Recommendation 4

The Department for Business and Trade needs to build on the progress made during the pandemic in developing the approach to the oversight of grants. BEIS responded to the initial and multiplying pressures on the administration of the schemes as the pandemic unfolded by commissioning a review of its management of the schemes. The review led to improvements to its programme management and governance. HM Treasury and BEIS also developed their approach to grant design by, for example, targeting support at those businesses most affected by the lockdown restrictions and placing an increased emphasis on prepayment checks for later schemes. DBT is now continuing to build its capability and capacity in this area by establishing what it describes as a centre of excellence for grant management. This sits within a directorate of 120 staff, compared to 20 when the schemes were first introduced. The centre of excellence has so far focused on developing its understanding of grants from an ’end to end’ perspective, to set expectations at all stages of the grant process. Recommendation 4: The Department for Business and Trade, working with the Cabinet Office, should share its approach to grant management more widely with other parts of government and ensure that this delivery experience is drawn upon at the earliest possible stage in the design of policies involving potential new grant schemes. Local authority administered COVID support schemes in England 7