Government 'lacks capability' to address longstanding digital procurement issues
06 Jun Commercial

Government 'lacks capability' to address longstanding digital procurement issues

Public Accounts Committee warns of “an insufficient level of digital commercial skills across departments”
by Tevye Markson
Industrial strategy: Civil service reforms aim to build 'enduring partnership' with business
23 Jun Commercial
Industrial strategy: Civil service reforms aim to build 'enduring partnership' with business
Outsourced staff accept 'groundbreaking' pay and benefits offer
12 Jun Commercial
Outsourced staff accept 'groundbreaking' pay and benefits offer
DSIT building 'one-stop tech shop' for public sector procurement
09 Jun Commercial
DSIT building 'one-stop tech shop' for public sector procurement
Delving under the surface – how government can save billions by tackling fraud and error
21 Mar 2024 Commercial
Delving under the surface – how government can save billions by tackling fraud and error
The National Audit Office is increasingly focusing on how government is tackling fraud and error and, as the NAO's director of fraud and propriety Joshua Reddaway argues, billions could be saved by getting this right
GPA appoints strategic partners for capital programmes
06 Mar 2024 Commercial
GPA appoints strategic partners for capital programmes
North American consultants will provide design and specialist services for the hubs programme and Whitehall Campus
Setting the course: Gareth Rhys Williams discusses 2024 priorities Partner Content
06 Mar 2024 Commercial
Setting the course: Gareth Rhys Williams discusses 2024 priorities
Proxima’s Simon Payne speaks with the government's chief commercial officer in time for the annual CPO report, setting out priorities for the year ahead
Cabinet Office eyes up 'centralised, standardised' supply of laptops and phones for civil servants
04 Mar 2024 Commercial
Cabinet Office eyes up 'centralised, standardised' supply of laptops and phones for civil servants
Consultants commissioned for research on streamlining provision of essential tech
Chisholm admits in-house Crown Consultancy project was 'too difficult'
28 Feb 2024 Commercial
Chisholm admits in-house Crown Consultancy project was 'too difficult'
But Cabinet Office perm sec insists new arrangements to cut consultancy spending are working
Public sector procurement — Practical impact of AI Partner Content
20 Feb 2024 Commercial
Public sector procurement — Practical impact of AI
Susan Hilgers from Proxima and Ian Makgill of Spend Network discuss some of the practical impacts on public sector buyers and suppliers that the increasingly used new technology is having
Proxima publishes latest guidance on embedding social value into the supply chain Partner Content
08 Feb 2024 Commercial
Proxima publishes latest guidance on embedding social value into the supply chain
New online report has been developed in response to the increasing need for organisations to deliver social value
Cabinet Office signs six-figure deal for dashboard to track progress on UK's cyber goals
06 Feb 2024 Commercial
Cabinet Office signs six-figure deal for dashboard to track progress on UK's cyber goals
Consultancy will produce data in digital format that is "easily digestible for decision makers"
Top official pushes back on 'uncompetitive' procurement claims
30 Jan 2024 Commercial
Top official pushes back on 'uncompetitive' procurement claims
Chief commercial officer says PAC report implies "extending a competed contract is always poor commercial practice"
Embedding social value into procurement: National Highways’ social enterprise dynamic purchasing system Partner Content
16 Jan 2024 Commercial
Embedding social value into procurement: National Highways’ social enterprise dynamic purchasing system
Beth Bradley-Smith, principal consultant at Proxima, and Jo Wilkes, head of procurement at National Highways, describe how National Highways has enabled social enterprises to bid for contracts with the public sector that are typically out of reach
Ministry of Justice sells Reading Prison
12 Jan 2024 Commercial
Ministry of Justice sells Reading Prison
Former prison site has lay empty for 10 years
Be brave and be creative: Removing barriers to third-sector involvement in public contracts Partner Content
19 Dec 2023 Commercial
Be brave and be creative: Removing barriers to third-sector involvement in public contracts
Andrew Stephenson, National Highways Procurement Director, and Jo Wilkes, Head of Procurement, tell Proxima what has worked for them and their VCSE suppliers
CCS offering up to £227k for next chief exec
18 Dec 2023 Commercial
CCS offering up to £227k for next chief exec
Simon Tse will retire from the role next year
Government can't show value for money on billions in public procurement, MPs warn
13 Dec 2023 Commercial
Government can't show value for money on billions in public procurement, MPs warn
"Significant issues" with contract data could be costing the taxpayer billions, Public Accounts Committee says
£1bn 'at risk' in disputed pandemic PPE contracts signed by DHSC
22 Nov 2023 Commercial
£1bn 'at risk' in disputed pandemic PPE contracts signed by DHSC
Health department in negotiations over 36 contracts, with 3.8 billion items of PPE procured for Covid deemed not fit for purpose
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
14 Nov 2023 Commercial
Maude: Appoint chief functional officers to tackle 'diluted authority and mandate'
Perm sec-level officials should lead push to streamline and strengthen digital, HR, commercial and other functions, review finds
Sinking companies: how should government navigate troubled waters?
07 Nov 2023 Commercial
Sinking companies: how should government navigate troubled waters?
Intervening in distressed companies can be complex, costly and require skills not widely held across government. The National Audit Office's new report and guide aim to help government maximise its resilience against the risks of company failure and be better prepared when confronted with these situations
Cabinet Office to sell stake in shared-services firm SSCL
24 Oct 2023 Commercial
Cabinet Office to sell stake in shared-services firm SSCL
Around half of the £82.3m from SSCL sale will be used to improve cross-government productivity, department says
Defra hires conflict resolution firm after bullying cases soar
19 Oct 2023 Commercial
Defra hires conflict resolution firm after bullying cases soar
Firm will help department to support colleagues “through difficult times”
Auditor KPMG hit with ‘record’ £21m fine for Carillion failings
13 Oct 2023 Commercial
Auditor KPMG hit with ‘record’ £21m fine for Carillion failings
Scrutiny of collapsed outsourcer’s finances was “very bad, over an extended period”, boss admits
HS2 'assessing impact' of cancellation on contracts
10 Oct 2023 Commercial
HS2 'assessing impact' of cancellation on contracts
Signed contracts include £300m of framework agreements signed shortly before cancellation of Manchester leg
Preparing for Procurement Reform: Three proactive steps Partner Content
09 Oct 2023 Commercial
Preparing for Procurement Reform: Three proactive steps
Susan Hilgers, Vice President, Public Sector at Proxima, shares practical steps to prepare for the Procurement Bill
Former Carillion chief exec hit with 8-year boardroom ban
05 Oct 2023 Commercial
Former Carillion chief exec hit with 8-year boardroom ban
Richard Howson was responsible for company accounts that "falsified and concealed the reality of the deterioration" of major contracts, Insolvency Service says
Braverman refuses to let MPs see 'commercially sensitive' details of Rwanda deal Exclusive
29 Sep 2023 Commercial
Braverman refuses to let MPs see 'commercially sensitive' details of Rwanda deal
Home secretary turns down PAC's request to read details of UK-Rwanda asylum agreement in a private room