Scores of GDS staff moved to new Central Digital and Data Office
Responsibility for controls and standards has been taken on by new entity
The east London headquarters of GDS and CDDO. Credit: Derwent London
13 May 2021
In the last month, scores of staff from the Government Digital Service have moved over to the newly established Central Digital and Data Office, which has taken on a range of standards and controls functions that were previously the remit of GDS.
CDDO, which is led by former Home Office digital chief Joanna Davinson, now holds responsibility for managing and implementing all digital, data and technology strategy and standards throughout government. This includes the Service Standard – a set of 14 rules against which services are assessed at every stage of their development. The newly created Cabinet Office body also oversees open standards and government’s Technology Code of Practice.
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UK government faces software skills crisis
Governments don t have a good record when delivering IT projects, but a new study from digital experience company Acquia that the UK government is facing a major software skills crisis.
Results show that 28 percent of vacancies remain unfilled. Across the 12 departments which responded to freedom of information requests, some 317 developer positions are open, while just 808 developers are currently employed.
Acquia also looked at how the Government is approaching software development, and how use of open source software correlates with Downing Street s Technology Code of Practice. It finds that despite acknowledging the clear benefits of open source software, some Government departments have yet to fully embrace it.
The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) appeared to be suffering from the most acute issues, with five of ten and four of six positions unfilled. These teams appear to be fairly small, however.
The Department for Education (DfE) strives to have a more sizeable team of 59, although 44% of these positions are unfilled. The Driving Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) plays host to the largest team of 172 developers alongside 12 vacancies. The Department for Transport (DfT), meanwhile, boasted a full team of 13 software developers.
The other central government departments that responded to the FOI requests included the Department for International Trade (DIT), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and UK Export Finance.