Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Acknowledged
Departmental sector team staffing levels lack correlation with industry importance or spending
Conclusion
Following its formation in February 2023, the Department consolidated teams from the former BEIS and DIT into 25 sector-facing teams within its Business Group. These sector teams vary by size and grade distribution. The Department’s Business Group also has teams that work across sectors, such as the Business Intelligence Unit. There are 820 full time equivalent (FTE) staff in the Business Group (as of September 2024).43 We asked the Department about the correlation between the number of people employed in certain teams, and the amount it is spending on support. The Department told us that the number of staff per sector team was not always an 37 Q 82 38 Q 71 39 Q 45 and Q 82 40 Qq 71-72 41 Qq 71-72 42 Q 74 43 C&AG’s Report, para 12, Figure 7 14 indication of the size or importance of the industry the team aims to support, or of the size of the budget available. The Department told us that the way it would work with each sector would vary, depending on the needs of the sector and the type of support intervention.44
Government Response Summary
The department will ensure effective implementation of the Industrial Strategy by using a permanent delivery unit and restructuring teams, which will be mostly completed by Spring 2026.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2026 5.2 The department will ensure effective implementation of the Industrial Strategy. The Industrial Strategy Unit has transitioned into a permanent delivery unit to coordinate implementation and policy development. The Industrial Strategy provides a framework to coordinate cross-government work to ensure implementation is a government-wide effort. 5.3 The department has set out plans to restructure teams and focus efforts on Industrial Strategy delivery. This is already in progress and will be mostly completed by Spring 2026. As part of this transformation, the department will ensure a continued focus on the IS-8 growth- driving sectors and on supporting all of government to focus on growth-driving initiatives.