COI Cuts Spend by 68% ahead of 2012 Closure

In the UK, the Central Office of Information (COI) has achieved a 68% reduction in its marketing spend to £168m for the 12 months to 31 March 2011, ahead of the department's closure next March. The department's research spend took a massive hit during the period, reporting a 65% reduction to £9.5m from £27.4m the previous year.

The UK government's marketing services provider spent £531.5m in the previous twelve months. The decision to scrap it was confirmed in June, as part of the coalition government's bid to save money by 'cutting bureaucracy and reducing duplication'. Just after taking office the previous year, the government froze all but essential COI advertising and marketing activity, and cut the department's headcount by 39% from 737 to 450.

After it closes on 31st March 2012, the COI's procurement responsibilities will pass to the Cabinet Office, while marketing activity will now be developed and planned by Whitehall departments or through pan-departmental specialist marketing hubs.

Around 20 of the COI's staff will move to the Cabinet Office to bolster its existing communications team, while the remaining staff with either be re-deployed elsewhere, or made redundant.

Emma Lochhead and Graham Hooper, who became Acting CEO's following the departure of Mark Lund in March, commented in the COI's annual Report & Accounts: 'As the organisation approaches closure, now is the right time to pay tribute to our clients, who have given us the opportunity to do such good work; our suppliers, who have striven so hard on our behalf; and lastly COI staff, who have worked so tirelessly to pioneer best practice, innovation and cost effectiveness for the taxpayer in the way in which citizens have been informed, engaged and influenced about the issues that matter.'

Web site: www.coi.gov.uk .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.