Reply to: Any advice for government contracting?

[malvolio]

I bow to your greater knowledge of something I've been doing for twenty years.

Just one small point - how would you design and implement a service improvement, usually with staff who don't like or want changes to existing practices?

[LondonManc]

Which shows how little you understand about it. Heigh ho...

OK, well if it's the job outline that's on there, it's not difficult. Perhaps you're the one struggling reading it. It's asking for the applicant to be able to support and assist, not actually do.

Key functions:
Collating and writing documentation; despite being in IT, I'm fine with that.
Attending regular meetings; yep, can manage that one.
Planning and implementing service improvements; could be anything, very woolly. You could view that as writing an Excel macro!
Ownership of service risk register and action lists; now we're getting there. Oh, wait, no, still a low level PMO analyst task.
Liaising with project managers and wider NHS staff; nope, not beyond me.
General admin tasks; I've been making cups of tea for over 25 years. 1 complaint in all that time.

Quals:
ITIL foundation or equivalent experience; yep, anyone who has worked in an ITIL environment for 12 months.
Project lifecycle shizzle. Two years for someone as a PMO analyst or junior BA should cover that.

Skills and Experience
Strong organisational skills - a couple of decent projects under their belt in the role on the line below
Project Support Officer/Manager experience - see above and the overall job role
Knowledge and/or qualification in ITIL/IT Service Management ***knowledge*** - they know a top end Service Management professional wouldn't touch it with a tulipy stick.
Strong interpersonal skills - one head, friendly, approachable and have the balls to pick up the phone and be proactive.

Come on, you're telling me that's a higher grade job? What is it, the Visio skills?

[malvolio]

Seems like a basic job for a seasoned PMO analyst who has worked in an ITL environment. I'll fit it in during my lunch hour

Which shows how little you understand about it. Heigh ho...

[LondonManc]

Can you do it? For less money than a good helpdesk op?

Seems like a basic job for a seasoned PMO analyst who has worked in an ITL environment. I'll fit it in during my lunch hour

[malvolio]

It's almost as if they're trying to create a skills shortage....


Hang on.....

Is that the Service Management Specialist contract at 160-185 per day? That's a noddy job.

Can you do it? For less money than a good helpdesk op?

[LondonManc]

They really have no idea though. For example, this role requires around ten years' senior experience and a wide range of knowledge about almost all aspect of IT bar pure coding. The market rate for even a relative novice in the role is around £450...

It's almost as if they're trying to create a skills shortage....


Hang on.....

Is that the Service Management Specialist contract at 160-185 per day? That's a noddy job.

[malvolio]

That's fine. All I'm saying is that they may price us out, but they'll realise that they've made yet another monumental cock up, while at the same time moaning about a skill shortage.

They really have no idea though. For example, this role requires around ten years' senior experience and a wide range of knowledge about almost all aspect of IT bar pure coding. The market rate for even a relative novice in the role is around £450...

[LondonManc]

This and from what I've seen in PS they have set rate cards so it's not like you can set your price. I've seen the odd person already in site move to a different role on the rate card to get more money but that's a fudge you'll only be able to do on site with some favours.

That's fine. All I'm saying is that they may price us out, but they'll realise that they've made yet another monumental cock up, while at the same time moaning about a skill shortage.

[northernladuk]

Trouble is once you've priced the work up correctly you've priced yourself out of the market. So you may as well not bother.

This and from what I've seen in PS they have set rate cards so it's not like you can set your price. I've seen the odd person already in site move to a different role on the rate card to get more money but that's a fudge you'll only be able to do on site with some favours.

[MrMarkyMark]

FTFY

Trouble is once you've priced the work up correctly and even though you are still cheaper than a consultancy you've priced yourself out of the market. So you may as well not bother.

[eek]

Not really, just make sure that you've priced it up correctly.

Trouble is once you've priced the work up correctly you've priced yourself out of the market. So you may as well not bother.

[LondonManc]

In summary - don't take on government work after April 2017 (as a minimum), an even better approach is to get out of any current government contracts asap as cients are going to start asking questions soon (some already have by the sounds of it). I have 12 years experience in the PS but have turned down two good offers from previous clients to move back into the private sector, it's impossible to know the impact of these proposals as the detail is just not there.

Not really, just make sure that you've priced it up correctly.

[MrMarkyMark]

That would be completely against their anti bribery and corruption policies.

No it doesn't as the party donations come from the personal pockets of their well-paid directors/partners.

Exactly. That's what lobbying is all about.

[SueEllen]

That would be completely against their anti bribery and corruption policies.

No it doesn't as the party donations come from the personal pockets of their well-paid directors/partners.

[blackeye]

Good points, but not really surprising.
Governments and consultancies have always enjoyed a cosy relationship.

Lets not forget it was Price Waterhouse Coopers that came up with IR35.
Of course there was no conflict of interest there

I'm sure they all make large political donations, also.

That would be completely against their anti bribery and corruption policies.