Chief Information Officer
Q. Why was this website created?
A. www.cio.gov.uk was launched in July 2005 to act as a focal point for the work of the Government’s new CIO Council.
The website consists of four independent sections detailing the work and plans of the various workstreams of the CIO Council.
These are:
Q. Can I apply for jobs through this website?
A. No. This website supports only a page containing a shortlist of some of the most interesting jobs currently available in the Government IT Profession. All recruitment and promotion continues to be mandated and implemented by the relevant government organisation.
Q. How can I give feedback on this website
A. Please use the Feedback form to submit your suggestions and thoughts. If you are having problems using the site, you should complete the Problem Feedback form.
Q. What is Government IT Profession?
A. The Government IT Profession brings together all the IT professionals working across the UK public sector - UK Government departments and agencies and local government. This community stretches from new entrants through to the members of the Chief Information Office Council.
The aim of the Profession is to create a joined up, government-wide IT Profession which provides IT professionals with a career of mutual benefit to the individual and the government. The CIO Council provides sponsorship and direction from the highest level to this new approach.
Q. Why should I register interest with the Profession?
A. Registering your interest helps both you and the Government IT Profession team. You will have access to the latest updates and opportunities for consultation on the development of the profession, while the coordinating team will be able to build up its contact list so that we can network you with more of your colleagues and get a better sense of your needs. Please not that registering interest is not the same as becoming a member of the Government IT Profession - this is a different process that will be finalised and in place in 2006.
Q. What about training?
A. We want to provide you with a career, not just a job. Throughout 2005 we have been working on several core elements of a training and support programme. The two key elements of this programme are: the Government IT Academy which will form part of the National School for Government; and a Technology Faststream.
Q. What about pay and promotion?
A. The coordinating team of the Government IT Profession does not have a mandate to set or change your pay and conditions or the promotion systems that exist within your current organisation. Instead of operating a highly central system our way of working is to provide an overall career framework and guidance on standards and to then work with government organisations to apply these tools in the most appropriate way for their particular environment. In developing a flexible and realistic system we plan to deliver more meaningful and long-lasting change to Government IT Professionals than would otherwise be the case.
Q. Am I eligible to belong to more than one profession – can I be a part of Government IT profession?
Case study: Programme and Project Management (PPM)
Scenario: I am a project manager within a large IT enabled business change programme - am I a PPM or IT professional?
Answer: Some people will become members of both professions. Others will feel a primary alignment to one profession over the other (e.g. you will consider yourself to be a PPM specialist who happens to be working in IT at the moment or you will consider yourself to be an IT professional whose role it is to manage projects). If you are unsure, you should speak to your line manager who can help you to decide.
Q. What is Professional Skills for Government?
A. Professional Skills for Government is a new programme to develop and improve the Civil Service. Permanent Secretaries collectively, acting as the Civil Service Management Board (CSMB), have agreed to this programme, to make sure the right skills and expertise are in place to enable every part of the Service to deliver its services effectively.
To find out more visit: