Download or read book Procurement in the Culture Media and Sport Sector written by Great Britain: National Audit Office and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2005-11-30 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the wide range of organisations it sponsors spend about £575 million a year buying goods and services. This NAO report examines the procurement practices used by the 25 largest organisations which are responsible for 97 per cent of the sector's procurement spend. Findings include that, whilst there are examples of good practice, procurement capabilities and practices are on the whole underdeveloped across the sector, and that better procurement practice could result in overall annual savings of £14 million by 2008-09 and double this within five years. The report sets out recommendations for ways to make further efficiencies into procurement across the sector, including improving co-ordinating how organisations work together to share knowledge and resources and to harness their buying power.

Download or read book The Office Accommodation of the Department for Culture Media and Sport and Its Sponsored Bodies written by Great Britain: National Audit Office and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-03-16 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report looks at the cost and utilization of the office accommodation occupied by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and 24 of its sponsored bodies. The 25 organisations covered by this report spent some £43 million in 2004-05. The focus of the report is on cost efficiency, with consideration of two key indicators (i) the cost of space (rent, rates and operating costs such as cleaning and utilities); (ii) the way that space is used (the number of square metres per member of staff), which combined, give the measure of cost per person. The NAO sets out a number of recommendations: that all organizations should adopt the efficiency measurement as based on cost per unit of space, space per person and cost per person; that performance data in measuring efficiency should be shared across departments; further efficiency measures should be examined, including renegotiating rental payments; reducing operating costs; subletting space to others; reducing demand for workstations. Also longer term policies should be taken into consideration such as: reorganizing existing offices into more space efficient layouts; exploring the scope for achieving savings through moving premises; achieving economies of scale. Further to this, all organizations should have an accommodation strategy, and adopt a coordinated approach to property management.

Download or read book Using the Contract to Maximise the Likelihood of Successful Project Outcomes written by Great Britain: National Audit Office and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-06-07 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report is one of a series of studies by the NAO which examine key factors involved in improving project performance in defence equipment procurement, with the aim of establishing best practice in relation to a theoretical 'gold standard' developed by assessing and comparing results of overseas and commercial operations. Following on from the first report in the series (HCP 30, session 2005-06, ISBN 0102932611) which identified the contract as a key component of project control, this report sets out recommendations on how the Ministry of Defence and its industry partners can best use the contract to maximise the likelihood of successful project outcomes. (It does not examine methods (competitive or otherwise) the MoD might pursue to select a potential supplier, as the effective use of competition will be the subject of a future report). More information on the evidence underlying the recommendations in this report and the gold standard criteria developed can be found on the website: www.naodefencevfm.org

Download or read book Stability Security and Opportunity for All written by Great Britain, Treasury Staff and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2004 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: White paper dated July 2004.

Download or read book Research Handbook on Inequalities and Work written by Cynthia Forson and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2024-03-14 with total page 593 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This multidisciplinary, international Research Handbook on Inequalities and Work examines disparities within contemporary working life and comes at a critical juncture of socio-historical change. As the world reels from the impact of economic insecurity, the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements, the trans liberation fight, the climate crisis and the rise of Artificial Intelligence, systemic inequalities and their impacts have been thrust into the limelight alongside the ceaseless struggle for social justice. Against this background, the Handbook provides cutting edge research studies that offers unique insight into the international nature of inequalities at work.

Download or read book building culture procurement of UK arts construction written by Walter Menteth and published by Project Compass CIC. This book was released on 2021-04-30 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: building culture describes how cultural buildings are conceived and procured, through a review of data, case studies and interrogation of the processes - an invaluable resource for anyone commissioning arts and cultural buildings in the UK. building culture is a uniquely comprehensive investigation that offers research, guidance, analysis of Covid impacts and recommendations for communities, arts professionals, commissioners, clients, architects, project teams and policy makers for future best practice. building culture contains: · Contributions by eminent architects, competition programmers and a client · Unique data analysis of the procurement processes of the sector · Arts funding guidance and procurement analysis · Resources and references. building culture looks at the procurement data for 421 arts and heritage capital projects across the UK between 2013 and 2018 to establish what procurement route was taken, what guidance was provided and by whom, who were the consultants appointed, some examples of best practice and some less good, and lessons learnt. Based on this evidence and previous research, building culture then makes recommendations for the key funding bodies and those advising or undertaking arts and heritage capital procurement and projects. In order to understand the landscape of arts and cultural buildings and their procurement it has also been required to understand the funding ecology and specifically that of the national arts funding bodies. This is seen in the light of the current context as the sector responds to Covid, Brexit, austerity and the future challenges of a Climate Emergency. “Building Culture is a comprehensive survey and commentary of the processes and power of cultural development and its reach across the United Kingdom. The authors … then present some of the urgent and important challenges and issues of our time … expertly framed through a diverse set of exemplar projects as case studies … situated … within the complex … world of planning, policy, and funding regimes. The result will prove an essential resource to students, practitioners and others looking to understand the world of cultural development with all its many challenges and opportunities … The recommendations the authors present to us here are central to a dialogue which is much needed about the values and principles needed for our society in the future.” Donald Hyslop, Chair of Creative and Cultural Skills UK. “This in-depth study of how cultural spaces are conceived and procured is hugely valuable to clients and design teams who often work in seeming isolation creating and adapting projects … It is especially valuable as returning from the pandemic we can appreciate the strategic and symbolic significance of cultural spaces and their role in coalescing places and sustaining relationships between people. The impressive depth and span of evidence gathered demonstrates how we could invest more wisely with a greater common understanding of the processes that prepare the ground for inspiring, robust and sustainable cultural buildings. The case studies demonstrate how this is done well.” Juliet Bidgood, Architect and RIBA Client Adviser.

