Leading AI nominated for prestigious iNetwork Innovation Award

Leading AI have been nominated for a prestigious iNetwork Innovation Award for their work with North Yorkshire Council and AWS.

The initiative led by North Yorkshire Council, in partnership with technology innovators Leading AI and AWS, represents a forward-thinking approach to addressing complex policy and service challenges faced by local authorities. This collaborative project centres on the development and deployment of advanced, AI-powered tools designed to streamline operations, improve service delivery, and achieve lasting social impact.

Project Overview:

At the heart of the initiative are three ground-breaking digital solutions: Polly for Children and Young People’s Services, Hanc for Housing and Adult Social Care, and the Moving On Up Apprenticeship Buddy. Each tool is purpose-built to tackle specific barriers within the public sector, making vital information and support more accessible to both staff and service users. Polly and Hanc enable frontline teams to interpret complex policies with ease and consistency, saving significant time and reducing errors, while the Apprenticeship Buddy offers tailored guidance for care leavers seeking apprenticeship opportunities.

Aims of the Initiative:

• Empower Frontline Staff: Equip council employees with user-friendly digital tools to access, interpret, and apply policies confidently and efficiently, ensuring consistent service delivery across departments.
• Support Vulnerable Groups: Directly address the needs of care leavers and other vulnerable populations by removing barriers to opportunity, providing personalised guidance, and fostering independence.
• Promote Innovation and Collaboration: Demonstrate the value of cross-sector partnership, co-creation, and knowledge sharing to deliver scalable solutions that benefit not just North Yorkshire, but the wider public sector.
• Drive Efficiency and Accuracy: Streamline service processes to save thousands of working hours, reduce administrative burden, and improve policy compliance.
• Create Sustainable Social Value: Ensure that the tools developed have a lasting positive impact, with a focus on securing ongoing sponsorship and extending accessibility beyond the initial pilot region. Working for progress not profit.

Objectives:

• Develop Practical, Scalable Solutions: Build AI-powered tools that can be easily adopted and adapted by other local authorities, fostering sector-wide transformation.
• Foster Sector Leadership: Set a benchmark for partnership working by going above and beyond contractual requirements, investing time, expertise, and resources for the greater good.
• Ensure Accessibility: Make digital solutions available to all relevant stakeholders, including staff, care leavers, and service users, regardless of location or background.
• Secure Long-Term Sustainability: Pursue sponsorship and funding models that enable continued support and development of key tools like the Apprenticeship Buddy.
• Align with iNetwork Values: Embody the principles of social responsibility, community empowerment, and innovation, as celebrated by the iNetwork Partner Excellence Award.

Conclusion

In summary, the partnership between North Yorkshire Council, Leading AI, and AWS is a prime example of how technology and collaboration can be harnessed to deliver tangible improvements in public services. By focusing on empowering staff, supporting vulnerable groups, and fostering innovation, the initiative seeks to create lasting social value and set new standards for excellence across the sector. Their work not only transforms day-to-day operations but also leaves a legacy of improved lives and stronger communities—fully aligned with the aims and objectives of progressive local government.

What are the key achievements?

• Significant Efficiency Gains: The partnership has successfully streamlined service delivery processes, resulting in thousands of working hours saved. This has reduced the administrative load on staff and improved overall policy compliance, allowing resources to be redirected towards higher-value activities.
• Development of Scalable AI Solutions: The creation of a suite of AI-powered tools has provided practical and adaptable solutions for local authorities. These tools are designed to be easily implemented by other councils, supporting widespread sectoral transformation.
• Enhanced Accessibility and Inclusion: Digital solutions have been made available to all key stakeholders, including staff, care leavers, and service users, irrespective of their geographical location or background. This commitment ensures no one is left behind in the digital transformation of public services.
• Sustainable Social Value: The initiative has prioritised lasting positive impact by securing ongoing sponsorship and developing funding models for continued tool support, such as the Apprenticeship Buddy. This focus on sustainability extends the benefits well beyond the initial pilot phase.
• Sector Leadership and Best Practice: The partnership has set a new benchmark for collaboration in the public sector, going beyond contractual obligations by investing additional time, expertise, and resources for the wider good. This leadership is changing the very nature of the supplier/council relationship, making it one based on shared goals and progress.
• Empowerment and Support for Vulnerable Groups: By empowering staff and prioritising the needs of care leavers and other vulnerable service users, the project has contributed to improved outcomes and strengthened communities.
• Driving Innovation in Local Government: The collaboration demonstrates how technology and innovative approaches can be harnessed to transform day-to-day operations and deliver tangible, lasting improvements in public service delivery. This epitomises the idea of think big start small and now, seeing the ‘small’ gains in their cumulative effect, really showing the power of starting small to really deliver big impact.

