A programme is the compliance work for one agreed scope: its requirements, evidence and reviews, measured against a framework such as the NDPA. You create it as a draft, set it up, and then activate it.
Who can do this
An owner or editor who is a current member of the company can create, change and activate programmes. A contributor works only on requirements assigned to them. A viewer can read programmes.
Find it
Open Programmes in the sidebar, under Programmes. The page has two tabs: Programmes, your own, and Framework library, the frameworks you can start from. Filter your programmes with Programme state: Current programmes, All programmes, Draft, Active, Paused or Archived.
Create a programme
- Press Create programme, or Use template on a framework in the Framework library. The form has steps.
- Framework: choose the framework under Find a framework.
- Details & owner: give the Programme name, the Edition / version, the Programme owner and the Programme category.
- Scope: describe what the programme will cover.
- Locations: add each site with its Site name, Site code and Address, and any Scope exclusions.
- Timing: set the Start date, the Target review, and either a Review cadence in days or a Manual review rule.
- Review & save: give a Reason for change and press Create programme.
This creates a draft programme. Activation is a separate step.
Some frameworks are marked Reference only. You can draft a scope from them, but they cannot be activated as a working programme.
Activate it
Open the programme. While it is a draft or paused, the Activation checklist shows what is still missing: Programme owner, Scope, Start date, Review timing and Requirement content. Each missing item has a button to fix it, such as Assign owner or Set review timing.
When every check is complete, press Activate programme. Activation starts the programme. Evidence, assessments and independent reviews are completed afterward.
Change its state
Press Change state, choose the Next state, give a Reason and press Save state. Archiving keeps the scope, criteria and history. An archived programme can only be reopened, with Reopen programme.
The programme's tabs
- Scope & ownership: what it covers and who owns it.
- Requirements: what must be met. An owner or editor can press Author requirement or Import requirements.
- History: every change and its reason.
For an NDPA programme, press Open NDPA work to answer its questions. The programme also links to your NDPC registration, Annual return & filing, DPO responsibilities and DPO reports.
Common questions
"Why can't I activate it?" The Activation checklist names what is missing. The programme also needs an owner who is still a current member of the company.
"The page says to reassign ownership. Why?" The recorded owner no longer works in the company. Choose a new Programme owner under Settings on the programme.