Major project lessons learned
Repeated failure to effectively apply lessons learned from past major projects, leading to recurring mistakes in cost and schedule management.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
95match
#6 - 8th Report - Northern Powerhouse Rail
We are not convinced that the Department has embedded all lessons from past failures into its management of the programme. We recognise that the Department has adapted its approach to Northern Powerhouse Rail in response to lessons from High Speed Two (HS2) and other major rail programmes. It is also learning from the success of programmes like the...
Matched on
terms: lesson, major, project
NAO recommendation
94match
Lessons learned: Governance and decision-making on mega-projects
For mega-projects, HM Treasury and NISTA should strengthen the project gateway and business case approval processes to ensure that government has assurance about the affordability, value for money and feasibility of the project before it is given final approval to proceed. This might include only providing funding to take the project to the next stage of development and...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson, project
NAO recommendation
94match
Improving the performance of major equipment contracts
The Department is developing a programme of important reforms, some of which are at a relatively early stage. To support this agenda and to complement the recommendations in our recent report on the Department’s 2020–2030 Equipment Plan, we recommend that: a) Programme teams should state explicitly in their initial business cases how they have applied lessons learned from...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson, major
Committee recommendation
93match
#12 - 8th Report - Northern Powerhouse Rail
The NAO found the Department had established appropriate steps to identify lessons from other major programmes, but that it needed to go further to embed these in Northern Powerhouse Rail.23 In oral evidence, the Department was clear on the importance of learning from past failures, such as on HS2. It identified some examples of how it had changed...
Matched on
terms: lesson, major, project
Inquiry recommendation
86match
MAI-62 - LRF oversight of lessons from exercises and incidents
Local resilience forums should establish procedures to ensure that they oversee the process of identifying the lessons to be learned from major exercises, or serious incidents, in their areas, and that they are responsible for overseeing the debriefing of those events.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson, major
Committee recommendation
85match
#8 - 78th Report - The Bank of England’s Real-Time Gross Settlement Renewal Programme
It is important that the Bank implements the recommendations in the C&AG’s Report to maximise potential benefits from the new RTGS. However, wider government has an opportunity to learn from the Bank’s successful implementation of this programme, and we therefore direct our own recommendations towards wider government as follows: a. recommendation Within three months DSIT should prepare a...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson, project
Committee recommendation
83match
#2 - 1st Report - An analysis of the asylum system
The Home Office has yet to demonstrate that it has learned from previous attempts to reform the asylum system, putting it at continued risk of repeating past failures. Recent reform efforts give us little confidence that the Home Office has learned from previous attempts to restructure the asylum system. Too often, the Home Office has pursued major policy...
Matched on
terms: learned, major
Committee recommendation
81match
#13 - 8th Report - Northern Powerhouse Rail
However, a Department-wide review by the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) in January 2026 found that programme and project teams across the Department were not consistently applying lessons they had identified.25 We asked the Department how it was responding to the finding. It told us the review found clear and well-designed lessons learned frameworks, but that consistent application...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson, project
NAO recommendation
81match
Carrier Strike – Preparing for deployment
e) conduct in-depth lessons-learned exercises on the Carrier Enabled Power Projection projects. The Department should ensure that it assesses the factors that lead projects to succeed or fail, including the root causes, and disseminate the lessons so that they are reflected in its management of other programmes. It should also look to disseminate lessons more widely across government.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson, project
NAO recommendation
81match
Completing Crossrail
For the Department’s other current and future major programmes: d) We note that the Department has completed a lessons learned exercise and we would encourage it to also apply the lessons to other major projects including High Speed 2.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson, major, project
NAO recommendation
77match
The challenges in implementing digital change
c) disseminate and apply lessons learned from the successes and failures of the past and seek to understand why digital strategies have made poor progress.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Inquiry recommendation
74match
MAI-128 - National systems to record lessons from exercises
The Home Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should ensure that there exist robust national and local systems to identify and record the lessons learned from all multi-agency exercises and ensure that change is implemented as a result, where change is indicated.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Inquiry recommendation
74match
BAHA-46 - Lessons Learned Process
The MoD should consider whether the lessons learned procedures need to be adjusted or supplemented so that the clearer and more urgent lessons and changes to previous practice are fed back far more quickly both to the operational theatre and into the pre-deployment training cycle.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
73match
#11 - 12th Report - Government compensation schemes
Officials from compensation schemes across government attend eight- weekly meetings of a cross-Whitehall network to share updates on schemes, learning and best practice. The NAO’s report found that these meetings are helpful opportunities for Departments to raise questions on operational issues and policy design, which have led to improvements in earlier schemes and benefitted later ones.22 However, that...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
73match
#5 - Second Report: Merging success: Bringing together the FCO and DFID
To integrate the Departments successfully, the new PUS must have the skills and experience necessary to effectively oversee both diplomatic and development projects. Above all else, they must have exceptional knowledge and experience of change management and major project delivery to allow them to oversee a merger of this scale. We recommend that the selection criteria for the...
