Recommendation 21

The MoD has made some progress with training senior responsible owners (SROs) and increasing the proportion of their time spent on delivering projects.64 SROs also now 52 Q 23 53 Qq 21, 23; C&AG’s Report, para 2.4 54 Qq 31, 113; C&AG’s Report, para 2.6 55 Q 30 56 Q 75 57 Q 75 58 Q 26; C&AG’s Report, para 2.6 59 Qq 15, 16 60 Q 102; C&AG’s Report, para 2.11 61 Q 106; C&AG’s Report, paragraph 2.11; “The full definition of ‘red’ is that “Successful delivery of the project appears to be unachievable. There are major issues with project definition, schedule, budget, quality and/or benefits delivery, which at this stage do not appear to be manageable or resolvable. The project may need re- scoping and/or its overall viability reassessed.” 62 C&AG’s Report, para 2.11 63 Q 111 64 Q 122 ; C&AG’s Report, para 2.12 14 MoD Equipment Plan 2023–2033 have a direct route to contact senior MoD staff if they are concerned about progress.65 However, the MoD has faced difficulties both in funding teams to support SROs, and in recruiting and retaining suitably qualified and experienced staff.66 The MoD said that it is facing a slow and steady attrition of skilled staff, because they have attractive skillsets that are wanted by many industries in a vibrant job market.67 In March 2023, recruitment and retention problems resulted in SROs for 24 out of 30 major MoD equipment projects rating the availability of skills and capabilities for their projects as amber, while four rated it red.68