Overview

The Public Services Network (PSN) will substantially reduce the cost of communication services across UK government and enable new, joined-up and shared public services for the benefit of citizens. PSN is creating one logical network, based on industry standards, and a more open and competitive ICT marketplace at the heart of the UK public sector.

Both the PSN connectivity and the services frameworks are now operational; the associated documentation is available on the Government Procurement Service (GPS) website.

PSN is at the heart of one objective of the Government ICT Strategy.PSN provides an assured network over which government can safely share services, including many G-Cloud services, to collaborate in new ways, more effectively and efficiently than ever before.

This is the latest Programme Director's interim update (August 2013) (PDF, 119KB, 4 pages)

Browse Public Services Network: FAQs (PDF, 519KB, 16 pages) for more information.

Start using PSN as a customer

Customers (buyers) are usually local authorities, central government departments, or other public sector body.

The guide, What is a PSN service explains more about the kinds of services you can purchase and the level of accreditation of those services.

Transfer to PSN for existing customers (GCF or GCSX)

On 1 February 2013, we:

• removed IL2 GCF Connectivity (GCSX Connectivity) as an available service from the GCF Catalogue
• reaccredited GCSX to IL2, supported by the interconnect between GCSX and PSN at IL2

These steps have been undertaken to facilitate transition to PSN and should not have an immediate impact on business.

A first step that GCF customers can take to begin preparing for PSN is to switch from the GSi code of connection to PSN. Providing there are currently no significant IA issues with your environment, the transition should be straightforward. Once certified for PSN, the annual CoCo assessment charge you already pay allows you to connect either to GSi or to the PSN, and so it allows you to switch to PSN when it is most convenient for you.

You will need:

• PSN code of connection (MS Word Document, 761KB)
• Annex B to the PSN code of connection (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.42MB)

For further information on the transition to PSN please see the Technical transition guidance , and PSNA Notice 1 of 2012: migration to PSNCoCo, Update.

Help with making a Code of Connection submission

To help with your submission use this example of a completed PSN Code Template Annex B, to guide you when you complete the template for your own organisation. It should be noted that it is an example: your systems, organisation and way of working will be unique to your organisation and this should be reflected in your submission.

• Help with filling in CoCo for Public Services Network: mistakes to avoid (PDF, 281KB, 2 pages)

For more help, contact the PSNA Compliance Team directly at psna.compliance@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk.

Using the PSN as a customer (buyer)

Government Procurement Service supports procurement professionals through the award and management of contracts within common categories of spend for use across the whole public sector. These deals are made available through the use of a suite of eEnablement tools providing efficiencies in procurement processes and reducing the resource requirements within individual organisations.

Customers wishing to access services under the PSN frameworks should use the GPS eSourcing suite to undertake a further competition. To maximise value, GPS will also be managing and running a series of Aggregated Further Competitions. Further details of these events will be available on the GPS website.

• PSN supplier compliance as of 22 January 2014 (PDF, 255KB, 5 pages)
• Marketplace management information for the Public Services Network, October 2013 (PDF, 412KB, 12 pages)

If you are planning to buy telecommunications services through national PSN frameworks established by the Government Procurement Service, these documents offer an overview of the services available via these frameworks and a guide to using them.

• National Frameworks brochure (PDF, 406KB, 6 pages)
• Guide to the PSN connectivity and services frameworks (PDF, 937KB, 67 pages)

Start using PSN as a PSN service provider

PSN service providers are organisations supplying or approved to supply ICT services over the PSN. The supplied PSN service is usually one of the following types:

• wide area network
• broadband
• telephony and call centres
• public videoconferencing service
• access to commercial databases
• secure conferencing services
• CCTV
• access to a government database
• data transfer via email
• virtual private network

Many providers have submitted their services for PSN Compliance, even ahead of securing a clear procurement channel. Here is a list of service providers who are in the process of achieving PSN Compliance.

• PSN supplier compliance as of 22 January 2014 (PDF, 255KB, 5 pages)

Applications from service providers for PSN Compliant services are welcome at psna.compliance@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. More information on the compliance process and the steps required can be found in PSN compliance process for suppliers (PDF, 405KB, 7 pages)

BSI standard 27001 has been revised. Read about the Impact of BSI 27001 on applications to join PSN (PDF, 71.2KB, 2 pages)

PSNGB industry association

The PSNGB is a trade association for any organisation or individual that provides PSN services to the public sector. It brings together the collective strength of suppliers in ways that allow them to change their market place for the better. The PSNGB continues the great work that has already been done in order to get the Public Services Network this far. PSNGB will continue to work to ensure that the Public Services Network is an efficient, dynamic and vibrant market place.

The transition to PSN

Central government departments and organisations across the wider public sector are advancing with plans to transition to PSN connectivity. We have produced and distributed a series of communications messages that will help ‘walk’ organisations through the transition process. Links to the messages are provided below and are in date order.

If your organisation is transitioning to PSN connectivity and you would like to speak to somebody who can help with any questions you may have, please contact your organisation’s nominated contact from this PSN project managers contact list (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 242KB)

GSI Convergence Framework and the transition to PSN Connectivity (5 March)

The letter below, signed by senior members of the GPS and PSN teams, sets the timeline and options for GCF customers to review their plans for obtaining PSN connectivity to ensure they retain access to GCF Services.

• GCF announcement: action required by 15 August 2013 (PDF, 308KB, 2 pages)

Options for transitioning to PSN Connectivity (15 March)

The letter below, signed by senior members of the GPS and PSN teams, sets out the options available for organisations transitioning to PSN connectivity, the critical timeline and asking for a response by 5 April with an indication of their transition approach.

• Options for transitioning: action required by 5 April 2013 (PDF, 303KB, 3 pages)

Supporting you through your transition to PSN connectivity (15 April)

The letter below, signed by senior members of the GPS and PSN teams, describes the steps organisations need take to complete their transition to PSN connectivity. It also explains the newly-launched PSN‘drop-in’ calls that will enable those involved with an organisation’s transition to talk with PSN experts.

• Supporting your transition to PSN connectivity (PDF, 357KB, 2 pages)

PSN Compliance - a zero tolerance approach to the PSN Code of Connection (29 April)

With PSN comes a significantly greater sharing of services and we need to ensure that connected organisations meet the agreed standard if we are to maintain trust across the infrastructure. As a result we need to substantially tighten and enforce the Compliance process. The letter below describes the Compliance regime, the escalation and termination procedure and where access to supporting materials can be found.

• PSN Compliance - a zero tolerance approach to the PSN Code of Connection (PDF, 384KB, 4 pages)

Choosing your transition date (20 May)

The letter below requests organisations to advise us on which date they plan to transition to PSN connectivity. It asks for a response, via a link to a webform, by 14 June.

• Choosing your transition date: action required by 14 June (PDF, 269KB, 1 page)

Tell us about the application services you use across GCSX/GSi (10 June)

The letter below asks organisations to identify and advise us which application services their organisation consumes across GSi (GSI, GCSX, GCX and GSE). It asks for a response, via a link to a webform, by 28 June.

• Tell us about the applications you use: action required by 28 June (PDF, 289KB, 2 pages)
• List of application services commonly used across GSi (PDF, 181KB, 2 pages)

Update on the zero-tolerance approach and the feedback received (27 June)

The letter below provides organisations with an update of the compliance position and addresses a number of the questions raised. It also outlines the assistance available.

