22 June 2006

The Design Council is helping the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) implement ideas from a major study of creativity.

Cox Review of Creativity in Business: Building on the UK's strengths was written by Design Council chairman Sir George Cox and was published in November 2005. It was commissioned by the Treasury to see how to exploit creative skills in the UK and made recommendations for government, business and more.

David Kester, Design Council chief executive, said he met with OGC chief John Oughton this month because the OGC is looking to implement some aspects of the study.

It recommended that public procurement allow more pre-specification discussion; identify project needs holistically; improve purchasers' training; consider future supplier capability; help smaller firms to bid; require the National Audit Office and the Audit Commission to monitor innovation; and ensure accountability for not seeking innovation.

The OGC told SM that many of the actions are already included in its guidelines and others are subject to high-level discussions.

A spokesman added: "Government procurers will implement this, with support from the OGC. The OGC will produce the methods to procure innovation."

SMjun2006