Katherine Brown

Welcoming to Wales

Croeso I Gymru !

As they say/sing in Wales -We’ll keep a welcome in the hillside, we’ll keep a welcome in the Vales, This land you know will still be singing, When you come home again to Wales.

A warm welcome and signing are just two attributes of our new team member Katherine Brown. Katherine always has a smile on her face and is happiest when singing in one of her choirs.

Katherine is joining the Cloudy Team to help us deliver training through the medium of Welsh.

Welcome to Cloudy IT

A familiar face within the sector, as she was a clerk herself for many years as clerk in Caernarfon in North Wales, during which she was highly involved with SLCC running the Gwynedd and Anglesey branch for clerks and Chairman of SLCC for 6 years. , so a highly respected individual.Following that she spent some quality time on the road with her husband Garry Brown working for Blachere Illuminations doing all the exhibitions for the company. It was during that time that Cloudy built up our relationship with Katherine and could see the passion she has for the sector.

Earlier this year Katherine decided to come back to the sector when she started her role with One Voice Wales as the North Wales development Officer- back where she belongs, making a difference on a daily basis helping councils and clerks, so it made perfect sense for us to open dialogue with Katherine this year around helping us deliver our goal of delivering some of our training packages through the medium of Welsh. Our Welsh clients are very dear to us, so we wanted to ensure that they could receive training in their preferred language choice.

Katherine will deliver her first course in August this year and will be will us at our Welsh Discovery day for our Welsh clients in September.

Katherine said:

“ I’m really looking forward to working with the great team at CLOUDY IT , they oose enthusiasm for making clerks lives better and training has always been my passion so put both elements’ together and I feel this partnership can come to wonderful things. Edrychaf ymlaen I’ch gweld chi gyd yn fuan”
Katherine Brown Digital Training & Engagement Officer (Welsh)

When she isn’t working hard she can normally be found preparing things for her business Plygiadau Perffaith where turns books into wonderful works of art – mind boggling if you’ve never seen it.

We are all very much looking forward to having Katherine as part of the extended Cloudy family .

Ai in Government Hero

AI in Local Government: Councillors Take the Lead

When the right partners come together, meaningful change follows. 

Our recent AI in Local Government workshop, delivered in partnership with Somerset Association of Local Councils (SALC), SOCITM, and the CloudyIT team, brought councillors, clerks, and officers together for a bold, scenario-led exploration of how AI can support local decision-making. 

But this wasn’t about technology for its own sake. 
It was about Members taking the lead—asking tough questions, shaping policy, and exploring how AI could help them deliver more for their communities.

Why Now? 

Across England, devolution is shifting responsibility. As principal authorities step back, town and parish councils—and their members—are stepping up. 

From planning and public safety to procurement and community engagement, councillors are being asked to do more with less. That means finding new ways to think, act, and lead. 

AI can help. 
Not by replacing human insight, but by supporting it: 

  • Efficiency gains in report drafting – saving time on policy documents while improving clarity and consistency 
  • Smarter research support – quickly identifying relevant legislation, guidance, and case studies to inform council decisions 
  • Better-informed decision-making – offering evidence-based insights and options that help Members weigh choices with greater confidence 

What the Workshop Covered:

Attendees worked through three practical, high-impact scenarios: 

  • Managing rising maintenance costs at a closed churchyard 
  • Responding to a major housing development application 
  • Preparing for Martyn’s Law and the Protect Duty 

The sessions focused on the role of councillors – highlighting where AI can support good governance, clear communication, and stronger local outcomes.

What Councillors Said:

The feedback was honest, insightful and encouraging: 

  • 93% believe AI could be beneficial to their council role
  • Half felt fairly confident using AI by the end of the event
  • Another third felt very or extremely confident
  • 80% would want a follow-up session
“It was a fascinating day, thank you.” Cllr John Rowe, Hughenden Parish Council
Cllr John Rowe, Hughenden Parish Council
“Yes—I came here frightened of AI. Now I leave feeling fairly confident.” Cllr Jenny Blackshaw, Wedmore Parish Council
Cllr Jenny Blackshaw,Wedmore Parish Council
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Inspiring Leadership from the Sector :

We were honoured to welcome: 

  • Sam Smith, Director of Institute, SOCITM, who opened the day with “Artificial Intelligence: Where to Begin?”—a brilliant, grounded introduction for Members navigating digital change 
  • Lewis Anderson, councillor and clerk, whose session explored the human side of AI in council life 
  • And of course, Somerset CALC, whose partnership brought the event to life.

