Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Lack of staffing capacity within UKRI may also have impacted the time taken to approve...
Conclusion
Lack of staffing capacity within UKRI may also have impacted the time taken to approve bids. At the start of Waves 2 and 3, UKRI faced significant challenges recruiting staff to oversee and manage the challenge programmes. Of the 186 full-time-equivalent staff UKRI estimated it needed to administer the Fund in 2019, 103 were vacant in June
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2021 6.2 The government recognises the impact that an elongated approvals process can have on the participants to Challenges. A key consideration in the design of the delivery model for future challenges will be to consider a more streamlined approach to selecting and approving Challenges, with a simpler governance structure, while still conforming to Green Book requirements. 6.3 There are established improvement programmes already underway within UKRI to improve business operations and customer experience. These include initiatives seeking to improve the project application and approval processes as well as enhancing the experience of businesses who bid for and receive funding. The department will write to the Committee by October 2021 to set out the plans to improve the speed of future challenge funding approvals and update the Committee on progress in relation to project approval improvements.