• PSN Compliance Update (PDF, 299KB, 5 pages)

Supporting your transition with IA assistance (31 July)

The letter provides a reminder to transitioning organisations that we have specialist Information Assurance (IA) support within the PSNA team, which is available to support PSN compliance or completing your Code of Connection (CoCo) documentation.

• Supporting your transition - IA assistance (PDF, 238KB, 1 page)

First PSN transitions successfully completed (31 July)

The letter announces the first local authorities to transition to PSN connectivity.

• PSN first transitions completed (PDF, 235KB, 1 page)

Unmanaged end-user devices (6 August)

The letter details the issues around unmanaged end-user devices, presents a handling approach and includes a paper from CESG which describes the architectures in more detail.

• Action Notice - unmanaged end-user devices (PDF, 294KB, 3 pages)
• Unmanaged end-user devices access for local authorities (PDF, 697KB, 21 pages)

PSN Compliance IA Support and Unmanaged Endpoints – daily ‘drop-in’ calls (8 August)

The letter launches a new series of daily ‘drop-in’ calls for customers to get support and advice on high-level architecture issues.

• Supporting your transition - IA drop-in calls (PDF, 272KB, 2 pages)

Unmanaged Endpoints – Gap Analysis (12 August)

The letter introduces an impact assessment tool that enables organisations to understand how well their existing deployment meets the short-term PSN Compliance requirements.

• Unmanaged Endpoints gap analysis (PDF, 298KB, 3 pages)
• Unmanaged Endpoint gap analysis template 16 October 2013 (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 14.3KB)

FAQs - BYOD and unmanaged devices

The following is a list of answers to frequently asked questions on the subject of unmanaged end-user devices and their use within local authorities. This document will be added to as new questions arise.

• Public Services Network: FAQs (PDF, 519KB, 16 pages)

Update - reporting and compliance validation failures (19 August)

The letter highlights the completed documentation that is required from organisations for their compliance submission. It also introduces a ‘status update template’ to help organisations engage more easily with the PSN team and track status.

• Update - reporting and validations (PDF, 214KB, 2 pages)
• PSN compliance status report - org name (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 15.6KB)

Action notice: Select/confirm your transition date (5 September)

This letter, sent to all transitioning local authorities, requests organisations to review their transition plans and confirm their transition date or provide a new date.

• Confirm your selected transition date (PDF, 310KB, 2 pages)

Action notice: Check, sign and return your new PSN Circuit Order Form (12 September)

This letter, sent to all transitioning local authorities, asks organisations to ensure their PSN Circuit order form is signed and returned before the deadline of Monday, 30 September.

• Action Notice - Your PSN Circuit order form (PDF, 265KB, 2 pages)

The Baseline Personnel Security Standard [BPSS] and PSN (23 September)

This letter and the frequently asked questions (FAQ) document aim to provide further clarity of the requirements for the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) under the PSN Compliance regime.

• Baseline personnel security standard (PDF, 202KB, 2 pages)
• Baseline personnel security standard for PSN FAQs (PDF, 283KB, 3 pages)

Update: Compliance status update and a change to the drop-in calls (24 September)

This letter provides an update of the compliance situation and provides details of changes to the frequency of the drop-in calls.

• Compliance update and change to drop in calls (PDF, 213KB, 2 pages)

Update: Latest transition date availability - transition date selection (24 September)

This letter and guide provide transitioning organisations with an update of the available transition slots to help with their planning. The guide is updated on a regular basis and organisations are asked to check this guide before confirming their transition date.

• Latest transition date availability – transition date selection (PDF, 263KB, 1 page)
• GCF to PSN transition date availability: 11 November 2013 (PDF, 132KB, 3 pages)

Note: this guide is no longer being updated. To get the latest availability please get in touch with your organisation’s nominated contact from this PSN project managers contact list (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 242KB)

Update: Revised compliance regime, further support and confirming your transition date (4 October)

This letter outlines revisions to the compliance regime. It includes details of the revisions along with information about the additional support we will be providing. It also requests organisations to confirm their transition date if they have not already done so.

• Revised compliance regime, further support and your transition date (PDF, 276KB, 3 pages)

Update: Compliance drop-in calls and new transition drop-in call (4 November)

These letters provide an update on the drop-in call series. One message invites customers with post-Christmas transition dates to continue to attend the Compliance drop-in calls. The second message introduces a new drop-in call for organisations transitioning before Christmas to answer transition-related questions.

• Update on compliance drop-in calls (PDF, 277KB, 2 pages)
• Update on pre-transition drop-in calls (PDF, 281KB, 2 pages)

Help architect the future: join the Local Authority Architecture design sessions (6 November)

This letter invites transitioning organisations to apply to attend a design session to look at how the business requirements of local authorities can best be met within the framework of today’s security demands.

• Architecture hot house event (PDF, 217KB, 2 pages)

Action notice: Tell us how IER DS is set up in your network (11 November)

Many organisations have indicated they are piloting or planning to use IER DS. This letter asks organisations to advise us how IER DS is set up within their network infrastructure. Organisations are asked to respond using an online form.

• Action notice: Tell us how IER DS is set up in your network (PDF, 245KB, 1 page)

IP Address Allocation request and guidance

Current GCF customers should use the following form to request mapped IP addresses to support your GCF to PSN transition.

• GCF to PSN new IP address request form (MS Word Document, 55.6KB)

If you need support or guidance please contact your organisation’s nominated contact from this PSN project managers contact list (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 242KB)

Transition plans - October 2013 update

Both central and non-central government have advanced plans for transitioning to PSN; links to the latest high level roadmaps for both central and non central government are provided below. These roadmaps form a core element within an evolving market maturity picture which the PSN Programme has committed to publish and maintain under the direction of the PSN Programme Board.

This latest release not only demonstrates the significant traction gained in 2012 / 13 but also positions a number of major PSN procurement activities to be launched by Tier 1 departments in 2013/14, and sets out the wider ambition to capture the bulk of Tier 2 and Tier 3 organisations within central government.

• PSN central government transition plan as at October 2013 (PDF, 809KB, 15 pages)
• PSN non-central government transition plan as at March 2013 (PDF, 189KB, 3 pages)
• Cover note: PSN non-central government transition plan as at March 2013 (PDF, 169KB, 3 pages)

The letter below, signed by senior officials in Cabinet Office, Connecting for Health and local government, articulates the current position with respect to plans for the transition of services currently provided via the NHS N3 network to the PSN and enabling local public sector organisations to more effectively and efficiently deliver joined up public health services.

• Cross-government collaboration on the PSN: enabling the provision of efficient Public Health services (PDF, 369KB, 4 pages)

PSN Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) approval guidance - March 2013 update

The attached supplementary guidance has been produced by the PSN Programme to assist central government organisations. This guidance complements the latest Cabinet Office Spend Controls guidance framework, currently at Version 3.1. The ICT Spend Control (Section 8) content makes specific cross reference to the PSNSRO control requirement.

• Supplementary guidance: PSN approvals process (PDF, 253KB, 7 pages)

The full Cabinet Office Spend Controls can be viewed here.

PSN Standards

PSN Standards enable the sharing of services whilst ensuring a consistent level of information assurance.

