the government’s single biggest lever to deliver its Plan for Change.

Joanna Davinson, Government Chief Digital Officer, Government Digital Service.

AI gives governments a unique opportunity to improve services and tackle complex problems. This year’s focus highlights that everyone in the civil service – from policy makers to frontline workers – can benefit from AI.

AI is at the centre of improving efficiency and freeing up public servants’ time to do more of the work that only humans can do. By equipping our people with AI literacy, we’re not just preparing for the future – we’re actively shaping it to design more responsive, efficient services that better meet the needs of the public.

There is enormous potential here to transform public policy and services, allowing us to work differently, provide better and quicker services, and make more informed decisions. We are no longer just planning for a future with AI; we are living in it! Whether it’s automating repetitive tasks to free up civil servants’ time, reducing waiting times for services or allowing teachers to personalise lessons, civil servants are already transforming how we serve the public with AI. 

One Big Thing 2025 is building on this to give all civil servants the right knowledge, tools and practical experience to use AI confidently and responsibly across all of our work. 

Launching this Autumn, One Big Thing 2025 invites all civil servants to:

  • Learn the essentials of AI.
  • Use AI to test out your learning in the context of your work.
  • Deliver better for the public by making AI a part of your toolkit.

More information will be shared with civil servants ahead of the launch later this year.