Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 36
36
Accepted
GCF uses professional standards and assessment centres to enhance commercial staff competence.
Conclusion
The GCF told us that there are professional standards that assess whether the learning curriculum is working. The GCF commented it was one of the first government functions to introduce professional standards. The GCF explained that it assesses commercial staff via a day-long assessment centre which is improving standards of training across grades.61 7,000 people have been put through that assessment centre. It told us that, of the 1,500 or so senior staff in the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), who are employed centrally and then deployed to departments, 86% are fully accredited.62
Government Response Summary
The government states the recommendation is implemented, detailing its ongoing four-part learning and development programme to train contracting authority buyers on the new Procurement Act, reinforcing efforts to develop commercial expertise and improve standards.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Recommendation implemented 5.2 It is currently anticipated that the new regime in the Procurement Act 2023 will go-live in October 2024 following an implementation period of 6 months post the laying of secondary legislation. The Cabinet Office has set out its plan for transition between the regimes and is already rolling out a series of learning interventions to train contracting authority buyers on what the new legislative framework is and how to use it. More information on transforming public procurement is available on Gov.UK. 5.3 The learning and development is intended to be free at the point of access and has been centrally funded by the government to end FY 23/24.There are four interventions planned: a) a series of recorded ‘knowledge drops’ watchable videos approximately 45 minutes in length, providing an overview of all of the changes in legislation are aimed at non- commercial leaders, professions and others (incl. suppliers) needing a general level of awareness of the new legislation. They launched in December 2023 targeted at an expected audience of up to 60,000 individuals. As of 5 January 2024, over 8,000 knowledge drop views had been recorded b) a self-guided e-learning programme comprising 10 one-hour modules with a separate certification module is the core learning product available to all procurement and commercial staff, estimated to be 20,000 individuals at skilled and advanced buyer level. The course provides a comprehensive grounding on the new legislation and will be launched in March 2024 c) an instructor-led three day course of interactive ‘deep dive’ webinars allows learners to engage with subject matter experts and gain deeper insight across the full spectrum of the legislative change and supports “hearts and minds” change. The course is aimed at advanced buyers, expected to be 7,500 to 9,000 individuals, and is planned to be launched in May 2024, running for 58 weeks to allow up to 9,000 individuals to attend. d) communities of practice which provide a system of collective critical inquiry and reflection into the legislative changes. The communities will support individuals helping them to embed what they have learned. Aimed at a mixture of skilled and advanced buyers, circa 11,000, the product is planned to be launched in May 2024 and will run for 18 months. We will enlist the support of the Civil Service Board underlined at Civil Service Learning sessions to ensure full participation by non-commercial colleagues.