Local Partnerships is currently inviting local public officers to join their extensive reviewer community and take part in the National Assurance Programme, the objective of which is to support major construction, transformation and change management programmes (including insourcing and outsourcing for Local Government, Police, Fire & Rescue and other local public bodies) and share best practice across the public sector. Local Partnerships is a 50-50 joint venture between HM Treasury and the Local Government Association; and occupies a unique position as policy delivery partners for central and local government and act exclusively for and on behalf of the public sector.

Local Partnerships is offering a number of free training workshops to enable public sector staff to understand and potentially undertake assurance of major projects. The National Assurance Programme involves a peer review, examining a programme, project or change management process at critical stages in its lifecycle to ensure that it can progress successfully to the next stage. As part of this Local Partnerships undertakes a range of reviews including Gateway Reviews* and customised Health Checks. The process is recognised as adding significant value - the National Procurement Strategy recommends that it be adopted for all new projects.

Upcoming dates for training in London are:

• 18 March 3014
• 09 July 2014
• 25 September 2014

Previous attendees have said: "Understanding how the various elements come together and how it is necessary to gain the full picture. Role play was felt to be essential as this in effect is largely what it’s all about."

To attend a free Assurance training workshop contact assurance@local.gov.uk or call 0207 187 7357.