West Midlands Employers lead the way on practical AI with new Festival of AI in Practice
Posted on: 05/12/2025
News
West Midlands Employers (WME) has launched the Festival of AI in Practice, a free virtual week (26–30 January 2026) to help councils understand and lead with AI. The programme features keynotes speakers, case studies and sessions showcasing real AI use across the region. Open to all WME shareholder council staff, the festival will demystify AI, explore ethics and governance, and show how technology is improving services such as social care and customer experience.
West Midlands Employers (WME) has announced the Festival of AI in Practice, a week-long virtual event (Monday 26th – Friday 30th January 2026) designed to help councils understand, apply, and lead with artificial intelligence.
Funded through the Workforce Priority Fund and free for all WME shareholder councils, the festival aims to demystify AI and highlight how it is already improving public services, from social care and housing to HR, customer service, and planning.
Opening keynote speaker Christine Armstrong, ranked among the world’s top 50 Future of Work influencers, will explore how leaders can manage human impact, intergenerational change, and confidence in a fast-changing AI landscape.
Midweek, AI ethics expert Jazz Rasool will focus on “Ethics, Governance and the New Reality of AI in Public Services,” helping councils navigate the complex questions of responsibility, risk, and governance as technology becomes embedded in daily operations.
Closing the festival, international speaker Heather Murray, Founder of AI for Non-Techies and Top 5 Global MarTech Influencer, will deliver a forward-looking session on “What’s Next for AI in Public Services: Trends, Insight & Readiness.”
Her talk will highlight what is working now, what to be cautious of, and how every council service area can prepare. The Festival of AI in Practice is open to all council employees and elected members, with no booking, cost or technical background required. Participants can drop into any of the live virtual sessions across the week.
Michelle O'Neill, Principal Consultant Organisational Development, Leadership and Learning at West Midlands Employers says “AI is already changing the way we work, and this festival is about making that conversation accessible for everyone, not just digital teams. Councils are in a unique position to explore how AI can make services more human, more efficient, and more responsive to communities.”
The full programme features a festival-style blend of campfire conversations, practical demonstrations, and an Innovation Tent where councils and organisations will share real case studies of AI in action. These sessions include:
Case study deep dives, such as Walsall’s Copilot journey, Birmingham’s AI-enabled customer service transformation, Wolverhampton’s smart tech and AI governance work, and Telford & Wrekin’s real-world Magic Notes pilot.
Interactive Campfire Chats, including “The Citizen Lens: AI with, not for, Communities,” led by WM ADASS, exploring how lived experience and co-production are shaping AI-enabled public services.
Hands-on exploration in the Innovation Tent, featuring tools like Assist, the AI writing assistant built for government, and sessions on governance, ethics, skills development, and practical use cases already improving services across the region.
A Silent Disco, giving participants on-demand access to pre-recorded talks, demonstrations, and session recordings throughout the week.
Across all sessions, attendees will gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to use AI responsibly and effectively, equipping WME’s shareholder council staff with insights they can apply within their roles and across departments..
