Officials at nine Government departments gathered for a flagship festival at the Darlington Economic Campus.
The first-of-its-kind event at DEC welcomed senior analysts and economists from across the UK to participate in interactive sessions around the government’s key priorities, with a guiding focus on economic growth.
The week included deep dives on central policy topics facing the UK such as the upcoming Industrial Strategy and ongoing work on local growth plans, allowing crucial connections on these issues across Government departments and with regional and national experts to be made.
Mentoring and ‘Bitesize Economics’ on cutting edge theory were also on offer, including a session from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) using the board game ‘Monopoly’ to illustrate complex concepts.
Jo Crellin, DBT Director General, Domestic and International Markets and Exports, said: “Economic growth is at the heart of this Government’s agenda, and at the heart of our work at the Darlington Economic Campus.
“Bringing new and different thinking into our work, including from people working on the ground in the North East region, is a key part in making sure we’ve got the skills to be able to deliver on the priority of growth right across the UK.”
Second Permanent Secretary to the Treasury Beth Russell said: “The DEC continues to go from strength-to-strength and EconFest has been an excellent recognition of its role in the government’s priority mission to kickstart economic growth.
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“People from Darlington and the wider North East are having their say in the national conversation, shaping our economy with invaluable perspectives from communities here. That is what the celebration was about.”
Officials at the hub heard from senior economists and longtime policy experts including Professor Diane Coyle, Dr Susan Griffin, Professor Matthew Cotton and Paul Johnson who all highlighted the importance of good economics in understanding the central problems facing the UK today.
The Chancellor’s newly appointed Council of Economic Advisers, including Professor John Van Reenen and Dr Anna Valero, also led sessions at the campus on Industrial Strategy and tech diffusion.
As part of its ambition to inspire this, the departments invited economics students from Darlington’s Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College to take part in deep dive sessions on turbocharging economic growth and the ever-changing world of Science and Technology.
Lydia Elliott, Job Coach at Queen Elizabeth College, said: “It is fantastic to have the Darlington Economic Campus on our doorstep. “It gives our students chance to see what roles are on offer in the Civil Service and find opportunities for a fulfilling career where they live. Participating in events like EconFest puts their learning into practice and brings their studies to life.”
DEC says Econfest is expected to set the tone for the future of analytics and economics in Darlington. In total more than 300 people are currently part of the Darlington Analytical Community, bringing together specialists from across the Government Analysis Function, to share knowledge and best practice
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