Key findings
- The Department for Education is by far the most active buyer in the leadership development sector, with 21 contracts worth £105m.
- Across 2019 and 2020 there are £68.1m worth of expiring award opportunities in the leadership development sector.
- The number of digital skills contracts has increased year on year, reaching a high of 62 in 2018.
The skills gap in context
Many public organisations find it hard to recruit experienced digital, data and technology specialists in competition with the private sector, so a growing share of investment goes into developing the people they already employ. That ranges from basic digital confidence for frontline teams, through specialist training in data analysis, cyber security and service design, to leadership programmes that help senior managers commission and oversee technology change.
The apprenticeship levy, introduced in 2017, has also given larger public employers a dedicated budget for apprenticeships, including higher and degree-level programmes in digital and management roles.
What buyers look for
Providers that can show measurable outcomes, flexible delivery that fits around services, and an understanding of public sector culture are best placed to win this work. Regular contract expiries in leadership development mean many of these services are retendered every few years.
Read more about the themes behind this report on our Workforce & Leadership and Digital & Technology pages, or return to Procurement Insights.