About Government Project Delivery

When government decides to do something new, whether that is building infrastructure, delivering military capability, creating new public services or improving existing ones, project delivery is how it gets done.
Government Project Delivery supports the over 26,000 civil servants who plan, manage and deliver this work.

It sets the standards for how the work is done and makes sure the right people with the right skills and training are in place to do it.

The central Government Project Delivery team sits in the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) within HM Treasury.

The project delivery function is the project delivery work that happens across government. It includes everyone who contributes to that work, whether their background is in project management, commercial, finance, communications or other disciplines.

The function delivers government priorities by:

• setting up, developing, delivering and assuring portfolios, programmes and projects, whether directly or through other delivery partners
• setting strategies and standards
• building capability and driving continuous improvement
• giving expert advice and support

The Government Functional Standard for Project Delivery sets the expectations for how UK government departments and their arm’s length bodies should do this work. The Teal Book is the guidance to help deliver this defined functional work, explaining how people in particular roles should apply standards and meet their obligations.

Government Head of Function for Project Delivery

Becky Wood, the Government Head of Function for Project Delivery, is the senior officer responsible for project delivery across government. They are accountable to the Chief Operating Officer of the Civil Service for supporting successful project delivery across government.

They do this by:

• setting standards and leading development of government-wide policies, processes, tools and guidance
• government project delivery assurance
• providing expert support and advice
• monitoring government project delivery performance and if necessary, intervening
• assessing project delivery aspects in spending reviews
• system-wide improvement of project delivery
• building government project delivery capability

Chief project delivery officers

Chief project delivery officers are senior officials who lead project delivery in their organisations. They work with and are appointed by the government head of function for project delivery and their organisation’s accounting officer to make sure project delivery aligns with government priorities.

The Government Project Delivery profession is the people whose specialist skills are in project delivery and contribute to the functional work described in the Government Functional Standard for Project Delivery.

The roles, skills, experience and learning needed to undertake functional work is set out in the project delivery capability framework. It covers what is expected of project delivery professionals at each level along with the competencies, behaviours and qualifications people should aim for.

Head of Profession for Project Delivery

Karina Singh, the Government Head of Profession for Project Delivery, is accountable for building the capability and professional competence of members of the project delivery profession, who contribute to the work of the function. They are accountable to the government head of function for project delivery for ensuring the members of their profession are skilled and competent to undertake the functional work assigned to them.

They are supported by departmental heads of profession who look to the specific capability needs of their organisation.

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority is a joint unit of HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office that brings together long‑term infrastructure and service transformation strategy to drive UK growth. It oversees the government’s 10‑year infrastructure strategy, coordinates national infrastructure priorities, helps remove barriers to delivery, provides assurance for the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), and leads central expertise on private finance.