The government must make good on its promise to open up the market if recruitment agencies are to help implement its ICT strategy, according to the REC Technology group.
The Public Accounts Committee recently published its report into ICT in Government in which it called on the coalition to explain how it intends to involve more SMEs and contractors (who may work through umbrella companies) in the ICT procurement process.
The REC Technology Group also pointed out that recruiters have a very useful role to play in assessing the skills the coalition will require to implement the strategy successfully. The Public Accounts Committee made it clear that it will be essential to understand future skills if the government wants to put an effective plan in place. The recruitment industry has a great deal of expertise in this type of planning and could provide a significant contribution.
Andrew Tomlinson, the policy advisor for the REC Technology Group, said that a mixed market of suppliers is essential in order to achieve ICT procurement value for money. Recruiters need to be able to help source the best IT staff if the strategy is going to be successful. Having an open market, where small recruiters do not face unnecessary barriers, will be the best way of guaranteeing this.
The REC welcomes the call for the government to explain how it will involve SMEs in the process and how it will measure success. Furthermore, the Committee pointed out that the coalition has not assessed the available resources, or the skills necessary to put its strategy into practice. IT recruiters are keen to assist the Cabinet Office determine how to get the best out of their current capacity and how to meet demand in the future.
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