Local Growth Analyst

Compared to other OECD countries, the UK has large and persistent spatial differences in productivity. Addressing this is a national priority and we seek to share prosperity across the country by embedding ‘place’ as an important component of national industrial strategy, growth and almost all government policies.

Local Growth Analysis (LGA) is a team of over 40 multi-disciplinary analysts which sits across the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). LGA advises on the design, allocation, monitoring and evaluation of Local Growth funds as well as strategic elements of Local Growth – helping support local economic growth nationally.

We are seeking a HEO analyst to join the Strategic Spatial Analysis team within the LGA division. The team acts as the government’s think tank on spatial issues, by delivering strategic thought leadership, advocating for the spatial perspective within government and acting as a critical facilitator between teams. The team has actively shaped the government policy in this space and the post holder will continue to answer the government’s key analytical questions and inform policy design.

Given the strategic nature of this role, and the political importance of the policy area, this post is guaranteed to be interesting and wide-ranging. The post holder will work closely with analysts across DBT and DLUHC, policy colleagues and external stakeholders. They will be expected to work flexibly across the wider team to meet business priorities and develop a greater knowledge of spatial analysis, competences in analytical techniques, and written and oral communication skills.

The team is ideal for proactive individuals eager to engage in interesting and high-profile analysis; with a fast-moving, friendly and intellectually stimulating environment. As a strategic analytical team, there are opportunities for using analysis to develop a high-quality evidence base and address the key analytical questions that shape government policy and funding arrangements, with significant exposure to senior officials and Ministers across Whitehall.

We take the development of our people very seriously, equipping and enabling them to make an impact by ensuring high quality evidence and analysis is at the heart of the policy-making process. We are committed to good management and professional development of staff.

Workload will be designed around the development needs of the job holder, but key responsibilities will likely include:

• Shaping the high-profile policy agenda by proactively developing think pieces on place-relevant issues to build the team’s strategic evidence base. This will involve undertaking analysis using a variety of techniques and engaging with stakeholders across and outside of Whitehall, including think tanks, researchers and local government.

• The post holder will undertake original cutting-edge spatial analysis. This will involve a combination of developing the teams existing analytical products and models, as well as undertaking bespoke and novel analysis to fill evidence gaps – for example, by using data science techniques.

• Responding rapidly and accurately to evidence requests relating to spatial policy, as well as acting as a consultant on these issues to contribute to high-impact projects and policy needs.

• Working with policy colleagues and external stakeholders within DBT, DLUHC and wider government, to champion the Levelling Up agenda and place-based considerations within the broader policy portfolio. Colleagues across a diverse range of policy areas require support to ensure analysis is delivered at the necessary spatial scale.

• Staying up-to-date with research relevant to place-based policy and other relevant policy areas, as well as the latest developments in analytical techniques, to ensure informed policy recommendations supported by high-quality analysis.