Recommendation 5

Broader programme-related good practice, such as having the skills, leadership and governance relevant to the programme stage, has not always been applied. Government departments do not always have the specific skills needed to undertake a reset. This includes not always having the right leadership with an appropriate SRO, the importance of which we have regularly highlighted, to oversee the reset or future programme. Although we are told there has been less churn of SROs than there used to be, civil service pay and promotion constraints can impact an SROs incentive to stay in post and provide continuity if needed. The IPA recognises governance as an area where it needs to sharpen its focus. Recommendation 5: The Infrastructure and Projects Authority should set out its progress, and the actions it has and is taking, to: • ensure programme SROs have the required skills and stay in post the expected length of time. More widely, Cabinet Office and HM Treasury should work with departments to ensure they use any available levers where it is best to incentivise continuity of leadership. • accredit programme professionals across individual departments.