Policy paper

Government Geography Profession Strategy 2023-2036

Updated 19 March 2024

Foreword from Head of Geography Profession – David Wood

I am delighted to share the Government Geography Profession Strategy for 2023-2026, which is our plan to support geographical decision making across the public sector by supporting and growing a diverse community of geographers and increasing the impact and influence of the discipline in government and beyond.

The Government Geography Profession was established in 2018. Our expertise covers the full breadth of our discipline, including physical and social science aspects of geography, and our members are located across the UK.  Our membership includes people involved in analytical, scientific, policy and operational delivery roles.  We work across the public sector which includes central government, and their agencies, and local government, to promote better use of geography in government and to support the career aspirations and development priorities of geographers in the civil service and the wider public sector.

Geography and geographers offer government distinctive benefits. Government’s work continually engages with specific places, often with very different characteristics, needs and opportunities. Analysing and responding to these patterns requires understanding of how and why economic, social and environmental processes play out differently from place to place.

Geography, a discipline distinctive for its spatial analytical skills and tools, is key to this understanding. It provides an important bridge between different teams, expertise and organisations - helping to forge holistic considerations of places and communities in analysis, policy, and delivery. 

Since our creation in 2018 we have become an established stand-alone profession, our membership has grown, we have dedicated resources for the profession and have developed an offer for all our members such as our annual awards and annual conference. These are areas that we will continue to develop, but there is a lot more that we want to do, which you will see in this strategy.

David Wood
Head of Government Geography Profession

Who we are

Our Governance

As a profession we are supported by the wider public sector geographical and analytical community though our governance.

The departmental sponsor of the Government Geography Profession (GGP) is the Geospatial Commission. The Geospatial Commission was established in 2018 as an expert committee responsible for setting the UK’s Geospatial Strategy playing a crucial role to deliver improved public services, create new better-paid jobs and grow the economy. The aim of the Commission is to unlock the significant economic, social and environmental opportunities offered by location data, applications and services and to advance the UK’s global geospatial expertise.

The Government Geography Profession is one of seven professions that make up the Analysis Function (AF). Geography is a crucial part of the multi-disciplinary approach needed by the Analysis Function to tackle the big issues faced by society. The aim of the Analysis Function is to act as the go-to hub for best practice research and analysis services within Government. It is a federative collaboration between several analytical professions who deliver research, evidence and advice to a consistent, professional standard. Delivering better outcomes for the public by providing the best analysis to inform decision making. As a part of the AF, members of the GGP can access a wide range of support that is given by the AF and resources that they have created

The Government Geography Profession will continue to be an inclusive and welcoming profession for all those in the public sector who consider themselves geographers, recognising that whilst a lot of our members align to the Analysis Function, there will be other geographers in wider roles across the public sector who the profession will continue to support. All of our members work to a high standard and adhere to the codes of conduct that are relevant to their organisation.

Our Partners

The use of geography spans the public sector and wider, there are many established geo-organisations with aligned objectives to those of GGP. We want to collaborate with these organisations to further better use of geography within the UK. To achieve this, we will develop working relationships and use Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) that provide a framework to work within to successfully collaborate on shared goals. This includes promoting innovation with geography and supporting government geographers with appropriate resources. These MoUs will give members access to the breadth and depth of expertise in the field of geography across and in some cases wider than the public sector.

Our Leadership

The Government Geography Profession is led by a Senior Civil Servant – the Head of the Geography Profession. They set the strategic direction of the profession and oversee the development of the profession.

This role is supported by a variety of other leadership roles who are filled by volunteers across the public sector:

• David Wood (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) – Head of Government Geography Profession
• Claire Edwards (Natural England) and Carolyn Shears (Ministry of Defence) - Jointly Deputy Head of Skills, Training and Professional Accreditation and Recognition.
• Chris Gale (Homes England) - Deputy Head of Professional Guidance and Engagement
• Madeleine Hann (Ministry of Defence) - Deputy Head of Outreach and Talent Pipelines
• Patrick Rickles (North Sea Transition Authority) - Deputy Head of Digital Strategy and Engagement and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Ian Spencer – Head of Profession at Ministry of Defence
• Brian Vinall – Head of Profession at Environment Agency
• Olive Powell – Head of Profession at Office for National Statistics
• David Roberts – Head of Profession at Welsh Government
• Alistair Edwardes – Head of Profession at Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Abigail Page – Head of Profession at Department for Science, Technology and Innovation
• Hannah Jordan – Head of Profession at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Niamh Jefford - Government Geography Profession Manager

Organisational and Community Head of Geography Profession

This role is an individual within a government department or public sector organisation who will build the local GGP community and be a representative of the profession in the department/organisations internal governance. Where there is not a formal Organisational Head of Profession in the department structure (mainly within central government departments) the equivalent will be a Head of Community.

