The Civil Service Commission which regulates Civil Service appointments to provide assurance that they are made on merit after fair and open competition, has today published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2024-25.
In her foreword to the report, First Civil Service Commissioner, Baroness Gisela Stuart said:
“This report covers a significant year for the Commission, not least because of our constitutional role in upholding the principles of fairness, openness and merit in Civil Service appointments during a General Election period and a change of government.
“The integrity of our system depends on a permanent and impartial Civil Service – ready to serve the government of the day, whatever its political colour. The Commission exists to safeguard that principle and help the Civil Service bring in the skills needed to deliver for the country.
“In this reporting period, we also oversaw the appointment of the Cabinet Secretary through an open and competitive process, building on the approach started by my predecessors. This was a significant evolution in how senior appointments are made and in transparency about the process used for making this important appointment. I also chaired the appointment process for the Permanent Secretary in the Scottish Government, who leads the delivery of the devolved powers and duties in Scotland.
“To be an effective regulator, we must be proportionate, predictable and deliver at pace. We evolved our regulatory approach significantly this year, particularly using our audits of departments not simply to identify breaches but to drive improvements in recruitment practice across government. This is central to our philosophy as a regulator: one that supports departments to get it right and provides wider public assurance that appointments into the Civil Service are made on merit.
“We also conducted a cross-departmental review of the use of exceptions using delegated powers in July and August 2024, the post-election period. We were largely satisfied that departments were generally using exceptions appropriately – an important finding that supports our broader assurance function and helps maintain public confidence. We also reviewed our own processes for handling exceptions that require prior approval from the Commission and, as a result, we have increased transparency around use of exceptions.”
The annual report contains a range of statistics about the Commission’s work in regulating recruitment and hearing appeals from civil servants under the Civil Service Code including:
- 56,194 people were recruited through fair and open competition, down 38.5% from 91,351 in 2023-24
- 166 competitions were chaired by Civil Service Commissioners (down from 235 last year) with 11,744 applicants.
- Where declared, women made up 30% of applicants in Commissioner-chaired competitions. There were more successful female candidates at later stages, making up 46% of shortlists and 41% of appointable candidates
- Where declared, candidates who reported having a disability made up 9% of applicants, 7% of shortlists and 4% of appointable candidates in Commissioner-chaired competitions.
- 216 Recruitment Principles complaints were received, 183 were outside the Commission’s legal remit.
- 120 Civil Service Code appeals were received, all of which were outside the Commission’s legal remit.
Download the 2024 – 25 Annual report
Notes to Editors
- Media enquiries about the work of the Commission to be sent to Maggie O’Boyle on 07880 740 627.
- More information about the work of the Commission is available on the website www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
- You can follow the Commission on X @CivServComm and Linkedin
- The Civil Service Commission was established as a statutory body in November 2010 under the provisions of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The Commission is independent of Ministers and the Civil Service. It is responsible for upholding the requirement that recruitment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
- The Commission comprises senior figures from the private, public and third sectors. Civil Service Commissioners are appointed by the Crown for five-year non-renewable terms of office. Read Commissioners biographies.
Baroness Gisela Stuart, First Civil Service Commissioner, and Atul Devani, Civil Service Commissioner and entrepreneur, joined a recent Institute for Government panel on “Leadership change in the civil service: How can new permanent secretaries deliver for government?”
The discussion explored how the Commission works with departments to recruit its senior leaders and the role of the Commission in encouraging external recruitment to bring in new skills and talent.
Baroness Gisela Stuart said:
‘At its simplest, our role is to be the referee of the game in senior recruitment. We set the rules – our recruitment principles – and we make sure the game is played fairly, openly, and in a way that earns public confidence.
It’s worth reminding ourselves that leadership positions in the Civil Service - especially at Permanent Secretary level - are some of the biggest, most complex and most rewarding jobs in the UK. These are roles that carry responsibility for vast budgets, thousands of staff, and services that touch millions of lives every day.
We make sure recruitment remains fair and open, but we are also practical, proportionate and effective - we challenge and support departments to get the leaders they need, using the skills of our Commissioner team as well as our cross-government perspective.’
Baroness Gisela Stuart outlined the Commission’s strategic priorities for 2025–27, while Atul Devani reflected on the importance of innovation and diversity in leadership.
You can watch the full discussion here: Watch the event
The Civil Service Commission has published its strategy for 2025-2027. This outlines our foundations, mission, impact and priorities for the next two years.
Baroness Gisela Stuart, The First Civil Service Commissioner, has provided her first quarterly update to the Minister for the Cabinet Office on the Civil Service Commission's application of the Business Appointment Rules.
Further reading: First Civil Service Commissioner to Minister for the Cabinet Office (Friday 11 July 2025)
The First Civil Service Commissioner wrote to the Permanent Secretaries on 2 October 2025.
The update included:
- Queries on, and applications under, the Business Appointment Rules for senior civil servants and special advisers should now be sent to bars@csc.gov.uk.
- Further information on departmental BARs audits will follow.
The link to the letter can be found here.
Baroness Gisela Stuart, First Civil Service Commissioner
On 13 October 2025 the Civil Service Commission will formally assume responsibility for advising on applications from senior civil servants and special advisers under the government’s Business Appointment rules. This is an important development for the Commission, giving us responsibility for advising on exit, as well as being the independent regulator of entry into the Civil Service.
The Business Appointments Rules belong to the government. They exist to protect the integrity of government when someone moves on to a new role outside government, particularly where there is a risk or perception of a conflict of interest. The Rules apply to civil servants at all levels with the vast majority of applications handled by departments themselves.
From mid-October, when the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) closes, the Civil Service Commission, as an independent statutory body, will be responsible for advising the most senior civil servants (Director General and above including equivalent senior diplomats and special advisers) who apply under these Rules.
Applications from former Ministers will go to the Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Laurie Magnus.
The Commission is fortunate to have an experienced group of independent Commissioners from a wide range of professional backgrounds – from law and business to academia and the voluntary sector. A panel of three of our Commissioners and myself, as the First Civil Service Commissioner, will oversee the risk-based process. Our aim is to make the process as efficient as possible, making greater use of new technology where we can.
Our role is to provide judgement and scrutiny on applications under the Rules, ensuring that people can move smoothly between public service and other sectors in a way that is appropriate and transparent. And from 13 October 2025, the advice we have given to departing senior civil servants will start to be published on our website when an appointment is taken up or publicly announced. I will also be talking more about our approach at the Institute for Government in November and in evidence to PACAC over the autumn.
We will also begin designing the new system for the regular audits of departments’ handling of Business Appointment Rules applications at lower levels, scrutinising the way cases are handled at lower grades and sharing best practice. From 2026, these audits will take place alongside our audits of recruitment practice in departments.
Over the summer, we have been working closely with the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA), which previously advised on these cases as well as applications from former Ministers..The staff and members of ACOBA have shared their expertise and insights, and I want to thank them for helping us to ensure that the handover is as smooth and seamless as possible.
Looking ahead, the Commission has also been asked to make recommendations to government on how the Business Appointment Rules themselves might be strengthened. We want to help ensure that the framework is effective and proportionate and will be consulting stakeholders in the New Year as part of this work. Ultimately, the Rules are owned by government, but we will make suggestions on how they can be improved, based on our experience. We will also be providing quarterly updates to Ministers on our progress which will be published on our website too.
The Civil Service Commission is well placed to take on this new responsibility. The civil service is one of the UK’s greatest assets. Its ability to attract talented people, retain their skills, and then allow them to move in and out without damaging trust in government is vital.
Further information:
Read: First Civil Service Commissioner to Minister for the Cabinet Office (Friday 11 July 2025)
Read: Minister for the Cabinet Office to First Civil Service Commissioner (Wednesday 9 July 2025)
Read: Written statement from Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Monday 21 July 2025)
Read: Ethics and Integrity Commission to drive up standards across the public sector (Monday 21 July 2025)
The government announced on 21 July 2025 that ACOBA will close, and that as of 13 October 2025 the Civil Service Commission will take on a new role providing independent advice on, and scrutiny of, the application of the Business Appointment Rules (BARs) for civil servants and special advisers.
Interim arrangements
After Friday 12 September:
- Applications from former senior civil servants at Director General level and above (SCS3 / equivalent and above) should be submitted via their department to: the Civil Service Commission at bars@csc.gov.uk,
- Applications from the most senior special advisers (PB4 and equivalent) should be submitted via the department to: the Civil Service Commission at bars@csc.gov.uk.
Other applications:
- Former ministers should submit applications to: the office of the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards at ind.adviser.BARS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
- Applications from other senior Crown servants, for example members of the military, should be submitted via the department to: acoba@acoba.gov.uk for further information.
From 13 October ACOBA will no longer make decisions on your application. If you have a live application for consideration with ACOBA in the lead up to this date, ACOBA will be in contact with you directly to discuss the handling of your application.
The Civil Service Commission will publish further updates on how BARs cases within its remit will be considered in due course.
New Recruitment Principles Training Workshops
Following positive engagement with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles training across 2024/25, we are pleased to announce a series of new training workshops aimed at further supporting departments to run fair, open and merit-based recruitment. Many of these draw on common trends identified through the Commission’s 2024/25 audit. These workshops will be held on a rolling basis throughout the year, with new dates and registration links added regularly.
All workshops will be held on Microsoft Teams. Joining links will be shared separately with registered attendees the day prior to scheduled sessions. You must use a government-issued email address to register.
Wednesday 6 August | 13:00 – 14:00
Learn how common breaches impact audits and how to avoid them, with practical strategies and real-life examples.
Exceptions
Wednesday 20 August | 13:00 – 14:00
A focused session on commonly used exceptions - how and when they apply, and when to seek the Commission’s prior approval.
Job Adverts Masterclass: Crafting Effective Job Adverts
Wednesday 3 September | 13:00 – 14:00
Improve advert clarity, inclusivity and structure to enhance candidate experience and reduce risks. Includes a mock advert exercise.
The Use of Reserve Lists
Wednesday 17 September | 13:00 – 14:00
Understand how to compliantly manage reserve lists, including extensions, reassignments, and location changes.
Mastering the Audit Process
Wednesday 1 October | 13:00 – 14:00
An essential guide to preparing for audits - tracking processes, managing risks and maintaining compliance.
Commissioner-Chaired Campaigns & Panel Composition
Wednesday 15 October | 13:00 - 14:00
Covering the composition and responsibility of selection panels, the role of a department’s Link Commissioner, panel composition and diversity considerations, and insights from a Commissioner about their experience as a Chair.
For queries about:
- Common Breaches, Job Advertisements, Audit Process: contact compliance@csc.gov.uk
- Exceptions, Reserve Lists, Commissioner-Led Campaigns: contact info@csc.gov.uk
The Rt. Hon. Baroness Gisela Stuart of Edgbaston, First Civil Service Commissioner, has written to the Rt. Hon. Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and His Majesty’s Paymaster General, responding to his invitation to the Civil Service Commission to take on a new role providing independent advice on, and scrutiny of, the application of the Business Appointment Rules (BARs) for civil servants and special advisers.
These changes will become operational on 13 October 2025. The Commission will publish further a further update later in the summer.
Read: First Civil Service Commissioner to Minister for the Cabinet Office (Friday 11 July 2025)
Further information:
Read: Minister for the Cabinet Office to First Civil Service Commissioner (Wednesday 9 July 2025)
Read: Written statement from Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Monday 21 July 2025)
Read: Ethics and Integrity Commission to drive up standards across the public sector (Monday 21 July 2025)
The First Civil Service Commissioner, Baroness Gisela Stuart, has written to the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, Sir Chris Wormald KCB, outlining how the Commission aims to help the Civil Service recruit and promote the best skills and capabilities to deliver for UK citizens.
The letter reaffirms the Commission’s guiding principle as an outcome-focused independent regulator with clear statutory duties and priorities.
Read: First Civil Service Commissioner to Cabinet Secretary, 17 June 2025
