David Willetts announces review of the Design Council
The Minister and the Design Council Chair, Lord Bichard have invited Martin Temple, Chairman of the 600 group, to lead the review. It will consider…
The Minister and the Design Council Chair, Lord Bichard have invited Martin Temple, Chairman of the 600 group, to lead the review. It will consider the future role and status of the Design Council as the national strategic design body.
Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willetts said:
“The UK is a world leader in design and the Design Council has played an important role in promoting the value of design to the economy With the forthcoming Spending Review it is right that we take this opportunity to assess the role of the Design Council and consider options for the future.
“I have asked Martin Temple to lead the review - he brings a wealth of business experience, as well as knowledge of the Design Council through his role as a board member”.
Design Council Chairman Lord Bichard said:
“I believe design will play a key role in driving renewal of economic growth and efficient, customer focussed public services. It is a rising force on political agendas around the world, in Europe, the US and most notably the Far East, where there is significant national investment in building support infrastructure and growing design capability. The economic importance of design in the UK is not in question, nor is there doubt about the existence of market failures and the need for support; it is a question of how this support is best delivered.”
Review Chair Martin Temple said:
“I am delighted to lead this review. I am a huge supporter of design and the review is an opportunity to reflect on the role of the Design Council as the national strategic design body and to think radically about delivery options going forward.”
Mr Temple will present his recommendations to Ministers in September 2010.
Notes to Editors
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The background to the review is the Government’s commitment to “reduce the number and cost of quangos” as well as to consider the implementation of the March 2010 Dyson Report, which recommended a review of the funding, objectives and impact of the Design Council.
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Martin Temple will lead the review and will be supported by a small review of BIS and Design Council staff, as well as a steering group of business and design representatives. The Terms of Reference for the review can be found at www.bis.gov.uk/policies/by/themes/innovation. Recommendations will be made to David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science, and Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries in September 2010. The timing available does not allow for a formal public consultation but the review team will ensure that stakeholders, including from business, the public sector and the design sector, have an opportunity to feed in to the review. Further information will be available shortly at www.bis.gov.uk/policies/by/themes/innovation.
3.** Martin Temple** CBE is a non-executive Director and Chairman of The 600 Group. He was the Director-General of the EEF from 1999 to February 2008, when he became Chairman. Martin was previously Vice President of Avesta-Sheffield AB, a major producer of stainless steel. He has served on the boards of a wide range of companies around the world. He is Chair of BIS’s Business Simplification Support Programme (Solutions for Business Transition Management Board). He has been a board member of the Design Council since February 2009.
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The Design Council is an executive non-departmental public body jointly sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.** **It encourages new thinking and new ways to do business, actively showing how design can help build a stronger economy and improve everyday life. During the review the Design Council will continue its business as usual. This includes programmes with partners in the public and private sector which provide specialist design support for small businesses to identify hidden enterprise opportunities and public sector open innovation projects. The review will cover the key functions of the Design Council and how these can be best delivered. Alongside many others in the public sector, the Design Council has already made efficiency savings, and will be working with the review team and in consultation with other key partners to explore new delivery options and business models.
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For further information, please contact Lucy Bell at the BIS Press Office on 0207 215 5361 or Saskia Sissons at the Design Council on 07773 768 073 or 020 7420 5248.
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Notes to Editors
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