Looking Ahead 

We’re continuing the conversation this November with Northants CALC. 

If you’re a councillor curious about how AI could support your role, improve service delivery, or help future-proof your council, join us. 

👉 Reserve your place now:  www.cloudyit.co.uk/ai-in-local-government 

Try GovAssist 

GovAssist is a free, council-focused AI assistant designed to support Members, clerks, and officers. 
Draft reports. Shape planning responses. Manage procurement. Communicate clearly—with confidence. 

→ Get started today at  govassist.co.uk 

Bucks Summer Tech Lab 2025

TechLab Bucks 2025: Real Skills for a Changing World

From 30th June to 4th July 2025, the Cloudy Foundation TechLab Challenge took place at Bucks New University’s Aylesbury Campus, bringing together students from across Buckinghamshire for a week of hands-on digital learning and real-world challenge. 

Six teams took part, representing: 

  • The Royal Latin School 
  • Aylesbury UTC 
  • Cressex Community School 
  • Sir William Ramsay School 
  • Stantonbury School (Milton Keynes) 
  • Cloudy Cadets – a cross-county team of selected students 

Each team was tasked with designing and presenting an AI-powered chatbot agent for TD SYNNEX, supported by a marketing campaign and promotional video. The format was designed to mirror a real workplace brief — with students stepping into defined roles across development, design, media and project management. 

Watch the Highlights

Get a glimpse into the energy, creativity, and collaboration behind TechLab Bucks in our official recap video:

Photo Highlights

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A Work Experience Alternative That Works 

With many schools now facing challenges in securing high-quality work experience placements, TechLab offered a structured, immersive alternative. Several of the participating schools used the programme to meet work experience requirements — providing students with exposure to real project expectations, deadlines, and collaborative team dynamics. 

Unlike traditional placements, where students may observe more than contribute, TechLab ensured every student had an active role — whether in coding, marketing, design, video production or presentation delivery. 

At a time when national reports point to a shortage of meaningful work experience opportunities across sectors, initiatives like this are helping bridge the gap between education and employment. 

Why This Challenge Matters 

This year’s TechLab Bucks event also coincided with newly released figures reported by The Telegraph, showing that entry-level job opportunities in the UK have declined by 32% since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. Graduate roles and junior positions are being hit hardest by automation, highlighting an urgent need to equip young people with digital skills and adaptable, work-ready experience. 

TechLab is built around that goal. Over the course of the week, students didn’t just explore AI in theory — they planned, developed and delivered live projects. Along the way, they strengthened their skills in communication, critical thinking, teamwork and time management — the kind of qualities employers consistently value. 

Friday Showcase and Award Winners 

The final day culminated in a live showcase and judging panel. Each team exhibited their chatbot concept and presented their campaign to an audience of peers, mentors, and guests from across the education and local government sector. 

Award Winners: 

  • 🏆 Best Overall Project: Team Nine Tech, Royal Latin School – for their chatbot, CHRONOSYNC 
  • 🎤 Best Presentation: Royal Latin School and Ten Tech with CoConnect 
  • 🎥 Best Video: Team ACER, Aylesbury UTC 
  • 🎨 Best Stand: Team Venus, Stantonbury School 
  • 🤖 Best CoPilot Agent: Team Test Flight, Aylesbury UTC 

 

 

Best Overall Project: Team Nine Tech, Royal Latin School

Thanks and Acknowledgements:

This event would not have been possible without the ongoing support of our partners and contributors. Special thanks to: 

Alex East and the team at Microsoft 
Sabrina Gosney and Mollie Rapson from TD SYNNEX 
Elena Baeva from 365 Talent Portal 
Nathan Davis at Bucks New University 
Steve McNay, Woughton Community Council 
Cllr Nidhi Meht, Mayor of Aylesbury and Buckinghamshire Councillor 

And to the Cloudy Foundation and CloudyIT team — Aaran, Katie, Ollie, Matthew, and Kirsty — for delivering two full weeks of planning, facilitation and on-the-ground support. 

Looking Ahead 

Between the Manchester and Bucks events, TechLab 2025 engaged over 80 students from 8 schools, each gaining practical experience and insight into the technologies and team skills shaping the future of work. 

In a job market that’s changing fast — and in an education system under pressure to find effective work experience placements — TechLab offers a model that works. 

Interested in joining or supporting a future TechLab?

Contact the Cloudy Foundation → 

"The Cloudy Foundation has really help me get a feel for the world of work. It's a great experience, whether you're developing an app or creating a video showcasing your achievements, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in technology!"

TechLab - Student