Concerns over lack of commercial expertise with big tech suppliers as country implements digital 'Blueprint'

The UK government employs just 15 commercial staff with direct expertise in digital procurement dedicated to dealing with the largest technical suppliers, according to a Parliamentary spending watchdog.

As it prepares to implement a set of ambitious plans to improve efficiency with digital technology, the central government needs to overhaul the skills it relies on to manage commercial relationships with tech suppliers, against a backdrop of "poor outcomes in its attempts to modernize and make government more efficient," a report from the Public Accounts Committee said.

The government spends at least £14 billion ($19 billion) annually with technology suppliers. While there are 6,000 people with mixed commercial skills in Whitehall, "only 15 people [are] dedicated to the full–time management of technology suppliers…" the report revealed.

The PAC added: "Given the pace of digital technological change needed to adopt AI and the significant shift from legacy systems to modern ...