Matched on
terms: major, project
NAO recommendation
72match
Progress on the Buckingham Palace Reservicing programme
Identify the lessons it has learnt and discuss these with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) and HM Treasury to decide a set of lessons for major projects, particularly for heritage projects and those taking place in a live environment. We have set out some potential lessons that could be explored.
Matched on
terms: lesson, major, project
NAO recommendation
72match
Rail reform: the rail transformation programme
Over the next year, DfT should develop its understanding of how it can successfully deliver rail reform, including any potential pilots it could undertake, so that it is well placed to advise ministers early in the next Parliament. This work should include areas such as: ? conducting a lessons learned exercise from its planning and delivery of rail...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson, major
NAO recommendation
72match
High Speed Two: Euston
As part of planning an affordable and deliverable station, DfT and HS2 Ltd should learn lessons from how other projects have approached a reset, including those we set out in our report on resetting major programmes. This will include having clear aims for the reset and establishing clear measures to monitor its success.
Matched on
terms: lesson, major, project
PFD report
69match
Esther Jones
The coroner identified substantial delays in completing Serious Incident Reviews (SIRs) and sharing them with the coroner and family. This could hinder the timely dissemination of lessons learned and delay the coroner's own investigations, potentially limiting the effectiveness of PFD reports.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
PFD report
69match
Gordon Penistan
The coroner noted that adult services in other local authorities could benefit from lessons learned from shortcomings identified and addressed by Hampshire County Council following this death.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
69match
#15 - 1st Report - The Ukraine Effect: The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the UK–EU...
Looking beyond the current crisis to the longer-term, we consider that the objective should be to ensure that lessons learned from this intensive phase of international cooperation on sanctions are retained and applied in other contexts, including where there may not be the same level of unity among Western countries. To achieve that, we see value in a...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
69match
#13 - 1st Report - An analysis of the asylum system
We also examined lessons learned from recent accommodation initiatives. The NAO’s 2024 investigation into the acquisition of the Northeye site identified significant weaknesses in due diligence, 17 C&AG’s Report, paras 2.8, 2.11-2.16 18 Q 5 19 Qq 17, 137 20 C&AG’s Report, paras 13, 2.9 21 Qq, 5, 52-54 22 C&AG’s Report, para 2.12 23 Qq 51-52 24...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
NAO recommendation
69match
The government’s resources and waste reforms for England
Defra should carry out a lessons-learned exercise in advance of the formal evaluation of the reforms to determine practical steps that could be taken to help avoid the challenges it has faced recurring in its future resources and waste work. This should include an analysis of how Defra will ensure it improves its approach to: ? setting programmes...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
NAO recommendation
69match
Supporting local economic growth
• capture and apply lessons learned at key points in the design and delivery of new local growth funds.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
ICIBI recommendation
67match
A further inspection of the EU Settlement Scheme (July 2020 – March 2021)
Recommendation 2 Making best use of management information (MI) and ‘lessons learned’ and ‘improvements made’ stories, expand and regularly update its messaging regarding the length of time an application will take to process, making clear both how long it is taking for the majority of applications and the reasons why it may take longer for others. Regarding applications...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson, major
Inquiry recommendation
65match
RHI-44 - NIAO Progress Assessment Role
The recommendations for change made here, to the extent they are adopted, will take time to implement; they may indeed not even be sufficient to address the range of shortcomings revealed by the Inquiry. The Inquiry therefore recommends a role in future for the Northern Ireland Audit Office in assessing and validating the extent of progress in implementing...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Inquiry recommendation
65match
MAI-127 - Robust debrief systems for multi-agency exercises
The Home Office and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities should ensure that there exist robust national and local systems and sufficient resources to make sure that the debrief process following multi-agency exercises is effective to capture the lessons that need to be learned.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
65match
#130 - 1st Report - Cutting crime: better community sentences
In our search for best practices in the delivery of non-custodial sentences, it was suggested that âYouth Justice Services seem to be doing much betterâ than the adult Probation Service. 243 The Minister for Prisons and Probation, Damian Hinds MP, agreed that âthere definitely are lessons to be learnedâ from Youth Justice Services. 244 Witnesses identified key differences...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
65match
#37 - 1st Report - The Ukraine Effect: The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the UK–EU...
