The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones MP, has announced a series of reforms aimed at speeding up the delivery of major government projects and strengthening capability across the civil service.
Central to the changes is the creation of a new School of Government, which will train civil servants in key disciplines including programme and project management and delivery. The initiative will also promote the use of more agile delivery approaches where appropriate, drawing on lessons from the Vaccine Taskforce during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The reforms also include changes to civil service hiring processes, the handling of poor performance, and decision-making structures, all intended to improve efficiency and accountability in government delivery.
Responding to the announcement, Andrew Baldwin, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Association for Project Management (APM), said:
“Vast sums of taxpayers’ money are invested in major government projects. We need to know this money is being spent by competent professionals, backed up by professional qualifications in project management. The announcement of a new School of Government is therefore good news and will complement the great work already being done by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).
“We’re delighted to see more prominence being given to programme and project management and delivery. It sends the right message – that project delivery isn’t something that can be cobbled together at the last minute, but instead needs a long-term approach.
“And the focus on methodologies shows that delivery is being taken seriously. Agile isn’t right for every project, but it can benefit certain programmes. A greater understanding of what to use, and when to use it, is welcomed.”
The announcement closely reflects the recommendations of the recent All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Project Delivery report, Building a Better Future. The report calls for long-term investment to embed delivery as a permanent feature of government, addressing the so-called “valley of death” between policy and delivery. It also recommends mandatory project management training for Senior Civil Servants and for anyone managing a government project valued at more than £10 million.
APPG Chair Henry Tufnell MP added:
“With billions in public and private funding ready to flow into infrastructure projects over the next decade, we have a generational opportunity to change people’s lives for the better.
“Everything is pointing towards the need for a radical shift in how we deliver infrastructure projects.
“Offering project management and delivery training for senior civil servants, one of the key recommendations in our report, is the first step on this journey. Embedding project management and delivery into the civil service will support the success of future infrastructure projects.
“We urge the Government to consider the APPG’s other recommendations, which will clear the path towards better infrastructure delivery.”
APM welcomed the announcement, reinforcing its call for a “radical shift” in the Government’s approach to infrastructure and project delivery.