Document map

• PSN Document Map v2.0 (PDF, 96.6KB, 1 page)

Governance standards

• PSN Compliance - version 3.7 (PDF, 1.13MB, 45 pages)
• Deed of Undertaking v2.0 (PDF, 620KB, 86 pages)
• Management Information Requirements - version 1.2 (PDF, 495KB, 13 pages)
• PSN Document Management and Change Control - version 1.3 (PDF, 470KB, 11 pages)
• PSN glossary - version 1.5 (PDF, 385KB, 10 pages)
• PSN code of connection (MS Word Document, 761KB)
• Annex B to the PSN code of connection (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.42MB)

Technical interoperability standards

• Technical Domain Description v4.0 (PDF, 4.68MB, 161 pages)
• Government Conveyance Network Service Description v4.0 (PDF, 725KB, 18 pages)

Service management standards

• Service Management Framework - version 2.2 (PDF, 551KB, 21 pages)
• PSN interim event management - version 2.4 (PDF, 428KB, 13 pages)
• PSN change and release management - version 3.4 (PDF, 586KB, 26 pages)
• PSN incident and problem management - version 2.4 (PDF, 654KB, 27 pages)
• Service catalogue structure v2.2 (MS Word Document, 561KB)
• Contact details v2.2 (MS Word Document, 728KB)
• Autonomous Service Delivery (ASD) Framework Overview (PDF, 457KB, 18 pages)
• PSNA Operating Manual: Change Control & Design Authority Process (PDF, 1.03MB, 24 pages)

IT Health Check (ITHC) guidance

• IT Health Check Supporting Guidance (PDF, 180KB, 2 pages)

Security standards

• Common Standards for Patch Management (PDF, 974KB, 39 pages)
• Common Standards for Malware Protection (PDF, 946KB, 47 pages)
• PSN Risk Management and Accreditation Reference Document (RMARD) - version 1.3 (PDF, 1.14MB, 38 pages)
• Common Standard for Protective Monitoring, Security Incident Management and Situation Awareness v1.0 (PDF, 1.31MB, 56 pages)
• IA Requirements for shared PSN and G-Cloud services (PDF, 405KB, 6 pages)

Security guidance

• PSN IA Conditions Supporting Guidance – version 1.4 (PDF, 536KB, 32 pages)
• Local Public Services Data Handling Guidelines version 2.0 (PDF, 772KB, 22 pages)
• Public Sector Internal Identity Federation (PSIIF) requirements (PDF, 629KB, 20 pages)
• IT Health Check Supporting Guidance (PDF, 180KB, 2 pages)
• The Use of Unassured Tail Circuits in the PSN Environment (PDF, 324KB, 6 pages)

Security strategy

• PSN Information Assurance Strategy - version 1.0 (PDF, 337KB, 15 pages)
• PSN Cryptographic Framework - version 1.0 (PDF, 299KB, 24 pages)
• Identity Assurance Strategy - version 2.0 (PDF, 400KB, 17 pages)
• Operational Security Architecture – Conceptual Layer v1.0 (PDF, 3.14MB, 44 pages)
• Operational Security Architecture – Contextual Layer v1.0 (PDF, 1.05MB, 20 pages)
• PSN Security Model v2.0 (PDF, 308KB, 7 pages)

PKI strategy, policy and requirements

• Public Key Infrastructure Strategy - version 1.0 (PDF, 440KB, 16 pages)
• PSN Certificate Policy IPsec IL3 version 1.0 (PDF, 901KB, 69 pages)
• PSN Certificate Authority Service Requirement version 1.8 (PDF, 130KB, 12 pages)
• CESG Clarification Notice for PSN PKI CA Assurance 2 July 2012 (PDF, 97.8KB, 2 pages)
• PKI Implementation Strategy v1.0 (PDF, 846KB, 26 pages)
• PKI Business Operating Model v5.0 (PDF, 895KB, 24 pages)
• PSN Assured Separation Strategy v1.0 (PDF, 529KB, 12 pages)

IP Address Allocation request and guidance

The PSNA has a very limited stock of IPv4 addresses for use on the PSN by the Public Sector.

• PSN IP Address Allocation Guidance version 1.4 (PDF, 244KB, 4 pages)
• PSN IP Address Allocation Request version 1.4 (MS Word Document, 72.5KB)
• PSN Operating Model V2.0 (PDF, 1.56MB, 34 pages)

Current GCF customers should use the following form to request mapped IP addresses to support your GCF to PSN transition.

• GCF to PSN new IP address request (MS Word Document, 53.9KB)

Supporting documents (these are not PSN standards)

Note that the documents below are provided for context. These documents have not been updated since July 2011, and are due to be updated in the near future.

• Business case v2.8 (PDF, 1.08MB, 26 pages)
• PSNA Charter v1.0 (PDF, 575KB, 18 pages)
• PSNA Design v1.0 (PDF, 358KB, 17 pages)
• PSN Benefits Guide v1.0 (PDF, 378KB, 14 pages)
• PSN for Fire and Rescue (PDF, 394KB, 7 pages)
• Technical transition guidance (PDF, 701KB, 23 pages)
• PSN programme mandate v1.01 (PDF, 449KB, 7 pages)
• PSN Operating Model V2.0 (PDF, 1.56MB, 34 pages)
• PSN benefits identification spreadsheet v1.0 (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 349KB)
• Public Key Infrastructure Strategy - version 1.0 (PDF, 440KB, 16 pages)

Standards evolution

The anticipated next step in the evolution of the PSN standards is discussed here.

• PSN standards evolution: a discussion (PDF, 246KB, 8 pages)

To take part in the review of these changes, you may participate in PSN Consultations. Please email psna@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk for access to our consultation tool.

Industry support for PSN standards

PSN is an exemplar of government and industry collaboration in the UK telecommunications sector. PSN Standards are developed through close collaboration with industry to minimise the need for additional capital investment. As industry players, normally intense rivals, develop PSN standards, brands “are left at the door” for the common good of the UK.

PSN and Fire and Rescue Services

The PSN team are currently engaging with the Chief Fire Officers Association in relation to Fire and Rescue Services transition to the PSN. The links below provide useful information on the PSN, how it can support initiatives to improve Fire and Rescue Service operations and how it can be obtained. If you are responsible for or have an interest in Fire and Rescue Services ICT and/or service improvements enabled by a heightened ability to interact securely and reliably with other fire services as well as the wider public sector you should read these.

• PSN for Fire and Rescue briefing note (PDF, 381KB, 7 pages)
• Annexes to PSN for Fire and Rescue Services (zip file) (ZIP, 682KB)
• Chief Fire Officers Association: PSN seminars agenda (PDF, 122KB, 2 pages)

The Cabinet Office PSN Team and CFOA will be delivering a series of regional workshops in March 2013 aimed at raising awareness and understanding of PSN and how it can be utilised. Find out details, dates, venues and information on how to register to attend.

Public Sector Internal Identity Federation

• High Level Technical Architecture Design (PDF, 930KB, 49 pages)
• Public Sector Internal Identity Federation (PSIIF) requirements (PDF, 629KB, 20 pages)

Contact us

General Communications with the PSN Programme and PSN Authority:

• psn@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk

PSNA Compliance Team, for compliance requests and questions regarding compliance:

• psna.compliance@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk

PSNA Service Bridge, for major incidents and security incidents:

• psna.servicebridge@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk

Popular PSN documents

Below is a list of the most frequently used and referenced documents used by organisations transitioning to PSN.

