We’re delighted to reveal that our Enabling Barnsley Programme and our work with Copilot has been shortlisted for the Smart Working category at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Workforce awards. 

This award highlights those councils daring to do things differently in the quest to deliver modern, efficient and responsive public services. The Enabling Barnsley programme and the trial of Copilot for Microsoft 365 exemplifies this, supporting our employees’ everyday work, streamlining our processes and enhancing productivity. 

From taking meeting minutes to analysing data, drafting reports, or developing presentations, Copilot supports our workforce by saving time, reducing repetitive processes, supporting their work-life balance, and helping them feel productive and creative at work. 

The Business Support team hold 28 meetings per week. Since using Copilot to generate minutes, the team have saved at least 55 minutes per meeting. That equals a total saving of 26 hours and 20 minutes per week. 

In Children's Social Services, approximately 50 social workers use Copilot for meeting minutes. Each social worker is saving 10 hours per week, that's a total of 500 hours saved in just one week. Saving 10 hours per week allows social workers to find relief from administrative tasks and improve their work-life balance. One social worker said, "I can leave on time and spend quality time with my family." 

Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, said: “Following our double Council of the Year 2023 awards last year, it’s fantastic that this nomination recognises our bold, brave and innovative workforce. 

“Our commitment to technological advancement is evident in our digital transformation journey, positioning our workforce at the forefront of the next digital revolution.” 

The winners will be announced following a live presentation to a panel of judges at the LGC Workforce Awards on Tuesday, 05 November.