Consultancy in the public sector
A foundation in essential consultancy skills

About the programme

Consultants bring objectivity and fresh insights into an organisation which can transform its performance. The value that consultants can offer to the public sector is immense. Consultants, when used appropriately, can provide considerable benefits for clients, ranging from the development of core and specialist skills for individuals to major reviews of organisations, structures and processes.

Demand from the international development agencies for national consulting services has grown dramatically over the past ten years, fuelled primarily by the improved quality of national consultants in many countries. Demand for national consultants has also been stimulated by pressure on governments to reorganize, downsize and outsource more government activities.  However, there are significant disparities in the ability of countries to meet the growing demand for national consulting services of the highest standard.

This course provides an introduction to management consultancy for those considering entering the profession or those who wish to have an understanding of the knowledge and skills needed in this area. The course leads to the award of the Certificate in Management Consulting Essentials (CMCE) – a professional certificate offered by the UK Institute of Consulting (BC) and awarded by the UK Chartered Management Institute (CMI). This course is run by PAI in conjunction with the Consultancy and Development Institute (CDI) which is authorised by the CMI as an Approved Centre to run CMCE courses. The CMCE provides public recognition of achievement of a professional foundation qualification in management consultancy.  It also provides a basis for further development to full Certified Management Consultancy (CMC^®) status – an internationally recognised qualification which is also offered by IC.

Who is it for?

The course is designed for those wishing to enter the consultancy profession, both in the public sector and the private sector – as internal or external consultants.  It will also be of relevance to existing consultants who may wish to undertake a refresher course, line managers and those in other functions who work with consultants and wish to know the basics of consultancy, those involved in change management programmes and those working for the CMC^® award.

How participants will benefit

The study course will:

• prepare you for the CMCE qualification and identify you as a qualified practitioner
• improve your career potential
• provide an excellent basis for further professional development
• provide you with the  opportunity to develop a personal action plan to develop your organisation's consulting capacity
• offer a useful background in consultancy for senior managers of any specialisation who may also need to undertake consultancy work
• provide a useful “refresher” for experienced consultants, including those who may wish to apply for the CMC^® award.

What the programme will cover

The course consists of two parts – the Essential Consultancy Skills (ECS) course and the Project phase.

The course covers the basic CMCE syllabus, including

• Consultancy role
• Consultancy cycle
• Client relationship
• Communication for consultants
• Effective project delivery
• Structured knowledge, research and analysis
• Consultancy project management
• Risk and risk management of consultancy projects
• Marketing consultancy services
• Bidding for contracts

The course will include lectures and discussions. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss practical issues affecting their own professional lives and to compare and contrast experience with their counterparts from different countries. We also plan to arrange a visit to an internal consultancy unit in the public sector organisation and a private consultancy company. Participants will receive a briefing from the UK's IC.

What our past participants say about this course

“The course has enhanced to a large extent the theory and practice of consulting and consultancy management. One hundred per cent accomplishment /achievement of expectations. Value for money – very satisfactorily attained."
Dr Manuel Morga, Freelance Public Sector and Development Consultant, Philippines

"The materials have depth and contain all the information required for a foundation level consultancy and refresher course. The delivery is professional and facilitators are on top of their game."
Mr Felix Ovbude, Former Managing Director of the Eastern Ports, Nigeria

“This course has reinforced my understanding of concepts and techniques commonly used in consultancy. In addition it has provided me with new ideas and perspectives on how to be an excellent consultant.”
Dr Matagialofi Luaiufi, Public Sector Management Consultant, Samoa

"It was indeed a pleasure to attend the PAI Public Sector Consultancy training course and to meet Tony Lavender and the PAI team. The course was very beneficial and provided an opportunity for new learning and knowledge for me which I deeply appreciate and value."
Mrs Donna Burnett-Beckford, Senior Director – Finance & Administration, Jamaica Constabulary Force

“It was a wonderful learning experience for me. The experience of Tony in facilitation were exceptionally outstanding and I enjoyed every moment of it.”
Prof. Joseph Mumba,
Director, Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) Business School

Programme outline

We reserve the right to change the programme as necessary.

Location and arrival arrangements

The study programme will be based in central London.  On request, PAI can assist in finding suitable hotel accommodation and can arrange travel to and from the airport.

Language

The programme will be conducted in English.  Participants will be expected to have a good working knowledge of the language.

Fees and other costs

The fee for this one-week study programme will be £1,600.  This includes tuition, travel to and from the airport, travel on official visits and documentation.  (Travel to and from the airport in the UK and travel on official visits is provided at cost). UK Valued Added Tax (VAT) will not be charged if applicants can provide written confirmation from their Government or its accredited representative that they are employed by their Government in furtherance of its sovereign activities. In all other cases, VAT (currently 20%) will be charged in addition to the fee. Payment in full must be received by PAI no later than 18 June 2012. Cheques should be made payable to Public Administration International. Alternatively, PAI is able to invoice individuals or government agencies. Payment by bank transfer is also acceptable.

We reserve the right to cancel the course if there are not enough participants to make it viable. In these circumstances, fees already received will be refunded in full. Airfares, accommodation costs, daily travel (other than on visits scheduled in the course), meals and living expenses are not included. We suggest that approximately £120 per person per day should be allowed for a modest standard of accommodation, local travel in the UK, meals and other incidental expenses. Participants requiring a higher standard of accommodation (for example a 4 star hotel) will need to allow approximately £175 per person per day.

Discount

We offer a 10% discount on the tuition fee if a funding organisation sponsors more than three participants in any one calendar year. Please ensure that when you book your fourth participant (in any one calendar year) you let us know so that we can apply the discount.

Insurance

Participants are advised to arrange travel and health insurance cover before leaving their home country.

Public Administration International (PAI)

PAI specialises in management consultancy and development services for organisations in and associated with the public sector worldwide.  We provide advice and support for governments undergoing political, economic, structural and legislative change.  Our extensive network of associates includes practitioners, academics and independent consultants.  This programme is one of a number of specialist UK-based study programmes designed to meet the needs of the public services worldwide.

We also have extensive experience of designing tailor-made programmes (from one day to two or three weeks) which can be run in your own country or in the UK to meet the specific needs of groups or individuals at all levels within your organisation.

Programme Director

The Programme Director will be Tony Lavender.  He has wide consultancy and training experience, both as a Deputy Director of the Civil Service College (now the National School of Government) with special responsibility for consultancy training and with many years’ consulting within the public sector.  Since 1994 he has provided consultancy and training in the UK and internationally. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting and a Certified Management Consultant.  He is a qualified Assessor for the CMC ® award.  Tony is also a Governance Consultant with the Department for International Development, and was previously a Director of Studies with the Royal Institute of Public Administration, leading programmes on training in consultancy skills. He has also successfully run this CMCE course in the UK, Thailand and Tanzania and has had over 100 delegates qualified with the CMCE at their first attempt.

How to apply

Clare Walters
Programme Manager
Public Administration International
10 Bayley Street
London, WC1B 3HB
UK

T +44 (0)20 7580 3590
F +44 (0)20 7580 4746
pai@public-admin.co.uk

Applications should be made as soon as possible as the number of available places is limited.

How to contact us

For further information about this programme or our consultancy and development services, please contact:

Claire Cameron
Director
Public Administration International
10 Bayley Street
London, WC1B 3HB
UK

T +44 (0)20 7580 3590
F +44 (0)20 7580 4746
pai@public-admin.co.uk
www.public-admin.co.uk

Public Administration
International Ltd
10 Bayley Street London WC1B 3HB
Registered in Cardiff Number 2687571
Vat number 668 071 711

© 2009 Public Administration International