ADC - GCO Commercial Resits

Since joining the GCO, you have been working towards accreditation and in line with the ADC Policy, you will need to resit the Assessment and Development Centre (ADC). If you are unsure of your exact ADC resit deadline, please email us at gcfdevelopmentcentre@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

How do I book my ADC resit?

Approximately 3 months prior to your ADC resit deadline, you will be contacted by a member of our ADC team and invited to book your ADC resit date via the Government Commercial College (GCC). When we have confirmed your ADC date we shall send you your ADC Joining Instructions, including details of an ADC Briefing Call.

When do ADC resit dates become available on the GCC?

ADC resit dates are added to the GCC up to 3 months ahead of their scheduled date, and are added by the 3rd working day of the month i.e. by the 3rd working day of August, ALL October ADC resit dates are added to the GCC. ADC resit dates are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and places are limited so we strongly encourage you to book as soon as possible.

It is possible for resit dates to become available on an ad-hoc basis due to cancellations across our other booking teams, so if you do not see an available date, we recommend you check back periodically for available dates.

Do I need to discuss my resit with my line manager?

Prior to your ADC resit, we would recommend you have a conversation with your line manager to ensure you feel as best prepared as you can ahead of the resit and that any remaining concerns or areas for development can be addressed. As well as the support from your line manager, you will be contacted by a GCO Executive Coach 12 months prior to your ADC resit to schedule a development check-in conversation. The purpose of this conversation is to discuss how your development journey is progressing and your preparation and readiness for your ADC resit. The GCO Executive Coach will also encourage you to invite your line manager to participate in your development check-in conversation.

I haven’t completed the development programme, can I take my resit?

If you have not completed your development programme, the relevant Learning and Development (L&D) will be offered to you before you take your resit. 

You will not be able to attend an ADC resit if you have not completed the L&D development programme in full, so please accept the invites when they are made available to you. 

If you are unsure whether you have completed your development programme, please email us at gcfprog-bookings@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

I am unable to complete my development programme and resit the ADC prior to my deadline, what can I do?

If, due to extenuating circumstances beyond your control, you are unable to complete your development programme and resit the ADC prior to your resit deadline, then you may apply for a resit deadline extension. To do so, please email us at gcfdevelopmentcentre@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and ask for our ADC Resit Deadline Extension Request form.

Will I see the same assessors on the ADC as my first sitting?

As far as possible, you will not be assessed by the same assessors as previously at the ADC. Where this is not possible, the assessors will always assess a different exercise to the previous ADC and they will not be informed that this is a resit.

Do I need to resit the Technical Interview?

As GCO Resit participants, you may carry your Technical Interview score from your previous ADC, so long as you resit at the same assessment level (or below) as previously (with CL being the lowest level, then ACS, then CS, then SCS as the highest) and:

• CL or ACS - You achieved a score of 3 (or above) in one of the Technical attributes.

• CS - You achieved a score of 3 (or above) in two of the Technical attributes.

• SCS - You achieved a score of 3 (or above) in three of the Technical attributes.

For example, if you previously attended a CS level ADC, achieved a score of 3 in three of the Technical attributes and are expected to resit at ACS level, then you do not need to sit your Technical interview.

If you are unsure whether you do need to resit your Technical Interview, please email us at gcfdevelopmentcentre@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

What are the potential outcomes of an ADC resit?

Following completion of your ADC resit, you will receive 1 of 3 possible outcomes:

1. You will be accredited. GCO Terms and Conditions including eligibility for Performance Related Pay will now be available, though some restrictions may apply to individuals who have not applied for a permanent role within the GCO. Those interested can discuss this with GCO HR.

2. With the agreement of the Commercial Director, individuals can opt to attend a panel interview with supporting evidence to secure accreditation (see below).

3. Your previous score of B will be used and you will be treated as a B (meaning the same process as for B will follow).

What happens if I’m not accredited following my ADC resit?

We expect the majority of individuals to achieve accreditation through the ADC and therefore the number of individuals in the category is anticipated to be low. Should you not receive accreditation following completion of your ADC resit, you will be invited to begin the process of submitting evidence to our panel. The ADC team will facilitate this process throughout and a decision to pursue this route, or leave core commercial, will need to be taken within 30 days of the ADC resit. Where an individual chooses to enter the process, the agreement of the Commercial Director will be required. 

The panel will take place within 90 days of the ADC resit. The supporting evidence will cover the period from the first ADC until the panel. Responsibility for assembling the supporting evidence will belong to the participant. The ADC team will provide guidance to the participant on how to undertake this. As a guide, supporting evidence provided should include examples of success at work via the end-of-year review, 360 feedback, sponsor statements, and the development log. There will be no mandatory evidence but it is communicated to all staff on the development programme that the log is considered a very useful addition to the portfolio as it shows engagement with both the GCO and personal development. The statements should include reference to improvements (or otherwise) of scores in the attributes tested at the ADC and the sponsor’s view of these possible weaknesses.

The panel will be made up of at least one Accreditation Board member, one departmental Commercial Director (or nominated alternative). To ensure due process is followed, the panel will be facilitated by the Accreditation Lead (or nominated alternative). Members will have access to both ADC reports and the portfolio of evidence.

What happens if I do not want to go to the panel / is unsuccessful at the panel?

Permanent civil servants who choose not to enter the panel and supporting evidence process, or are unable to gain Commercial Director agreement to enter the panel; or that are not accredited by the panel will be supported in moving from the GCO into a non-specialist commercial role within 6 months.

Individuals that are on a Fixed Term Contract or on loan to the GCO will leave the GCO in accordance with the provisions set out in their offer letter and contract of employment or loan agreement.

I haven’t found my answer, who can I contact?

If you were unable to find the answer you were looking for in this article, please feel free to direct your queries to the following:

• The ADC team at gcfdevelopmentcentre@cabinetoffice.gov.uk for questions about your resit and outcomes.

• The GCO Performance & Talent team at commercialtalent@cabinetoffice.gov.uk for support from a GCO Executive Coach or ongoing development.

• The Development Programme Bookings team at gcfprog-bookings@cabinetoffice.gov.uk for queries regarding learning module bookings.