We have a winner!
A plan to improve the tools used by benefits caseworkers, reducing errors and speeding up decisions, has triumphed in the 2026 Civil Service AI & Data Challenge, putting it on the road to implementation – and securing £50,000 of development work from programme partner NTT DATA.
The idea, submitted by Marlon Woodley from the Department for Work and Pensions, was placed first in the Grand Finale, held in Westminster on 20 May, after the four Finalist teams pitched their ideas and demonstrated their digital solutions to the Judging Panel.
The winner was announced by Ian Murray MP, the Minister for Data and Digital Government, who said: “Marlon’s standout idea has real potential to transform how government serves people. By giving caseworkers better tools, it could help them make faster, more accurate decisions and focus their time where it matters most – improving our public services.”
Speakers at the Grand Finale emphasised that all four Finalists’ ideas will be pursued, with Chief Data Officer Aimee Smith saying: “The judges were really impressed by the quality of the teams’ work, and by their digital solutions – created in a few hours using AI-powered software engineering. We look forward to helping all the finalists to realise the potential of their ideas. Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who sent in an idea or applied to join a team!”
Learn more on our Finalists’ page, where you can watch videos of the four ‘vibe-coded’ digital solutions. To the right is a short vid with footage from the day; we’ll publish a longer version very soon.
“A record number of entries this year shows civil servants aren’t just ready for the AI revolution – they’re driving it. Congratulations to all the finalists: the collaboration across departments shows how we are putting AI and data to work at the heart of government.”
“The Challenge reflects the power of cross-government collaboration in shaping practical solutions that can scale, and I encourage civil servants from any department to get involved next year.”
The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP
Minister of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Learn more via Natural England’s blog and in Global Government Forum’s feature.
The very first Challenge was won by Natural England’s “AI4Peat” project, which aimed to use AI to map peatland drainage channels and support restoration work. Judges called the project “outstandingly innovative”, with the potential to cut carbon emissions, save public money and reduce flood risk.
The Challenge gave Natural England’s project team a “pathway to an innovative space that you wouldn’t reach through the usual structures,” commented Mary Vayou, the agency’s principal adviser on data science. “It’s been a game-changer.” In 2025, Natural England announced that the project had been completed – creating “the most up-to-date, complete and useable map of England’s peat available.”
Why join a team?
Participating in the Challenge is a career accelerator. You’ll:
- Build skills in digital project management, AI and data, research, stakeholder management, business planning and public speaking.
- Gain experience of working in an interdisciplinary, cross-departmental team.
- Present your ideas to senior leaders and raise your profile across government.
- Build new contacts inside and outside the Civil Service.
- Have the chance to see your project move into delivery.
- Receive formal recognition from senior leaders for your contribution.
We need people with all kinds of skills, from all professions, and operating in every field of policy making and service delivery. This year the programme has been streamlined to focus effort around a handful of key events, making participation manageable while strengthening the support provided.
How it works
Civil servants submit their ideas and volunteer to participate. The most promising ideas are identified at workshops, then developed by interdisciplinary, cross-departmental teams in a research phase and at a hackathon, with the best progressing to the Grand Finale. The winning team secures £50,000 of technical support from NTT DATA to help turn their idea into reality, and also benefits from the public and private backing of our Champions, Judges and Sponsors – departmental leaders and digital chiefs from across government.
From the top
The Challenge has the visible backing of senior leaders across government. Champions give the programme profile and authority, encouraging civil servants to take part and helping successful projects find support at the highest levels. Judges test and refine the best ideas, selecting those with the greatest potential. And Sponsors — predominantly Chief Data Officers — gather ideas and help projects gain the backing and resources they need.
Together, they don’t just endorse the Challenge: they actively support participants and push the most promising ideas on the road towards delivery.
Pictured is the 2026 Judging Panel (from left): Champion Emran Mian, Permanent Secretary, DSIT; Judge Daljit Rehal, CDIO, HMRC; Judge Mark Thompson, CDIO, MoJ Group; Champion Aimee Smith, Government Chief Information Officer; Champion Kalbir Sohi, Government Chief AI Officer; Judge Sue Bateman, CDO, Defra; and Chair of the Judging Panel David Filmer, Managing Director, Public Sector at NTT DATA UK&I
“We were blown away by the level of interest in the Civil Service AI & Data Challenge this year. Civil servants are really excited about the ever-growing capabilities of AI and data technologies, and they can see huge opportunities to apply them in government – saving staff time and improving public services.
“The government has made clear its ambition of using AI to improve efficiency and create better public services: the Civil Service AI & Data Challenge has shown that civil servants have the expertise, enthusiasm and inventiveness required to make full use of these amazing technologies.”
Aimee Smith
Government Chief Data Officer and Programme Champion
Director – Chief Data and AI Officer, Digital Transformation and Digital Business Partnering, Deputy CIO, Ministry of Defence
Chief Data Architect, Department for Business and Trade
Head of Data Strategy and Transformation, Home Office
Head of Data Science Hub and Head of Data Science Practice, Department for Work and Pensions
Director of Functional Integration, Ministry of Defence
Deputy Director and Head of Profession/Chief Statistician for Statistics , Ministry of Justice
Group Chief Digital and Information Officer, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, United Kingdom
Chief Data Officer and Director, Data Growth and Operations, Office for National Statistics, United Kingdom
Deputy Director, Enterprise Data, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Chief Data Officer, 
Heather Wheeler MP was appointed as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, in addition to her current role as an Assistant Government Whip, on 8 February 2022.
Matthew is the CEO for NHSX, a joint unit between the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England, set up to ensure that staff and patients have the technology they need.
Chief Digital and Information Officer, HMRC
Chief Executive NHS Digital
Chief Executive, Central Digital and Data Office
Chief Analyst, 10 Downing Street
Head of Public Sector, NTT DATA UK
Chief Data Officer, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Deputy National Statistician and Director General for Data Capability, ONS
Head of the Policy Profession & Permanent Secretary, Defra
Head of the Operational Delivery Profession & Permanent Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions
Minister, Cabinet Office