Recommendation 4

Sponsor departments and the centre of government can do more to help small bodies apply requirements effectively and proportionately. Small bodies would benefit from greater support to help them comply with requirements. In large organisations, staff can specialise in specific areas and readily draw on the expertise of colleagues. By contrast, small bodies often rely on a few individuals who must cover a wide range of areas and may lack specialist skills to implement certain requirements. Sponsor departments, shared service providers and the centre of government have these skills and can offer valuable support, but are not always easy for small bodies to engage with. Clearer signposting of the support already available would help small bodies access it more effectively. recommendation The Cabinet Office and HM Treasury should set out their plans for improving small government bodies’ access to expertise and support from sponsor departments and the centre of government.