Wafts is back!
A new AI tech team in DCMS, a growing Recovery Strategy Unit in DLUHC ahead of Grenfell II report, and bodies to bolster fair trade and economic security in DBT
In this issue;
DCMS builds new AI delivery team to support £100m Taskforce
DLUHC boosts Recovery Strategy Unit ahead of Grenfell Phase 2 Report
New DBT teams bolster ‘free and fair trade’ and economic security…
… And boosts international trade policy capability
HMT cranks up financial sanctions capacity
New face to lead nuke briefing function
So we’re back after a gap of 18 months. And hopefully to stay. I’ve heard sporadically, but repeatedly, words of appreciation for unique insights this fusion of data mining, textual analysis and journalism delivers. It’s that, combined with some new tools and knowledge, that spurred me back into action.
The data sample for this edition was taken in early July 2023, with a sample of around 230 roles to crunch through, isolating the useful and noteworthy in policy from the purely administrative.
I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy collecting and delving into the devil in the detail to write this. Feedback is always welcome.
Alex Waddington
Whetstone Communications
PS - If you find Wafts from Whitehall useful, please do forward it onto friends and associates, and encourage them to subscribe (it’s free!).
PPS - If you want to chat more about these insights, how I’m using data science to unearth policy intel and insights - and how these techniques could give you an edge in your strategic communications and engagement - drop me a line at alex@whetstonecomms.com.
Tech
DCMS builds new AI team to support £100m Taskforce
A new AI Foundation Model Team is being formed in DCMS following the April announcement by the Government of £100 million Taskforce to kickstart growth of the UK’s capability in safe and reliable foundation models.
The Taskforce will be working to develop the safe and reliable use of this pivotal artificial intelligence (AI) across the economy and ensure the UK is globally competitive in this strategic technology.
Foundation models are a category of artificial intelligence systems trained on huge volumes of information to quickly generate outcomes across a range of settings, including healthcare, public service and education.
With the Taskforce described as “a Ministerial and Departmental priority”, six ‘Taskforce Delivery and Private Office Roles’ are being advertised, embedded within the Directorate for Digital and Technology Policy - but the advert hints at further roles being created to support the Taskforce.
Specific roles in the Chair of Taskforce’s Private Office and in Secretariat look particularly interesting, requiring “leadership to cover external engagements, comms activitIes and wider briefing support”. Responsibilities here will likely include managing the Chair’s relationships with teams and senior leaders, supporting the Chair’s external meetings and working with stakeholders “across Government to align policy, share issues and risks, and communicate progress”.
While DCMS is advertising this vacancy, the job ad says that successful candidate(s) may ultimately be appointed to the newly created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
It was announced in June that tech entrepreneur Ian Hogarth had been appointed as Taskforce Chair, reporting directly to the Prime Minister and Technology Secretary. Hogarth is also a visiting professor at University College London, founder of the start-up Songkick and the venture capital fund Plural.
Construction
DLUHC team beefed up as Grenfell Phase 2 report looms
Michael Gove’s department is bringing in Team Leaders to bolster the Recovery Strategy Unit, established by the Minister last year to deal with ‘worst cases’ where companies have failed to contribute to fixing building safety issues.
The Recovery Strategy Unit (RSU) - within the The Safer and Greener Buildings Group - is tasked with “pursuing individuals and companies who are failing to make buildings safe and pay to fix the building safety issues they caused” according to the job advert.
The unit is being run by former Special Forces commando Colonel Robert Graham Cundy, with Gove previously describing him in Parliament as a person with “a commitment to ensuring that there is no hiding place for those responsible for the building crisis”.
As well as bringing together the Department’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire, the RSU’s work also supports the UK’s commitment to Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050.
Another recent job advert for a role within the Unit described it as working in an area “of key strategic importance to the Secretary of State”. The RSU and its work has had several mentions in Parliament recently (like this one), and with the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report currently being drafted, it’s no surprise the roles are described as “perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced and high profile environment”.
Trade
New DBT teams bolster ‘free and fair trade’ and economic security…
Two new teams are being established in the Department for Business & Trade to address “economic coercion and market distorting practices” - described as a priority for the UK Government to “ensure free and fair trade… and support UK businesses”.
