Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 25
25
Accepted
BBC lacks specific staff data on "Across the UK" impact, engaged staff late.
Recommendation
We asked the BBC what specific data its management had to tell it what its staff thought about Across the UK. It told us it did not have any specific data but said it had a comprehensive staff survey where it looked at how people felt in each location and provided “world-class data on staff engagement”. We asked why it did not collect specific data given the clear importance the BBC attached to Across the UK, the fact it was designed to change the culture of the BBC and its disruptive nature for some of its London-based staff. The BBC told us it had an appropriate system in place which it considered proportionate, and that it focused on “good leadership” rather than surveys.44 The BBC was also unable to tell us at what point it engaged with its staff and musicians regarding the proposed relocation of the Concert Orchestra and could not explain its decision-making process. In written evidence provided after the session, the BBC confirmed it engaged with the Concert Orchestra musicians, management and production in October 2021, some six months after the move was announced in March 2021.45 43 Qq 94–96 44 Qq 84–85 45 Qq 33–37; Letter dated 1 March 2024 from Tim Davie, Director General, BBC, to Dame Meg Hillier, Chair, Committee of Public Accounts, dated 1 March 2024, page 3 18 The BBC’s implementation of Across the UK
Government Response Summary
The BBC will improve monitoring of staff views by analysing staff survey results by base/location, engaging with divisional teams and regional base leadership for feedback as part of the midpoint review, and conducting post-implementation reviews for divisional relocations. Target implementation date is December 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
6.6 The BBC agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2025 6.7 The Across the UK programme team has considered how it can improve monitoring of staff views relating to ATUK. The BBC internal communications team which supports the programme is analysing BBC staff survey results by base/location to monitor staff sentiment, and as part of the midpoint review of the programme, the ATUK central programme team is engaging with divisional teams and regional base leadership to gather staff feedback. The programme conducts post-implementation reviews for all divisional relocations to ensure that the organisation continuously improves its approach to future work. 6.8 The BBC previously confirmed to the NAO that it did not ask specific questions within its Staff Survey on ATUK as the affected staff group (i.e., those who are being asked to relocate) is small as a proportion of all BBC staff. This is in-keeping with its approach to other BBC critical projects and programmes with the Staff Survey.