Consultancy spending yet to drop to pre-pandemic levels
02 Sep 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
by Beckie Smith
MoD creates standalone defence procurement role
28 Oct Commercial
MoD creates standalone defence procurement role
Office for Investment 'revamped' with new minister
15 Oct Commercial
Office for Investment 'revamped' with new minister
DWP security strike: GMB members vote to accept revised pay offer
08 Oct Commercial
DWP security strike: GMB members vote to accept revised pay offer
Should a 'More for Less' strategy be the focus for Public Sector Buyers - again? Sponsored
14 Oct 2020 Commercial
Should a 'More for Less' strategy be the focus for Public Sector Buyers - again?
Could re-using the successful 'More for Less' strategy help public sector buyers focus on suppliers' costs at this challenging time? Proxima investigates
LISTEN: Government commercial chief Gareth Rhys Williams on the procurement challenges of Covid Exclusive
14 Oct 2020 Commercial
LISTEN: Government commercial chief Gareth Rhys Williams on the procurement challenges of Covid
The government’s top commercial official speaks to CSW about the pressures, and lessons, from the government’s response to coronavirus
Opinion: Dominic Cummings is keen to make the UK a technology superpower. He should change procurement rules to make it happen
13 Oct 2020 Commercial
Opinion: Dominic Cummings is keen to make the UK a technology superpower. He should change procurement rules to make it happen
Innovation is stifled by public sector procurement rules. Brexit, and the Integrated Review, offer a chance to change that, says Simon Harwood, the head of defence and security at Cranfield University
Cabinet Office to pay £300k for mobile data tracking to 'prevent Covid transmission risk'
13 Oct 2020 Commercial
Cabinet Office to pay £300k for mobile data tracking to 'prevent Covid transmission risk'
"Mobile-based location services and digital advertising experts" to monitor footfall and social distancing in shopping "hotspots"
Amazon hosting deal with GDS doubles to £6.6m as minister fends off questions over UK chief’s advisory role
06 Oct 2020 Commercial
Amazon hosting deal with GDS doubles to £6.6m as minister fends off questions over UK chief’s advisory role
New contract came into effect on 1 July, as minister claims "robust measures" in place to mitigate against possible conflicts of interest
New social value evaluation prompts green recovery Sponsored
05 Oct 2020 Commercial
New social value evaluation prompts green recovery
For years, delivering on social responsibility has been a growing priority for the public sector. The refreshed Social Value Act could mean significant progress, writes Proxima.
Civil service “infantilised” by use of consultants, Cabinet Office minister says
30 Sep 2020 Commercial
Civil service “infantilised” by use of consultants, Cabinet Office minister says
Letter seen by the Guardian criticises official capacity to deliver Brexit
Deliver social value to win contracts, government tells suppliers
25 Sep 2020 Commercial
Deliver social value to win contracts, government tells suppliers
Commercial officials to get training in new rules to take account of the wider impact of firms bidding for work from departments
The public and private sectors can learn from each other Sponsored
22 Sep 2020 Commercial
The public and private sectors can learn from each other
Stefano Jefferson, a senior consultant at Proxima, makes the case for a two-way learning process
NAO to probe transparency of government procurement during pandemic
21 Sep 2020 Commercial
NAO to probe transparency of government procurement during pandemic
Auditor general says spending watchdog will produce ‘detailed piece of work’
Government Commercial Function seeks to improve Whitehall procurement info with £1.5m data lake
26 Aug 2020 Commercial
Government Commercial Function seeks to improve Whitehall procurement info with £1.5m data lake
Information resource seeks to bring in more data from a greater range of departmental sources
The (Updated) Outsourcing Playbook, an essential aid for commercial professionals Sponsored
11 Aug 2020 Commercial
The (Updated) Outsourcing Playbook, an essential aid for commercial professionals
Proxima's John Collington provides a concise overview of the new Outsourcing Playbook, a 62-page document which is essential reading for all commercial professionals
Labour demands ‘rapid reform’ of coronavirus contact tracing system with call to cut outsourcing funding
10 Aug 2020 Commercial
Labour demands ‘rapid reform’ of coronavirus contact tracing system with call to cut outsourcing funding
Government insists NHS Test and Trace is working alongside local action to tackle outbreaks
NAO to probe government’s PPE procurement amid concern £150m spent on 'unusable' masks
07 Aug 2020 Commercial
NAO to probe government’s PPE procurement amid concern £150m spent on 'unusable' masks
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove says officials ‘balanced the urgent need for PPE with the requirement to obtain value for money’
Public sector procurement sets the tone for navigating the post-COVID world Sponsored
27 Jul 2020 Commercial
Public sector procurement sets the tone for navigating the post-COVID world
While private sector organisations must reevaluate their frameworks for durability, the public sector is much better placed to make the necessary changes for a world post-COVID, argues Proxima's Simon Payne
Substitutability: Maybe government is less unique than it imagines Sponsored
06 Jul 2020 Commercial
Substitutability: Maybe government is less unique than it imagines
Is it in our best interests to assume our needs are unique, or should government procurement professionals look to ‘best fit’ substitutes? New observations from Proxima’s Guy Strafford, EVP
Renationalising outsourced services could improve quality and reliability, think tank says
19 Jun 2020 Commercial
Renationalising outsourced services could improve quality and reliability, think tank says

IfG report encouraging government to re-examine contracts comes as MoJ plans to bring probation services back in house
Public bodies may underestimate costs and complexity of ending PFI contracts – NAO
10 Jun 2020 Commercial
Public bodies may underestimate costs and complexity of ending PFI contracts – NAO

“Infrastructure could return to the public sector in an unsatisfactory condition and services could be disrupted,” watchdog warns
Departments use Brexit contracts to bring in consultants for Covid-19 support Exclusive
09 Jun 2020 Commercial
Departments use Brexit contracts to bring in consultants for Covid-19 support

Cabinet Office sets up “commercial clearing hub” where departments can bid for consultants
MPs slam MoD's 'utter failure' to improve contract management as nuclear project costs soar
18 May 2020 Commercial
MPs slam MoD's 'utter failure' to improve contract management as nuclear project costs soar

'The department knows it can’t go on like this,' says PAC chair
Labour demands ‘transparency and accountability’ over Covid-19 contracts handed to private sector
15 May 2020 Commercial
Labour demands ‘transparency and accountability’ over Covid-19 contracts handed to private sector

"The value and performance of government contracts... is a matter of public interest," shadow Cabinet Office minister says
Perm sec issues clarification on EU medical equipment scheme
22 Apr 2020 Commercial
Perm sec issues clarification on EU medical equipment scheme

FCO chief Sir Simon McDonald says he “inadvertently and wrongly” told MPs the UK had opted out of a procurement scheme
Unions call for public inquiry into ‘grotesque failure’ of PPE for health workers
21 Apr 2020 Commercial
Unions call for public inquiry into ‘grotesque failure’ of PPE for health workers

"Government must sort out the PPE crisis urgently," TUC chair says
Boris Johnson appoints PPE 'tsar' amid growing concerns over shortages for frontline NHS staff
20 Apr 2020 Commercial
Boris Johnson appoints PPE 'tsar' amid growing concerns over shortages for frontline NHS staff

Boris Johnson has appointed a PPE 'tsar' to boost manufacturing of protective equipment needed to protect NHS staff amid growing concerns supplies in hospitals are running low