Shared services is a high profile initiative and an important
part of the transformational government and efficiency agenda. It
involves the creation of a stand alone business unit delivering
standardised processes and services which otherwise will be
duplicated across divisions, operating units and legal
entities.
The benefits of shared
services
The shared services
challenge
Market Leading Experience
Pinsent Masons Shared Services Toolkit
Pinsent Masons Shared
Services Partnership Programme
Contact Us
Further
guidance
The benefits of shared services
The prize is significant. Whilst economies of scale can be
realised, the standardisation and simplification of processes
should result in greater organisational efficiency and enhance
front line service delivery.
Learn more about the benefits that shared
services can bring.
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The shared
services challenge
Whilst there are clear benefits to a shared services approach there
are also significant challenges both in the preparatory and the
procurement phase of a project. Read on for details including how
we can help.
A need to act now
The Committee of Public Accounts report, Improving Corporate
Functions Using Shared Services, published in May 2008,
contains a number of important recommendations for public sector
bodies which need to be acted upon:
- all Government departments need to analyse the cost and
performance of corporate services on a regular and consistent
basis, and publish how shared services are being used to improve
value for money as part of their annual report.
- smaller departments need to evaluate the benefits of buying
corporate services from HMRC and DWP in order to achieve further
efficiencies through economies of scale.
Pinsent Masons can help you to baseline your existing
position and assist in a benchmarking exercise.
Procuring a successful shared services
project
Embarking upon a shared services project is a significant
undertaking. It is resource intensive and can involve sensitive
issues, including those relating to staff. The public sector
bodies which are coming together to share services will have
different operational needs and decision making processes.
Whilst every situation is bespoke, a number of key legal and
commercial issues which are common to shared services projects can
be identified. These need to be addressed in a focussed way at an
early stage in the process in a manner which will determine the
correct legal and financial structure. Failure to do this can
lead to lost time and abortive cost, or worse, a project which does
not deliver the intended benefits.
Careful planning and project management is required to
deliver these projects successfully. Why reinvent the
wheel? You can use our experience to help you structure and
deliver an effective shared services project. Go back.
Market Leading
Experience
At Pinsent Masons, we have market leading experience of completing
some of the largest and most significant shared services projects.
We have advised upon many of the key groundbreaking projects
including, most recently, advising the Cabinet Office in relation
to Project Isaac, known as public sector Flex, and Firebuy (the
national procurement vehicle for the British Fire Service), in
respect of a range of national frameworks and managed service
arrangements which comprise the sharing of services between the
Fire and Rescue Authorities of the U.K.
Learn more about our
credentials.
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Pinsent Masons
Shared Services Toolkit
Pinsent Masons
LLP has developed a free shared services toolkit to highlight some
of the key issues involved in shared services projects. The toolkit
is a practical guide for public sector bodies who are considering
embarking upon shared services projects. The toolkit
draws on our experience of completing shared services projects and
will help you identify key issues at an early stage to assist with
your planning.
The topics which are covered include not only legal issues such
as the possible legal and contractual structures, public
procurement and state aid issues, HR and tax, but also practical
guidance including a checklist for procuring shared services, a
description of the stages in a shared services project, a case
study and a template Memorandum of Understanding which identifies
some of the key issues which would typically need to be addressed
as between public sector bodies which are embarking upon a shared
services project.
See the Shared Services
Toolkit Introduction.
Register for the toolkit here.
We recognise that this is an evolving area and therefore we may
update or add to the documents within the toolkit from time to
time. Don't worry, if you register your interest and
receive the existing toolkit documents we will ensure that you will
receive updates and further documents as and when they are
issued.
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Pinsent Masons
Shared Services Partnership Programme
A toolkit can only take you so far. You also need to be able to
count upon the support of the people who have produced the
documents and who have successfully advised on other
projects. Our leading edge work on projects such as
Public Sector Flex and Firebuy means that we have a true working
knowledge of the issues facing shared services projects.
Your access to this experience is through our shared
services partnership programme which is designed to provide you
with hands on support from our team of experienced advisors
throughout each stage of the typical shared services project, from
planning and preparation, design, build and transition through to
post implementation.
We understand that there is no one size fits all and that needs
will differ in relation to our partnership programme. We will work
with you to design a bespoke programme comprising the full 'cradle
to grave' service or by simply identifying one-off shared services
products or individual services.
Learn more
about our partnership programme.
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Contact
Us
We would be happy to discuss our toolkit or partnership programme,
or any legal matters relating to shared services projects or any
strategic or general issues that may concern you and, should you
wish, visit you to discuss our experience and what we can
offer.
Please feel free to call any of the contacts on the
right.
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Further
Guidance
The Cabinet Office shared services team is charged with overseeing
the shared services agenda.
The team has developed a shared services website, which also
includes a shared services toolkit to assist organisations with
their journey to shared services.
This toolkit has a different focus to our own and provides
policy context as well as links to applicable OGC guidance,
guidance for providers and customers and FAQs, as well as extracts
from public sector Flex.
You can access the Cabinet Office toolkit via the following
link: http://www.cio.gov.uk/shared_services/toolkit/index.asp
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