BBC confirm some of their staff have received Common Purpose training

The following is the response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request from the BBC on the subject of Common Purpose. We draw readers attention to the final paragraph in the answer provided to the first question (I can also confirm . . . . etc).

We publish the response in full.

Thank you for your email of requesting information about Common Purpose training. The reference number for your request is. I will answer your specific questions in turn.

How many BBC personnel have undergone Common Purpose training courses?
In order to determine how many employees have received ‘Common Purpose’ training the BBC would need to carry out an audit of each of its departments. This is due to the fact that the BBC does not have a centralised system for recording staff training. We estimate that to deal with this part of your request would take more than two and a half days. Under section 12 of the Act, we are allowed to refuse to handle the request if it would exceed the appropriate limit. The appropriate limit has been set by the Regulations (SI 2004/3244) as being £450 (equivalent to two and a half days work, at an hourly rate of £25). On this basis we cannot provide you with the complete number of people who have received common purpose training.

However, in 2005 the BBC began using a centralised SAP financial system to record such things as costs associated with training. We were able to search the system using the key words ‘common purpose’, and found that between May 2005 and June 2007 there were 29 days where the BBC had an attendee at common purpose training. Please note that common purpose training will usually run for more than 1 day, so the same person could have attended more than 1 of the 29 days of training listed.

I can also confirm that common purpose training was provided as a structured exercise to assist senior editorial staff in building partnerships and developing knowledge, experience and contacts in their local area. Staff who attended the course reported that it had been both a really useful learning/training experience and had also opened up a huge network of contacts.

How were their courses funded?
The courses were paid for by the BBC.

Was attendance voluntary?
Yes, attendance is voluntary.

Were the courses done in company time?
Yes.