Cyber, digital, data, and technology (CDDaT) skills framework consultation findings

In March 2024, we conducted a consultation, in the form of a short survey, to gather views on the recently published draft skills framework for local government (the ‘skills framework’). The consultation sought respondents’ views on its usefulness overall, and the appropriateness and usefulness of its elements, whether any skills were missing, and which additional features they would find useful.

Methodology

A link to an online survey form was published on the LGA’s website alongside the draft skills framework on 19 March 2024. An article about the consultation was also published in the April Cyber, Digital and Technology newsletter and posted on social media platforms. The survey closed on 6 May, after around seven weeks in the field.

A total of 31 responses were received representing 10 per cent of councils. This level of response means that these results should not be taken to be more widely representative of all English councils. Rather, they are a snapshot of this particular group of respondents.

Key findings

Most respondents thought the skills framework was useful for ‘identifying which skills are needed or missing to deliver your services’ strategic digitalisation objectives’ (55 per cent, to a great extent and 35 per cent to a moderate extent), ‘developing a better understanding of CDDaT skills in general’ and ‘developing a better understanding of the CDDaT skills needed to deliver your service’s strategic objectives’ (52 per cent, to a great extent and 42 per cent to a moderate extent each).
The additional features most respondents would find useful were ‘training and qualification pathways for each skillset’ (61 per cent) and ‘describing skills in levels from basic to advanced’ (58 per cent).
Almost all respondents said that they would find ‘a practical guide to using this framework for workforce planning’ very of fairly useful (65 per cent very useful and 32 per cent fairly useful). While a similar proportion thought ‘a learning pathway toolkit’ would be very of fairly useful (61 per cent very useful and 32 per cent fairly useful).
The most common ways respondents thought they would use the skills framework were to conduct skills audits/maturity assessments and to help drawing up job descriptions.
Over half of respondents (52 per cent) thought that the proposed strategic objectives for were appropriate for digitalisation in councils to a great extent while 45 per cent thought so to a moderate extent.
All respondents thought that the skills listed in the framework reflected the CDDaT skills which are most useful and relevant to achieving councils’ digitalisation objectives (75 per cent to a great extent and 25 per cent to a moderate extent).

The full report of the consultation survey is available on the LGA website.

LGA Response to the consultation survey findings

We have noted the survey findings and will be taking these forward as part of our future development of the skills framework from Q3 of 2024/25.

Future changes to the skills framework

We are in the process of finalising a change process which will allow stakeholders and users to propose changes to the skills framework. This will be implemented in Q3 of 2024/25. A log of the changes proposed and decisions made will be published for transparency.