Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Accepted
Government's existing commercial training programmes lack sufficient focus on core digital commercial skills.
Recommendation
We therefore asked why this was the case, and whether this created a skills gap. GCF told us that “a significant amount of commercial training and development” went on across government. It explained that this was more general and applied to “all complex outsourcing and procurement services”.40 GDS told us that a few departments that had been using 34 Qq 64–65 35 C&AG’s Report, para 2.4 36 Qq 16, 64 37 Q 65 38 Q 66 39 Qq 32, 38; C&AG’s Report para 1.12 40 Q 38 16 cloud platforms for several years had their own strong (digital) training programme and curriculum, but that this was not universal across the system. GCF acknowledged that it had not developed examples of digital training within departments into training in core digital commercial skills across the whole community. Both the Cabinet Office and GCF accepted there was more for them to do. We therefore asked if they would give serious consideration to building digital commercial skills into future training. The Cabinet Office said that it would “definitely do that”.41
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to build digital commercial skills into future training by implementing a three-phased approach. This includes foundational training by September 2025, broader digital training by March 2026, and a learning needs analysis for deeper specialisation.
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.