Press Releases

Office of Government Commerce Launches Fast Stream Procurement Placement Option

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has this week launched the Government Procurement Service (GPS) Fast Stream Procurement Placement Option. An event involving leading public sector procurement specialists and fast streamers was held at the Treasury (1 Horse Guards Road, London) to mark the occasion.

The GPS Fast Stream Procurement Placement Option will offer a number of places in central government commercial roles to members of the Civil Service Fast Stream.

Successful applicants will be exposed to a range of procurement and management roles, which are of increasing importance in government.

Commenting on the scheme, Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell KCB said:

"Procurement plays an essential role in delivering government policy and in ensuring we do so in a cost effective way. A placement in this field is a great opportunity to build key skills and to make a real impact at the heart of delivering public service outcomes."

The public sector spends around £160bn every year on goods and services, and strategic procurement roles are of ever-greater significance. The GPS scheme forms part of an overall strategy to improve the skills, capability and resources available in government to manage its commercial activities.

The aim of the GPS scheme is to equip future senior civil servants with a sound understanding of the significance and complexity of procurement activities. For some, it may lead to a move into senior commercial roles in government.

Working in a procurement environment will enable fast streamers to gain experience in either Operational Delivery or Corporate Services, two areas that can be most difficult for fast streamers to access on their journey to the senior civil service.

Notes to editors

Pictures of event available by contacting OGC press office.

About the GPS scheme

The GPS Fast Stream Procurement Placement option will provide the fast streamer with:

On the job development;
Support from a personal mentor and a procurement buddy;
Affiliate membership of the Government Procurement Service;
A formal professional qualification, funded by the GPS; and
Work placements tailored to complement the Professional Skills for Government and GPS skills frameworks.

Placements are likely to be for 12 to 18 months. The first seven placements are being finalised and will be drawn from organisations including the Highways Agency (Department for Transport), the Ministry of Defence, NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, the Office of Government Commerce, the Department of Work and Pensions, the Olympic Delivery Authority and HM Prison Service.

All members of the Civil Service Fast Stream can apply. All procurement placements will be advertised to Fast Stream members via the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway.

To find out more, call the OGC Service Desk on 0845 000 4999.

About GPS

The vision for the GPS is "to create a sustainable balance of appropriately skilled and suitably managed procurement professionals, to match the growing scale and complexity of the Government's delivery agenda".

The GPS will provide a framework to enable procurement professionals to develop the capability needed to deliver better public services and greater savings from public procurement. The reformed GPS will establish a comprehensive package of support to the government procurement profession and government organisations seeking to enhance their procurement capability.

During 2007 and 2008 the GPS will establish and start to introduce:

Professional standards for government procurement professionals;
Learning and development initiatives;
Skills frameworks for procurement practitioners and leaders;
Career paths;
New flexible routes into government procurement (1) Government Procurement Graduate Service - already established and (2) GPS Switch Track - for those wishing to switch to the procurement profession from within government;
Standard role profiles;
Reward & remuneration strategy for procurement professionals.

About OGC

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is an office of HM Treasury, responsible for improving value for money by driving up standards and capability in procurement, from commodities buying to the delivery of major capital projects, maximising the effective use of 60% of government spending and a £30 billion property estate.

A new Government strategy launched in January 2007, Transforming Government Procurement, highlighted the central importance of procurement in delivering high-quality public services and best value for money. OGC is tasked with delivering this transformation, and with driving up standards and procurement capability across central government. The OGC will do this through:

Setting procurement standards and monitoring performance and capability;
Developing a cadre of skilled procurement professionals across Government;
Driving value for money through collaborative procurement;
Playing a stronger role in the successful delivery of major projects; and
Improving management and use of the government estate.

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