• PSN project managers contact list (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 242KB)
• Public Services Network: FAQs (PDF, 519KB, 16 pages)
• Baseline personnel security standard for PSN FAQs (PDF, 283KB, 3 pages)
• Unmanaged end-user devices access for local authorities (PDF, 697KB, 21 pages)
• Unmanaged Endpoint gap analysis template 16 October 2013 (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 14.3KB)

The European Parliament adopted the 2014 EU Procurement Directives on Wednesday 15 January 2014. These directives are due to come into force in March 2014 and EU member states will have 2 years to implement them in national legislation.

The government is aiming to transpose (implement) these directives quickly so that the UK can benefit as soon as possible from the improved flexibilities they offer. Here we will keep you up to date on progress in Brussels, UK transposition of the directives and where to access free training.

Progress in Brussels

The European Parliament voted to approve the 2014 Directives on 15 January 2014. The next stage is for Council to formally adopt them and confirm their entry into force in March 2014. The directives also affect concessions (partnerships between the public sector and mostly private companies that maintain infrastructure or provide important services) and utilities (water, energy, transport and postal services).

Implementing the directives

Where the directives allow member states a choice on whether or how to implement a particular provision, Cabinet Office have issued discussion papers and will consider responses. For more information please see Procurement Policy Note 05/13. We will launch a formal consultation on the draft implementing regulations in due course.

Training

Cabinet Office is organising a series of training sessions for public sector organisations. The first dates for free face-to-face training are available on this page along with details of how to register. E-learning resources and handbooks will also be available here later in 2014.

Book a training session

Please complete the respective application form for your chosen date and send this to EURegistration@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk with the venue name and date in the subject line.

Public sector training

Dates for public sector training sessions

PDF, 228KB, 7 pages

Public sector: application form for EU Directives training

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 20.5KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.Request a different format.

If you use assistive technology and need a version of this document in a more accessible format please emailpubliccorrespondence@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the publication ("Public sector: application form for EU Directives training").

Voluntary sector training

2 training sessions are being organised specifically for contracting authorities in the voluntary sector. The first date is now available for registration:

• 16 July 2014 at Bircham Dyson Bell, 50 The Broadway, London, SW1H 0BL

Voluntary sector: application form for EU Directives training

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 20.5KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.Request a different format.

If you use assistive technology and need a version of this document in a more accessible format please emailpubliccorrespondence@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the publication ("Voluntary sector: application form for EU Directives training").

Utilities

Training sessions for contracting entities under the Utilities Directive will take place on:

• 22 July 2014
• 25 July 2014

All sessions take place at Severn Trent Water Limited, Severn Trent Centre, 2 St Johns Street, Coventry, CV1 2LZ

Utilities: application form for EU Directives training

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 20.5KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.Request a different format.

If you use assistive technology and need a version of this document in a more accessible format please emailpubliccorrespondence@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the publication ("Utilities: application form for EU Directives training").

Northern Ireland public sector

Training sessions have been organised for contracting authorities in Northern Ireland

• 11 June 2014
• 12 June 2014

All sessions take place in Belfast. The venue will be confirmed.

Public sector: application form for EU Directives training

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 20.5KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.Request a different format.

If you use assistive technology and need a version of this document in a more accessible format please emailpubliccorrespondence@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the publication ("Public sector: application form for EU Directives training").

Wales public sector

Value Wales will coordinate training sessions for Wales professionals and further information will be available shortly.

About the training

Please note that places on these sessions will be limited and we would generally expect only 1 delegate per organisation: that delegate can then use the materials to brief their colleagues. If you need more than 1 place please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you. Because places are limited, if you fail to attend a booked course, we may not be able to offer an alternative date.

Delegates need to make own arrangements for lunch and refreshments as these are not provided: please check with the venue for available facilities.

The Fair Deal policy allows newly transferring staff continued access to a public service pension scheme. It replaces the previous policy which required employers to provide transferring staff access to a broadly comparable pension scheme and the option of a transfer of their accrued pension rights.

Businesses like Barclays, UBS, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Janssen Healthcare Innovation are providing match-funding investment to support 6 new start-up incubators as part of the £10 million Social Incubator Fund (SIF).

Social incubators

Social incubators are organisations that support the growth of social enterprises (businesses with a social purpose) that are in their early phases and need intensive support to develop their ideas.

The 6 new social incubators receiving funding today cover sectors such as education, health and technology. They also cover a wide breadth of locations around the UK.

Social Incubator Fund

The SIF releases its next wave of capital today (12 March 2014). The fund was launched in 2012 and is delivered by Big Lottery Fund on behalf of Cabinet Office.

The first round of the SIF has already helped a number of incubators to support new social ventures, expanding their businesses and generating new employment.

Recipients of funding from the Social Incubator Fund

PDF, 185KB, 2 pages

Paul Miller, Partner, Bethnal Green Ventures, who received funding in the first round of the SIF said:

Support from the Social Incubator Fund has enabled Bethnal Green Ventures to thrive. We’ve supported 2 cohorts of ventures with support from SIF, Nesta and Nominet Trust so far. With 60% of the first group already having gone on to raise further funding, we’re looking forward to launching the second group very soon.

A notable alumni of Bethnal Green Ventures is Fairphone, which produces a more ethical and environmentally sound mobile phone handset.

Other ventures supported through SIF include StudentFunder, a financial technology business with a social mission to remove financial barriers to education and Third Space Learning, a platform that connects schools to a network of specialist maths tutors. StudentFunder and Third Space Learning are 2 of the first social ventures supported through Wayra UnLtd.

The government is keen to support the development of community energy projects to show how social action can help people reduce their energy bills. The community energy sector is growing, with increasing numbers of new projects being developed. However, smaller energy groups often work in isolation, with no formal networks for skills sharing or mentoring with larger more established organisations.

That’s why, today, the government has awarded groups between £10,000 and £50,000 so they can form consortia, giving larger groups the resources to mentor others.

The chosen projects range from:

• a community forum that provides workshops and assistance to communities to generate power using hydro energy
• a social enterprise that sets up study visits and seminars for local community groups so they can reduce their fossil fuel energy use by using sustainable wood sources
• training volunteers in reducing energy usage so they can make home visits to older people and audit their home energy use and make improvements
• training volunteers in Birmingham to help the Somali community switch to solar energy and use energy-saving light bulbs to reduce levels of fuel poverty
• visiting mosques to help Muslim communities become more energy efficient

Minster for Civil Society Nick Hurd said:

We want to support community energy groups to help each other. That’s why we are investing £500,000 so that larger projects can help smaller groups get off the ground and more people can learn how to make energy cost savings.

Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey said:

This new fund will give aspiring communities access to the cash they need to help kick start hundreds of clean, green energy projects.

Not only can community energy projects boost local economies and drive forward green growth, they can also help save money on energy bills too.

The groups receiving funding are:

• Youth Community Energy Catalysts
• National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• My Green Investment C.I.C.
• BioRegional Development Group
• London Sustainability Exchange
• Repowering Limited
• Wiltshire Community Land Trust Ltd
• Northfield Ecocentre (part of Central England Quakers)
• Sheffield Renewables Limited
• The Thornbury Centre
• Ouse Valley Energy Services Co Ltd
• Middleport Environment Centre (MEC)

The Cabinet Office’s Centre for Social Action supports the most effective non-profit projects that tackle persistent community issues. It will commit £36 million to addressing local problems which can benefit from community participation such as volunteering, mentoring or peer-to-peer support.

