3 Government information and support
Another important source of information about business and the economy is the government, both national and local. Several national government departments are responsible for supporting, advising and liaising with business and employers as well as implementing government policy decisions.
Since July 2016, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has the primary authority in this area and describes its responsibilities as ‘developing and delivering a comprehensive industrial strategy and leading the government’s relationship with business’ (BEIS, 2016). It has a plan and set of priorities linked closely to that of the government, works with 47 agencies and public bodies, and is, therefore, a key agent in setting the context within which all UK businesses and employers operate.
Visiting the BEIS website reveals much about this policy and implementation framework but also allows you to access BEIS research into different areas of the economy that might provide you with an insight into your particular sector or issues that affect it.
BEIS is not the only government department, of course, and many others will have policy responsibilities for different areas of the UK economy. It is worth consulting these if you want to find out more about the legislation or policy that might affect your particular sector. Bear in mind, however, that a significant amount of responsibility for policy and implementation has been transferred to the regional administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so if you live in these areas you might need to widen your search appropriately.
Activity 4 Identifying the responsibilities of government departments
Allow about 10 minutes
Table 5 lists possible areas that you might want to research about your sector. See if you can identify which government department would be best to consult in the first instance. A good place to start to find your way around government departments is the GOV.UK website .
Table 5 Identifying the responsibilities of government departments
| Area of research | Government department |
|---|---|
| Health and safety | |
| Pensions | |
| Taxation | |
| Qualifications and training | |
| Housing and local services | |
| Culture and history | |
| Secondary education | |
| Higher education | |
| Climate change | |
| Law and justice | |
| Roads and transport |
Discussion
Table 6 lists the main government departments with responsibility for the areas in question. It is worth noting that sometimes more than one department or agency will cover the same territory.
Table 6 Suggested government departments and their areas of responsibility
| Area of research | Government department |
|---|---|
| Health and safety | Department of Health (also Health and Safety Executive) |
| Pensions | Department for Work and Pensions |
| Taxation | Treasury (also HM Revenue and Customs) |
| Qualifications and training | Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Housing and local services | Department for Communities and Local Government |
| Culture and history | Department for Culture, Media and Sport |
| Secondary education | Department for Education |
| Higher education | Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Climate change | Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy |
| Law and justice | Ministry of Justice |
| Roads and transport | Department for Transport |
OpenLearn - Understanding your sector
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