UK Training Industry Press Releases

Half of public sector managers believe there is no room for efficiency savings, despite imminent cuts

• Two-thirds are not fully prepared to deal with potential cuts
• 85% believe that cuts will reduce the quality and level of frontline public services
• Three-quarters consider that the spending review will have a significant impact on their job
• Over a quarter expect their job to be under threat

Half of public sector managers believe they will struggle to identify efficiency savings following the Comprehensive Spending Review, according to research published today (19 October) by the Institute of Leadership & Management. 

Over two-thirds of the 806 managers surveyed said that they are not fully prepared to deal with the imminent cuts, with almost half (48%) having only outline plans and one in eight (15%) having made no real plans to deal with budget cuts. 

Over a quarter of those surveyed said that they are already operating at full capacity, with almost nine out of ten (86%) expecting frontline services to be cut as a result of tomorrow's spending review.  

Penny de Valk, Chief Executive of the Institute of Leadership & Management, said: "There is plainly no way of escaping the spectre of cuts which are now well and truly upon us. Managers will have to think strategically and make some difficult decisions if they are to achieve the savings required by the Treasury. Though a significant proportion of the managers we surveyed recognised that efficiency savings could be implemented relatively easily a high proportion feels there is little room for change." 

The survey also shows that three-quarters of public sector managers anticipate that the imminent spending review will impact significantly on their own job, with 47% of respondents saying that impending changes will make their job harder or more stressful, and over a quarter expect their job to be under threat.

By contrast, just over one in eight (13%) said they were looking forward to some positive changes in the way they worked following the spending review. When asked what changes could be introduced to ensure that the level and/or quality of public services are maintained or not seriously reduced, a programme to encourage innovation in service delivery and better leadership at the top were seen as equally important, with outsourcing of services the least popular option. 

Penny de Valk continued: "Public sector managers are patently concerned about the impact of these imminent cuts on service delivery, but it is welcome to see some already thinking about innovative solutions. We know from our work within the public sector that there is real demand for new thinking. It is more essential, during this time of austerity and uncertainty, that managers feel able to implement creative solutions and support one another by sharing best practice and expertise." 

The survey also found that: 

• Nearly half of public sector managers are unwilling to change their terms of employment to keep their job

• Only 15% would accept a pay cut, with just 4% willing to accept a career break and 2% happy to consider unpaid work

• However, for those who would accept changes to their working conditions, nearly a third said they would work fewer hours, go part-time or job-share

• Over two-thirds say staff morale is suffering in their team or department

Ends/..

For further information please contact:

Ellie Backhouse or Scarlett Yianni at Colman Getty:

020 7631 2666 / ellie@colmangetty.co.uk / scarlett@colmangetty.co.uk 

Spokespeople available for interviews (contact Colman Getty):

• Penny de Valk, Chief Executive, ILM
• David Pardey, Head of Policy and Research, ILM

Notes to editors

The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) is Europe's leading management organisation. We believe that good leadership and management holds the key to organisational effectiveness and social and economic prosperity.

Our fast-growing community of over 30,000 practising leaders and managers, gives us a real insight into the issues affecting the management community day-to-day, both in the UK and globally.

Each year we help over 85,000 practising and aspiring managers to fulfil their potential and achieve success through a range of flexible leadership and management development solutions.

Backed by an in depth programme of research, ILM operates internationally, improving leadership and management skills, across all sectors, from financial services to the armed forces.

Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) www.i-l-m.com

About the research 

Over 800 managers from across the public sector completed the survey, the majority being from Local Government (37%), Health (22%) and Education (19%). The remainder worked in various departments of Central Government

There was a broad mix of managers, with the majority (60%) being first line managers (none of the people they manage being managers), and 31% middle managers. 9% of the respondents were senior managers and 1% were CEOs.

The survey was carried out from Monday 11 to Thursday 14 October 2010.  

 Overall, the sample was a representative cross-section of managers at all levels, offering the clearest possible voice for the public sector as a whole.