Solihull Council begins AI discovery programme to identify opportunities across key services

West Midlands council commissions AI Transformation Discovery programme to inform future investment across council services

Solihull Council has appointed ICS.AI, a leading UK provider of AI transformation solutions for the public sector, to deliver the first phase of its AI Transformation Discovery programme. The 24-week engagement will identify practical opportunities across resident-facing services and develop decision-ready business cases to inform future investment.

The first phase of the programme will focus on four resident-facing service areas: Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Economy & Infrastructure and Public Health, providing the council with a structured understanding of its AI readiness.

Building a roadmap for responsible AI adoption

Rather than moving directly to implementation, ICS.AI is providing an evidence-led approach to help the council understand where AI can deliver meaningful long-term value for Solihull residents, staff and frontline services.

Using its AI Target Operating Model (AI TOM) framework, ICS.AI will assess the council’s current AI readiness across five dimensions before identifying and prioritising opportunities. Ethics, privacy and safeguarding considerations will be applied throughout the use case assessment process.

The programme aims to produce a prioritised shortlist of around 200 use cases, 50 finance-validated use cases and an AI Transformation Roadmap setting out future priorities.

Developed using Council-owned baseline data and validated by public sector specialists, these outputs will provide the authority with practical, decision-ready insight to support future investment decisions.

Councillor Dave Pinwell, Solihull Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Resources, commented:

“We are committed to taking a well-considered and planned approach to modernising the services we provide. By building a strong evidence base for future decisions, this programme will help us understand where the greatest AI opportunities exist. We will then be able to prioritise those improvements that will deliver the greatest benefit for residents, while ensuring full value for the Council.”

A proven approach to public sector transformation

The programme builds on ICS.AI’s work supporting more than 20 public sector organisations with the deployments of its AI Transformation and Discovery assessments, including Derby City Council.

Dwayne Johnson, Chief Local Government Officer at ICS.AI, added:

“Local authorities need confidence that every investment is backed by robust evidence and long-term value for residents. Solihull Council is taking the right approach by starting with a structured discovery programme that builds a clear understanding of priorities before decisions are made. By developing finance-validated business cases and a practical roadmap, the council can be more proactive in the decisions they make.”

About Solihull Council

Solihull Council prides itself on being a Council that is small enough to care, big enough to make a difference. The authority works closely with public sector partners, businesses, the voluntary sector and communities to improve the lives of the people it serves.

Considering AI for your council?

The most successful AI programmes don't start with technology - they start with understanding where AI can deliver the greatest value.

ICS.AI's AI Transformation Assessments help councils assess their AI readiness, identify and prioritise opportunities, and develop finance-validated business cases before making investment decisions.

Your assessment could include:

• AI readiness assessment across people, technology, data, governance and operating model

• Identification and prioritisation of AI opportunities across council services

• Finance-validated business cases to support investment decisions

• A practical AI Transformation Roadmap tailored to your organisation

  
  

Interested in running an AI Assessment for your council? Speak to our Local Government team.

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