EDF Energy are supporting this initiative and are looking to provide the groups with mentoring support in business management on a pro bono basis.

This report sets out the SSRB analysis of evidence given by relevant organisations and makes proposals on the pay of senior staff in the public sector from April 2014.

The SSRB provides independent advice on the pay of senior staff in the public sector to the:

• Prime Minister
• Lord Chancellor
• Home Secretary
• Secretary of State for Defence
• Secretary of State for Health

This page sets out the Business Statements by the Leader of the House of Commons for February 2014.

The Business Statement takes place every Thursday morning when the House is sitting, usually at 11.30 am. Statements are available here shortly after being announced to the House.

This guidance sets out a range of government and industry-supported cyber security skills activities and initiatives. It details how individual businesses can find out more, and participate and benefit from the initiatives.

See also the findings and next steps from a series of workshops on cyber security skills:

• Cyber security skills: business perspectives and government’s next steps

Government held 4 workshops with 51 large businesses, SMEs, and universities in December 2013. The workshops were aimed at making sure the cyber security skills activities government supports continue to meet the evolving needs of businesses. This report summarises the important findings and the government’s next steps.

The supporting evidence provides the responses from the questionnaires and workshops, and a full set of industry recommendations along with the government’s responses.

Introduction

Thank you very much Judy [Baker, Chair of the Cyber Security Challenge].

It’s a great privilege to be asked to open the final of this year’s Cyber Security Challenge Masterclass.

It’s in its fourth year, as you said, and congratulations to you for kicking it off Judy. It’s got 75 sponsors from across government, business and academia – working closely together toward a shared aim, which is incredibly important, of a safe and secure internet.

So thank you to Stephanie [Daman, CEO] and the entire board for the work you’ve done to make this possible.

And it’s a particular pleasure to see your patron, Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, here in the room tonight.

Pauline recently stepped down as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative to Business on Cyber Security and in both this and her previous role as Minister for Security she’s helped advance the cause of cyber security immeasurably, particularly in raising awareness among senior business figures. And I think I can say if it hadn’t been for your passion and commitment to this Pauline, I think it’s much less likely that the government would have done this extraordinary thing which was – at a time of falling budgets overall and deep financial constraint – actually to commit a significant additional sum to this whole project and the programme and you deserve huge credit for that – so thank you from all of us.

We can never be complacent and there’s much work still to do – and there always will be, this will always be a work in progress - but over the past few years cyber security has rapidly moved up the agenda of company boards. UK businesses are now far better placed to manage the risks that exists.

The fact that so many leading companies are enthusiastically involved with this challenge is testament to this. Just look at the range of sponsors here tonight – BT, Juniper, CGHQ, National Crime Agency, Lockheed Martin and Bank of England. This kind of cooperation is precisely why we as a government are supporting the Cyber Security Challenge financially through our National Cyber Security Programme.

Cyber Security Challenge Masterclass final

Sometimes, when we talk about cyber security it’s all about the dark side – the threat. We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that this is a threat because of the existence of something marvellous and how appropriate that in these few days when we’re celebrating 25 years of the World Wide Web, we should reflect on the transformation of all of our lives that the internet has brought; what a force for good it is in our lives, for the economy, for our ability to connect with each other and to organise our lives differently and better. It’s the biggest social and technological change in my lifetime.

And I think one of the strengths of the Cyber Security Challenge is that – in the middle of the sober and menacing nature of the cyber threat – it seeks to respond in a very positive way, by identifying and nurturing some of the exceptional talent that can be found in schools and universities and, of course, in offices and homes around the country.

So let me start by congratulating our participants. You’ve been put through a series of challenging scenarios and you’ve had to flex your intellectual muscles to get here tonight, so well done.

I’m told that there are 42 of you who have made it through to this face-to-face stage. Well, 42 as we know is a very auspicious number. According to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, 42 is the answer to The Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.

Don’t worry – we’re not looking for anything quite as profound over the next couple of days.

Quite simply, we’re looking for raw talent.

There’s a gap between the increasing opportunities to work in cyber security and the availability of people with the right skills. And for the good of national security, commercial interests and the wellbeing of everybody, it’s a gap we need to close. And I’m increasingly confident we can. We haven’t yet, but we can.

Computer programmers and software engineers; logicians and statisticians; code breakers and code makers - as a nation, we’ve produced some of the greats. We have in the UK a fantastically rich heritage, from the Babbage Difference Engine to Tim Berners-Lee’s World Wide Web.

We have some of the best universities in the world for science and technology too.

But the kinds of people we’re looking for won’t always come with a double first from Cambridge. Or even from Oxford, which I’m told is much easier…

We know that aptitude can be found in all sorts of places.

Take Tommy Flowers for instance - the man who developed Colossus, the world’s first programmable electronic digital computer. He worked as an electrical engineer for the General Post Office – the forerunner of BT, which makes tonight’s venue perhaps an especially fitting one. During the Second World War, the government’s code and cypher school at Bletchley Park was sceptical about his invention, so – poor fellow - he had to build it in his spare time using his own money.

But it worked and went on to play an instrumental role in the planning for D-Day, 70 years ago.

Bletchley Park was full of people from all kinds of different backgrounds.

Dillwyn Knox, a renowned expert in Egyptian papyrus.

Pioneering women like the zoologist Miriam Rothschild and the linguist Mavis Batey who, not content with cracking Enigma codes, went on to become a noted garden historian after the war.

And I noticed when I was at Cheltenham in GCHQ recently at the little museum they have of Bletchley memorabilia, a list of the names of people who had been recruited to Bletchley from universities during the last war. Next to J. R. R. Tolkien – the connection between Norse mythology and breaking cyphers is obvious - I noticed 2 names from my old Cambridge college, who were fellows there when I was there, who’d been recruited. And were they computer scientists or mathematicians? No, they were ancient historians. One of them produced a classic work on ancient Rome. What was needed was brainpower: sheer, intellectual brainpower. The ability to process difficult things and make sense of things that didn’t seem to make sense. Intellectually formidable, all of these people served their country, even though they probably didn’t recognise at the time the significance of what they were doing.

When Churchill went to visit Bletchley, he is reported to have said: “When I told you to leave no stone unturned recruiting for this place, I didn’t expect you to take me literally.”

Well, tomorrow you’re going to be I’m told in the Churchill War Rooms – and we’ll be looking for the kinds of people with the skills to be the next Tommy Flowers or Mavis Batey.

And we all know they’re out there, but they’re not always obvious.

On a visit a year or so ago, I remember meeting a young apprentice at a small cyber company in Malvern where, rather improbably, there is this cluster of cyber security related businesses. Not where you’d expect to find it – but great. And this young man who was 16, starting his apprenticeship, he’d been thrown out of school. He wasn’t succeeding academically, it wasn’t his thing. He was disruptive at school and they’d bunged him out. But he loved computers, he loved doing this stuff and was brilliant at it – and he’s found his niche. And I remember asking him how many like you were there in your school - and he replied about half the class. That’s quite a rich talent pool to draw from and are we getting as good as we need to be at spotting that raw talent and using it? Helping people find their niche, the thing they’re brilliant at. And in this country, which is such a rich source of talent, ingenuity and creativity, we must be finding more of them, more quickly, earlier and getting them to work.

