I gave a presentation at the UK Oracle User Group based on my five years at the heart of this initiative. There’s too much to cover in a single blog post, so I am going to spread this out as a series. This first post will introduce the Shared Services Strategy for Government.
The Challenge
There are a wide range of ways of working across the 18 different government Departments and over 200 arms-length bodies (agencies, such as the Passport Office, who deliver specific services).
All these organisations used numerous different technologies. In fact, nobody had a complete picture of all the technologies used.
We knew that there would be huge resistance to change.
From the initial pathfinder programmes we knew that It was going to be expensive, so getting funding would be difficult.
The Back Story
Shared services had been tried before, in 2012. Only a few Departments signed up, and then only when significant concessions were made. This allowed Departments to customise their own config, making the system increasingly difficult to support. It was increasingly difficult to keep the system updated and the user experience became dated.
Despite the problems, it delivered significant savings for government.
Some departments (e.g. HMT and the Home Office) pushed ahead to move to SaaS ERPs as early adopters. Based on their experience, it was clear that moving each Department and arms-length body individually to new systems was going to be unaffordable.
All ongoing Department programmes were stopped. This wasn’t a popular decision.
The Strategy
The Shared Services Strategy for Government was launched in March 2021. It grouped government Departments into five Clusters:
- Defence – MOD
- Overseas – FCDO
- Synergy – DWP, MoJ, HO, DEFRA
- Matrix – DSIT, CO, DESNZ, AGO, DfE, DCMS, DHSC, DTI
- Unity – HMRC, DfT, MHCLG
Each would run their own programme. Funding was available for Synergy, Matrix and Unity. Defence and Overseas already had programmes underway.
A small team in the Cabinet Office would coordinate and report to Ministers.
Current Position (December 2025)
We are now well into the delivery of the Strategy: funding has been approved, contracts have been let, and work has started.
- Defence (Oracle) are live with their Civilian HR, Payroll and Expenses. Design for Finance and Military HR is nearly complete.
- Overseas (Oracle) are fully live.
- Synergy (Oracle) have completed their common design.
- Matrix (Workday) have completed their design.
- Unity (SAP) have nearly completed their design.
As with any programme, some things have gone well, and some not. I spent five years at the heart of the Strategy, but now I have left the Cabinet Office I am free to give you an honest review.
ERP Success 