Government Skills

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Structure of Government Skills

• Governance
• Organisation

Governance

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills [External website] – For organisational purposes and resourcing, Government Skills became part of DIUS on 1 April 2008. Previously we were part of the Cabinet Office. Our move to DIUS creates a stronger alignment with the team of ministers and officials charged with economy-wide skills policy for England, putting us in a better position to drive forward the Skills Strategy.

We continue to work closely with:

• the Cabinet Office (supporting its objective to ‘Make Government work better’)
• the devolved administrations, which lead on skills policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) [External website] – Government Skills is a Sector Skills Council licensed by DIUS, and UKCES monitors and reviews our performance in meeting our employers' needs on behalf of DIUS. UKCES also provides most of our funding.

Government Skills Strategy Board – This board oversees Government Skills' work for employers across central government. Chaired by a senior permanent secretary, the board has representatives from all parts of the sector and meets quarterly. It determines our overall direction by making sure both our organisational strategy and Skills Strategy reflect employers' needs. It also sets any Key Performance Indicators and targets and considers performance reports. The chief executive of Government Skills reports to the chair of the board.

Government Skills Management Board – This board meets monthly to manage the business of Government Skills. It is chaired by the chief executive and includes the heads of division, the head of communications and the programme and performance manager, plus (for one meeting a quarter) two non-executive directors. It looks at a range of performance management information and considers what action to take in response.

Professional Skills for Government Programme Board – This separate board manages the Professional Skills for Government programme. This board also has representatives from across the sector and is chaired by a senior permanent secretary.

Organisation

Government Skills is made up of three divisions, each headed by a member of the Senior Civil Service.

• Policy and projects – designs and delivers, directly or indirectly, all of Government Skills' products
• Account and market management – leads the process of engagement with employers, providers and others
• Strategy and performance – responsible for planning, programme and performance management, communications, finance, procurement and human resources

For more information about Government Skills, including our organisational structure and senior staff biographies, please see:

• Government Skills organisation chart (October 2008) [PDF file]
• Government Skills management