Economic Growth and Industrial Policy Analyst

Position Overview

The Economy and Strategic Analysis (ESA) division operates within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), under the leadership of Sravya Rao (DD). This team collaborates closely with the Chief Economist / Director of Analysis, Ben Cropper, serving as the primary analytical unit for the Industrial Strategy directorate and the DBT Growth Policy Unit.

ESA is dedicated to the analysis of economic growth and productivity. Its key objectives include:

• Establishing DBT's strategic narrative and evidence framework regarding economic growth and productivity, integrating this into DBT's policies, strategies, and operational priorities.
• Facilitating the formulation and execution of the Government's Industrial Strategy, encompassing policy design, analytical outputs, and foundational evidence.
• Assisting the DBT Growth Policy Unit in shaping policy considerations related to economic growth, particularly concerning the Growth Mission.
• Conducting strategic analyses to evaluate how specific policy domains or transformative growth initiatives contribute to economic growth and productivity, in collaboration with policy and analytical colleagues across DBT, the broader Government, and external entities.
• Creating briefings and analyses to enhance DBT's comprehension of the impact of the UK and global macroeconomy on growth and productivity in both the short and long term.

The UK economy has experienced sluggish productivity growth since the Global Financial Crisis. Addressing this decline is essential for improving living standards, ensuring economic resilience against shocks and transitions such as Net Zero, tackling persistent issues like low investment and regional disparities, and generating the fiscal capacity to enhance public services.

Growth remains the central focus of DBT; we manage numerous economic policy instruments, spanning employment regulations, trade, and investment, with a particular emphasis on microeconomic growth policies affecting sectors, regions, consumers, workers, and businesses.

Our team investigates the underlying causes of these intricate challenges and considers potential solutions through policy-oriented analysis and proactive strategic analytical initiatives. Our scope encompasses, but is not limited to, DBT policy areas.

Role Responsibilities

We are seeking an analyst to enhance our evidence base concerning the formulation and implementation of policies that support the Government's Industrial Strategy. This is a permanent Grade 7 position open to candidates from both within and outside the civil service, including those seeking promotion.

The Industrial Strategy is a top priority for the DBT Secretary of State and is being developed swiftly. It aims to enhance the performance of priority sectors through both vertical (sector-specific) and horizontal (business environment) levers. This initiative is spearheaded by DBT and HMT, incorporating expertise and policy insights from across Government and external sources. It plays a vital role in the Government's Growth Mission, where DBT will have a significant impact.

This position is integral to DBT, supporting both the Industrial Strategy team and the DBT Growth Policy Unit. We are looking for a candidate who can utilize a blend of quantitative and qualitative analysis, leveraging academic literature and conducting primary data assessments. The role offers the chance to delve into detailed microdata from ONS / HMRC / commercial datasets, as well as cross-country economic policy data such as the OECD Quantifying Industrial Strategies database.

Our objective is to quantify and evaluate the effectiveness of economic and industrial policies, including their interactions, and to use this information to propose enhancements in their design and implementation. We encourage the candidate to take initiative in developing projects, exploring datasets, and generating policy ideas.

The successful candidate will report to a Grade 6 (Olly Bartrum) who leads economic policy analysis. They should also anticipate collaborating closely with other Grade 6 teams within ESA, one focusing on UK and global macroeconomics and microdata analysis led by Dan Mawson, and another concentrating on specific thematic policy areas led by Jacob Seager.

The candidate will be expected to:

• Develop analyses on how economic policy contributes to a comprehensive set of growth objectives, the challenges encountered, and policy alternatives to stimulate growth for the Industrial Strategy and the DBT Growth Unit.
• Design and execute a series of data-driven analytical and policy projects to inform policy development within DBT and the wider Government, while enhancing our evidence base on growth.
• Produce analytical outputs for the Industrial Strategy, including theories of change, monitoring and evaluation, and international comparisons.
• Establish strong relationships with policy and analytical colleagues across Government to identify and address evidence gaps, policy interdependencies, and collaborative opportunities.
• Engage with external experts (academia, think tanks, international organizations such as the OECD) and utilize data-driven analysis to incorporate the best available evidence and innovative policy ideas.
• Proactively respond to ad hoc requests from the Director of Analysis, DG Growth, and Permanent Secretary regarding economic policy analysis.

This position provides the opportunity to collaborate across various teams within DBT and the broader Government, as well as with external stakeholders. The successful candidate will interact with senior officials, including the Director of Analysis, Director of Strategy, and Director of Industrial Strategy. Their work will be recognized and utilized at the highest levels of DBT and across Government.

This role currently does not entail line management responsibilities, but this may be considered in the future, and there may be opportunities to manage tasks for individuals in the interim.

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications

This position is open to current members of the Government Economic Service (GES) and those eligible to join the GES.

For GES members, your application must indicate to the Government Recruitment Service that you are already recognized as a member of the GES.

For non-GES members, you will undergo a badging assessment as part of the interview process. Eligibility for GES membership requires:

• A first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or an international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics. If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics.
• Completion of studies in both macroeconomics and microeconomics.

Candidates must demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to succeed as a Government Economist at the applied grade or be an existing member of the Government Economic Service. Technical skills will be evaluated against the grade requirements of the Government Economic Service (GES). Further details can be found in the GES Framework.

These will be assessed during the selection process, including during the initial review of your written application and the interview. Applicants who are civil servants but not members of the GES, as well as those applying from outside Government, must demonstrate that they meet the GES requirements, as successful appointment will include GES membership.

For applicants applying after a significant period post-university, who are not existing members of the Government Economic Service, relevant experience includes working on economic analysis or research, such as in a research agency, market research agency, or specialized research team. To enter the GES through this route, you must clearly outline the breadth and depth of your economic experience and skills covering the three components of the GES technical framework.

Key Success Profiles for the Role Include:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating & Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Application of Knowledge (GES Competency)
• Data Analysis (GES Competency)

As this is an analytical position, the successful candidate will receive an analyst allowance.

Qualifications

Refer to the GES requirements outlined in the Essential Qualifications section.

Candidates must possess a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or an international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics (If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics).

Memberships

Refer to the GES membership criteria in the essential qualifications section. Non-GES members may apply for the role provided they meet the criteria for GES membership.

Behaviours

We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical Skills

We will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Application of Knowledge (GES Competency)
• Data Analysis (GES Competency)

Benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, the Department for Business and Trade contributes towards your membership in the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

• Tailored learning and development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements
• A culture that promotes inclusion and diversity
• Average employer contribution to pension

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We aim to create a diverse workforce and encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and those with gender diverse identities.

Please refer to the attached candidate pack for additional information on our benefits.