Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Committee takes evidence on ODP's role in building capabilities for smarter services.
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the UK civil service’s ‘Operational Delivery Profession’ (ODP), and two of its departmental Heads of Profession, on how it is helping departments build the capabilities needed to deliver smarter services.1
Government Response Summary
The Profession committed to raising its profile and promoting operational delivery roles by tracking Fast Stream and apprenticeship applications, targeted marketing, increasing senior talent recruitment from the private sector, and encouraging departmental outreach programmes. It will also focus on regional activity and include metrics in its annual business plan, with the 2025-26 plan shared by August 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Profession agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. operational delivery roles across departments, recognising that individuals currently base recruitment decisions on departments rather than profession. The Profession will track application numbers of the ODP Fast Stream, launched in 2024, and the existing apprenticeship offer, which are open to both local authority colleagues and civil servants. Targeted marketing and social media gather insight and promote roles and highlight the benefits of a career in ODP. The Profession raises its profile via senior talent recruitment including attraction from the private sector, secondment schemes and a senior development offer including the Senior Community of Practice (SCoP) and bespoke senior leadership programmes both of which are open to the wider public sector. The Profession will suggest departments include ‘Introduction to ODP’ in new and existing schools’ outreach programmes, where it is not yet covered, and track impact. Recommendations will be made to departments for all ODP role recruitment packs to articulate the Profession’s purpose and benefits. The Profession will collaborate and learn from others, such as the Project Delivery Profession, who are achieving success in this space. The Profession will increase focus on regional activity, identifying opportunities to work with operational delivery departments to maximise opportunities to promote the Profession as a career path. This will include exploring the use of Jobcentres in areas with high levels of government operational delivery activity to actively promote ODP recruitment and apprenticeships. The annual business plan will include metrics to assess the impact of profile-raising activities and report on progress. The Profession will make this more widely available at the end of each financial year, with the 2025-26 plan due to be shared by August 2026.