Guidance

Access to training and accreditation in best practice business cases

Updated 18 October 2018

Proposals for public spending should be scoped, planned and developed to offer best public value for money using the Treasury’s better business cases approach recommended by the Green Book and based upon supplementary guidance and templates. Departments and all other centrally funded government bodies should ensure that all those engaged in creating and planning spending proposals or in reviewing and approving them understand the approach and gain accreditation through passing the simple test of understanding that will be provided as part of the training course. This will ensure a consistent, professional approach throughout the public service.

The training can be accessed via the APMG-International web site, which provides a list of private sector training organisations that have been accredited in delivery of the Treasury better business cases method.

A growing number of Treasury accredited professional training organisations are joining the programme to offer approved training in the Treasury syllabus, which is based on long standing best practice guidance using the five case model recommended in the Green Book.

Two training courses are currently available:

  • a short ‘foundation’ course in the Treasury method and approach which provides an overview for all those that would benefit from an understanding of developing or approving public sector spending proposals as business cases

  • a follow on ‘practitioners’ course for those who are directly involved in the detailed development, writing and management of business cases; this course builds on the ‘foundation’ course into practical development of best value options and creation of the case

Tests of understanding will be provided as part of the courses, and will enable those passing to be accredited. The training organisations are inspected and accredited by APMG and the individual trainers are trained and accredited to ISO standards. The training will be monitored by APMG who will also administer the accreditation tests and deal with certification and registration of accredited individuals. APMG have previously performed the role of supporting standards, accreditation and examination for several other UK government methodologies including PRINCE 2 and managing successful programmes (MSP).

0.1 Senior SCS briefings

The Treasury will be offering short, senior management briefing workshops throughout the year to assist senior public service colleagues (at SCS grade 5 and above); providing an introductory overview for those who are less directly involved in scoping and planning capital projects, but who need an appreciation of the issues.

If you qualify and would like to attend one of these, please register your interest by emailing the Green Book team, using the subject line ‘better business cases senior briefings’ and providing the following contact information:

  • first name
  • family name
  • department or organisation
  • civil service grade
  • email address
  • phone number

Your details will be added to the waiting list and you will be sent a schedule of courses with options to book.