Government 'lacks capability' to address long-standing digital procurement issues
06 Jun Commercial

Government 'lacks capability' to address long-standing digital procurement issues

Public Accounts Committee warns of “an insufficient level of digital commercial skills across departments”
by Tevye Markson
If the government is serious about closing the SME gap, it must go beyond ticking boxes and embrace structural change
29 May Commercial
If the government is serious about closing the SME gap, it must go beyond ticking boxes and embrace structural change
Home Office seeks 'AI infrastructure delivery partner'
28 May Commercial
Home Office seeks 'AI infrastructure delivery partner'
DBT seeks watchdog's advice on £136m Post Office subsidy to replace Horizon IT system
01 May Commercial
DBT seeks watchdog's advice on £136m Post Office subsidy to replace Horizon IT system
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"
NAO calls for crackdown on 'poor-quality' procurement frameworks
26 Jul 2024 Commercial
NAO calls for crackdown on 'poor-quality' procurement frameworks
Report says Cabinet Office headcount cap has hampered work of Crown Commercial Service
Scope 3 Maturity Benchmark 2024: Insights for a sustainable future Partner Content
25 Jul 2024 Commercial
Scope 3 Maturity Benchmark 2024: Insights for a sustainable future
Reducing supply chain emissions is crucial to tackling the climate crisis, yet many organisations remain at an early stage of maturity, puzzled by the "what" and "how". Proxima offers insights to get you started
Cabinet Office signs £7m deal for cross-government learning platform
25 Jul 2024 Commercial
Cabinet Office signs £7m deal for cross-government learning platform
Pearson will develop Government Skills Campus digital platform that will help map skills across government
Stronger legislation and data needed boost social value in public procurement, report says
11 Jul 2024 Commercial
Stronger legislation and data needed boost social value in public procurement, report says
Demos calls for "Making Public Spending Digital" programme to digitise public sector procurement data
MoD recruits consultancy firm to accelerate use of AI and automation
18 Jun 2024 Commercial
MoD recruits consultancy firm to accelerate use of AI and automation
Deal worth £9m will "build upon the existing automation and digitalisation capabilities across defence", contract says
Public site for government evaluations delayed due to resourcing issues
31 May 2024 Commercial
Public site for government evaluations delayed due to resourcing issues
Registry developed after watchdog MPs raised concerns over use and transparency of evaluations across government
Practical considerations for the PEPOS, informally known as Purdah Partner Content
30 May 2024 Commercial
Practical considerations for the PEPOS, informally known as Purdah
With the election campaign in full swing, commercial teams will need to be careful about initiating and concluding procurements but balance that with the need to continue with normal business to support delivering public service
Cat Little apologises for error over contract termination
23 May 2024 Commercial
Cat Little apologises for error over contract termination
The cabinet office permanent secretary said formal termination was "through a negotiated settlement agreement with the supplier" rather than "non-performance" as she previously stated
Skills deficit leaves departments 'too reliant on suppliers' for major projects, MPs say
15 May 2024 Commercial
Skills deficit leaves departments 'too reliant on suppliers' for major projects, MPs say
A lack of project-management, technical and engineering skills is undermining projects, PAC report warns
GOV.UK 'brand refresh' to target 'broadest possible audience'
14 May 2024 Commercial
GOV.UK 'brand refresh' to target 'broadest possible audience'
GDS and commercial partners have begun a research process exploring ‘associations’ with proposed new designs
Treasury's Darlington hub to be completed by 2027
01 May 2024 Commercial
Treasury's Darlington hub to be completed by 2027
Construction on Darlington Economic Campus HQ will begin this year as GPA signs deal with Kier
Crown Commercial Service picks Home Office CCO as new chief exec
25 Apr 2024 Commercial
Crown Commercial Service picks Home Office CCO as new chief exec
Cat Little says Sam Ulyatt "has a wealth of experience in leading and finding solutions to complex commercial challenges"
Spending-control breach sparks Cabinet Office drive to boost compliance
22 Apr 2024 Commercial
Spending-control breach sparks Cabinet Office drive to boost compliance
Cat Little responds to MPs' concerns over whether Cabinet Office is on top of compliance duties given its own agency broke rules
How the civil engineering industry is harnessing innovation for continuous improvement Partner Content
15 Apr 2024 Commercial
How the civil engineering industry is harnessing innovation for continuous improvement
Malcolm Dare, Commercial and Procurement Executive Director of National Highways, tells Proxima about the supplier ecosystem and efficient procurement emerging from the upcoming Road Period 3 under the Government’s Road Investment Strategy
Cabinet Office signs up fake news-detection firm to track disinformation
03 Apr 2024 Commercial
Cabinet Office signs up fake news-detection firm to track disinformation
International comms unit will use the tool to “track and identity disinformation trends and false actors”
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