The UK Government has announced a landmark strategic partnership with Google Cloud aimed at overhauling outdated public sector IT systems, improving digital services, and training thousands of civil servants in emerging technologies.
Unveiled by Technology Secretary Peter Kyle at the Google Cloud Summit in London, the agreement is expected to deliver up to £45 billion in efficiency savings by phasing out legacy infrastructure and accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
The deal will see Google Cloud provide support to central and local government departments—including the NHS, HMRC, and local councils—to replace decades-old IT systems that have long plagued the public sector with high costs, poor performance, and vulnerability to cyberattacks. According to government figures, over 25% of public sector systems still operate on legacy contracts, with some NHS trusts and police forces reporting levels as high as 70%.
“This partnership is about breaking the ‘ball and chain’ of outdated systems that have held back innovation and efficiency across our public services,” said Kyle. “We’re bringing in world-class tech and driving change at scale—on behalf of the British taxpayer.”
As part of the initiative, Google Cloud will help modernise everything from digital tax returns to healthcare systems, aiming to make public services faster, safer, and easier to use. The partnership is a core element of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change and wider digital transformation strategy.
A major focus of the collaboration is skills development. Google Cloud will launch a nationwide training programme to upskill up to 100,000 civil servants in digital technologies by 2030. The initiative supports the government’s target for one in ten civil servants to be working in digital or tech roles by the end of the decade.
Tara Brady, President of Google Cloud EMEA, described the partnership as a step toward “a truly modern, secure, and efficient digital future,” adding that the collaboration will “deliver tangible benefits to citizens and drive significant economic value.”
The agreement will also explore the development of a unified cybersecurity platform to improve the government’s response to growing digital threats. Meanwhile, Google DeepMind is set to partner with government scientists on AI-driven public sector research and innovation.
Kyle said the deal is also designed to give the government greater negotiating power, reducing procurement fragmentation by allowing departments to secure tech contracts collectively rather than individually.
“This is about getting the best ideas, the best technology, and the best value for the public,” Kyle said. “Britain will be using more technology, in more areas, than ever before.”
The move marks one of the most ambitious digital transformations in UK government history, with the aim of modernising the essential services relied on by millions.
