The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Trade Policy
and Negotiations Faculty (TPNF) trains all kinds of civil
servants (in the UK and overseas), from those that have an
interest in trade policy up to chief negotiators. They run an
extensive expert programme to improve subject-matter knowledge
and negotiations expertise.
Known as the Expert Deep Dive programme, it is aimed at
government officials specialising in a particular area of trade
policy, usually advisors or chapter leads in negotiations. The
programme, originally a four day face-to-face course, was adapted
for virtual delivery during the pandemic. It was also an
opportunity to extend the training overseas to deliver to an
internationally based audience, while making cost savings.
To ensure interactivity in training delivery, and after assessing
requirements and priorities for virtual delivery across HMG, the
TPNF developed its own new training system which supported live
training. Since its roll-out in June 2020, the TPNF has allocated
230 places on the Expert Deep Dive programme, whose format is now
more accessible to busy officials. It has provided a better, more
accessible offer for learners; improved value for taxpayers; and
meets more diverse needs. Officials posted across the world are
now able to access the training available as easily as UK-based
colleagues, a barrier lifted by the move to a virtual
environment. In developing its own in-house training, the TPNF
has been able to draw-on experts worldwide to develop and deliver
tailored training.
The TPNF has used online platforms to enrich its offer in other
creative ways. For example, offering fully online ‘teach-ins’ on
key trade policy issues, including: Trade and Race; US Trade
Policy under President Biden; and UK Economic Diplomacy in the
21st Century. Over 300 officials attended each of these.
The results speak for themselves. Three months following the
training, 95% of students reported that they are better able to
do their job. One learner said that: “This training course
enabled me to more effectively brief the Chancellor on factors at
play in our approach towards Japan.” The learning from training
has been used to progress EU, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and
Turkey trade negotiations, as well as negotiation with the World
Trade Organisation. The change in delivery has also allowed those
with busier schedules, who previously could not attend, to access
learning and improve their knowledge.
It is hoped that an online platform for the programme will allow
learners to share their learning and tailor the FCDO learning
offer to those who need it most.
To learn more about the TPNF’s Expert Deep Dive Programme and how
the team went about adapting it for virtual delivery, contact
Michael Cotterall at
the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
