Recommendations & Conclusions
4 items
5
Conclusion
Fifty-Sixth Report - Supporting investm…
Rejected
Overseas posts have a range of roles and priorities and may not be consistent in promoting investment across the UK. Potential investors’ first contact with the Department is often with staff in overseas posts whose role is to help them identify and access investment opportunities in the UK. But there …
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Overseas posts have a range of roles and priorities and may not be consistent in promoting investment across the UK. Potential investors’ first contact with the Department is often with staff in overseas posts whose role is to help them identify and access investment opportunities in the UK. But there is scope for teams in overseas posts to develop their knowledge of investment opportunities across the UK and ensure they are presented clearly to investors. We are concerned that these staff may have varying levels of knowledge and expertise, and support for inward investment Supporting investment into the UK 7 may not be a priority among their other responsibilities, particularly in countries where there are only one or two investment deals each year. The Department says that it has taken steps, such as organising conferences, to ensure that staff overseas have up-to-date knowledge, and training on investment is available to all embassy staff. HM trade commissioners are the senior officials with responsibility overseas for trade and investment and, in addition, each overseas post produces a country plan which reflects trade and investment plan objectives. Recommendation 5: The Department should work with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to ensure that supporting investment is part of the overall priorities of overseas posts and, where required, staff receive any training they need to build knowledge on strengths and opportunities for investment throughout the UK. More training could be offered to staff of both departments when they are in the UK up to and including Ambassadors between different country postings.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation, stating it already provides comprehensive investment training through its Investment Academy for staff globally and delivers pre-posting training for senior officials, arguing these existing provisions address the committee's concerns.
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HM Treasury
19
Conclusion
Fifty-Sixth Report - Supporting investm…
Rejected
Potential investors’ first contact with the Department is often with staff in overseas posts. The Department’s network of more than 90 overseas posts across nine geographical 35 C&AG’s Report, para 3.9 36 C&AG’s Report, Figure 2 and Figure 14 37 C&AG’s Report, Figure 13 38 Qq 26–27 39 Q 27 …
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Potential investors’ first contact with the Department is often with staff in overseas posts. The Department’s network of more than 90 overseas posts across nine geographical 35 C&AG’s Report, para 3.9 36 C&AG’s Report, Figure 2 and Figure 14 37 C&AG’s Report, Figure 13 38 Qq 26–27 39 Q 27 40 C&AG’s Report, para 3.4 41 Q 73–74, 91 42 Qq 91–92 43 C&AG’s Report, para 10 44 Qq 26, 76 45 Q 26, 76; C&AG’s Report, para 2.7 14 Supporting investment into the UK regions led by HM Trade Commissioners develop and manage relationships with investors and promote the UK as an investment destination through events, marketing and other channels.46 The Department told us that potential investors may initially only be aware of London as an investment destination, so staff in overseas posts play a role in explaining that there are opportunities across the UK.47 However, the NAO found that teams in overseas posts could develop their knowledge of investment opportunities across the UK and ensure they are presented clearly to investors.48 The Department said that at some posts there are people representing the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands who try to educate staff at posts about opportunities outside London.49
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Government response AI summary
The government disagrees with the Committee's concern, stating that senior FCDO leaders already play an important role and describing existing training programmes like the Investment Academy, pre-posting training, and access to Trade Faculty learning.
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HM Treasury
20
Conclusion
Fifty-Sixth Report - Supporting investm…
Rejected
We are concerned that staff in overseas posts may have varying levels of knowledge and expertise. We asked the Department about the training available for overseas staff and how the Department is involved in framing the training.50 The Department said that it has developed training programmes to increase learning, skills …
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We are concerned that staff in overseas posts may have varying levels of knowledge and expertise. We asked the Department about the training available for overseas staff and how the Department is involved in framing the training.50 The Department said that it has developed training programmes to increase learning, skills and knowledge in trade policy areas. This training provision is available through taught programmes and online learning to both Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and DBT staff.51 The Department said it has also taken steps, such as organising conferences, to ensure that staff at posts have up-to-date knowledge about opportunities across the UK.52
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Government response AI summary
The government disagrees with the Committee's concern, stating that senior FCDO leaders already play an important role and describing existing training programmes like the Investment Academy, pre-posting training, and access to Trade Faculty learning.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
21
Conclusion
Fifty-Sixth Report - Supporting investm…
Rejected
Support for investment may not be a priority among embassies’ other responsibilities, particularly in smaller posts where there are only one or two investment deals each year. We asked the Department whether all embassies are focused on investment. The Department told us that each overseas post produces a country plan …
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Support for investment may not be a priority among embassies’ other responsibilities, particularly in smaller posts where there are only one or two investment deals each year. We asked the Department whether all embassies are focused on investment. The Department told us that each overseas post produces a country plan which needs to reflect the trade and investment objectives that the post must deliver.53 The HM Trade Commissioners are the senior officials overseas with responsibility for trade and investment objectives.54 46 C&AG’s Report, para 2.8, Figure 6 47 Q 26 48 C&AG’s Report, para 2.8 49 Q 26 50 Qq 81–83 51 Q 84 52 Q 81 53 Qq 84–85 54 Q 83 Supporting investment into the UK 15 3 Working across government Improving coordination
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Government response AI summary
The government disagrees with the conclusion that support for investment may not be a priority for embassies. It explains that investment priorities are aligned and targets agreed annually with HM Trade Commissioners, supported by comprehensive training for overseas staff.
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HM Treasury