So that young man has found his niche and I’m sure he will go on to do amazing things. Some of the brightest and best are self-taught. We want to find people who might not have trodden the usual conventionally career path.

So that’s why we have been supporting the Cyber Security Challenge, through the National Cyber Security Programme, to demonstrate the excitement of this profession to as wide an audience as possible.

That includes young people, making their first tentative steps into the workplace.

But it also includes people already in the world of work, who have the skills, the aptitude or the ability, but haven’t previously considered this as a career - they might not think they have the right technical qualifications or because they’ve already started on a different career trajectory.

So one of the things we want to do is to make it easier for sideways entry mid-career.

A case in point is the winner of the first Cyber Security Challenge – Dan Summers – who was working as a postman. He still works for Royal Mail – but now in vulnerability management.

I can tell you today, that almost 1 in 3 people who have previously reached the final face-to-face stage of this competition go on to find work in the field of cyber security.

So for a third of the contestants here tonight, the next 2 days could be the first step on this new career path.

And even those who choose not to pursue it as a career will leave this contest with an increased awareness, which they will take with them into other careers and workplaces.

Another previous masterclass winner, Jonathan Millican, will be speaking later and I look forward to hearing about his challenge.

Schools Challenge

But it’s by no means a case of “mission accomplished” and never will be. This will always be a work in progress. The internet is defined by its openness and its speed. It’s organic, self-sustaining and self-propelling. It doesn’t have a rewind button. You can’t pause it. It’s going to go on growing – and our training and education has to keep pace.

So to avoid a gap in our cyber defences in 10 or 20 years’ time, we need to look not just to the needs of the current workforce, but over the horizon, to those still in school.

562 schools no less have already registered for the Cyber Security Challenge Schools Programme, with an additional 170 still to be contacted for the next round. Potentially that’s almost 22,000 pupils who have gone from having little or no knowledge of cyber security to now recognising it as an exciting and realistic career opportunity.

So we’ve made a further grant of £100,000 to the Cyber Security Challenge to expand the pilot regionally and nationally, so it can run twice yearly, and can link participating schools to local universities.

I’m pleased to see some of the schools here tonight – and the final of the schools competition takes place next week.

Cyber Security Strategy

Our support for the Cyber Security Challenge is an important part of our Cyber Security Strategy.

We’ve backed the strategy with £650 million over 4 years – to which we added another £210 million last year, to take us through to 2015 to 2016.

In a time of austerity, most areas of government have had to contend with a squeeze on their budgets – so the fact we are increasing spending on cyber security demonstrates how high it rates in our priorities.

But spending, by itself, is not enough. Better skills underpin the government’s whole Cyber Security Strategy. We simply won’t achieve all the other objectives without it.

Earlier today, the Department for Business announced a range of measures we are taking to help increase our capability.

We’ve now developed cyber security content for each stage of education, including teaching materials and e-learning courses to promote cyber security learning in schools. And we’ve funded initiatives for graduates and post-graduate students, as well as internships and apprenticeships, because we want to strengthen the skills of new entrants.

But closing the gap between demand and availability of skills doesn’t just require a focus on education – we also need to ensure cyber security presents an attractive and appealing career choice.

So the task for industry and business and government is to work together to turn cyber security from a little understood role performed by a small number of technical experts, to a mainstream profession - one that’s respected and valued, with proper opportunities for development and progression, so it can attract and retain the best talent.

CESG, the Information Security Arm of GCHQ at Cheltenham, now has a scheme to certify cyber security professionals in the UK. It helps government and business to recruit people with the right skills - at the right level - to the right jobs.

Together with the development of National Skills Standards and learning pathways, developed in conjunction with e-skills UK, it’s helping to define a career path because through regular opportunities for re-assessment it enables individuals to progress as their skills and experience grows.

Next week, the Department for Business is hosting a Cyber Security Skills Showcase to raise awareness about what government is doing and how industry can get involved – and I’m pleased that the Cyber Security Challenge will be represented there.

Finally, because of the relentless and ever-changing nature of cyber threats, we also need to be on the front foot to develop new skills and capabilities in the future.

Cyber security research

4 years ago, our understanding of cyber security was relatively low and there wasn’t really the means of expanding that knowledge in a sustained way, which is why we are also investing in research.

Today we have 11 new Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research; there are 3 new Research Institutes and 2 centres for doctoral training. They’ll help us appreciate and predict cyber risks and identify gaps in our defences – because, as the old adage goes, to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Conclusion

So, in conclusion, over the next 2 days, you’re going to battle it out face-to-face until one of you emerges as “Top Gun”. But actually, this is a competition from which everyone stands to gain.

Our workforce will be more skilled.

The UK will be a more secure place to do business.

People will be safer online.

Ultimately, better cyber security shouldn’t be viewed as a necessary evil – it should be seen as a massive opportunity. For many, including some of those in this competition, it’s an opportunity for a satisfying and rewarding career. It’s also one of the businesses of the future that can help the UK achieve strong lasting growth. And it will help us all reap maximum benefit from the limitless potential of the information age.

So very good luck to you all – thank you very much.

The Minister for Government Policy, Oliver Letwin, and the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, David Laws, today published the 2014 update on progress of the coalition government’s vision of Open Public Services for all. This report shows the major steps made towards creating more innovative and more diverse public services. It also demonstrates how this has improved the quality of public services across areas such as health, education and policing, as well as improving life chances for many.

Thanks to wide scale reform of our public services, millions more people now have control over the public services they use. From being able to choose who provides their health and social care services, to being able to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner in charge of local crime budgets, this government’s Open Public Services reforms have shifted decision making powers away from the state and back into the hands of the people who need them. As a result people have greater choice and control – and all at better value for the taxpayer.

Over the last 12 months our Open Public Service reforms have:

1. Increased choice and control, providing more than 700,000 people with personal budgets to access social care and support that will best suit their individual needs.
2. Empowered local decision-making. The Troubled Families programme has turned around the lives of 22,000 families, by giving local areas more freedoms to design innovative and integrated services – saving the taxpayer an average of £75,000 for each family turned around.
3. Opened up public services to a range of providers. From April 2014 people who use mental health services will have more choice about where and how they are supported. They will be able to choose services from a range of providers, including voluntary and private sector providers.
4. Given fair access to public services, to support the most disadvantaged to fulfil their potential. Around 130,000 of the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds are now eligible for a funded early learning place. From September 2014 this will increase to around 260,000 2-year-olds.
5. Made public services more directly answerable to the taxpayer and the public. More than 1.6 million patients have had their say on the quality of NHS health services via the new Friends and Family test.

Minister for Government Policy Oliver Letwin, said:

We have given choice and control back to local areas, and back to the people who can make the best decisions about the public services they receive. From increasing the number of people receiving personal budgets for their social care and support, to giving local communities the lead on what types of schools they want in their areas, we are witnessing a transformation of the relationship between communities and public services.

Minister of State for Schools and the Cabinet Office David Laws said:

We want to make sure everyone has a fair chance to realise their aspirations and potential. At the core of our Open Public Service reforms is a commitment to provide greater access and targeted support for disadvantaged families. Providing £2.5 billion by 2015 to 2016 through the Pupil Premium, we are empowering head teachers to tailor support to nearly 2 million disadvantaged children across the country, helping to give them the best possible start.

