Exploring the government’s AI growth agenda

A priority of the UK government is to unlock the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in a raft of areas. Its 2025 published AI Opportunities Action Plan details how it wants to use the technology to boost economic growth and improve people’s lives. It also wants to create ‘AI Growth Zones’ to develop the use of AI.  

 

This includes improving healthcare, education, and other areas of service delivery that charities have long been in involved with. AI can also be used effectively in recruitment by charities and other organisations, such as by more effectively scheduling interviews and assessing candidates.

 

Here we look in detail at the government’s AI growth agenda and how charities are looking to ensure they are involved.

 

 

AI Opportunities Action Plan

 

The plan lays out a series of pledges by the government to bolster the use of AI. This includes investing in the foundations of AI by supporting data infrastructure and skills.

 

Another aspect is to “push hard” on AI adoption across the UK economy through government departments piloting AI products and encouraging other organisations to do the same.

 

Ministers want the UK to be at the forefront of global AI and be a “national champion” of the technology. They want to see the "best talent" recruited from around the world to start up AI initiatives.

 

Government is warning that a “deeper pool of AI skills and talent” is needed to increase the roll out of AI nationwide. The plan aims to see tens of thousands of AI professionals trained by 2030 to “help bridge the estimated gap between supply and demand”.

 

Health, care, and education charities should take note, with the government keen to see AI improve the efficiency and quality of support.

 

Its action plan details how using AI assistants to do repetitive tasks can free up employees’ time by a fifth. Teachers involved in a pilot were helped to reduce the 15+ hours a week they spend on lesson planning and marking. In addition, document and report production time can be cut by between 20% and 80%.

 

Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary of State Peter Kyle says of the plan: “We want Britain to step up; to shape the AI revolution rather than wait to see how it shapes us.

 

“Because we believe Britain has a particular responsibility to provide global leadership in fairly and effectively seizing the opportunities of AI.”

 

 

Charity AI Task Force

 

Charities are among those ready to step up, with a Charity AI Task Force already set up to make the case for AI in the charity sector and to support partnerships.

 

This was set up in February 2025 and involves CAST and Zoe Amar Digital, with other members including The National Lottery Community Fund, Microsoft, Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, and Charity Digital.

Its key missions include acting as a collective voice for AI in the charity sector, making the case for support and partnerships.

 

Encouraging collaboration on AI among funders, regulators, large and small charities, as well as with business and the public sector, is another.

 

"Through the taskforce funders, small and large charities will unite to develop a coordinated approach to artificial intelligence," says Zoe Amar. “The charity sector possesses crucial insights into societal challenges that must inform the development of AI tools. Our immediate priority is responding to the government’s AI plan, to help shape responsible innovation that truly serves communities."

 

CAST Director Dan Sutch adds: “We feel it is vital at this point for social sector organisations – and the supporting infrastructure – to come together and navigate a path through the rapidly changing AI landscape...We know that if we can share challenges, identify opportunities, foster partnerships, and advocate for support as one unified voice, our presence and influence within this new technology will be strengthened beyond measure.”

 

 

Charities’ environmental concerns

 

The taskforce also wants to lobby for responsible, environmentally-friendly, and inclusive use of AI in and outside of the charity sector.

 

A particular concern around increasing use of AI is the damage to the planet caused by the energy and equipment used by data centres. For example, just one request made through ChatGPT consumes ten times the energy of a search made through Google, according to the International Energy Agency.

 

Data centre waste, such as products using mercury and lead, is another concern.

 

 

AI Growth Zones

 

Among action being taken by the government to meet its pledges to bolster AI is to develop AI Growth Zones across the country.

 

These aim to be “development hotbeds for AI” and as of early 2024 ministers were looking at potential sites in Scotland, Wales, the North East, and the North West.

 

In 2025 local authorities were invited to submit proposals to become one of these zones. There is likely to be opportunities for charities in successful areas around developing AI and being involved in its deployment to help local communities.

 

Key aspects of these zones include speeding up planning permission to build AI infrastructure and to encourage investment to create local jobs.