Local government employs an estimated 1.97 million people across the UK and sits at the frontline of public service delivery. From social care and housing to planning, waste and The UK education system is one of the country’s largest employers, with a growing proportion of its 1.66 million‑strong workforce now employed by multi‑academy trusts (MATs). Managing complex, multi‑site organisations under intense pressure, MATs must balance rising standards, strict compliance and stretched budgets, while supporting staff across diverse roles and settings.
Recruitment and retention remain major challenges. The Government’s ambition to recruit 6,500 additional teachers sits alongside growing workforce strain. NFER’s Teacher Labour Market Report 2025 found that 90 per cent of teachers considering leaving the profession cite high workload and administrative burden as key factors. In this context, the question is no longer whether AI should be used, but how it can be aligned with the realities of school life to genuinely support staff.
Zellis’ latest research, The Grey Zone: The Untapped Advantage of AI Alignment, explores how AI is reshaping work and workplace culture. Surveying leaders and employees across multiple sectors, the report highlights the gap between AI adoption and real-world impact, the space where tools exist but are not yet delivering full value for people on the ground.
For MATs, the alignment opportunity lies in focusing AI on the pain points staff talk about most:
- Intelligent scheduling and cover planning to manage timetables, absence and interventions without relying on spreadsheets.
- Automated workflows for safeguarding, policy updates and mandatory training, so staff spend less time chasing paperwork and more time with pupils.
- AI assisted HR and payroll checks that reduce pay errors and give staff clearer visibility of their hours, leave and allowances.
- Searchable access to trust policies and guidance, addressing the “lack of information” many public sector workers cite as a barrier to change.
Find out how AI alignment can help multi‑academy trusts reduce workload, improve confidence in data, and give staff more time to focus on pupils.
