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8 Jun 15
The proposed Garden Bridge across the Thames is an object lesson in how political initiatives can rub up against technocratic process. Reforming EU procurement legislation could allow big ideas to...
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5 Jun 15
The public sector procurement function does not enjoy the status that it does in the private sector. This needs to change if we are to continue to drive efficiencies and add value
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20 May 15
Chris Naylor has moved from suburban Barnet, and the London borough’s controversial outsourcing of public services, to be chief executive at working class Barking & Dagenham, where he sees...
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1 May 15
The public sector is spending far more than private firms on outsourced services, despite a very patchy history of delivery. What can be done to promote better outcomes, particularly in value for...
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24 Apr 15
Public sector organisations like councils and colleges can do much to work with suppliers on their doorstep and stimulate local economies. In Lancashire work is underway to ‘repatriate’...
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13 Apr 15
There are strong reasons for profit capping and sharing in outsourcing deals, including bolstering moves to introduce universal accounting standards for all public service contracts. However, there...
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30 Mar 15
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has committed to adopting a set of standardised transparency provisions in government outsourcing contracts. This is an important step in making these deals more...
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26 Mar 15
The next government should introduce an ‘open book’ approach to outsourcing contracts to increase transparency and value for money, CIPFA has said.
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25 Mar 15
The Private Finance Initiative has come in for some harsh criticism over the years, decried as inflexible and expensive. But with the right approach, PFI can deliver significant savings and improved...
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20 Mar 15
Serco’s losses should be a wake-up call for both outsourcers and politicians. We need a review of the impact of and conditions for successful public sector outsourcing.
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16 Mar 15
More than two-thirds of people think information about public sector outsourcing deals should be made more accessible and transparent, according to a survey.
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18 Feb 15
From the stellar wages of on-screen stars to the value offered by the licence fee, the BBC’s finances are often in the public eye. It is perhaps surprising to find Anne Bulford, managing director of...
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17 Dec 14
A decision by the Department for Transport to centrally procure trains for the East Coast, Great Western and Thameslink lines has left taxpayers bearing all the risk of a £10.5bn programme, the...
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10 Dec 14
Government outsourcing deals for public services are in ‘crisis’ as contractors have not shown appropriate duty of care for public money and Whitehall departments have not managed the arrangements...
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30 Sep 14
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has defended the government’s use of private- and third-sector providers in the NHS as a way to improve the efficiency of the service.
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4 Sep 14
The government still has a long way to go before it has proper control of the £40bn it spends annually on contracts with the private sector, the National Audit Office has said.
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7 Jul 14
The public sector is spending almost twice as much on outsourced services as the private sector, research has found.
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28 May 14
The government is prepared to back the introduction of open-book accounting for public sector outsourcing contracts, a senior figure in the industry has said
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12 May 14
Public corporations are a sensible alternative to the use of privatised suppliers. But they are being held back by an outdated reputation and weird accounting rules
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5 Mar 14
Public service outsourcing firms today said they were willing to start using open-book accounting and allow their contracts to be scrutinised by the National Audit Office
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15 Jan 14
Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has hailed changes to streamline European Union procurement rules as a win for the UK
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30 Sep 13
The Ministry of Justice’s approach to outsourcing probation contracts will be a test of the government’s commitment to voluntary, social, mutual and co-operative organisations. Many fear...
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5 Jun 13
Public sector procurement needs to become increasingly commercial in its approach. Better market intelligence and contract management are key to doing it smarter
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4 Feb 13
Outsourcing hit the news for all the wrong reasons last year, putting traditional contracts under scrutiny. So what does the future hold? As the public sector grapples with huge cuts, expect new...
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6 Jun 12
Ministry of Justice plans for more private sector prisons are expected to bring innovation and cut re-offending. But critics are warning about the risks to staffing levels and an erosion of...
8 Jun 15The proposed Garden Bridge across the Thames is an object lesson in how political initiatives can rub up against technocratic process. Reforming EU procurement legislation could allow big ideas to...
5 Jun 15The public sector procurement function does not enjoy the status that it does in the private sector. This needs to change if we are to continue to drive efficiencies and add value
20 May 15Chris Naylor has moved from suburban Barnet, and the London borough’s controversial outsourcing of public services, to be chief executive at working class Barking & Dagenham, where he sees...
1 May 15The public sector is spending far more than private firms on outsourced services, despite a very patchy history of delivery. What can be done to promote better outcomes, particularly in value for...
13 Apr 15There are strong reasons for profit capping and sharing in outsourcing deals, including bolstering moves to introduce universal accounting standards for all public service contracts. However, there...
30 Mar 15Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has committed to adopting a set of standardised transparency provisions in government outsourcing contracts. This is an important step in making these deals more...
26 Mar 15The next government should introduce an ‘open book’ approach to outsourcing contracts to increase transparency and value for money, CIPFA has said.
25 Mar 15The Private Finance Initiative has come in for some harsh criticism over the years, decried as inflexible and expensive. But with the right approach, PFI can deliver significant savings and improved...
16 Mar 15More than two-thirds of people think information about public sector outsourcing deals should be made more accessible and transparent, according to a survey.
18 Feb 15From the stellar wages of on-screen stars to the value offered by the licence fee, the BBC’s finances are often in the public eye. It is perhaps surprising to find Anne Bulford, managing director of...
17 Dec 14A decision by the Department for Transport to centrally procure trains for the East Coast, Great Western and Thameslink lines has left taxpayers bearing all the risk of a £10.5bn programme, the...
4 Sep 14The government still has a long way to go before it has proper control of the £40bn it spends annually on contracts with the private sector, the National Audit Office has said.
28 May 14The government is prepared to back the introduction of open-book accounting for public sector outsourcing contracts, a senior figure in the industry has said
12 May 14Public corporations are a sensible alternative to the use of privatised suppliers. But they are being held back by an outdated reputation and weird accounting rules
5 Mar 14Public service outsourcing firms today said they were willing to start using open-book accounting and allow their contracts to be scrutinised by the National Audit Office
30 Sep 13The Ministry of Justice’s approach to outsourcing probation contracts will be a test of the government’s commitment to voluntary, social, mutual and co-operative organisations. Many fear...
5 Jun 13Public sector procurement needs to become increasingly commercial in its approach. Better market intelligence and contract management are key to doing it smarter
4 Feb 13Outsourcing hit the news for all the wrong reasons last year, putting traditional contracts under scrutiny. So what does the future hold? As the public sector grapples with huge cuts, expect new...
6 Jun 12Ministry of Justice plans for more private sector prisons are expected to bring innovation and cut re-offending. But critics are warning about the risks to staffing levels and an erosion of...