Recent post-war reconstruction efforts in Europe, notably in the Western Balkans, have a mixed record in terms of achieving their longer-term objectives. The UK, the EU and other participants in the reconstruction of Ukraine should reflect on what lessons can be learned from this experience, including the effectiveness of mechanisms intended to incentivise reforms. We ask the Government...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
65match
#25 - 15th Report - Government's intervention in British Steel Ltd
We asked the Department what lessons it had learned from the intervention. The Department told us it has a centre of expertise on economic shocks, which has developed frameworks and “playbooks” to use in emerging situations. The centre gathers evidence on warning signs from public data and sector engagement. The Department said it had reflected on whether it...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
65match
#12 - 12th Report - Government compensation schemes
We asked the Departments how they had learned lessons from what went wrong with earlier compensation schemes. DBT told us that it learnt lessons as it continued to administer the Horizon IT compensation schemes and applied the learning from earlier schemes to its more recent ones.25 For example, Sir Alan Bates criticised the Horizon Group Litigation Order Scheme,...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
65match
#9 - 1st Report - Shifting heaven and earth? The Afghan data breach and resettlement schemes
The government should, in response to this report, publish the lessons it has learned from the Afghan data-breach injunction and set out clear principles governing when it or any other public body may exceptionally seek an injunction preventing disclosure of a matter of widespread public interest. Those principles should include requirements for: periodic reassessment of necessity and proportionality...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
65match
#24 - 11th Report - Unlocking land for housing
We also asked how the Department intends to ensure that lessons are learned and applied early in the life of the NHDF. The Department told us that it is designing its evaluation with clear review points so that it can learn lessons continuously and amend its approach to delivering the NHDF.59 In its letter following the session the...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
65match
#5 - 11th Report - Unlocking land for housing
The Department failed to put in place external evaluation at the launch of the NHDF, risking gaps in early data collection and limiting opportunities for timely improvements. Despite launching the NHDF in March 2026 the Department has given itself another twelve months to finish its scoping and feasibility work for external evaluation. It is important the Department concludes...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
Committee recommendation
65match
#5 - 1st Report – Employment support for disabled people: Connect to Work
In response to our report, we ask that DWP provide an update on programme mobilisation, including the agreement of delivery plans and what steps it took to reduce delays, and set out what lessons it has learned that could be applied to the rollout of similar employment support programmes in the future. (Recommendation, Paragraph 38)
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
NAO recommendation
65match
Increasing the capacity of the prison estate to meet demand
MoJ should improve its case for bolstering the resilience of the estate by evaluating: lessons learned from delivering the prison expansion portfolio; and
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
NAO recommendation
65match
Progress with the merger of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID)
The Cabinet Office should routinely gather and disseminate lessons learned from organisational changes across government. It should engage with all departments who have undergone MoG changes to obtain lessons learned and use this to review, update and publish its guidance on MoG changes at least every two years.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
NAO recommendation
64match
NHSE's management of elective care transformation programmes
The national level oversight board should play an active role in ensuring that lessons are learned on and between the transformation programmes. Practical steps may include reviews, workshops or problem-solving sessions to allow everyone involved to share their perspectives and experiences, and giving people the opportunity to work alongside other teams.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
NAO recommendation
64match
Government's general grant schemes
