Will Semple

Consulting Manager, Sopra Steria Next UK

An experienced Consulting Manager with extensive experience delivering complex business and technology transformation programmes across the public sector, including central government, local government, healthcare, and critical national infrastructure. He specialises in technology advisory, digital transformation, and large-scale programme delivery, bridging the gap between business strategy and technology implementation. Will leads our multi-disciplinary teams across major transformation initiatives, including cloud migration programmes, digital service redesign, and enterprise technology modernisation.

Latest Publication

Latest Publications

AI won't deliver on broken foundations

Will Semple

In order for AI to transform public services, we need to stop treating legacy, data and governance as problems to deal with later. Discover why the path from successful pilot to real-world deployment starts with getting the foundations right.

Modernising through legacy tech, not around it

Will Semple

Replacing legacy systems is rarely practical in live public services. This article explores a risk-led, incremental approach that integrates and stabilises estates, enabling sustainable modernisation and AI readiness.

The 97% problem – why legacy is holding public services back

Will Semple

Legacy systems dominate public sector IT spend, with up to 97% of budgets going to maintenance. This piece reframes legacy as a risk issue, showing how it constrains innovation, stalls AI adoption, and creates a cycle that prevents meaningful transformation.