Government Campus In North East Evaluated By Drees & Sommer UK

Drees & Sommer UK has successfully completed an evaluation for HM Treasury (HMT) on the process of establishing the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) and its impact to date.

The DEC is a multi-department government hub located in the North East of England which allows decision makers and policy advisors to work closer to the communities they serve.

It is supporting the diversification of the Civil Service by moving over 1,200 civil service roles across eight government departments out of London to the centre of Darlington by 2024/25, with numbers expected to rise to 1,400 by 2030. This is in addition to the c.750 Department for Education staff already based in the town.

The DEC plans to build a pipeline of talent in the local community through a programme of work experience and internship events in collaboration with local schools and universities.

In March 2024, Drees & Sommer UK was successfully appointed by HM Treasury (HMT) to complete a formal evaluation of DEC’s delivery. The evaluation was to review the development of the Economic Campus from March 2021, when Darlington was announced as the location, to the end of September 2023, which marked one year since the completion of Feethams House, the current temporary home of the DEC. Drees & Sommer UK’s evaluation focused on the process and impact of the new campus and will inform the development of similar projects across the Civil Service.

The findings of the evaluation emphasise the complexity of the DEC project yet highlight its ultimate success to date.

The DEC has been successful in attracting new people from the local region into the Civil Service and has been popular in terms of recruitment and employee satisfaction. There has been significant outreach into the local communities, such as work experience for young people, collaboration with universities, engagement with businesses and ex-forces personnel in the job market, which is building a pipeline of talent for the future and helping retain talent in the region.

The final report is available via the government website: Interim evaluation of the Darlington Economic Campus - GOV.UK.

Sarah Butler, Divisional Director at Drees & Sommer UK, said: “The Drees & Sommer UK team is delighted to have supported the Government’s investment in the Darlington Economic Campus. The campus will enable the economic development of the whole region, as it continues deliver high-quality, local jobs.

“Drees & Sommer UK is proud to complete this rigorous evaluation at the DEC that will support the long-term success of the investment, and ensure it is for the benefit of the whole area.”

Beth Russell, Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury, said: “We are extremely proud of the Darlington Economic Campus and the way it has evolved over the last 3 years. It has not only grown in terms of the number of people now working across the 9 government departments based here but it is also creating opportunities for stakeholders across the region to engage with the Civil Service on a wide range of policy topics.”

Pauline Crellin, DBT Head of Campus, said: “It is brilliant to see the positive impact the Darlington Economic Campus has had on the local community in just three years which builds on our mission to create job opportunities across the country.

“There is so much talent and innovation in our region and our presence in Darlington allows the Civil Service to tap into it. More than 80 per cent of DEC colleagues are local recruits, harnessing skills and offering opportunities for people to build excellent careers where they live.”