Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude has announced plans for an academy to boost the skills of senior project leaders across government to deliver complex ICT and other projects.

Each year two groups of about 25 people will enter the Major Projects Leadership Academy for a 12 month formal programme covering three primary themes: major project leadership, technical understanding of major project delivery and commercial capability.

The Major Projects Leadership Academy will be fully launched in October 2012 and managed by the Cabinet Office Major Projects Authority (MPA). At the moment it is suggested that around half of the government ICT projects are behind schedule.