← Back to services overview Phase 1 · Assessment

AI Readiness & Maturity Assessment

An independent snapshot of where your organisation sits across the dimensions that determine whether AI adoption will succeed or stall. Produces a SAGF Maturity Scorecard, a prioritised next-steps brief and a board-ready executive findings report.

What it is

A structured three-to-four-week independent assessment that benchmarks your organisation's AI readiness across five dimensions — functions, data, people, process and ecosystem — and scores you against the Cube8 Structured AI Governance Framework (SAGF). The output gives the board a defensible picture of where you are, what's missing, and where the priority gaps sit.

Who it's for

Chief Executives, CIOs, CISOs, Heads of Digital, Senior Responsible Officers and Cabinet Members who are starting an AI programme, responding to regulatory pressure, or being asked — by a board or by central government — to demonstrate AI readiness with evidence rather than ambition.

Duration

3–4 weeks

Format

Fixed-scope, fixed-fee

From

£25,000 +VAT

Engagement

Embedded + remote

What's covered

The Five Assessment Dimensions

Functional opportunity map — service-by-service review of where AI could materially augment delivery, with feasibility, impact and risk classification per use case.
Data readiness review — structure, quality, access, governance and AI-suitability of the organisation's data. Identifies blocking gaps before they become project blockers.
People & skills audit — AI literacy at executive, management and operational levels. Capability map. Recommended capability build sequence.
Process & governance audit — existing decision-making, risk management, procurement and assurance processes. Where they're AI-ready, where they need adaptation.
Ecosystem mapping — procurement vehicles available (CCS, G-Cloud, HTE, KCS, Scottish Gov, YPO, ESPO), supplier landscape, regulatory dependencies, cross-sector partnerships.
SAGF baseline scoring — structured assessment across the six SAGF faces, scored on the five-level maturity scale (Ad Hoc → Optimised).

Deliverables

Board-Ready Output

Five deliverables, all written for executive scrutiny. Defensible under audit. Usable as the foundation for Phase 2 (Strategy & Roadmap).

SAGF Maturity Scorecard — six faces scored on the five-level maturity scale, with evidence per score and target maturity per face.
AI Opportunity Map — prioritised set of AI use cases mapped to organisational functions, scored on feasibility / impact / risk / readiness.
AI Risk Exposure Register — current AI-related risks (data, regulatory, reputational, operational, ethical) with severity and mitigation gaps.
Executive Findings Report — written for the board. Headline findings, evidence, what to do about it, what happens if you don't.
Prioritised Next-Steps Brief — the 90-day, 6-month and 12-month action set, sequenced by dependency and impact. Most natural follow-on: Phase 2 Strategy & Roadmap.

Framework Mapping

How This Maps to SAGF and the Lifecycle

SAGF Faces covered

Face 1 · Strategic Alignment (current-state assessment)
Face 2 · Governance Architecture (current-state)
Face 6 · Value & Lifecycle (opportunity / value baseline)
All six faces are scored on the baseline scorecard

Lifecycle position

Phase 1 of the six-phase Cube8 AI Enablement Lifecycle
Often preceded by Phase 0 (Executive AI Bootcamp) for literacy
Naturally precedes Phase 2 (Strategy & Roadmap Definition)
Findings inform every subsequent phase

Where Next

Continuing the Journey

Phase 2 · Recommended next

AI Strategy & Roadmap Definition

Take the assessment findings into a defined target state and 12–36 month roadmap.

Phase 0 · Preceding option

Executive AI Bootcamp

If executive AI literacy is the gating constraint, start with the four-day programme before assessment.

Discuss an assessment

Tell us your organisation's size, sector and what's prompting the assessment. We'll respond with an indicative shape, scoping call and fee band within two working days.

Get in touch →