News

OGC launches guide to revolutionise how the Civil Service operates, Working Beyond Walls

Released on 03/09/2008

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC), and DEGW, the international workplace change consultants, have today launched a new publication aimed at modernising Civil Service ways of working.

The guide, Working Beyond Walls, outlines a series of measures to ensure the Civil Service adapts to meet the challenges of the modern age, and is set to radically enhance ways in which civil servants deliver high quality services. It paints a picture of the Civil Service in 2020 where home-working and mobile working is commonplace, and Government office workspaces are used more efficiently and operations are more sustainable.

The guide encourages new thinking on information and communication technology, styles of working, estate transformation, strategic asset management, sustainable design and human resource issues. It is intended to lead to the further development in the Civil Service of diverse workspaces and innovative ways of working that deliver greater productivity, attract talent, and ultimately provide better value for money for the taxpayer. It also considers the importance of safeguarding data security, the environment and developing a healthier work / life balance.

The publication is part of the Government's High Performing Property Strategy, led by the OGC, which sets out the direction for improving strategic property asset management in central government with a view to achieving up to £1.5bn in efficiency savings annually by 2013.  It sets out a series of case studies outlining current best practice, including the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs new offices in Alnwick, Northumberland, which provides both flexible working space and sustainable operations.

Speaking about the initiative, Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell said:

"Work is what you do, not a place you go to, and the majority of the next generation of the workforce will be ready and able to work anywhere. Work has migrated beyond the conventional boundaries of time and space into a wider environment and those who manage the government estate should be prepared."

Bridget Hardy, co-author and OGC's Head of High Performing Property Strategy and Implementation, said:

"This book looks beyond currently accepted norms in relation to innovative flexible workplaces and working practices to offer a vision for the future of work in the Civil Service. Ways of working that are not constrained by office walls but exploit technology to be more efficient and effective, more joined up and better able to respond quickly to the needs of Government and citizens. 

"With Working Beyond Walls we are offering readers not just a good practice guide, but an inspiration. And by making what we have learned available in this easily accessible format based around case study examples we hope readers will find in the book the practical advice they need to successfully use workplaces as agents for change."

Co-author and DEGW director, Alison White added:  "Working beyond walls is essential reading for property developers, architects and designers and all those within the supply chain who seek to know and understand what those in the government and public service sectors want from their workplaces."

For a copy of the guide visit the OGC website.

Notes to Editors

1) Working Beyond Walls follows the OGC guide Working Without Walls - An insight into the Transforming Government Workplace - launched in 2004 which highlighted some of the best workplace projects taking place within government at the time, analysing the historical context and the catalysts for change. It also highlighted emerging best practice and summarised lessons learnt.  To view Working Without Walls visit the OGC website.

By providing modern, flexible work patterns with excellent connectivity in good quality environments that use space more efficiently and wisely as described in Working Beyond Walls the civil service can:

• reduce our impact on the environment and get better value for money;
• move the work closer to the citizens and deliver services more directly and immediately;
• allow people to work closer to where they live and to balance work, personal and community commitments more flexibly;
• enable people to work together without actually having to be together so reducing the time and cost involved in travel;
• attract the workforce the civil service needs in 21st century.

2) Working Beyond Walls is part of a seven-year programme launched in November 2006 (High Performing Property) which is driving the transformation of the Government's civil estate through setting out the framework and direction for improving strategic property asset management with key actions, milestones and objectives. The Government's target is for the programme to achieve value for money gains of between £1 and £1.5 billion per year by 2013 in the cost of running the civil estate. 

About OGC

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is an independent office of HM Treasury, established to help Government deliver best value from its spending.  The OGC works with central Government departments and other public sector organisations to ensure the achievement of six key goals:

• Delivery of value for money from third party spend; 
• Delivery of projects to time, quality and cost, realising benefits; 
• Getting the best from the Government's £30bn estate; 
• Improving the sustainability of the Government estate and operations, including reducing carbon emissions by 12.5% by 2010-11, through stronger performance management and guidance; 
• Helping achieve delivery of further Government policy goals, including innovation, equality, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs); 
• And driving forward the improvement of central Government capability in procurement, project and programme management, and estates management through the development of people skills, processes and tools.

OGC provides policy standards and guidance on best practice in procurement, projects and estate management, and monitors and challenges departments' performance against these standards, grounded in an evidence base of information and assurance.  It promotes and fosters collaborative procurement across the public sector to deliver better value for money and better public services; and it provides innovative ways to develop Government's commercial and procurement capability, including leadership of the Government Procurement Service.

About DEGW

DEGW is a leading strategy and design consultancy operating from offices in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas.  They work with clients to develop appropriate local solutions that achieve their business objectives, addressing a wide range of design issues, from long term urban and real estate strategies to the practical implementation of design concepts.  They help clients use space more productively, to enhance organisational performance and to develop solutions that are flexible over time. 

Media Contact:
Michael Dunning
T: 020 7271 1318
F: 020 7271 1345
E: press@ogc.gsi.gov.uk

Contact details:
OGC Service Desk
Tel: 0845 000 4999
E-mail: ServiceDesk@ogc.gsi.gov.uk