A “significant proportion” of BIST staff to be outside of London

Following the machinery of government changes which saw DSIT’s growth, international, science and technology policy responsibilities and civil service teams absorbed within an expanded Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), the new department has updated Parliament on the progress made so far with the changes.

This includes a longer-term commitment to having more staff based outside London, though the department is for now based in Whitehall:

“BIST will be headquartered from Old Admiralty Building, London. We have begun internal discussions on a long-term BIST Location Strategy, including our ambitions for the cross-Government Places for Growth programme. We are committed to delivering a significant proportion of BIST roles outside London, including for our most senior roles.”

The update, in the form of a letter from Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds to the House of Commons Business Select Committee, also spells out areas where machinery of government discussions are still taking place. These include the final split of DSIT’s budget as well as the financial liabilities which will be transferred over.

There is also said to be a “small number of outstanding policy areas” which need to be agreed with the Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (the two other parts of government absorbing DSIT’s functions).

BIST yesterday announced that Cat Little would become its new permanent secretary. She is currently permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office, and was previously second permanent secretary at the Treasury.