Department for the Economy Board minutes 2025 - 24 September 2025

Minutes of the August meeting were agreed without amendment.

Action point – Major Projects: A different approach to be considered – ongoing.

Action point – Major Projects: A process is needed how to decide if there is an issue with a Major Project or Programme

Action point 3: Contract Register: What the Board wants and values needs communicated to guide the contents of future papers – ongoing.

(Name redacted) presented.

• In anticipation of the Department’s first multi-year budget, work has begun on the development of a Corporate Plan for 2026-30.
• Working Group structures have been established and work has commenced on two supporting exercises: an Aspirational Outcome Position and a Baseline Spending Assessment.
• The Working Group has produced proposals in respect to the Aspirational Outcome Position which include proposed changes to the strategic outcome statements previously produced for the four Vision Priorities, their associated performance metrics framework, and a proposed position on what “success” would look like by 2030.
• This will have to be done in a series of discussions and made clear how decisions have been made. We will need to plan what resources are needed and can pivot as required.
• We need to consider what is within our gift. There needs to be framing and we need to be aware of nuanced factors. How do we measure outcomes? Indicators should be linked to outcomes.
• AP: Strategic Outcome Statements – to be reconsidered by the Working Group to frame as a description of what things will be like in 2030, with clear linkages to the underpinning metrics.
• The current performance metrics framework was discussed. It was agreed by Minister Murphy with small edits from Minister Archibald. It was aired at SMT with feedback that it was a clear steer but there may be gaps.

Summary of metrics discussion:

• TU membership metric needs amended to another suitable metric for Voice and Representation under Good Jobs.
• Gender pay gap and disability employment gaps are important.
• More people in secure work with secure incomes is the preferred wording.
• Employment rate and economic inactivity to be included under Good Jobs – Regional Balance metrics can be a selection of metrics from other Priorities viewed under a regional lens.
• Agreed to remove Innovation Recognitions and Business Deaths as proposed.
• Skills levels to continue to feature and a metric around Lifelong Learning to be explored given the linkages to Productivity.
• High Growth Businesses to be included as suggested.
• Keep Energy Intensity.
• A relevant metric around Green Skills should be included.
• The metrics should be presented in such a way to demonstrate their cross-cutting nature, rather than just four lists for each Priority. Performance should also be presented to show what the desired direction of travel is for each (e.g. higher Good Jobs rate, lower CO2 emissions, etc.).
• Identify thresholds for significant changes.
• External engagement with stakeholders needed. It was agreed the Economic Engagement Forum would be the appropriate vehicle for this.

Next Steps – Baseline Spending Assessment

• Priorities Alignment Tool is metrics led and will need updated and calibrated.
• There are time pressures and availability issues.
• Needs proportionality and a sense check.
• A more sophisticated scoring system for the tool may be beneficial.

Overview of Current DfE Budget Allocation of £830m

Johanna Park presented

• She advised the current Budget is £830m and £810m of that is controllable by Minister.
• The Spending Review baseline for the next 3 years is £781m.

Johanna presented a number of detailed slides showing how DfE’s current budget allocation is spent at different levels including:

• How much is controllable, how much is earmarked by DoF and NIP/Windsor Framework.
• How the controllable allocation is split between to the Dept and ALBs.
• How the Core Dept allocation is split.
• How Core Dept salaries are split.
• How Core Dept allocation is split exc salaries.
• How expenditure is split in each Group exc salaries.

Minutes of the August meeting were agreed without amendment.

Action point – Major Projects: A different approach to be considered – ongoing.

Action point – Major Projects: A process is needed how to decide if there is an issue with a Major Project or Programme

Action point 3: Contract Register: What the Board wants and values needs communicated to guide the contents of future papers – ongoing.

(Name redacted) presented.

• In anticipation of the Department’s first multi-year budget, work has begun on the development of a Corporate Plan for 2026-30.
• Working Group structures have been established and work has commenced on two supporting exercises: an Aspirational Outcome Position and a Baseline Spending Assessment.
• The Working Group has produced proposals in respect to the Aspirational Outcome Position which include proposed changes to the strategic outcome statements previously produced for the four Vision Priorities, their associated performance metrics framework, and a proposed position on what “success” would look like by 2030.
• This will have to be done in a series of discussions and made clear how decisions have been made. We will need to plan what resources are needed and can pivot as required.
• We need to consider what is within our gift. There needs to be framing and we need to be aware of nuanced factors. How do we measure outcomes? Indicators should be linked to outcomes.
• AP: Strategic Outcome Statements – to be reconsidered by the Working Group to frame as a description of what things will be like in 2030, with clear linkages to the underpinning metrics.
• The current performance metrics framework was discussed. It was agreed by Minister Murphy with small edits from Minister Archibald. It was aired at SMT with feedback that it was a clear steer but there may be gaps.

Summary of metrics discussion:

• TU membership metric needs amended to another suitable metric for Voice and Representation under Good Jobs.
• Gender pay gap and disability employment gaps are important.
• More people in secure work with secure incomes is the preferred wording.
• Employment rate and economic inactivity to be included under Good Jobs – Regional Balance metrics can be a selection of metrics from other Priorities viewed under a regional lens.
• Agreed to remove Innovation Recognitions and Business Deaths as proposed.
• Skills levels to continue to feature and a metric around Lifelong Learning to be explored given the linkages to Productivity.
• High Growth Businesses to be included as suggested.
• Keep Energy Intensity.
• A relevant metric around Green Skills should be included.
• The metrics should be presented in such a way to demonstrate their cross-cutting nature, rather than just four lists for each Priority. Performance should also be presented to show what the desired direction of travel is for each (e.g. higher Good Jobs rate, lower CO2 emissions, etc.).
• Identify thresholds for significant changes.
• External engagement with stakeholders needed. It was agreed the Economic Engagement Forum would be the appropriate vehicle for this.

Next Steps – Baseline Spending Assessment

• Priorities Alignment Tool is metrics led and will need updated and calibrated.
• There are time pressures and availability issues.
• Needs proportionality and a sense check.
• A more sophisticated scoring system for the tool may be beneficial.

Overview of Current DfE Budget Allocation of £830m

Johanna Park presented

• She advised the current Budget is £830m and £810m of that is controllable by Minister.
• The Spending Review baseline for the next 3 years is £781m.

Johanna presented a number of detailed slides showing how DfE’s current budget allocation is spent at different levels including:

• How much is controllable, how much is earmarked by DoF and NIP/Windsor Framework.
• How the controllable allocation is split between to the Dept and ALBs.
• How the Core Dept allocation is split.
• How Core Dept salaries are split.
• How Core Dept allocation is split exc salaries.
• How expenditure is split in each Group exc salaries.