Non-Classroom Based Learning Tool

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is seeking to introduce a non-classroom-based learning tool.

The tool will enable officer and staff access to external learning content through an online self-service basis. Access to this digital learning library will broaden skills and provide learning opportunities. Critically, the MPS will also host internal learning content on the platform to assist operational training.

This will reduce the need for officers to be removed from frontline duties to attend classroom learning and provide greater support on key areas such as investigation. eLearning will be accessible on mobile devices providing flexibility and the ability for officers and staff to learn at their own pace.

The introduction of this learning tool supports key elements of the MPS Learning and Development Transformation (LD) Programme to create a culture where learning individually and as an organisation is fundamental; ensuring that officers and staff have the skills and knowledge they need to serve London.

This decision sets out the recommended supplier, number of licenses to access the platform and costs which will be met from MPS reserves.

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to approve:

1. The selection of Linkedln Learning as an eLearning tool;

2. The procurement of an enterprise solution of 45,000 licenses to be made available to all MPS officers and staff for use over 2 years; and

3. The associated licence costs of £737.4k, which will be met from reserves (specifically funding returned from the Leading for London Programme).

Note MPS Digital Policing (DP) have committed to absorb the implementation costs of £115k.

1. Introduction and background

1.1. The MPS is committed to the development of a learning culture as outlined in its L&D programme vision statement. A key aspect of this is opening up opportunities for officers and staff to learn remotely.

1.2. The introduction of online learning is a feature of the Learning Digital Infrastructure (LDI) project. However, the target implementation date of this project is not until July 2021. Therefore, an interim solution is needed to address operational training needs in the meantime.

1.3. The introduction of an online learning tool will enable officers and staff to access external learning content through a self-service portal. This broad digital library will help to broaden skills and provide learning opportunities. Critically, the MPS will also be able to host its own learning content on the platform to assist operational training. For example, supporting frontline officers with Mi-Investigation.

1.4. Remote access will reduce the need for officers to be removed (abstracted) from frontline duties to attend classroom learning. eLearning will be accessible on mobile devices providing flexibility (agile working) and allowing officers and staff to learn at their own pace.

2. Issues for consideration

2.1. As online learning is encompassed within the LDI project there is a potential option to wait for this to be implemented in order to offer eLearning. However, LDI is not expected to launch until July 2021 and there is therefore an operational training risk if an interim solution is not found. A priority is the need to offer further learning support around Mi-Investigation.

2.2. The recommended supplier is Linkedln Learning. There are other suppliers on the market, but none have an extensive learning library already accessible to the MPS or an established footprint within the MPS. All other suppliers have stated that they would need to design, build and implement a solution from scratch and then develop and build the library content for courses. Developing content would be a significant cost and the extended time to do so does not meet the MPS need for a rapid interim solution.

2.3. Linkedln Learning would provide officers and staff with over 6,000 courses as soon as the platform is activated. Many of these are already suitable for MPS purposes, such as leadership and management courses. MPS officers and staff are also likely familiar with Linkedln through their personal accounts and therefore will have some degree of familiarity with the new online platform.

2.4. The online learning tool is anticipated to provide non-cashable savings through:

• Increased satisfaction with learning and career development opportunities; and

• Increased agility to adapt and develop new skills at pace.

2.5. There is a further choice as to whether the MPS should acquire 45,000 licenses from the beginning or implement a phased approach of 10,000 at a time. If 45,000 are acquired there is a risk that initial adoption rates may be low and therefore the MPS will pay for licenses it is not using.

2.6. However, there are benefits to DP in initiating all 45,000 at once – it will reduce the amount of manual configuration needed at a later date and enable advantage to be taken of bulk discounting. Furthermore, if initial take up is strong it may exceed 10,000 licenses leaving some staff unable to access the platform. For these reasons it is recommended that the MPS acquire all 45,000 licenses from the beginning.

3. Financial Comments

3.1. The purchase of 45,000 Linked in Learning licenses for 2 years will cost £852.4k. This will consist of £737.4k licensing and £115k DP implementation.

3.2. The license costs will be met from MPS reserves, specifically funding returned from the Leading for London Programme.

3.3. DP have committed to absorb the implementation costs of £115k.

4. Legal Comments

4.1. MOPAC is a contracting authority as defined in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (the PCRs). All awards of public contracts for goods or services valued at £181,302 or more must be procured in accordance with the PCRs. This report confirms that the request exceeds the £181,302 threshold and therefore the PCRs are engaged.

4.2. Paragraph 4.14 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to call in for decision any MPS proposal to award a contract for £500,000 or above. 

4.3. The Directorate of Legal Services have been fully engaged throughout this process. The proposed contract will be procured in accordance with Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (the Regulations).

5. Commercial Comments

5.1. The recommended compliant route to market is the Crown Commercial Services Framework Agreement (Digital Marketplace G-Cloud 11). The contract will be awarded to a single supplier with an initial contract for 2 years, to tie into the LDI project timelines.

6. GDPR and Data Privacy

6.1. The MPS is subject to the requirements and conditions placed on it as a 'State' body to comply with the European Convention of Human Rights and the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018. Both legislative requirements place an obligation on the MPS to process personal data fairly and lawfully in order to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals.

6.2. Under Article 35 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Section 57 of the DPA 2018, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) become mandatory for organisations with technologies and processes that are likely to result in a high risk to the rights of the data subjects.

6.3. The Information Assurance and Information Rights units has been consulted to ensure the project meets its compliance requirements.

6.4. A DPIA has been completed for this project. The project will ensure a privacy by design approach, which will allow the MPS to find and fix problems at the early stages of any project, ensuring compliance with GDPR. DPIAs support the accountability principle, as they will ensure the MPS complies with the requirements of GDPR and they demonstrate that appropriate measures have been taken to ensure compliance.

7. Equality Comments

7.1. The MPS are required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires organisations to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

7.2. The provision of additional learning and development opportunities is of key interest to officers and staff. The online platform will offer substantial new learning opportunities to all staff. The flexibility of the system and the ability to use it remotely complements current flexible working initiatives. The reduced need to attend classroom-based learning will also facilitate access for staff who struggle with mobility.

7.3 The MPS have completed an Equality Impact Assessment as part of the Learning Digital Infrastructure Project, which this project sits within.

8. Background/supporting papers

Appendix A – PIB MPS Part One