The Open Public Services (OPS) White Paper, published in 2011, set out the government’s approach to reforming public services, based on the principles of choice, diversity, accountability, decentralisation and fair access.

This progress report shows how far government has come in reforming public services in line with these principles. It demonstrates how these reforms have improved the quality of our public services and made sure services can respond to individual choices and people’s real life, complex needs.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Israeli Prime Minister’s office by Liam Maxwell, Government Chief Technology Officer, on behalf of the UK Government Digital Service (GDS), and by Harel Locker, Director-General of the Israeli Prime Minister’s office.

The MoU states that the 2 countries will:

• exchange information and experiences around open markets, open standards and open source
• work together to make sure that each country has the capability and ability to develop digital public services
• develop other ways of working together internationally

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said:

When I visited last year, I saw how Israel has a forward-thinking approach to digital innovation, just like the UK.

This government’s long-term plan is all about creating modern, digital public services that are so good people prefer to use them. So, we will look to find new ways of working with Israel’s impressive array of digital businesses and draw on its culture of entrepreneurship. There’s a great deal we can learn from one another.

Liam Maxwell, UK Government Chief Technology Officer, added:

Open markets with open standards everyone can use is a key approach the UK is taking to building a digital government based on user needs.

The MoU will allow the UK and Israel to cooperate on the exchange of information and experiences in the areas of open markets, open standards and open source.

Harel Locker, Director-General of the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, said:

The British experience in the field of digital services is important and extensive, and this agreement will allow Israel to benefit from that experience. On our part, we offer the British and the D8 countries Israeli innovation and creativity, including in cyber security.

Overview

In order to transform public services in a climate of fewer resources and increasing demand, we need capable, confident and courageous people in the public sector who are responsible for designing and delivering services offering value for money. Whilst there are many examples of good practice, they are not well known enough, particularly to people working in other sectors. That’s why a Commissioning Academy is being set up.

The academy is being supported by the Cabinet Office, the Local Government Association, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Ministry of Justice and the National Offender Management Service, the Department for Education, the Department of Health, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Home Office.

The academy brings together commissioners from different parts of the public sector to learn from the example of the most successful commissioning organisations. It will develop a cadre of professionals who are progressive in their outlook on how the public sector uses the resources available.

The programme aims to help commissioners deliver more efficient and effective public services. Success will mean commissioners embracing new and innovative forms of delivery, better outcomes for citizens and better value for money.

See what attendees think about the academy in this video.

Follow us on Twitter: @CommissioningAc

About the Commissioning Academy

The Commissioning Academy is a development programme for senior commissioners from all parts of the public sector. It is ‘virtual’, meaning there is no fixed location and the programme is run at venues across the UK. The programme consists of master classes, workshops, guest speakers, site visits and peer challenge.

The Commissioning Academy programme uses practical, peer-led learning, covering key commissioning issues such as:

• outcome-based commissioning
• whole-systems thinking, bringing all facets of public services together to tackle issues
• working with the voluntary and community sector
• behavioural insights
• market engagement and development
• alternative funding models, such as social impact bonds
• joint commissioning across organisational boundaries
• new models of delivery - such as mutual and joint venture companies

One of the outputs from the academy is for each participating organisation to implement a ‘100-day plan’, developed during the programme, to improve their organisation’s commissioning practice - improving outcomes and increasing value for money. They will also join the alumni network, gaining access to a supportive group of peers who can share experience and help each other deal with new challenges.

What the programme provides

In the past, commissioning has tended to focus on inputs, processes and individual services. The academy adopts the new approach now developing to focus on outcomes and find the best way of developing those, looking at the whole system of services and available resources.

The programme consists of 8 development days, spread over 6 months, including site visits to commissioning organisations and in-depth discussion with a range of commissioners. It is not technical, but is designed to inspire participants and give them confidence to innovate. It will also provide useful contacts and knowledge. Through this, it will help to transform organisations’ commissioning practices and re-design how public services are delivered. The framework document for the academy provides more information about the challenge it is seeking to meet.

The academy aims to bring together commissioners from a variety of organisations, sectors and services areas as cohort groups.

Sectors include (but aren’t limited to):

• central government (for example, the Work Programme)
• local government
• justice sector bodies (such as the Police and Crime Commissioners’ offices)
• health bodies
• ‘place-based’ groups (where local authorities, health bodies and others are working together in one area)

The programme is designed and delivered by the Cabinet Office and a mix of delivery partners providing specialist know-how and sector and commissioning expertise.

The Commissioning Academy brochure provides more details about the programme and what participants should expect to take away from the experience.

The pilot programme

Over 60 commissioners from all sectors helped to design the Commissioning Academy programme so that it will help them deliver better for less. The design was then further refined, with the active participation in 2 pilot cohorts of 47 senior commissioners from 17 organisations.

The first pilot ran from June to November 2012. The second ran from November 2012 to April 2013.

The feedback collected during the pilots and current programme is used to adjust the programme to meet the needs of future cohorts.

Costs and how to apply

Applicants should anticipate making a small contribution to the costs of the programme although the majority of the costs will be funded centrally through the Cabinet Office.

The main ‘cost’ to participants is the commitment of their time to attend all days of the programme in order to make a success of the opportunity for senior commissioners from all parts of government to work together in this way.

Apply to join the academy

Senior commissioners from all parts of the public sector are invited to apply. Candidates should be at Assistant Director or Director level in local authorities, or SCS1 in central government departments, or the equivalent. It is recommended that 2 or 3 senior commissioners from an organisation apply together to join a cohort, to learn together and then work as a team to apply their new thinking to their organisation’s commissioning practice.

Candidate organisations should be leading innovation in commissioning services for the public by challenging existing delivery models. Each cohort will have a mix of different sector groups, covering cross-cutting themes.

The Cabinet Office, working with colleagues from across sectors, will design each of the cohorts using the information given on the application form in order to provide diversity within groups and maximise learning across sectors.

Results and impact

One of the outputs of the programme is for each participating organisation to implement a 100-day plan, developed during the programme, to improve commissioning practice.

All participants will also join an alumni network, giving them access to a supportive group of peers who will share experience and help each other deal with new challenges.

Although the pilots are still underway, the participants are already sharing commissioning models and methodologies. Organisations are identifying opportunities to work better across boundaries with peers in their cohort and proposals have been discussed for joining up between central and local government. The network of contacts is building and participants are using and adapting materials to share with colleagues and to develop their own staff.

Feedback from participants

Feedback already received from participants has included positive comments on:

• the enthusiasm and honesty of the speakers
• the wealth of experience, issues and challenges that those involved bring
• the value of real-life examples and the chance to have more in-depth conversations with providers
• the usefulness of seeing commissioning from the leadership, commissioner and provider perspective

Further support for commissioners

Commissioners increasingly work across traditional boundaries and may need access to information from sectors other than their own. The following sectors provide information for commissioning in their area.

The Cabinet Office

Start a public service mutual.

The local government sector

Knowledge Hub is the Local Government Association’s professional social network. It helps people in local government to connect and share online in a secure environment.

