There are advantages for any organisation in employing expert consultants to help with specific tasks rather than trying to develop expertise in every single activity in-house.
But it’s worth remembering one thing about consultants. Helpful, diligent and competent they may be, but their motivation is to make a profit for themselves.
Hence, asking consultants Capita to perform a relatively simple task left Birmingham City Council facing a bill of £20,000.
The authority had the good sense to cut its losses and scrap the proposal, which apparently involved asking Capita to make a small change to a computer system.
But perhaps it shouldn’t be too hasty. There must be many other organisations, or individuals with computer skills, who would have jumped at the chance to carry out the work.
It’s always possible that the computer system is so specialised, or heavily modified, that nobody other than Capita staff is capable of making changes to it.
We hope not, as that would mean Capita rather has the council over a barrel.
Perhaps, in an effort to convince taxpayers it’s not having a laugh at our expense, Capita could consider doing the work at a slightly cheaper price?
