The Government is due to announce its efficiency drive in spring 2025.
Over the years there have been many such initiatives; the autumn statements 2021 and 2022 announced efficiency and savings review, in 2013 What Works Best centres were introduced to ensure better decisions across £200 billion of public services.
In 2017 the NHS introduced a ‘get it right first time’ campaign; mirroring an earlier Local Government campaign in 2011
As far back as 2010 Sir Philip Greens review of efficiency concluded ‘There are clear reasons why Government conducts its business so inefficiently • Data is very poor and often inaccurate. • Government acts as a series of independent departments rather than as one organisation. • There is no motivation to save money or to treat cash “as your own”. • There is no process for setting and challenging detailed departmental budgets. • There hasn’t been a mandate for centralised procurement. • There are inconsistent commercial skills across departments’
So why today, does it feel like nothing has changed, that the momentum for improvement is still not embedded? The common message we receive on why this may be, is a lack of leadership understanding and support.
Previous ICIP research shows issues with middle management commitment to CI, and senior leaders who lack understanding of the benefits of CI and whose focus is on meeting ever-changing and short-term politically driven goals.
So are our Leaders in any better position to embed efficiency and deliver value this time around? Complete our questionnaire and help us find out.