This role is filled through selection from organisations with a substantial number of GGP members. Conversations with the Departmental Director of Analysis or equivalent will be used  to agree on the most appropriate person for the role.

Deputy Head of Geography Profession

This role is an individual who is responsible for developing the profession in a specific area, these include:

Skills, Training and Professional Accreditation

This role oversees the training offer of the GGP and will ensure that members have opportunities to develop. It will also ensure that members of the profession have the opportunity to be recognised professionally. The role will celebrate the work that members are doing across the public sector.

Outreach and Talent Pipelines

This role oversees the work the GGP does with educational settings and facilitating members to conduct outreach in this space, as well as areas that may not be traditional geography areas. They will ensure that mechanisms are in place to introduce a diverse pipeline of talent into geography roles across the public sector.

Professional Guidance and Engagement

This role will ensure that there is sufficient guidance across the public sector to support the work of geographers and enable the effective use of geo principles.

Digital Strategy and engagement and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

This role oversees the implementation and maintenance of the GGP digital presence. This role will ensure that the profession grow as a diverse and inclusive place to support geography professionals. 

These roles are open to all GGP members and filled through an expression of interest campaign.

The above roles are supported by;

Government Geography Profession Manager

This role is a full-time role that supports all the work of the GGP, with an aim to build the GGP community. This role is filled through a Civil Service Jobs recruitment campaign. 

Government Geography Profession Ambassador

A GGP Ambassador will be an expert in their geographic discipline. They will promote the GGP to their wider networks.

GGP Member Volunteer

These are opportunities for GGP members to volunteer to support specific aspects of the GGP offer. These could be in areas such as newsletter creation or organising the annual conference or awards. They may also be to support the Deputy Heads of Profession in their specific work strands.

GGP members can get involved in the work of the profession via email to the profession mailbox, with a short description of the work they would be interested in helping with.

Our Vision

To create and grow a high-profile, proud and effective geography profession that attracts fresh talent and has a secure place at the heart of decision making.

Pillars

This vision will be met through our 3 pillars:

Pillar 1: Creating the environment for geographers to have maximum impact in government and public sector

Pillar 2: Professionalising and progressing the use and applications of geography in government and public sector

Pillar 3: Growing a diverse and inclusive community of geographers within the profession and public sector

We will work towards our pillars through the following ways;

Pillar 1

Creating the environment for geographers to have maximum impact in government and public sector.

This pillar will be delivered through the inclusive leadership of the Organisational and Community Heads of Profession through their work to support and raise the profile of geographers within their organisations.

In their organisations they will;

• Encourage and promote GGP membership across their organisation.
• Develop an inclusive and diverse local community of geographers, providing them with development opportunities through volunteering and contributing to the management of GGP initiatives.
• Share geo best practice across the organisation through local initiatives.
• Share activities and lessons learned from initiatives to the GGP leadership.
• Contribute to wider conversations as part of organisational governance alongside other professions.
• Represent GGP at Internal organisational governance and profession meetings and networks.
• Promote wider GGP initiatives such as GGP awards and webinars to local community.

The network of GGP Heads of profession will meet Quarterly to share best practice and allow for joined up approach to be adopted.

The Organisational and Community Heads of Profession will draw on and influence the centrally run GGP initiatives to demonstrate, promote and celebrates the importance of geography across the public sector for example engaging with the annual Geography in Government Awards.

Pillar 2

Professionalising and progressing the use and applications of geography in government and public sector.

This pillar will be delivered through the work of the Deputy Head of Geography Profession for Skills, Training and Accreditation and Professional Guidance and Engagement.

The ‘Skills, Training and Accreditation’ workstream will oversee the development and implementation of a GGP training offer and will ensure that members have opportunities to develop.

The ‘Professional Guidance’ workstream will ensure that members of the profession have the opportunity to be recognised professionally within their organisations. It will champion the work that members are doing across the public sector.

To achieve this pillar the GGP will;

• Implement a skills and training offer for GGP members. This will include work with our partner organisations and the wider Analysis Function.
• Develop a GGP mentor programme.
• Identify mechanisms for geography to have the same recognition as other profession within the Analysis Function.
• Promote the opportunity for members to gain professional accreditation.
• Implement a mechanism for members to recognise the work they are doing through the year.
• Recognise and celebrate the work of GGP members through annual Geography in Government awards.
• Oversee the development of topic notes that are created in collaboration with partner organisations.

• Identify gaps in geographical guidance across the public sector.

• Ensure that other guidance across the analytical function incorporates geo principles.

Pillar 3

Growing a diverse and inclusive community of geographers within the profession and public sector.

This pillar will be delivered through the work of the Deputy Head of Geography Profession for Outreach and Talent Pipelines and Digital Strategy and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The ‘Outreach and Talent Pipelines’ workstream will ensure that mechanisms are in place to develop a diverse pipeline of talent into geography roles across the public sector.

The ‘Digital Strategy and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ workstream will oversee the implementation and maintenance of the GGP digital presence. They will also ensure that the profession grow as a diverse and inclusive place to support geography professionals.

To achieve this pillar the GGP will:

• Create, grow, develop and update resources that can be used for outreach to schools, colleges and universities.
• Engage with existing outreach schemes and networks that promote them.
• Monitor wider public sector entry routes and ensure geography is represented (including but not limited to apprenticeships and fast stream)
• Maintain and continue to develop the members site which can be accessed by all GGP members.
• Work with and across government professions and networks to ensure the digital approach of the GGP is joined up and consistent.
• Engage with networks to improve the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within the GGP.

Our Offer to our members

Our offer works to meet our vision and support our members. Our offer includes;

• Annual conference
• Annual awards
• Monthly newsletter
• Monthly webinars
• Outreach resources
• Dedicated member site
• Training resources
• The wider resources and support that are available through the Analysis Function

More details about our offer can be found on our website.

To access the offer civil, crown and public servants can sign up via the GGP member site.  

Annex - Analysis Function Objectives

As an Analytical Profession our work also aligns with the work of the wider Analysis Function (AF) and their objectives which can be read in the Analysis Function Strategy for 2022 to 2025. Below sets out where the GGP work aligns to each AF objective. 

AF Strategic objective 1: Supporting high quality responsive analysis through central support, guidance, and expert advice

In this area we will:

• Continue to showcase the work of the profession through our annual Geography in Government Awards and wider Analysis Function Awards. This will be continued throughout the year through the creation of a database of case studies available internally and externally.
• Identify existing guidance across our member departments and organisations to ensure our members are supported in the work they are doing. Where necessary we will work with our members and partners to develop specific guidance.
• Develop a mentor and coaching offer to support the professional development of our members.
• Be a point of contact for geographical queries and offer expertise across the Analysis Function
• Work through our Organisational Heads of Profession and Heads of Community to provide networks at a local level where members have support in their daily work.

AF Strategic objective 2: Promoting impactful and efficient analysis through innovative tools and cutting-edge techniques

In this area we will:

• Engage with members who are working in this space to promote the work across the profession and allow members to develop themselves in the area.

AF Strategic objective 3: Supporting analysts through setting and improving awareness of analytical standards

In this area we will:

• Engage with other professions to promote standards that can be applied to the work being done in geo roles.
• Create a space for members using different policy and guidance to promote best practice and knowledge share.

AF Strategic objective 4: Enabling joined up analysis by building a diverse and active community

In this area we will:

• Engage with our members through a variety of means including members site and social media.
• Develop initiatives to allow members to network and build their professional contacts/circles.
• Engage with members at a local level to ensure they are supported within their departments and organisations

AF Strategic objective 5: Ensuring we have skilled people in the right place at the right time

In this area we will:

• Continue to engage with other analytical professions to ensure that geographers are recognised professionally.

AF Strategic objective 6: Delivering influential, joined up, and responsive analytical leadership

In this area we will:

• Grow the GGP leadership to incorporate the expertise of the breadth of the sector incorporating roles at a more local level (organisational or development).
• Create a network for Organisational Heads of Profession and Heads of Community to share best practice knowledge.

More information of how the Analysis Function are developing in this area can be found in the Analysis Function Strategy.