- The winning idea, submitted by Marlon Woodley from the Department for Work and Pensions, will now receive £50,000 in tech support from NTT DATA to develop a casework assistant service.
- 252 ideas for how to apply AI and data technologies in government were submitted by civil servants; the strongest were developed in workshops and by cross-departmental teams, before four finalists were selected.
- The winner was selected on 20 May by a Judging Panel chaired by David Filmer, Managing Director, UK&I Public Sector for NTT DATA, and announced by Minister for Data and Digital Government Ian Murray MP.
LONDON, May 21, 2026 – NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and IT services, today announced the winner of the 2026 Civil Service AI & Data Challenge. After a record-breaking 252 civil servants submitted ideas for how to apply AI and data technologies in government, a plan to improve the tools used by benefits caseworkers, reducing errors and speeding up decisions, was chosen by the Judging Panel – putting it on the path to implementation.
Now in its fourth year, the Challenge is run by NTT DATA in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Cabinet Office and publishing firm Global Government Forum. This year, the programme’s remit expanded from data to include AI and a network of executive sponsors were recruited among data leaders across government, prompting a dramatic 160% increase in applications.
The winning idea was put forward by Marlon Woodley from the Department for Work and Pensions, who said the tool would “enable caseworkers to make better decisions more quickly, reducing waiting times and ensuring that people receive the benefits they’re entitled to.”
Ideas submitted by civil servants were examined by the programme’s executive sponsors. The most promising were explored in 15 workshops, then interdisciplinary, cross-departmental teams of civil servants and NTT DATA Public Sector specialists were established around an eight-strong shortlist. At the Semi-Finals, the teams worked with NTT DATA AI-powered software engineering experts to create digital solutions, then pitched their ideas to a Judging Panel chaired by David Filmer, Managing Director, UK&I Public Sector for NTT DATA – which selected the four Finalists.
At the Final, the Judging Panel – which included the government’s Chief Data Officer Aimee Smith, its Chief AI Officer Kalbir Sohi, and departmental Chief Information Officers – was joined by DSIT Permanent Secretary Emran Mian. The winner was announced by the Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister for Digital Government and Data.
Speaking at the Final, Aimee Smith said:
“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!
“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.”
Smith also paid tribute to the work of the executive sponsors, several of whom were in the audience. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero sponsor supported one team and co-sponsored another with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, while a third was primarily aided by HMRC. The winning team, which was supported by DWP, included staff from DWP, HMRC, the Ministry of Justice Group and the Crown Commercial Service.
Ian Murray MP, Minister for Data and Digital Government, 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.
"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.”
David Filmer, Managing Director, Public Sector at NTT DATA UK&I, said:
“It’s been a huge privilege to work with civil servants across government on this year’s Civil Service AI & Data Challenge. Their commitment and enthusiasm – both for the Challenge itself, and for the wider data and AI agendas – have been amazing to see.
“We look forward to supporting the winning team as they carry their idea forwards, drawing on our topical and technical experts, and making use of their prize of £50,000 in tech support.”
Notes to editors
- The 2026 Challenge was launched in September 2025, when Minister Murray asked civil servants “to put their brightest, boldest ideas forward”. See https://www.gov.uk/government/news/civil-servants-pitch-ai-fixes-for-public-services-in-dragons-den-style-challenge
- Of the 252 ideas submitted, about 70 were considered in workshops organised by senior data leaders. These resulted in 57 submissions to the Judging Panel, which selected eight for further development by interdisciplinary, cross-departmental teams – reduced to four finalists after the Semi-Finals in March. The Grand Finale was held in Westminster on 20 May.
- More information is available on the dedicated website https://datachallenge.uk/. This also includes pictures from the Semi-Finals and Final, and videos in which the Semi-Finalist and Finalist teams explain their ideas and demonstrate their digital solutions.