The Operational Efficiency Programme, published by HM Treasury on 21st April 2009, recommends accelerating progress on shared services and outsourcings throughout the public sector. In central government, this should deliver upper quartile performance and savings of 25% within three years. It recommends that the savings be assumed when determining departments’ budgets. This conference is designed to inform delegates about the Operational Efficiency Programme and equip them to be able to respond more effectively to its challenges.

The UK leads the way in the outsourcing of public sector services; the private sector has an increasing role in the delivery of front line services. With an annual turnover of £50bn, outsourcing has become a sophisticated mechanism to improve public services, value for money and to reduce costs. The scope of outsourcing is increasing rapidly. Services, once seen as core, are increasingly being seen as suitable for outsourcing. Outsourcing, together with the related Shared Services, is transforming the public sector.

‘Outsourcing: The Keys to Success’ will bring together leading practitioners and regulatory speakers, and delegates will learn about developing and implementing successful outsourcing strategies and ways to identify suitable targets. A main theme of the conference will be how outsourcing can be a benefit to both the public and the private sectors. Outsourcing compels the public sector to evaluate the services it provides; the methods of working that have grown up through custom and practice have to be specified clearly, often for the first time. It also forces the public sector to get a better understanding of the costs of its activities. With recent high profile examples of contracts being terminated, there is a greater need for diligence and good practice.

‘Outsourcing: The Keys to Success’ will assess the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to outsourcing and facilities management and promote the good practice that maximises the chance of successful outcomes. The conference will also discuss the possible impact of new models that will reduce time and cost to public and private sectors and look at what the outsourcing scene might be like in five years’ time. The conference is an opportunity to discuss policy and create new networks between public and private sectors, and an opportunity to create a dialogue for future collaboration for those concerned with developing and implementing outsourcing initiatives as well as those involved in the procurement, contracting and contracts management of outsourced services.