Peter Corpe, Industry Leader for UK Public Sector at cloud computing company Appian gives his view on the government’s latest announcements…
The Budget and further recent AI investments highlight the government’s focus on tackling the UK’s defining challenge: productivity. Chancellor Rachel Reeves reaffirmed this in her pre-Budget speech, pledging to ‘drive for more productive and more efficient public services.’
Photo of Peter Corpe, courtesy of Appian
Whether this signals new efficiency measures or simply reinforces existing plans, it aligns with the government’s focus on ‘relentless delivery’, showing that productivity remains the headline.
Its ambition to raise productivity and back investment in digital infrastructure, particularly AI, is positive. Yet much of this investment is already happening across industry, driven by regulatory, privacy and competitive pressures. The real test will be whether policy can genuinely accelerate transformation, rather than simply attach itself to momentum already underway.
True productivity gains will come when government tackles the areas it directly influences to improve public service delivery, reduce friction in infrastructure and transport, and address inefficiencies that hold back business.
To deliver lasting value, the Budget must enable departments to modernise how they operate – integrating systems, simplifying processes and freeing staff to focus on higher-value work.
AI has huge potential to drive productivity, but only if paired with real operational reform.
Peter Corpe is Industry Leader for the UK Public Sector at Appian.
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