Download or read book The Creation of Ofcom written by Great Britain: National Audit Office and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-07-05 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ofcom = Office of Communications.

Download or read book Making Grants Efficiently in the Culture Media and Sport Sector written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2008 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This inquiry took evidence from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (the Department), Arts Council England, Big Lottery Fund, English Heritage and Sport England on assessing the cost-efficiency of making grants; on supporting grant applicants; on sharing services and information; and on making applications on-line. In 2006-07, the nine principal grant-makers sponsored by the Department awarded grants of £1.8 billion, and spent £200 million on administering the grants and related activities. The grants ranged in size from £200 to many millions of pounds. The bodies held little information on the costs of their individual grant programmes and how these costs compare with others. The average cost of awarding £1 of grant across a sample of open application programmes in the sector ranged from three pence to 35 pence. Much of the variance in cost can be explained by the different objectives of the programmes and the needs of applicants. Grant-makers often receive applications which are incomplete or inaccurate. One way they could reduce the burden on grant applicants would be through inviting applications on-line. This would also help reduce the costs to grant-makers by reducing the amount of paper applications they have to process and the number of incomplete and ineligible applications. In the past, the Committee has recommended that the Department should take the lead in identifying the scope for savings by encouraging the organisations it funds to share accommodation and services. Little progress appears to be have made in this area. The Department has also done little to encourage benchmarking and the sharing of good practice across the sector.

Download or read book Management for Social Enterprise written by Bob Doherty and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2009-03-19 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: `Management for Social Enterprise is a great introduction to the rich variety of social enterprises in the UK. It is also a useful tool to help us to build more effective social enterprises that really deliver on their missions by people who have hands on experience. This is just what the rapidly growing social enterprise sector needs, a management manual to help us take social enterprises to the next level by people who have hands on experience′ - Sophi Tranchell, Managing Director of Divine Chocolate Ltd and Cabinet Office sponsored Social Enterprise Ambassador `The recent explosive growth in the number of social enterprises, their diverse and dynamic nature, and the upsurge in research about them all makes this a potentially bewildering field of knowledge to explore. This book provides a clear and timely guide to the management challenges involved in understanding and running social enterprises, and underlines why their unique nature requires something more than just standard business school wisdom′ - Ken Peattie, Professor of Marketing and Strategy, Cardiff Business School, and Director of the ESRC Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society `Provides a good introduction to the management of social enterprises touching on a broad range of topics and will help those invovled in managing social enterprises and those trying to understand more about the sector. It draws on the experience of those who have worked in the social enterprise sector in a range of countries and are passionate about developing it′ - Fergus Lyon, Professor of Enterprise and Organizations, Middlesex University Overviewing the key business topics required by social entrepreneurs, and managers in social enterprises Management for Social Enterprise covers strategy, finance, ethics, social accounting, marketing and people management. Written in direct, accessible language by a team of authors currently teaching and researching in this sector, each chapter is fully supported with learning resources. Chapters include brief overviews, further reading, suggested web resources and, importantly, international case studies, drawing on real-life business examples. This book is essential reading for students and practitioners of Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise, but will also be of use to anyone with an interest in management, corporate responsibility, ethics or community studies.

Download or read book Fines Collection written by Great Britain: National Audit Office and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-05-25 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fines are the most common sentence imposed by Magistrates' courts in England and Wales, covering a range of crimes including motoring offences, drug offences, criminal damage and TV licence evasion. In the year 2004-05, penalties totalling £352 million were imposed, with £75 million cancelled and £222 million collected. Following on from an earlier report (HCP 672, session 2001-02, ISBN 0102914508) published in 2002, the NAO has examined whether the changes made in practices and procedures have resulted in improvements to the enforcement and collections of fines. It is estimated that a 25 per cent reduction in the number of legally cancelled fines would result in potential savings of £6.9 million per year and prompter payment of fines would yield further annual savings of almost one million pounds. Although a series of measures have been introduced by the Department for Constitutional Affairs to improve the system, over two thirds of the cases examined required enforcement action before the offender made any payments. A number of recommendations for further improvements are made, including in relation to developing performance indicators; prompter collection of fines, including making payment facilities (including cash) available at each court; focusing staff resource allocation on the early stages of enforcement; and addressing IT problems caused by the delay of the Libra system

Download or read book Future of UK manufacturing written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Trade and Industry Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2007-07-18 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The public sector spends nearly GBP 125 billion, or ten per cent of GDP, each year purchasing goods and services in the UK economy. This report focuses on whether the rules and practices relating to procurement of goods and services by public authorities hinder or help UK manufacturers in obtaining public contracts.

