Managing consultants : A guide for working with consultants in government

Government’s use of consultants has waxed and waned over time. Under the coalition government, spend on consultants reduced dramatically – due to reforms driven by Francis Maude. But since 2016, spend has been on rise.

Within the many millions spent on consultants in government each year, there are often examples of poor value for money. In some instances, that will be due to the performance of the supplier, but in others it is a result of the management of projects by government.

This report draws on advice from current and former consultants and civil servants to provide practical tips for officials managing consultants in government. It does not pass judgment on how the government uses consultants, or whether or not it is a good or bad thing. It does not assess or analyse the approvals process.