Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Accepted
Develop comprehensive training programmes for government commercial professionals focused on digital commercial skills.
Recommendation
Providing appropriate training is a key element of developing the digital commercial skills that government needs. The NAO report found that government did not have training for digital commercial skills. It noted that in 2023, GCF launched a digital commercial development programme for senior commercial professionals, but that this focused on leadership skills, business acumen and commercial judgement. It also found that the programme was not co–authored with the digital profession and did not emphasise the need for specifically digital commercial skills.39 This mindset needs to urgently change.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation and has established a three-phased approach to systematically raise digital commercial capability across the GCF. This includes baseline training by September 2025, broader digital training by March 2026, and a learning needs analysis for deeper specialist knowledge.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the committee’s recommendation. Target implementation dates: first phase by September 2025, second phase by March 2026, final phase to be confirmed. 4.2 Within the GCF there are already 500 individuals who are considered experts in digital services procurement. These individuals are spread across departments in Digital Commercial Teams and lead the procurement of those services for their respective departments. 4.3 The government is seeking to build on this core expertise to broaden and deepen its digital commercial acumen across the GCF. GCF Capability, working with DSIT, has identified a three-phased approach to systematically raise the overall capability across the GCF. 4.4 This phased approach includes: • Phase 1: Raising the Baseline of Digital Capability. By September 2025. GCF and DSIT will have identified a number of existing courses that will raise awareness and understanding of digital services and technology. GCF staff will be required to complete these courses. • Phase 2: Broader Capability. By March 2026. To further build capability, there have been a further 11 hours of specific digital training courses identified by DSIT, which will need to be completed by GCF staff by March 2026. • Phase 3: Deeper Specialist Knowledge. A learning needs analysis will be carried out to identify the current skills gaps in commercial digital capability and identify the required training to overcome these. This will be carried out collaboratively by the GCF capability and DCCoE teams. Phase 3 steps are longer-term.