Director General Corporate recruitment exercise information: FOI release

Information requested

1. The number of candidates who applied for the role of DG Corporate.

2. The number of internal vs external candidates at application stage.

3. The number of candidates shortlisted for interview.

4. The number of internal vs external candidates who progressed to interview.

5. Number of appointable candidates.

6. Correspondence with the civil service commissioner which outlines why an existing DG was moved to the role of DG Corporate and no candidate appointed from the recruitment round.

7. Correspondence relating to taking someone from a reserve list for the role of DG Communities.
 

Response

I enclose a copy of most of the information you requested.

1. the number of candidates who applied for this role - 121.

2. the number of internal vs external candidates - 3 internal and 118 external.

3. the number of candidates shortlisted for interview - 5.

4. the number of internal vs external candidates who progressed to interview - 2 internal and 3 external.

5. The number of appointable candidates - none.

6. Correspondence with the civil service commissioner which outlines why an existing DG was moved to the role of DG Corporate and no candidate appointed from the recruitment round.

Document 1 - DG Corporate Board Report - Redacted.

Document 2 - A redacted copy of an email from the Civil Service Commissioner dated 5 March 2026.

Document 3 - A redacted copy of an email exchange between the Commissioner and the Commission dated 5 March 2025.

7. Correspondence relating to taking someone from a reserve list for the role of DG Communities. 

Document 4 - A redacted copy of an email to UKG Cabinet Secretary dated 10 March 2026.

Whilst our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested in section 3) because of an exemption under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA where personal information such as phone numbers, staff and candidates names and email addresses were included in email chains and have been redacted. This exemption applies because it is personal data of a third party, the names/contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

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FOI 202600509752 - Information Released - Documents 1 - 4

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