5.20 In understanding Partnerships UK's role, it is important to emphasise that it does not replace the need for the appointment of financial or legal advisers to assist the public sector, nor act in some way as the Government's "investment bank". Most of its staff are procurement specialists, not City professionals. Also, as a private sector company, it does not determine nor can it enforce PFI or PPP policy, which remains a matter for the Government. The responsibility for the implementation of individual PFI projects rests with procuring authorities and for overall PFI policy with HM Treasury. Instead, Partnerships UK acts in partnership with the public sector by providing an effective bridge between public and private sectors, and provides access to expertise for the public sector .
5.21 Partnerships UK achieves its objectives in a number of different ways:
• advising public sector clients;
• creating procurement joint ventures with the public sector for specific programmes, such as LIFT and Partnerships for Schools (see Chapter 8); and
• entering into development agreements with the public sector to jointly procure PFI projects.