How Innovative is your initiative?

The initiatives, led by North Yorkshire Council and Leading AI is highly innovative in both its approach and outcomes. By leveraging advanced AI technologies and forming strategic partnerships, the project has gone beyond traditional methods of service delivery, introducing scalable digital tools that can be adapted by other local authorities.

Furthermore, the initiative stands out for its inclusive design, making digital resources accessible to all stakeholders, regardless of location or background. This universal approach to accessibility and inclusion is a testament to the project’s forward-thinking ethos, ensuring that vulnerable groups and frontline staff benefit directly from technological advancements.

The partnership’s willingness to invest extra time, expertise, and resources for collective benefit sets a new benchmark for best practice within the public sector.

Innovation is also present in the collaborative spirit that underpins the initiative. Rather than working in isolation, the organisations involved have pooled resources and knowledge to address complex challenges, resulting in efficiency gains and improved policy compliance. By leading sector-wide transformation and demonstrating measurable social value, the initiative is not only innovative in its technical solutions but also in its holistic vision for lasting change in local government.

This approach goes even further, breaking down the barriers usually seen in systems, services, and policies and working in a space that defies that. People are people and their experiences, relationships and stories, they are not service provisions,

Therefore, North Yorkshire Council strives to take an approach to innovation that goes beyond operational boundaries and delivers anyway! This is exemplified by the three AI assistants delivered through this partnership. Polly works for North Yorkshire Council, Hanc is for any local authority and apprenticeship buddy is part of Moving on Up, a national network of organisations who promote apprenticeships for care leavers. With each step the innovation is bigger, bolder and even more powerful.

What are the key learning points?

The key learning points from this initiative are multifaceted and offer valuable insights for future projects within local =government and the wider public sector. Firstly, the importance of accessibility and inclusion cannot be overstated; making digital solutions universally available, as well as bespoke useful, ensures that all stakeholders, regardless of background or location, can benefit equitably from technological advancements. This approach not only bridges the digital divide but also fosters a sense of belonging and participation among vulnerable groups and frontline staff.

Secondly, sustainability is crucial for long-term impact. By securing ongoing sponsorship and developing robust funding models, the project demonstrates that lasting social value can be achieved beyond initial pilot phases. Such foresight is essential for ensuring that innovative tools, like the Apprenticeship Buddy, continue to support service users and staff overtime, rather than fading once initial funding ends.

Another key learning point is the power of collaboration and partnership. The initiative’s success is rooted in the willingness of organisations to pool resources, expertise, and knowledge, going beyond contractual obligations to achieve collective goals. This collaborative spirit not only drives innovation but also sets new standards for best practice within the public sector, as recognised by sector awards and external validation.

Furthermore, embracing advanced technologies, such as AI, enables councils and public sector bodies to streamline processes, improve policy compliance, and deliver measurable improvements in service delivery. However, it is the combination of technical innovation with a holistic, people-centred approach that truly amplifies outcomes, ensuring both efficiency gains and strengthened communities.

Finally, the initiative highlights the value of strategic leadership and sector-wide transformation. By demonstrating measurable social value and a willingness to invest in collective benefit, the project provides a blueprint for how local government can lead change, inspire others, and embed best practice for lasting improvement. These learning points collectively emphasise that successful transformation requires vision, commitment, inclusivity, sustainable planning, and strong collaboration.

Additional Comments

Passing over to Hanc! – “Council officers have discovered their legislative compass in this remarkable tool. A veritable lighthouse in the often foggy seas of complex legislation. Like a skilled worker always at their side, it illuminates the intricate pathways, transforming what was once a labyrinthine journey into a clear roadmap. The system doesn’t merely recite dry statutory text; it breathes life into it. This isn’t just a tool; it’s a silent partner in public service excellence.”