The justice sector

The Academy for Justice Commissioning identifies and promotes excellence in justice commissioning. By setting standards and raising commissioner capability, it supports the transformation of justice services to deliver best value, improve effectiveness and increase public confidence in the justice system. From Academy for Justice Commissioning you can access the A-Z of Commissioning, an online course to help all those involved in commissioning develop a shared understanding of what commissioning is and the essential components that make it work.

Useful guidance produced by the Academy for Justice Commissioning:

• Outcomes and Efficiency (pdf)
• Characteristics of Good Commissioning
• Commissioning On a Page: Creating a common message
• NOMS Glossary of Commissioning Terms and Acronyms
• The Complete Dictionary of Commissioning and Procurement (ACEVO)
• National Occupational Standards for Commissioning in the Public Sector
• National Occupational Standards for Commissioning in the Public Sector Knowledge Needs Map (Sept 2012)

Participating organisations

Pilot 1:

• Cheshire West and Chester (a place-based group)
• National Offender Management Service / Ministry of Justice
• Staffordshire County Council
• Surrey County Council
• Waverley Borough Council
• Essex County Council
• Cabinet Office
• London Borough of Barnet

Pilot 2:

• Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
• Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council
• DWP, The Work Programme
• Norfolk County Council and NHS Norfolk
• Leicestershire County Council and NHS Leicestershire
• Cabinet Office
• Birmingham City Council
• South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office
• Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office

Wave 1:

• Ashford (and area) Clinical Commissioning Groups
• Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioners
• Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group & Bristol City Council
• Department for Communities and Local Government
• Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Gloucestershire County Council
• Home Office
• Horsham District Council
• Humberside Fire and Rescue
• Lancashire County Council
• Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioners
• London Borough of Haringey
• London Borough of Lewisham
• NHS England
• Somerset County Council
• Staffordshire County Council
• Tri-borough councils: Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster
• West Sussex County Council
• Department for Work and Pensions

Wave 2:

• Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner
• Department for Communities and Local Government
• Devon County Council
• Fenland District Council
• Gloucestershire County Council
• Home Office
• Knowsley Council (Health and Social Care Integration)
• London Borough of Lambeth
• London Borough of Sutton
• Lowestoft Rising
• Manchester City Council
• Ministry of Defence healthcare
• Norfolk County Council
• Public Service Transformation Network
• Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
• Shropshire
• Somerset County Council
• Staffordshire County Council
• Stoke-On-Trent City Council
• Coastal West Sussex, Horsham and Mid Sussex and Crawley CCGs
• Swindon Borough Council
• Tamworth Borough Council
• West Sussex County Council
• Westminster City Council on behalf of the Tri-borough Public Service Transformation agenda
• Wirral Council
• Department for Work and Pensions

A full list of non-executive directors by their government departments.

The 2014 EU Procurement Directives were approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday 15 January 2014, and by the EU Council on 11 February 2014. These directives will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on 28 March 2014 and come into force on 17 April 2014. EU member states will then have 2 years to implement them in national legislation.

The government is aiming to transpose (implement) these directives quickly so that the UK can benefit as soon as possible from the improved flexibilities they offer. Here we will keep you up to date on progress in Brussels, UK transposition of the directives and where to access free training.

Progress in Brussels (March 2014)

The European Parliament voted to approve the 2014 Directives on 15 January 2014. The directives will be published shortly in the Official Journal. The directives also affect concessions (partnerships between the public sector and mostly private companies that maintain infrastructure or provide important services) and utilities (water, energy, transport and postal services).

Implementing the directives

Where the directives allow member states a choice on whether or how to implement a particular provision, Cabinet Office have issued discussion papers and will consider responses. For more information please see Procurement Policy Note 05/13. We will launch a formal consultation on the draft implementing regulations in due course.

Training

Cabinet Office is organising a series of training sessions for public sector organisations. Dates for free face-to-face training are available on this page along with details of how to register. E-learning resources and handbooks will also be available here later in 2014.

Book a training session

Please complete the respective application form for your chosen date and send this to EURegistration@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk with the venue name and date in the subject line.

Public sector training

Dates for public sector training sessions

PDF, 228KB, 7 pages

Public sector: application form for EU Directives training

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 20.5KB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.Request a different format.

If you use assistive technology and need a version of this document in a more accessible format please emailpubliccorrespondence@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the publication ("Public sector: application form for EU Directives training").

Voluntary sector training

2 training sessions are being organised specifically for contracting authorities in the voluntary sector. The first date is now available for registration:

• 16 July 2014 at Bircham Dyson Bell, 50 The Broadway, London, SW1H 0BL

Voluntary sector: application form for EU Directives training

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 20.5KB

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Utilities

Training sessions for contracting entities under the Utilities Directive will take place on:

• 22 July 2014
• 25 July 2014

All sessions take place at Severn Trent Water Limited, Severn Trent Centre, 2 St Johns Street, Coventry, CV1 2LZ

Utilities: application form for EU Directives training

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 20.5KB

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Northern Ireland public sector

Training sessions have been organised for contracting authorities in Northern Ireland

• 11 June 2014
• 12 June 2014

All sessions take place at McAuley House, 2-14 Castle Street, Belfast, BT1 1SA.

Public sector: application form for EU Directives training

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 20.5KB

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If you use assistive technology and need a version of this document in a more accessible format please emailpubliccorrespondence@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk quoting your address, telephone number along with the title of the publication ("Public sector: application form for EU Directives training").

Wales public sector

Value Wales will coordinate training sessions for Wales professionals and further information will be available shortly.

About the training

Please note that places on these sessions will be limited and we would generally expect only 1 delegate per organisation: that delegate can then use the materials to brief their colleagues. If you need more than 1 place please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you. Because places are limited, if you fail to attend a booked course, we may not be able to offer an alternative date.

Delegates need to make own arrangements for lunch and refreshments as these are not provided: please check with the venue for available facilities.

Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd today presented charity the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC UK) with a cheque for more than £9,000 – the proceeds from a Christmas card recycling scheme run by Sainsbury’s.

Collection points in Cabinet Office, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for International Development (DfID), contributed to the total of over 2 million Christmas cards recycled by the supermarket this year, reducing the amount of paper going to landfill.

Sainsbury’s is donating proceeds to FSC UK to help protect the world’s forests.

Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd said:

By cutting waste, reducing demand for natural resources, creating a cleaner environment and opportunities for new businesses, recycling is one of the ways in which we can all help make our communities healthier and more prosperous. I’m pleased we were able to participate in this scheme, giving civil servants the chance to make a contribution to a worthwhile cause and raising awareness of wider environmental issues.

Government departments identify and report savings each year in line with the Efficiency and Reform Group yearly savings validation process and audit. This document provides guidance on identifying and reporting savings.

This page contains guidance about the drafting of bills, produced by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for members of that office.

I am pleased to announce that new guidance has today been published by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel recommending that powers to make delegated legislation conferred by government Bills should generally take the form of regulation-making powers and not order-making powers.

At the moment, government Bills often give ministers the power to make delegated legislation by order or by regulations but there is no clear distinction between these 2 forms. The guidance, which will affect the drafting of government Bills introduced in the next session of Parliament, will make a modest contribution to simplifying legislation and eliminating a source of potential confusion for readers who are currently faced with 2 forms of delegated legislation where 1 would do.

1 area where the new practice may be particularly noticeable is that Bills will provide for commencement regulations rather than commencement orders. The recommendation will not affect rules or Orders in Council.

Copies of the new guidance will be deposited in the libraries of both Houses.