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
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
New Civil Service Jobs website will 'remove painful processes', Cabinet Office says as bidding opens
28 Sep 2023 Commercial
New Civil Service Jobs website will 'remove painful processes', Cabinet Office says as bidding opens
Replacement service will "increase ease of use", department says as suppliers are invited to bid for £20m contract
Civil servants are losing trust in the wider public sector – and each other
20 Sep 2023 Commercial
Civil servants are losing trust in the wider public sector – and each other
Survey reveals falling trust in the wider public sector among officials – while trust in private partners rises
Supply chain considerations when taking back a PFI Partner Content
18 Sep 2023 Commercial
Supply chain considerations when taking back a PFI
With many PFIs set to expire, Proxima's Vice President Susan Hilgers takes a look at the steps to tackle this shift