To achieve greater, proportionate monitoring and evaluation of grant schemes, the Grants Management Function should: (h) work with departments and the Evaluation Task Force to explore different approaches to identifying, sharing and using lessons learned, to inform and improve the design of future grant schemes.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
NAO recommendation
64match
Investigation into the UNBOXED festival
identify lessons for the future from the experience of how projects have performed against their targets, including on cost and attendance, and the split between physical and digital/broadcast audiences;
Matched on
terms: lesson, project
NAO recommendation
64match
Improving Single Living Accommodation
The Department (and specifically, DIO) should work with the Commands to introduce, as soon as possible, a booking system that is easy to use and reduces costs. It must ensure lessons have been learned from its previous experiences and from overseas defence bodies which have developed similar systems.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
NAO recommendation
60match
Support for innovation to deliver net zero
DSIT, working with DESNZ, should by October 2023 identify the lessons learned from the development of the cross-government Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework. These lessons should be documented and actively considered in future to aid consistent and effective support across government for innovation objectives, while recognising that there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. The aim should be...
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
IMB recommendation
60match
Cookham Wood (2024)
The Board recommends that there should be close scrutiny of the decisions taken in this restructure and re-roling of a YOI to determine lessons learned and how those lessons are being disseminated.
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
IMB recommendation
60match
Lowdham Grange (2024)
Have lessons been learned from the transfer of prison management from one private provider to another at HMP Lowdham Grange, and is action being taken to avoid the significant negative impact on prisoners and staff occurring at any future transfer between private prison operators?
Matched on
terms: learned, lesson
PFD report
57match
Leah Barber
Bradford Council lacked a single point of overview or a system for coordinating its various departments' involvement with the deceased child, both before and after her death. This absence made it difficult for the Council to identify and learn lessons from the case.
Matched on
terms: lesson
Committee recommendation
57match
#17 - 12th Report - Government compensation schemes
We asked the departments whether they agree that there needs to be more co-design with victims on future schemes as early as possible. The Cabinet Office told us that co-design is essential for compensation schemes, because it believes it is the only way schemes can build trust with victims and affected communities. It acknowledged that it is a...
Matched on
terms: lesson
Committee recommendation
57match
#14 - 12th Report - Government compensation schemes
We asked the Cabinet Office whether there should be a permanent body within government that is learning lessons from what went wrong with earlier schemes. Cabinet Office told us that it is the natural place for such learning, considering it is the cross-cutting and co-ordinating centre of government. It also said its wider work is trying to change...
Matched on
terms: lesson
Committee recommendation
57match
#13 - 12th Report - Government compensation schemes
Sir Alan Bates told us of the importance of establishing an organisation that learns lessons from those involved with compensation schemes, including for example victims and lawyers.29 Shaila Pal, Director of the King’s Legal Clinic at King’s College London and author of a comparative analysis of the Windrush Compensation Scheme, said that an advisory group with significant learning...
Matched on
terms: lesson
Committee recommendation
57match
#1 - 2nd Report - The work of the UK Statistics Authority
The transition from the Labour Force Survey to the Transformed Labour Force Survey has not been handled well enough and the result has been significant reputational damage to the ONS. Project management for the Transformed Labour Force Survey was poor. Churn amongst Senior Responsible Owners was notable and the ONS seemed to lose sight of the original aim...
Matched on
terms: project
NAO recommendation
57match
Investigation into the East West Rail project (Oxford – Cambridge)
To maintain an affordable programme of work, DfT and EWR Co should reflect on learning from other recent rail projects and assure themselves that they have adequate controls and governance in place to monitor and manage costs.
Matched on
terms: project