Policy to Delivery Course

Course summary

Policy-to-Delivery is an applied five-day course for people working anywhere in the policy-to-delivery pipeline.

The course helps participants understand how different professions and specialist capabilities contribute to making and delivering effective public policies and services. It brings these perspectives together within a design-centred framework, helping participants connect public intent with evidence about people, systems and delivery.

Participants gain knowledge from specialist practitioners, use practical tools and build relationships with colleagues from different professional backgrounds. They apply their learning to a shared public challenge, exploring how multidisciplinary teams can move from an initial problem or idea towards a coherent, workable and deliverable response.

The course was developed with government professions, functions and expert communities. Its curriculum draws on cross-government practice and the experience of departmental policy schools.

Who this course is for

This course is designed for people who contribute to making, improving or delivering public policies and services. It is suitable for participants working across:

  • policy and strategy;
  • operational delivery;
  • analysis, research and science;
  • digital and data;
  • project and programme delivery;
  • finance and commercial;
  • communications and engagement;
  • transformation and service improvement.

The course is primarily intended for Grade 7 and Grade 6 participants. Applications from adjacent grades will also be considered where the course is relevant to their role and experience.

Participants should have some experience of contributing to public policy, services or delivery. They do not need specialist knowledge of every profession covered by the course.

What you will learn

By the end of this course, you will understand:

  • how public intent is translated into policies, services and delivery;
  • how different professions contribute across the policy-to-delivery pipeline;
  • why specialist expertise should be involved early in developing a response;
  • how evidence about people, systems and outcomes can inform public decisions;
  • how design can help teams develop and test possible responses;
  • how operational, project, governance and accountability considerations affect delivery;
  • how monitoring, evaluation and communication contribute to effective implementation;
  • how multidisciplinary working can support the creation of public value.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • identify the professional capabilities needed to address a public challenge;
  • bring together different perspectives around a shared problem;
  • use practical tools to examine evidence and develop possible responses;
  • connect policy intent with delivery considerations;
  • contribute more effectively to multidisciplinary policy and service teams;
  • communicate the reasoning behind a proposed response.

The course’s learning objectives and curriculum have been mapped against the relevant professional standards for policy, operational delivery, government communication, and government digital and data.

How the course works

This is an applied, multidisciplinary course combining teaching, practical activity and professional exchange. Participants learn through a combination of:

  • sessions led by experienced government practitioners;
  • public-sector examples and case studies;
  • practical tools and structured exercises;
  • collaborative group work on a shared public challenge;
  • multidisciplinary discussion and peer learning;
  • contributions from specialist experts and senior leaders;
  • team presentations;
  • individual reflection and action planning.

Participants work with colleagues from different professions, applying learning from across the course to a shared challenge. This enables them to experience how specialist perspectives and tools can be combined rather than used in isolation.

The emphasis is on gaining knowledge from government specialists, practising with useful tools and building a professional network across the policy-to-delivery pipeline. Participants are expected to attend the complete five-day course.

Assessment and accreditation

There is no formal assessment for this course. Participants who complete the course receive a certificate of completion from the Government School of Design.

The course provides a foundation for further study through the school’s Design for Everyone and Design for Experts programmes.

Course format

Programme Design for Everyone
Duration 5 days over a fortnight
Delivery format In person
Dates & Location Autumn in London: 03 November 2026, 04 November 2026, 05 November 2026, 10 November 2026, & 11 November 2026.
Spring in Sheffield: 02 February 2027, 03 February 2027, 04 February 2027, 08 February 2027, & 09 February 2027.
Summer in London: 29 June 2027, 30 June 2027, 01 July 2027, 06 July 2027, & 07 July 2027
Schedule Classroom days: 09:00–17:00
Price £1,100 per person

Booking information

Bookings are made directly with the Government School of Design. To book a place, complete the booking form for this course. You will need a purchase order number from your organisation before submitting the form.

For information about purchase orders, supplier details and payment arrangements, read the school’s booking information.

READ BOOKING INFORMATION BOOK THIS COURSE

Further information

Download the course information sheet for a complete summary of the course. For questions about the course or the booking process, contact the school.

DOWNLOAD COURSE INFORMATION SHEET CONTACT THE SCHOOL

What students say…

“The most engaging and insightful training course I’ve attended, leaving you with a practical toolkit to deliver public value effectively.”
“This course brings together the tools, thinking, skills and networks needed to design deliverable policy.”
“A brilliant way to develop and apply the skills needed to take policy from design through to implementation, while understanding the value of multidisciplinary working.”
“The course gave me a much better understanding of the whole policy-to-delivery process and a range of practical tools I can use in my day-to-day work.”
“Far and away the best training I have received in the Civil Service, and essential for anyone working across policy and delivery.”

Course Video