Governance
Our governance structure provides clarity and accountability in managing the Department to deliver its objectives. It ensures we have the capacity to make decisions, monitor departmental performance and assess and manage resources and risk.
The structure comprises:
- Departmental Board
- Executive Board
- Executive Finance Board
- Audit and Risk Committee
- Executive Policy Board
Departmental Board
The Departmental Board forms the collective strategic and operational leadership of the Department. Its remit is performance and delivery, including appropriate oversight of sponsored bodies.
The Board will not decide policy, which will continue to be determined separately by Ministers with advice from officials. However, it will give advice on the operational implications and effectiveness of policy proposals.
The Board meets bi-monthly and is chaired by the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP. It is attended by the Permanent Secretary, Martin Donnelly and three Non-Executive Board Members.
Executive Board
Supports and facilitates the work of the Departmental Board by looking at issues which the Board has delegated to it, and deciding on specific matters not requiring full Board discussion.
The committee meets weekly and comprises the Management Team. It is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Martin Donnelly.
Executive Finance Board
Acts as a subcommittee of the Departmental Board and looks in detail at performance, risk and control in core BIS and in our partner organisations. The Departmental Board has high level responsibility for these areas.
The committee meets once a month and consists of the Management Team and the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Dr Brian Woods-Scawen. It is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Martin Donnelly.
Audit and Risk Committee
Provides assurance on the quality of the Department’s risk controls and advises the Accounting Officer on the Departmental Resource Accounts and statements on internal control.
The committee is chaired by Dr Brian Woods-Scawen, a Non-Executive Board Member.
Executive Policy Board
Provides an opportunity for senior officials to have collective discussions and offer collective advice to ministers on major policy issues and programmes.
It is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Martin Donnelly, and its core membership is the Management Team.
