The Cabinet Office has launched an initiative aimed at improving commissioners’ skills, including working with the voluntary and community sector.

The Commissioning Academy, which will start in April, will see senior civil servants take part in peer-led learning covering key commissioning issues such as outcome-based commissioning; working with charities; and new models of delivery such as mutual and joint venture companies.

Launching the Academy last week, minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, said too many public bodies and government departments were unimaginative and risk-averse in their approaches to commissioning.

He continued: “The Commissioning Academy will bring together senior commissioners from across the public sector to learn from the example of the most successful commissioning organisations.

“The aim is to give participants a real boost of inspiration which will help them go back and transform their organisation’s commissioning practice and ultimately re-design how local services are delivered.”

 

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