G-Cloud ownership shake-up welcomed by supplier

GDS well placed to increase public sector buy-in after assuming control of cloud services framework, argues Skyscape

G-Cloud's largest supplier has cheered the decision to rehouse the cloudy public sector framework under Government Digital Service (GDS).

In a blog this morning, G-Cloud programme director Denise McDonagh said it was the "natural time" for G-Cloud to relinquish its status as a standalone programme and move under the remit of GDS – a new team within the Cabinet Office charged with transforming government digital services.

The move was effective from 1 June.

Launched last February, G-Cloud got off to a slow start but sales through the framework – which is designed to deliver better value and more agile IT services to the public sector – have picked up this year, reaching nearly £22m by the end of April.

It is now on its third iteration and has renewed backing from the government following the Public Cloud First mandate, meaning the time is right to move the programme into "business as usual", McDonagh said.

"I am confident that GDS will continue to improve G-Cloud, building on our success and providing strong leadership and support for departments as they move towards ever wider adoption of cloud solutions," McDonagh said.

G-Cloud has faced challenges, including a lack of buy-in from government departments and criticism from suppliers. Only last week, the framework was given an Amber/Red rating after government assessors warned the project required "urgent action".

But McDonagh stressed that G-Cloud, which was previously bossed by Government Procurement Services, had generated interest from around the world, with many countries now following the UK's lead.

"What we have done is truly groundbreaking," she said.

"I believe it is one of the most disruptive changes for good that I have seen in my entire career in government IT, and I believe this will forever change the way we commission and use IT in the public sector."

Phil Dawson, chief executive of Skyscape, which recently bagged a PaaS deal through G-Cloud worth an estimated £1.5m annually, welcomed the move, arguing there was still "considerable work to be done" to ramp up adoption.

"We applaud the transfer of ownership of the G-Cloud programme to the experienced leadership of Mike Bracken and the GDS team," he said.

"To ensure the continued success of the G-Cloud framework and the significant contribution it is starting to have on the transformation of public sector IT procurement, we would strongly encourage GDS to ensure that propagation continues, and is scaled at pace, with evangelists that are driven and targeted to drive adoption through education and awareness."