Achieving Value for Money

Most public bodies face downward pressure on budgets alongside a growing demand for services. The need to achieve value for money, therefore, has never been greater. Good Value for Money is the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes.

 

This course explores how value for money can be achieved to deliver the intended outcomes. Key elements of value for money (Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Equity) will be explored alongside a discussion about the challenges in achieving the appropriate balance between these elements.

 

The course will commence with a discussion about the use of the term value for money and how participants interpret the term when used within and outside the workplace. It continues with an explanation of the relationship between value for money and affordability and a consideration of how value for money assessments are used to support business change. It will then cover the key principles associated with a value money assessment.

 

Value for Money is a one-day programme designed to equip participants with a better understanding of the term value for money (together with the best value and social value) and how it is calculated and monitored.

 

 

Key Training Features

Who Can Attend

Learning Outcomes


Key Training Features:

This course will draw upon current best practices including the

  • HM Treasury Green Book: appraisal and Evaluation in central government
  • HM Treasury Orange Book. Management of risk – principles and concepts
  • HM Treasury Guide to Developing the project business case
  • HM Treasury Aqua Book: guidance on producing quality analysis for government
  • Review of quality assurance of government analytical models
  • Participants will be invited to discuss their own experiences of assessing or maintaining VfM

Who Can Attend:

This course is aimed at budget and middle managers and anybody who may be responsible for calculating or managing and maintaining value for money within an organisation. Whether it be part of business change, a procurement process or contract management.


Learning Outcomes:

Participants will leave the session with a better understanding of the key elements of VfM and practical steps to improve their ability to develop VfM assessments and /or manage value for money within the context of an ongoing project. They will be able to:

  • Explain the essential features of a good value-for-money assessment
  • Understand the complexities and shortfalls associated with VfM assessments
  • Identify and describe the sources of best practice
  • The processes associated with the calculation of value for money
  • The role of Social Value within VfM assessments

Summary

Duration

10:00 - 16:00

Price

£595+VAT

Location

Civil Service College, Westminster, London

Dates

Virtual 23 July 2025 Book8

Face to Face 24 September 2025 Book8

Lead Trainer

Mark Williams FCA

Mark Williams FCA

Mark has held senior roles in a Big4 firm and a Global Consultancy as well as working in HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office. He started in public services audit then moved into advisory / consulting where he has worked extensively with public services and also organisations that engage with governments. He has worked on some of UK public services most challenging programmes and projects. He is a qualified accountant, but has long-standing commercial, project management and property & infrastructure experience.

Read Bio
Mark Williams FCA

Mark Williams FCA

Mark has held senior roles in a Big4 firm and a Global Consultancy as well as working in HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office.  He started in public services audit then moved into advisory / consulting where he has worked extensively with public services and also organisations that engage with governments.  He has worked on some of UK public services most challenging programmes and projects.  He is a qualified accountant, but has long-standing commercial, project management and property & infrastructure experience.  

In parallel with his consulting work Mark continues to be involved in developing and delivering training programmes.  For example, he was the sponsoring partner for the Big4 firm’s public services learning & development programme.  He piloted the World Bank’s PPP training, including in the Middle East and East Africa.  He led the training workstream on the Green Book review 2020 for HM Treasury.  Mark has trained over 3,000 public servants / suppliers to the public sector in HM Treasury’s better business case (decision making) approach, including via CIPFA.

Mark trained and mentored on Cabinet Office’s project leadership programme and more recently developed the ICAEW/CIPFA sustainability certificate to cover local government and wider public services involved in delivery.  He has trained a wide range of finance courses, especially with respect to finance business partnering.  In all of Mark’s training delivery he is able to draw on case studies from his ongoing consulting experience.  Mark has also been a non-executive director / voluntary board member for a range of organisations, including ICAEW and CIPFA.

Tailored in-house training

Civil Service College can deliver In-House training within your organisation that is exactly tailored to meet your individual training requirements.

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