An Economic Coercion Team and a Market Distorting Practices, International Strategy & Engagement are being established, with recruitment recently taking place for people to lead them.
Described as high-profile roles, with considerable Ministerial interest, they are said to sit “at the heart of some of the most interesting geopolitical and economic challenges of our time, with potentially far-reaching real-world impacts”.
The Economic Coercion Team is set to have responsibility for international and domestic policy development, “working collaboratively across Whitehall to develop and implement a programme of work to ensure that the UK has the right domestic tools to defend itself against acts of economic coercion”.
The Market Distorting Practices, International Strategy & Engagement Team’s remit will include policy development work, again “working collaboratively across Whitehall to develop and implement a programme of work to enhance cooperation with international partners, and to strengthen the rules-based international system, to ward against market distorting practices”.
The move comes after the governments of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America released a Joint Declaration Against Trade-Related Economic Coercion and Non-Market Policies and Practices 9 June 2023.
And at the G7 in May, PM Rishi Sunak set out the UK’s plan to “expand the tools we can deploy” to tackle global threats to security and counter “growing economic coercion” from China and Russia.
… And also boosts international trade policy capability
Staying with trade, a new Multilateral and WTO Trade Policy Team is being formed in DBT to lead on “influencing global rules and managing the UK's relationship with the WTO and other multilateral fora… to advocate for and reform the rules based international system”.
The role of WTO/Multilateral Head of Programme and Secretariat - and by association the team under them - are described as “pivotal to the achievement of our multilateral trade policy objectives and at the heart of.. delivery of our vision and objectives for the multilateral trading system”.
According to the recent job advert, the new team will develop and manage a busy multilateral trade policy programme “supporting UK engagement across multiple fora - including the WTO, G7, G20 and Commonwealth” and “translate the Department’s multilateral and WTO strategy into delivery”.
Economy
HMT cranks up financial sanctions capacity
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) - part of the Treasury - is continuing to expand, with recruitment across several specialist units.
OFSI has a key role in the “implementation of UN and UK financial sanctions and domestic terrorist asset freezing”, and has been ‘front and centre’ of the implementation of sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
A recently advertised role for a Senior Sanctions Advisor described the role as “multifaceted”, with the chance to gain experience across a range of fields including “strategic policy development, and operational policy delivery and implementation”.
Key responsibilities for the role included carrying out “operational policy analysis and appropriate decision-making on a wide variety of sanctions issues”, and identifying trends and solutions for operational policy matters.
As of 23 June 2023, 1,600 Russian individuals and 228 entities were subject to UK sanctions under the Russia regime, with £275 billion of Russian assets frozen.
In June 2023, the Government expanded the legislative basis setting out the purpose of sanctions against Russia.
Defence
New face to lead nuke briefing function
A new briefing team is being established in the Defence Nuclear Organisation to “establish, cohere and develop Defence Nuclear inputs to the Prime Minister chaired National Security Council for nuclear issues”.
The briefing team will fall under the remit of a newly created Deputy Head Comms and Parliamentary - “an exciting new role responsible for leading our Communications, Parliamentary, Briefing and Boards teams”.
The role will also include oversight of the secretariat to senior defence nuclear boards, including the Ministerially chaired Defence Nuclear Board, and the Nuclear Portfolio Board.
It also encompasses “oversight of internal and external communications” including activity such as “parliamentary engagement, building public support, polling and analysis and developing strategic messaging and a narrative”.
The DNO - part of the MoD - exists to “keep safe and capable submarines at sea, maintain our nuclear warheads and provide the nuclear deterrent to protect national and global security”. Among other things, it advises on UK nuclear policy, planning and international co-operation.
More About Wafts from Whitehall
Policy, strategy and communications roles being recruited within the Civil Service can tell us much about where the Government is focusing its attention (and its money). Floating within every job advert are wafts of juicy information about new teams and roles, serving as pointers about the Government’s intent and priorities - and providing useful insight on where the real policy thinking and development work gets done.
Whether your interest in the national policy agenda is personal, academic or professional - or somewhere in between all three - Wafts from Whitehall helps you find the nuggets.
As an experienced strategic communicator and external affairs professional, I’m passionate about using public data and data mining to allow organisations to better engage with public policy making.