The budget and staff employed in social media team

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.033598

I note you seek access to the following information:

Can you please give me the number of staff employed in your social media team for each of the past five years and the total budget spent for each year?

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Q1 - Can you please give me the number of staff employed in your social media team for each of the past five years.

Please note that there is no longer a ‘social media team’ and since 2022/23 a broader Digital Media Communication Team, in an expanded directorate, has subsumed it.

The remit, roles and resources reflect a wider responsibility than solely social media – including the provision of all digital media engagement, online events and staff engagement, corporate videography, photography, graphic design, content creation, data and analysis reporting to support internal, external and stakeholder communications.

The previous department – Directorate of Media & Communication - has expanded remit to include additional Engagement functions - and has been merged as Communication & Engagement.

These changes are significant amendments in function and purpose requiring context to be provided in relation to historical comparisons.

Communication & Engagement - Digital Media Communication Team
Current Strength – As of 1 November 2023

1x Band U - Deputy Head of Media (Digital)
1x Band B - Senior Digital Media Communication Manager
1x Band C - Digital Media Communication Manager
6x Band C - Digital Engagement Officer
2x Band P - Graphic Designer
1x Band D - Digital Media Communication Assistant

Communication & Engagement - Digital Media Communication Team
1 July 2022

1x Band U - Deputy Head of Media (Digital)
1x Band B - Senior Digital Media Communication Manager
0x Band C - Digital Media Communication Manager
2x Band C - Digital Engagement Officer
2x Band P - Graphic Designer
2x Band D - Digital Media Communication Assistant

Please note the data below is accurate as of 1 April on each year - it does not account for any in year staffing changes.

1 April 2022 – Directorate of Media & Communication - Social Media Team
1x Band U
2x Band D
2x Band P

1 April 2021 – Directorate of Media & Communication - Social Media Team
1x Band U
2x Band C
3x Band D

1 April 2020 – Directorate of Media & Communication - Social Media Team
1x Band U
2x Band C
3x Band D

1 April 2019 – Directorate of Media & Communication - Social Media Team
1x Band B
1x Band C
3x Band D

1 April 2018 – Directorate of Media & Communication - Social Media Team
1x Band B
1x Band C
3x Band D

Q2 - Could you please tell me the total spend on your social media team each year, per year, for the last five years?

Please see the table below for pay costs based on an analysis of historic payroll information by the names of staff known to be in the previous Social Media Team, and now the broader Digital Media Communication Team within the specified years.

Financial Year Cost
2018/19 - Social Media Team	209,633.66
2019/20 - Social Media Team	141,253.09
2020/21 - Social Media Team	229,833.74
2021/22 - Social Media Team	289,833.48
2022/23 - Digital Media Communication Team	485,473.11
2023/24 - (Up to October 2023) Digital Media Communication Team	418,426.30