AI in the Public Sector: From Promise to Productivity

Trustmarque’s Perspective on the Microsoft Civil Service Copilot Trial

The UK Government’s landmark trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot across 20,000 civil servants has delivered a powerful message: AI is no longer a future ambition—it’s a present-day productivity engine. With an average of 26 minutes saved per day per user, the potential to reclaim nearly two weeks of work annually per civil servant is not just impressive—it’s transformative.

At Trustmarque, we see this as a pivotal moment for public sector innovation. As a long-standing Microsoft Solutions Partner, we believe this trial validates what we’ve been helping our customers prepare for: AI that works, at scale, in real-world government environments.

Microsoft’s Vision, Realised in the Public Sector

Microsoft’s Copilot strategy is not just about embedding AI into productivity tools—it’s about reshaping how organisations think, work, and deliver value. The civil service trial is a powerful proof point of what’s possible when AI is deployed securely, responsibly, and with purpose.

From Copilot for Microsoft 365 to the latest innovations in Copilot Tuning and multi-agent orchestration announced at Microsoft Build 2025, the direction is clear: Microsoft is building an AI ecosystem that is personal, powerful, and enterprise-ready.

Trustmarque is proud to be a key enabler of this vision. Our AI Centre of Excellence, Prism for Copilot platform, and Microsoft-aligned services are designed to help public sector organisations unlock the full value of Microsoft’s AI stack.

Trustmarque’s Role in the AI Journey

We’re already supporting public sector organisations across the UK with:

AI Readiness Assessments

Our structured assessments help organisations understand where AI can deliver the most value while ensuring they are secure, compliant, and operationally prepared. This includes:

• Copilot for Microsoft 365 Security Readiness – Evaluating your environment for safe and effective Copilot deployment through a comprehensive analysis of security measures and potential vulnerabilities.

• AI Governance and Risk Profiling – A comprehensive service that includes:

• Risk assessments aligned with UK/EU regulatory frameworks.

• Evaluation of transparency, fairness, and accountability in AI systems.

• Strategic frameworks for responsible AI adoption.

• Integration of Microsoft Purview for automated compliance and auditability.

• Ongoing support to address privacy, data protection, and ethical concerns.

• Business Readiness Assessments – Helping organisations evaluate how AI aligns with their strategic goals, operational models, and workforce capabilities. This includes:

• Identifying key business processes that can be enhanced through AI.

• Developing change management plans to ensure successful adoption.

• Addressing organisational culture shifts needed for AI integration.

• Defining metrics for measuring the business impact of AI deployment.

By combining technical, security, and business readiness elements, we offer a holistic approach that ensures AI deployment is not only safe and compliant but also adds measurable value to the organisation.

Prism for Copilot

Our award-nominated Prism platform now includes Prism for Copilot—a market-first solution that provides visibility into Copilot usage at both the user and agent level. With over 12,000 agent interactions already tracked, Prism helps organisations:

• Identify adoption trends and training needs.

• Measure ROI and feature-level engagement.

• Optimise AI usage across departments.

Copilot Vision & Value Workshops

We help public sector teams frame business cases, define success metrics, and build implementation roadmaps tailored to their mission.

Secure Deployment & Change Management

From data sensitivity labelling with Microsoft Purview to user enablement and governance frameworks, we ensure AI is deployed responsibly and sustainably.

Building a Community of Practice

We’re not just delivering services—we’re building a movement. Our Copilot Community Kick-Off for Arms-Length Bodies (ALBs) in the DHSC and NHS is just the beginning. Together with Microsoft, we’re creating a space for public sector leaders to share insights, learn from early adopters, and shape the future of AI in government.

What’s Next?

The government’s Plan for Change is ambitious—and rightly so. But it will only succeed if departments have the tools, skills, and support to embed AI meaningfully. That’s where trusted partners like Trustmarque come in.

We’re not just watching this transformation—we’re helping lead it.

If you’re a public sector leader wondering how to turn AI potential into performance, let’s talk. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, we’re here to help you unlock the full value of Microsoft AI—securely, strategically, and sustainably.