For many years, various governmental departments have used private firms to perform tasks on their behalf. Procurement has proved to be an efficient way to avoid expensive redundancy packages, pension packages and to ensure the nanny state image didn’t cross the threshold of the 21st century image of the supposedly efficient British state. However after a recent FOI request, the scale and expense of this outsourcing exercise has become apparent.
Considering one case, Golleyslater a private ‘Public Relations and Marketing’ firm situated in central Cardiff has been exposed for the amount of taxpayers’ money wasted, doing some of the most tedious tasks. Golleyslater follow up enquires made by potential Army recruits to their centralised call central. Recruits would either call an 0845 number asking for an information pack or make on-line enquires just to be subjected to 10 minute phone call hosted by ‘Customer Service Advisor’ who has no military/Army experience and who has only received a few hours training.
This one particular contract lasts from 1st May 2010 to 30th April 2012 and of the 27th of January 2011 a total of £939,108.57 excluding VAT of taxpayers’ money had been paid for their services. Until the end of the contract an additional £1,207,605.35 excluding VAT has been predicted to be spent on this absurd venture but based on the current spend it could be nearly £2.9m.
Marketing firms such as this have been used for contacting businesses and individuals, usually to carry out questionnaires or surveys, but surely future members of our armed forces - on their first contact - should be talking to a fully trained and experienced individual? It is about time the government assessed the value of these contracts, and those responsible for negotiating held account for the total mismanagement of public funds. For many years, various governmental departments have used private firms to perform tasks on their behalf. Procurement has proved to be an efficient way to avoid expensive redundancy packages, pension packages and to ensure the nanny state image didn’t cross the threshold of the 21st century image of the supposedly efficient British state. However after a recent FOI request, the scale and expense of this outsourcing exercise has become apparent.
Considering one case, Golleyslater a private ‘Public Relations and Marketing’ firm situated in central Cardiff has been exposed for the amount of taxpayers’ money wasted, doing some of the most tedious tasks. Golleyslater follow up enquires made by potential Army recruits to their centralised call central. Recruits would either call an 0845 number asking for an information pack or make on-line enquires just to be subjected to 10 minute phone call hosted by ‘Customer Service Advisor’ who has no military/Army experience and who has only received a few hours training.
This one particular contract lasts from 1st May 2010 to 30th April 2012 and of the 27th of January 2011 a total of £939,108.57 excluding VAT of taxpayers’ money had been paid for their services. Until the end of the contract an additional £1,207,605.35 excluding VAT has been predicted to be spent on this absurd venture but based on the current spend it could be nearly £2.9m.
Marketing firms such as this have been used for contacting businesses and individuals, usually to carry out questionnaires or surveys, but surely future members of our armed forces - on their first contact - should be talking to a fully trained and experienced individual? It is about time the government assessed the value of these contracts, and those responsible for negotiating held account for the total mismanagement of public funds.
Considering one case, Golleyslater a private ‘Public Relations and Marketing’ firm situated in central Cardiff has been exposed for the amount of taxpayers’ money wasted, doing some of the most tedious tasks. Golleyslater follow up enquires made by potential Army recruits to their centralised call central. Recruits would either call an 0845 number asking for an information pack or make on-line enquires just to be subjected to 10 minute phone call hosted by ‘Customer Service Advisor’ who has no military/Army experience and who has only received a few hours training.
This one particular contract lasts from 1st May 2010 to 30th April 2012 and of the 27th of January 2011 a total of £939,108.57 excluding VAT of taxpayers’ money had been paid for their services. Until the end of the contract an additional £1,207,605.35 excluding VAT has been predicted to be spent on this absurd venture but based on the current spend it could be nearly £2.9m.
Marketing firms such as this have been used for contacting businesses and individuals, usually to carry out questionnaires or surveys, but surely future members of our armed forces - on their first contact - should be talking to a fully trained and experienced individual? It is about time the government assessed the value of these contracts, and those responsible for negotiating held account for the total mismanagement of public funds. For many years, various governmental departments have used private firms to perform tasks on their behalf. Procurement has proved to be an efficient way to avoid expensive redundancy packages, pension packages and to ensure the nanny state image didn’t cross the threshold of the 21st century image of the supposedly efficient British state. However after a recent FOI request, the scale and expense of this outsourcing exercise has become apparent.
Considering one case, Golleyslater a private ‘Public Relations and Marketing’ firm situated in central Cardiff has been exposed for the amount of taxpayers’ money wasted, doing some of the most tedious tasks. Golleyslater follow up enquires made by potential Army recruits to their centralised call central. Recruits would either call an 0845 number asking for an information pack or make on-line enquires just to be subjected to 10 minute phone call hosted by ‘Customer Service Advisor’ who has no military/Army experience and who has only received a few hours training.
This one particular contract lasts from 1st May 2010 to 30th April 2012 and of the 27th of January 2011 a total of £939,108.57 excluding VAT of taxpayers’ money had been paid for their services. Until the end of the contract an additional £1,207,605.35 excluding VAT has been predicted to be spent on this absurd venture but based on the current spend it could be nearly £2.9m.
Marketing firms such as this have been used for contacting businesses and individuals, usually to carry out questionnaires or surveys, but surely future members of our armed forces - on their first contact - should be talking to a fully trained and experienced individual? It is about time the government assessed the value of these contracts, and those responsible for negotiating held account for the total mismanagement of public funds.