Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Acknowledged
Department demonstrates agility for urgent issues but faces specialist recruitment challenges
Conclusion
We asked the Department if it was agile enough to respond to emerging issues such as changing tariff rates affecting UK businesses. The Department told us it understands the importance of ‘surging’ resource to where it is needed most urgently, and said it has been able to flex resources across teams. The Department also told us it has a small, dedicated team that can respond to events and shocks, and that this was a critical resource which it could deploy on major priorities.47 We asked the Department what steps it was taking to recruit to specialist roles where it must compete with the private sector, for example in IT or construction. The Department told us it was working to address recruitment challenges in roles such as technology and digital, financial, and programme management, noting that it was critical to balance being competitive alongside ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.48 44 Q 63 45 Q 61 46 Q 62 47 Q 64 48 Q 59 15 Tracking progress towards the ambitions in the Industrial Strategy
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.