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https://bpdtsinsights.blog.gov.uk/2020/09/29/bpdts-tailored-review-and-our-future/

BPDTS Tailored Review and Our Future

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The Government has announced today that following an independent review, it intends to create a single, stronger digital function for DWP.  This will bring together colleagues from BPDTS as well as from the existing DWP Digital Group to become one of the most significant and important functions in digital government.

Designed with the best in mind

BPDTS was established in 2016 as new type of organisation within government.  It was established as a limited company with the remit to provide digital and technology services to DWP. Over the last few years, I’m hugely proud to say that we’ve delivered this and more.

Our status as an arm’s length body has given us a degree of independence and we’ve been able to use this to attract and retain some of the very best digital talent in the country.  From architects and engineers to user experience specialists and delivery managers, BPDTS is now home to a huge wealth of expertise, knowledge and experience that combines and collaborates to improve the digital systems and services within DWP.

Government best practice

In the latter part of 2019, a tailored review into BPDTS was instigated as part of a regular process where all non-departmental government bodies are reviewed once in the lifetime of each Parliament.  Its findings captured the essence of our organisation; it strongly commended our performance and contribution to DWP, citing our successful operational performance, quality of leadership and overall calibre of people. It found strong evidence of our contribution to improving the resilience of DWP’s technology and bringing new capabilities into the department.

To capitalise on the successful contribution of BPDTS whilst continuing to evolve digital services within Government, the Secretary of State agreed with the recommendation of the Tailored Review that BPDTS and the existing DWP Digital group should be brought together into a single function within DWP.

This joining of forces will also strengthen the Digital, Data and Technology profession in government, supporting the Government Transformation Strategy’s ambition to ‘have one of the most digitally skilled populations of civil servants in the world’.

Stronger together

Despite existing as two separate functions in recent years, we have been united in our common goals, our work ethic and our desire to make a difference through digital.  Our commitment is the same – to deliver better services for 85,000 DWP colleagues and 20 million customers.

Alongside this, I believe that BPDTS is a special organisation to work for thanks to the culture we have all contributed to building.  We are passionate about listening, creating opportunities for conversation and promoting feedback at every level.  Over the years, we have actively sought input from all of our colleagues and use this to help grow and develop our organisation.  I’m confident that we’ll have opportunities over the coming months to use our cultural journey to help make this new digital function one that feels authentic and truly people-focused.

In the words of the Tailored Review recommendations, our new digital service will learn from the past, look towards the future and build on the foundations that have already been put into place.

We will be working alongside our colleagues in DWP Digital and in the wider DWP to make this vision of united digital excellence a reality.  Now more than ever, digital services need to be quicker, simpler and offer the best user experience possible. I know that continuing to make the most of the digital expertise BPDTS has as part of a new super-function offers a truly exciting opportunity.

 

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4 comments

  1. Comment by P Smith posted on

    Does this mean BPDTS staff become full civil servants now?

    Reply
  2. Comment by A Jeong posted on

    Are you hiring people now? If so, how may I apply?

    Reply

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