The Wardman Wire

This is the full text of the Cabinet Office Press Announcement about the appointment of Andrew Stott as Director of Digital Engagement, published after our earlier piece came out.

CAB035/09
13 May 2009

The Cabinet Office has appointed Andrew Stott to the new role of Director of Digital Engagement, a position created to take forward the Power of Information agenda.

The Director of Digital Engagement will be based in Government Communications at the Cabinet Office and will work across Government departments to encourage, support and challenge them in moving from communicating to citizens on the web to conversing and collaborating with them through digital technology.

Following a wider review of Cabinet Office organisation to reflect the Government’s priorities and its share of efficiency savings the Director of Digital Engagement role will also include responsibility for:

• implementation of the Power of Information Taskforce recommendations
• chairing the Government’s Knowledge Council and working with The National Archives [External website] to take forward the Information Matters strategy for Knowledge and Information Management
• increasing the civil service’s use of internal digital tools to improve cross Government coordination and collaboration as an aid to better policy development and service delivery
• the civil service website [External website]

Andrew is currently Government Deputy Chief Information Officer. He has had director-level oversight within the Cabinet Office for the Power of Information work from its inception and was a member of the Minister for Digital Engagement’s Power of Information Taskforce.

Tom Watson MP, Minister for Digital Engagement said:

“I am delighted that Andrew Stott will be leading on these vital programmes for government. His personal involvement in the development of the strategy and his Whitehall experience will be complemented by the new external high level advisory panel which will succeed the Taskforce.

“Together we will transform the way that government engages with citizens through the internet and free up government data, so that people can use public services more effectively.”

Notes to editors

1. The Director of Digital Engagement will be based in Government Communications at the Cabinet Office and will work across Government departments to encourage, support and challenge them in moving from communicating to citizens on the web to communicating with citizens through digital technology. The Director will:
   • Develop a strategy and implementation plan for extending digital engagement across Government.
   • Work with communications, policy and delivery officials across Government to make digital engagement an everyday part of the work of Government.
   • Work with Directors of Communications to ensure that digital media are included in the reporting of reaction to Government policy and initiatives
   • Work closely with web teams to ensure that digital communications are making the most effective and efficient use of hardware and software.
   • Act as head of profession for civil servants working on digital engagement.
   • Ensure that digital engagement is always a leading part of Government consultations.
   • Introduce new, cost-effective techniques and software for digital engagement.
   • Convene an expert advisory group made up of the leading experts on digital engagement to provide advice to Ministers and act as a sounding-board for the Government’s digital engagement strategy.
2. The Director of Digital Engagement will chair the cross-Government Knowledge Council which is taking forward the Government’s Strategy for managing knowledge and information. In doing so he will work closely with the National Archives.
   • The Knowledge Council:
     Established in 2007 in response to government’s desire to more effectively and securely manage its knowledge and information assets and provides pan-government strategic leadership on all aspects of knowledge and information management. Chaired by Andrew Stott, the Council is the formal governing body for the knowledge and information management and aims to build capability in order to meet the challenges and opportunities that arise in a complex digital society.
   • Government strategy for managaing knowledge information:
     In 2008, the civil service published the government knowledge and information management strategy entitled Information Matters. The strategy aims to build government’s capability in managing its knowledge and information. The Knowledge Council is driving the strategy forward by helping government departments develop the frameworks, tools and culture to use knowledge and information more efficiently and effectively to support the delivery of better public service.
   • The National Archives:
     The National Archives supports and guides government on knowledge and information management by setting standards and encouraging the re-use of public sector information. It also supports the professional development of the government KIM community with Natalie Ceeney, The Chief Executive of The National Archives, as the Government Head of Profession. The Government KIM team is also based at The National Archives and provides the secretariat for the Knowledge Council, the programme management of the implementation of the Information Matters strategy and overall co-ordination of the Function.
3. Andrew Stott
   • Andrew Stott has been the Government Deputy Chief Information Officer (based in the Cabinet Office) since September 2004. In this role he has been responsible for the overall direction of Transformational Government and supporting strategies, including policy on Government web services, on information and knowledge management strategy and on Power of Information matters.
   • Andrew has held IT, policy, finance and business delivery roles in a number of public bodies including the Department of Work and Pensions, the Post Office, and HM Prison Service, with half of his career focused on IT strategy and delivery roles.
   • Andrew, 53, graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Mathematics and Law.
4. Plans for the external advisory panel will be announced shortly.

Cabinet Office Press Office
22 Whitehall
London SW1A 2WH

Tel: 020 7276 0317 – Fax: 020 7276 0618
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk