Department for Culture, Media and Sport

DCMS is an influential Whitehall Department of 500 people supporting the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport. DCMS also provides strategic leadership to a much larger group of sponsored bodies employing nearly 20,000 people.

About DCMS

DCMS is an influential Whitehall Department of 500 people supporting the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport. DCMS also provides strategic leadership to a much larger group of sponsored bodies employing nearly 20,000 people.

The aim of DCMS is to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.

To achieve this aim DCMS has responsibility for Government policy on the arts, sport, the National Lottery, tourism, libraries, museums and galleries, broadcasting, creative industries including film and the music industry, press freedom and regulation, licensing, gambling and the historic environment. DCMS is also the Department responsible for 2012 Olympic Games & Paralympic Games.

The department is based just off Trafalgar Square in Westminster, London.

Economics in DCMS

DCMS has a small number of economists working in the Evidence and Analysis Unit (EAU), which also includes statisticians and social researchers. EAU sits in DCMS’ central policy area, providing support and advice to colleagues across the department as well as to its partner bodies such as Sport England, the Arts Council, the UK Film Council and English Heritage. There is also a single “bedded out” economist position which is working solely on the London 2012 Olympics.

Due to the nature of working in a small team the work of economists in DCMS is very varied across both different tasks and different areas of the department. Main areas of work include:

• Providing advice on the development of policy, such as the Free Swimming initiative, to ensure it is underpinned by economic theory
• Providing advice and analysis of costs and benefits for impact assessments and business cases, for example the extension of the Tate Modern
• Analysing data on DCMS sectors and exploring what it means for policy, such as using Taking Part survey data to explore barriers to participation in the arts
• Commissioning and guiding research carried out for the department by partners or consultants, for example an analysis of the role of multinational firms in the creative industries

Another aspect of working in a small department is that junior members are expected to take on more responsibility. This includes interacting with senior staff or ministers, representing the department at cross-government or external events, and carrying out work independently.

Training and Development

As members of the Government Economic Service, DCMS economists have access to a range of training courses and development opportunities. The National School of Government provides a wider range of courses for general professional development. There is also the opportunity to pursue further education such as an Economics Masters Degree with DCMS sponsorship and support.

Pay and Conditions

• Assistant Economist starting salary is £27,560 (plus potential specialist allowance of up to £4,000)
• Economic Adviser salary range is £42, 770 – £52,985 (plus potential specialist allowance of up to £4,000)
• 41 hour working week (including lunch breaks) with flexible working hours
• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 4 years service), plus 10.5 days public and privilege holidays

Routes In

Assistant Economists

• Successful applicants are members of both the Government Economic Service (GES) and the Civil Service FastStream, and are assessed against competencies required by both. Forms of assessment include online aptitude tests, presentations, interviews, and written exercises.

Other Recruitment

• DCMS regularly opens up opportunities to existing GES members in other government departments. From time to time DCMS may recruit Economic Advisers by direct recruitment.