Download or read book Update on PFI Debt Refinancing and the PFI Equity Market written by Great Britain: National Audit Office and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-04-21 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Findings from this NAO report include that the government has secured gains of £137 million from Private Finance Initiative (PFI) debt refinancings under new arrangements introduced by the Treasury in 2002 (including £102 million from four large refinancings (one of the London Underground contracts and three hospital projects: Norfolk and Norwich, Darent Valley and Bromley). The NAO found that the new sharing arrangements through a voluntary Code appear to be generally working well but there have been exceptions, for example in three road projects the public sector missed out on at least £1.7 million because gains were not shared in accordance with the voluntary code. The report also describes the emergence of the PFI secondary market which is enabling equity investors in PFI projects to sell their shares on to new investors.

Download or read book The Termination of the PFI Contract for the National Physical Laboratory written by Great Britain: National Audit Office and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-05-10 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1998, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Laser, a special purpose company jointly owned by Serco Group plc and John Laing plc, signed a 25-year long Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract. Laser would build and manage new facilities for the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), comprising 16 linked modules, containing over 400 laboratories, and replacing many existing buildings. The planned cost of the new buildings was approximately £96 million. The DTI would pay Laser a unitary charge, of £11.5 million (1998 prices) a year once the new buildings were ready, the charge increasing annually based on the increase in retail prices. The project suffered considerable construction delays and difficulties in achieving the specification for some parts of the buildings, mainly due to deficient design. In December 2004, it was agreed to terminate the PFI contract. The DTI paid Laser £75 million for its interest in the new buildings. This was the first termination of a major PFI contract involving serious non-performance. This report examines the problems that led to the termination, why these problems arose, how the Department managed them and the value for money consequences of the termination. The report finds that the DTI successfully transferred risk in the PFI contract to the private sector, but that the project risks could have been reduced with firmer control and better communication. Up to and including the termination, the Department's investment in the new facilities was about £122 million (March 2005 prices). In return, the Department secured an asset valued at £85 million and for which all but eight of more than 400 laboratories should be capable of being made to meet its specification in full. The private sector reported a loss of at least £100 million.

Download or read book Parliamentary Debates Hansard written by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 624 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Working with Non governmental and Other Civil Society Organisations to Promote Development written by Great Britain: National Audit Office and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-07-06 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The term Civil Society covers aspects of society independent of the state and the private sector. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are bodies organised around shared interests and values and include NGOs, trade unions, faith groups and business associations. Since 1997 the Department fro International Development (DFID) has increasingly worked with CSOs to help to reduce world poverty. This report looks at DFID's view of the role of CSOs in international development; how it engages with CSOs; and the achievements of CSOs in reducing poverty. It is based on visits to 4 countries, 19 projects, a file review of 40 projects and Partnership Programme Agreements; and the response of 90 CSOs.

Download or read book Rethinking Governance in Public Service Outsourcing written by Nina Boeger and published by Policy Press. This book was released on 2024-07-19 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Compelling and robust, this book provides an analysis of challenges in public service outsourcing and considers how to avoid failure in the future. Crucially, it proposes a governance mechanism where outsourcing public services nurtures less extractive and more sustainable corporate organizations that are oriented towards a productive purpose beyond maximising shareholder value, with implications well beyond public services. Under these proposals, supporting firms that are independently and inclusively governed and use profit to pursue purpose can improve both public services and wider economic organisation. The book examines how barriers to implementing this idea within the existing legal framework for public procurement may be addressed, and it formulates actionable policy proposals.

Download or read book The Management of Staff Sickness Absence in the National Probation Service written by Great Britain: National Audit Office and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2006-04-26 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This NAO report examines sick leave in the National Probation Service, which was running at 12.3 days per person in the 2004-05 period at a cost of £31.6 million. A number of recommendations have been set out as follows. That the National Probation Directorate should agree with the Chief Probation Officer a consistent minimum standard for collecting and reporting sickness absence data in their areas. This in turn could be used to produce comparative analyses, and offer a basis to diagnose the causes of sickness absence. An upgrade in some areas of their information technology systems should occur, so that better management information can be compiled. All probation areas should implement the mandatory elements of the national policy on sickness absence. All Chief Officers should review their action plans for reducing sickness absence. Sickness absence should be managed effectively but sympathetically, by including return to work interviews, along with a means of distinguishing between avoidable and unavoidable sickness absences, and addressing the culture of absenteeism. Long term sickness absence should be reviewed as a matter of urgency. Policies relating to work/life balance should be implemented nationally.