ICS.AI Named Finalist in Two Categories at National AI Awards 2025

We are thrilled to announce that ICS.AI has been named as a finalist in two categories at the National AI Awards 2025!  

Our ground-breaking work in public sector AI transformation has been recognised in both the AI Award for Government and Public Sector category (in partnership with Derby City Council) and the Alan Turing AI Innovator category.  

The National AI Awards 2025  

The National AI Awards celebrate the trailblazers of AI innovation across the UK, recognising those who lead the way with their contributions to advancing artificial intelligence. These awards highlight critical areas of AI advancement and showcase excellence in various sectors, acknowledging organisations and individuals making significant impacts in this rapidly evolving field. 

AI Award for Government and Public Sector 

This category celebrates excellence and innovation in the use of AI within government agencies, public sector organisations, and civic institutions. Recipients demonstrate exemplary initiatives, policies, or projects leveraging AI to enhance public services, improve governance, and address societal challenges effectively.  

Our nomination alongside Derby City Council recognises our successful partnership in creating the UK's most comprehensive public sector AI transformation programme that excels across all these criteria. 

Alan Turing AI Innovator Award 

Named in honour of pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing, this prestigious award recognises individuals or organisations for outstanding contributions to advancing the field of AI through ground-breaking research, impactful innovations, and visionary leadership. Recipients embody Turing's spirit of innovation, intellectual rigour, and commitment to excellence in AI. 

Being shortlisted for this award reflects our company's dedication to AI innovation that addresses significant challenges, upholds ethical AI principles, and demonstrates successful collaborations that influence AI trends, standards, and practices across the public sector. 

Pioneering Public Sector AI Transformation  

We've fundamentally redefined how AI can be deployed in local government with integrity, accessibility, and scale. Our unified AI platform replaces fragmented, single-use tools with a comprehensive system that supports every service area and user group.  

Innovation That Makes a Difference  

At the heart of our success is innovation that delivers real results:  

• SMART: Customer Service – Derby City Council’s Digital Helper “Darcie” was the UK's first generative AI "front door" for a public body, capable of managing emotionally intelligent conversations across multiple channels, detecting sentiment and responding with empathy 

• SMART: Staff Copilot - A purpose-built all-in-one platform helping council staff save up to one day per week in productivity savings  

• Unified AI Platform - An integrated ecosystem that avoids fragmentation and provides a scalable foundation for all AI-driven activities  

  
  

The impact of these innovations at Derby City Council has been transformative:  

• £7.5 million in identified savings 

• Over 2.2 million AI interactions handled annually  

• 57% query deflection at first contact  

• 77% web interaction satisfaction  

• 40-50% reduction in call wait times  

• 90% reduction in misdirected calls  

Setting a National Blueprint  

Our work with Derby City Council has created a replicable national blueprint for AI in local government. The model is so robust that we now guarantee £5 million in annual savings for other qualifying mid-sized councils. If adopted across UK local government, our approach could unlock an estimated £2.6 billion in efficiencies.  

Martin Neale, our CEO and founder, commented:

"The UK government's Spending Review revealed significant investment in AI for the public sector for projects that could deliver real efficiencies. By adopting AI for councils on a national scale, we've identified that the government could save £2.6bn."  

Built on Strong Partnerships  

Our SOCITM award-winning collaboration with Derby City Council demonstrates the power of partnership in driving innovation. As Paul Simpson, Derby's Chief Executive noted: "The AI transformation programme has delivered results beyond our expectations with performance exceeding our targets, and the response from staff and citizens has been very positive."

Congratulations to All Finalists  

We would like to extend our congratulations to all the other finalists across all categories of the National AI Awards 2025. The calibre of innovation showcased by each finalist demonstrates the incredible progress being made in AI across the UK. It's an honour to be recognised alongside such pioneering organisations and individuals who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI.  

To see the complete list of finalists across all categories, click here. The diverse range of nominees highlights the breadth and depth of AI excellence in our country, from ground-breaking research to transformative applications across various sectors. 

Looking Forward  

Being named as finalists for these prestigious awards validates our approach to digital transformation in the public sector - one that is inclusive, ethical, and deeply impactful. We believe that AI can enhance efficiency while ensuring human connection remains at the heart of public services. 

We look forward to the awards ceremony and to continuing our mission of helping public bodies unlock the benefits of AI while maintaining the essential human touch in service delivery. 

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