Experience of recent benchmarking and market testing exercises indicates:

* Benchmarking needs to be carefully managed to avoid other contractual issues becoming involved in the negotiations. There needs to be clarity at the outset regarding what issues need to be tackled and what are off limits.

* Ensuring a clear governance structure is implemented thus allowing early intervention to prevent problems escalating.

* A principals group (public and private) can be helpful as part of the governance structure as it provides visible leadership to those undertaking the detailed work; oversees and drives progress and can reach agreements in principle where stalemates occur.