Why is it so hard to sell an idea to government (even one that could make millions for the public purse)?
04 Apr Commercial

Why is it so hard to sell an idea to government (even one that could make millions for the public purse)?

To an outsider, reaching the right civil servants with an idea that could revolutionise services or save money seems impossible
by Jon McKnight
'Compassion is cost effective': How the third sector is driving success in high-profile government contracts
16 Apr Commercial
'Compassion is cost effective': How the third sector is driving success in high-profile government contracts
Growing digital profession will help government shed 7,000 contractors, Little tells MPs
11 Apr Commercial
Growing digital profession will help government shed 7,000 contractors, Little tells MPs
Home Office set to dump major asylum-accommodation provider
25 Mar Commercial
Home Office set to dump major asylum-accommodation provider
Government to freeze thousands of civil service procurement cards
18 Mar Commercial
Government to freeze thousands of civil service procurement cards
"Wasteful spending" crackdown aims to reduce credit-card use by more than 50%
Plan to overhaul 'overly complex' digital funding models promises 'paradigm shift'
13 Mar Commercial
Plan to overhaul 'overly complex' digital funding models promises 'paradigm shift'
After a review that revealed delays and inefficiencies, government will trial a quartet of mechanisms for staged, portfolio and risk-based funding methods
To manage innovation, governments must fix procurement 
11 Mar Commercial
To manage innovation, governments must fix procurement 
Procurement systems should be like good software: fluid, flexible, and constantly evolving. Realising this transformation requires more than changing rules
Ministers mull creating 'Commercial Innovation Hub' for departments
14 Feb Commercial
Ministers mull creating 'Commercial Innovation Hub' for departments
National Public Procurement Strategy looks to better align spending with government's five missions
Home Office spent nearly £100m on failed asylum accommodation
05 Feb Commercial
Home Office spent nearly £100m on failed asylum accommodation
Report into acquisition of HMP Northeye site urges Home Office to address its "dysfunctional" culture around commercial decisions
Government appoints new chief commercial officer
05 Feb Commercial
Government appoints new chief commercial officer
MoD director general Andrew Forzani says he is “extremely proud” to take on the role
DBS staff fix strike dates in customer-contact dispute
27 Nov 2024 Commercial
DBS staff fix strike dates in customer-contact dispute
Officials will stage two-day walkout as part of wider industrial action in run-up to Christmas
Private Finance Initiatives: A guide to successful transition Partner Content
20 Nov 2024 Commercial
Private Finance Initiatives: A guide to successful transition
Did you know the government recommends a seven-year lead time for PFI contract expiry planning? Proxima reviews the practicalities of managing these long-term agreements and avoiding costly mistakes
From MEAT to MAT: Balancing cost control with quality in public procurement Partner Content
31 Oct 2024 Commercial
From MEAT to MAT: Balancing cost control with quality in public procurement
Public sector procurement has undergone a subtle yet significant change with the transition from Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) to Most Advantageous Tender (MAT). Proxima takes a look at what this means for procurement professionals
MoD creates standalone defence procurement role
28 Oct 2024 Commercial
MoD creates standalone defence procurement role
Ministry of Defence says the bolstered director of armaments role will help to fix "broken" defence procurement system
Office for Investment 'revamped' with new minister
15 Oct 2024 Commercial
Office for Investment 'revamped' with new minister
"Larger and better equipped" unit now straddles No.10, the Department of Business and Trade and the Treasury
DWP security strike: GMB members vote to accept revised pay offer
08 Oct 2024 Commercial
DWP security strike: GMB members vote to accept revised pay offer
Outsourcer G4S says all staff will now get "the pay rise they deserve"
A practical guide to addressing Scope 3 within the public sector Partner Content
27 Sep 2024 Commercial
A practical guide to addressing Scope 3 within the public sector
Using insights from the 2024 Scope 3 Maturity Benchmark Report, Beth Bradley-Smith, Principal Consultant at Proxima, discusses public sector decarbonisation challenges and offers practical guidance on addressing sustainability initiatives
Departments scramble to deal with collapse of construction giant ISG
24 Sep 2024 Commercial
Departments scramble to deal with collapse of construction giant ISG
ISG had £1bn-plus pipeline of work for MoJ and other projects for DfE and DWP
Recruitment for government chief commercial officer opens seven months after departure announced
20 Sep 2024 Commercial
Recruitment for government chief commercial officer opens seven months after departure announced
Job advert goes live for £250k chief commercial officer job vacated by Gareth Rhys Williams
Government could save billions on procurement – IfG
20 Sep 2024 Commercial
Government could save billions on procurement – IfG
Report calls for end to automatic renewal of management consultancy contracts and increased transparency over spending
Security guards at departmental HQs weigh up strike action
19 Sep 2024 Commercial
Security guards at departmental HQs weigh up strike action
PCS members on G4S's security contract are considering walkouts at the Old Admiralty Building and 10 Victoria Street
DfE signs £6m deal for ‘cyber specialists’
17 Sep 2024 Commercial
DfE signs £6m deal for ‘cyber specialists’
Specialist tech consultancy will provide expert personnel in disciplines including analysis and management of vulnerabilities, and responding to incidents
Treasury offers £84k for Covid corruption tsar
12 Sep 2024 Commercial
Treasury offers £84k for Covid corruption tsar
Treasury-based commissioner will work closely with officials and ministers across government, including in DHSC and Public Sector Fraud Authority
Consultancy spending yet to drop to pre-pandemic levels
02 Sep 2024 Commercial
Consultancy spending yet to drop to pre-pandemic levels
DESNZ was biggest central-government spender last year as cross-public sector spending on consultants hit £3.4bn
Understanding the new procurement rules with Steve Wallis, VP at Proxima Partner Content
28 Aug 2024 Commercial
Understanding the new procurement rules with Steve Wallis, VP at Proxima
Hands up everybody who knows what is in the National Procurement Policy Statement. Thought so ...
Can AI take the strain when it comes to contract management? Partner Content
05 Aug 2024 Commercial
Can AI take the strain when it comes to contract management?
Proxima’s Susan Hilgers looks at the new procurement rules and how to solve the increasing demand for contract management
Departments told to shave 2% off admin budgets and stop 'unnecessary' consultancy spend
29 Jul 2024 Commercial
Departments told to shave 2% off admin budgets and stop 'unnecessary' consultancy spend
Reeves orders immediate halt to “non-essential” spending on consultants and government comms amid savings push
Civil service learning contracts extended by £150m amid 'high demand' Exclusive
29 Jul 2024 Commercial
Civil service learning contracts extended by £150m amid 'high demand'
Year-long extension to KPMG and EY contracts comes after training demand "increased beyond levels originally forecast"