Recommendation 3

The Department faces a considerable challenge to recruit the specialist digital skills that its strategy relies on. We have reported previously on the shortage of specialist digital skills in the marketplace and how many government departments are struggling to overcome this long-standing challenge. Indeed, the Department identifies getting the right skills as a key factor in whether it will succeed or fail to achieve its goals by 2025. The skills it needs are wide-ranging and include data analysis, cyber advisory, artificial intelligence, service manager and project delivery skills. The Department’s challenges include the limited pool of specialist skills in Corsham (where it bases its work on digital), its ability to compete in the market on pay, and 6 The Defence digital strategy waiting times of over 200 days on average for developed vetting security clearance. In response, the Department is trying to change how it recruits by rebranding itself as an innovative place to work with internal training opportunities, and by working differently with big technology companies and small and medium-size enterprises. The Department is positive about the impact this seems to be having and over the last 18 months reports meeting its target of recruiting 150 specialists. However, it wants to double this number next year, an objective that will be difficult to achieve. Recommendation: In its update to us in six months, the Department should also set out how it has changed its approach to recruitment and what quantified effect this has had.