Dear Chief Project Delivery Officers and Heads of Profession,
Policy note
GPD-PN 02/25: Programme and project data standard
This letter informs chief project delivery officers and heads of profession about the programme and project data standard.
GPD-PN 02/25
Issue
This letter is to inform you that Government Project Delivery has published the ‘Programme and project data standard’ for internal government trial.
Action
In scope organisations should review the new subject-specific standard and begin developing implementation plans to meet its requirements.
Context
The programme and project data standard was developed by Government Project Delivery to help improve the quality of programme and project delivery data across government.
Government Project Delivery published a joint corporate report on this ambition with the Association for Project Management and Major Projects Association in 2024: ‘Data Analytics and AI in Government Project Delivery’ (GOV.UK).
Scope and status
The programme and project data standard establishes mandatory requirements for the creation of programme and project data across government.
The standard sets out consistent definitions, formats and update frequency requirements for fundamental programme and project data.
The standard applies to all government departments and their arm’s length bodies (in-scope organisations).
Organisations outside central government are encouraged to review and apply the standard where appropriate.
Timing
2025
Version 1 of the programme and project data standard is published.
2026
Version 1 of the standard is subject to an internal government trial for 12 months, until 31 December 2026.
During this time, in scope organisations are expected to develop plans to implement the standard.
In scope organisations delivering programmes and projects on the Government Major Projects Portfolio will be supported to meet the requirements of the standard through updates to the Government Reporting Integration Platform (GRIP) from April 2026.
Early 2027
Government Project Delivery aims to publish version 2 of the standard, reflecting feedback received during the trial of version 1.
2027 to 2029
Organisations carry out activities in their implementation plans, aiming to achieve compliance as soon as they are able.
Support and further information
To help organisations develop implementation plans, and to help embed and assure against the standard, Government Project Delivery has published a handbook for adopting the programme and project data standard.
Becky Wood
Government Head of Function for Project Delivery
Chief Executive Officer, National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority