Exceptions
Exceptions
The Recruitment Principles recognise that, at times, fair and open recruitment may not be possible. Section 12 of the Act outlines that the Commission may “except” appointments from this requirement where it is satisfied:
- that the provision is justified by the needs of the civil service, or
- that the provision is needed to enable the civil service to participate in a government employment initiative that major employers in the United Kingdom (or a part of the United Kingdom) have been asked to participate in.
Exceptions, by definition, are exceptional. Yet they can be an important option for departments to ensure they can efficiently deliver for ministers and the public and also contribute to a diverse workforce. An appointment by exception can be an appropriate route through which to fill gaps in periods of short-term urgent need, bring in specialist expertise or experience to tackle specific complex challenges, and support life chances schemes for particular cohorts.
The Recruitment Principles outline ten exception categories designed by us to meet the needs of the Civil Service for use where appropriate by departments.
- Exception 1: Temporary appointments
- Exception 2: Support for government employment programmes[1]
- Exception 3: Secondments
- Exception 4: Highly specialist skills
- Exception 5: Former civil servants
- Exception 6: Interchange with the Northern Ireland Civil Service
- Exception 7: Transfers of staff from other public bodies
- Exception 8: Transfers of organisations into the Civil Service – non-TUPE
- Exception 9: Transfers of organisations into the Civil Service – TUPE
- Exception 10: Conversion to permanency of suitable candidates appointed
Under Exceptions 1 and 2 departments may in most cases apply the exceptions themselves. This activity is audited by us.
Our approval depends on the role’s seniority, salary and appointment length. Our prior approval is required, in every case:
- for any appointment by exception at SCS PB2 or above or at any grade on a salary at or above the SCS PB2 minimum, pro rata.
- for any extension or variation of any fixed-term appointment previously agreed by us at SCS PB2 or above or on a salary at or above the SCS PB2 minimum.
Exceptions Transparency
Exceptions approved by us at or above the SCS pay band 2 minimum are published monthly on our website.
Data and commentary is also published in our Annual Report and Accounts.
Exceptions Oversight
Delegated Exceptions Review
Given interest in a number of recent Civil Service appointments by exception, we undertook a review of appointments made by exception using delegated powers in July and August 2024 and the departmental processes in place to make such appointments.
The review found that fewer exceptions were made in this period than is typical in a similar length of time. Their usage varied by number and appointment length across Civil Service departments and organisations. The review identified a range of good practice and some areas that required improvement.
We were largely satisfied with processes in place within departments to apply, consider and approve exception requests.
To support greater consistency and improvements in practice, the final report set out six recommendations for all Civil Service organisations to adopt.
- All departments should develop comprehensive exception approval forms mirrored in our published forms for cases requiring its approval.
- Departments should ensure robust challenge processes are in place to ensure the terms of exceptional appointments are strictly applied.
- Departments should be able to demonstrate in their submissions for an exception clear justification as to why it is necessary.
- Internal documentation detailing the process to appoint by exception should clearly reference the Recruitment Principles.
- Departments should implement clear multi-stage authorisation processes.
- All departments should ensure they have appropriate tracking mechanisms in place to manage exception use and support succession planning.
Read: Review into appointments by exception delegated to departments (November 2024)
On 20th November 2024 the First Civil Service Commissioner wrote to the Cabinet Secretary outlining action we took to provide assurance around the use of appointments by exception.
Read: First Civil Service Commissioner to the Cabinet Secretary, 20 November 2024
Read: First Civil Service Commissioner to Heads of Departments, 20 November 2024
Delegated Exceptions Review: One Year On
In December 2025, the First Civil Service Commissioner wrote to all Permanent Secretaries and their equivalents to request an update on the implementation of each recommendation.
We were pleased that all organisations within our regulatory remit responded to the request, highlighting strong commitment to the importance of maintaining the integrity of exception usage.
The results reveal a near even split between organisations we judged to have ‘Fully implemented’ the recommendations and those that are currently ‘Partially implemented’.
No department received a rating of ‘Not implemented’, demonstrating every department has made concerted efforts to integrate the recommendations into workstreams.
Full details can be found here.
We will continue to monitor the appropriate use of exceptions through its audit process while supporting departments with specialised training and the sharing of best practice. We will continue to use departmental feedback to refine our regulatory impact and drive continuous service improvement.
[1] The Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) Team, in the Cabinet Office, has delegated authority from the Commission to accredit new schemes for an agreed list of cohorts under Exception 2 (Support for government employment programmes). The Commission continues to support Going Forward into Employment with this work.
If you have a question about a new or existing scheme or wish to gain accreditation for your programme, please contact the GFiE team [email protected] for further advice.
Last updated: March 2026