This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
New appointment at Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department
12/01/2006
Philip Rycroft has been appointed as Head of the Executive's Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department (ETLLD), following an open competition to replace Eddie Frizzell, who retires in May 2006.
Mr Rycroft (44) has experience working in government and business in Scotland and in the European Commission. Since June 2002 he has been Head of Schools Group within the Scottish Executive Education Department.
As Head of Department, Mr Rycroft will be a member of the Scottish Executive Management Group, where he will contribute to the formation of corporate policies and provide visible leadership in communicating and driving delivery of those policies.
He will lead the ETLLD departmental team supporting the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and the Minister for Transport across key policy areas, including developing the Scottish economy; support for business; sponsorship of the Enterprise Networks; the administration of European Structural Funds; policy and funding for lifelong learning and skills, including further and higher education; promoting science, innovation and research; energy policy and transport, including the work of the new Transport Agency; etc.
Nicol Stephen, the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning said:
"I welcome the appointment of Philip Rycroft and the breadth of experience he will bring to the post, including his direct experience of Scottish business, working with Scottish & Newcastle. I look forward to working with him to support the growth of the Scottish economy and the development of our world class universities and colleges."
Permanent Secretary John Elvidge said:
"I am grateful to Eddie Frizzell for the significant contribution that he has made as Head of the Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department and as a member of the Scottish Executive Management Group. I am delighted that we have been able to appoint a candidate of the calibre of Philip Rycroft with his breadth of experience and knowledge of the public and business sectors in Scotland and our vital links with the European Union.
Mr Rycroft obtained a BA (Hons) degree and a DPhil, both in history, at Wadham College, Oxford. He began his career in 1989 in the then Department of Agriculture & Fisheries and moved in January 1992 to the then Industry Department (the forerunner of ETLLD) as Head of the Unit dealing with European Funding.
Following that he undertook a two year secondment with the European Commission (January 1995 - March 1997), working in the cabinet of the Trade Commissioner, Sir Leon Brittan. He was promoted to the Senior Civil Service in March 1997, first dealing with general agricultural policy and then as Deputy Head of the Policy Unit. Following a further 2 year secondment as Public Affairs Manager with Scottish & Newcastle plc (October 2000 - June 2002), he has been Head of Schools Group within the Scottish Executive Education Department since June 2002.
The open competition, which was advertised in national newspapers in September 2005, attracted a field of applicants from both public and private sectors. The recommendation of the appointment board, chaired by one of the independent Civil Service Commissioners, has been agreed by the First Minister and approved by the Prime Minister.
Mr Rycroft's salary will be in the current Senior Civil Service pay band 3 which has a minimum of £93,139 and a maximum of £132,586.
Reporting to the Permanent Secretary, who is the most senior civil servant in Scotland, Mr Rycroft will have line management responsibility for around 500 administrative and professional staff within the Enterprise Transport and Lifelong Learning Department with a running cost budget for the Department of around £15 million. He will also have substantial responsibilities in relation to the expenditure for which the Department is responsible; this is around £3 billion at present.