Find out how our Digital Specialists and Programmes agreement is helping the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) meet their need to tackle their digital skills gap.
Published 22 December 2023
Last updated 22 December 2023
The requirement
The OPSS provides many external GOV.UK digital services that are used for product regulation, compliance and consumer safety.
They needed a flexible contract to provide specialist digital, data and technology (DDaT) resources to customers, often at short notice, and improve their digital services. Alongside this, OPSS needed support improving internal resources, including specialist skill sets.
The solution
In July 2022, OPSS signed a multi-year call-off contract under our Digital Specialists and Programmes agreement. They appointed Olive Jar Digital as their strategic resourcing partner.
OPSS and Olive Jar collaboratively determined the requirements and responsibilities through regular communication with project leads. Olive Jar’s in-house talent acquisition teams provide suitable resources from a pool of high-calibre trusted professionals, who are pre-vetted and ready for efficient onboarding.
Comprehensive onboarding packs for new starters provide an in-depth understanding of OPSS’ structure, values and project deliverables.
Olive Jar’s resources are fully embedded into OPSS, working in agile teams with civil servants and other suppliers. These teams are responsible for all product-related activities from stakeholder collaboration to research and development. A ‘rainbow team’ accountability model is used where the supplier provides a team of individuals to work alongside the buyer staff. This approach further encourages multi-team collaboration and agile working.
Olive Jar also provides capability building for civil servants alongside project delivery. This includes mentoring and coaching, helping to create longer term resilience for OPSS by continuously upskilling internal resources.
The results
- access to specialist resource
- improved internal resource upskilling
- smooth onboarding process
The delivery manager at OPSS said:
Timeliness of sharing resource information (contacts, security clearance) has been consistent and very fast. This has helped us onboard new starters with minimal delay. Olive Jar has been quick in their identification of resources when resource needs emerge, and have been efficient in setting up role assessment meetings and debriefs where required.
Further information
To learn more about the agreement, you can visit the Digital Specialist and Programmes web page.
Find out how we can also support you on your digital transformation journey by downloading our guide to digital transformation in local government or our guide to digital transformation in NHS.