The DG Community recruitment and number of internal vs external candidates at application and then at interview stage: FOI release

Information requested

1) the number of candidates who applied for the role of DG Community, 2) the number of internal vs external candidates at application and then at interview stage. Please also release 3) any and all information relating to this campaign which can reasonably be released including general observations of the recruitment round, correspondence with the civil service commissioner and 4) how many candidates were placed on the reserve list.

Response

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

1. Total number of applications - 90
2. Number of internal applications - 5, number of external applications - 85, number of internal candidates invited to interview - 3, number of external invited to candidates at interview -2.
3. Document 1 - A redacted copy of an email to Senior Leadership Committee dated 22 May 2025 plus attachment(1a).

Document 2 - A redacted copy of an email to the Civil Service Commission dated 29 May 2025 plus attachment (2a).
Document 3 - A redacted copy of an email from the Civil Service Commission dated 29 May 2025.
Document 4 - A redacted email to the Permanent Secretary dated 30 May 2025.
Document 5 - A redacted email to the Permanent Secretary dated 13 June 2025 plus attachments (5a, 5b and 5 c).
Document 6 - A redacted email to the Civil Service Commissioner dated 2 July 2025 plus attachment (6a).
Document 7 - A redacted email to Cabinet Secretaries offices dated 22 July 2025.
Document 8 - A redacted email from Cabinet Secretary dated 25 July 2025.
Document 9 - A redacted email from Cabinet Secretary dated 30 July 2025.
Document 10 - A redacted email to the Civil Service Commissioner dated 30 July 2025.
Document 11 - A redacted email to Cabinet Secretary dated 12 August 2025.
Document 12 - A redacted email to Permanent Secretary dated 2 September 2025 plus attachments (12a and 12b).
Document 13 - A redacted email to UKG Cabinet Secretary dated 9 October 2025 plus attachment (13a).
Document 14 -Sift Pack - redacted.
Document 15 - Interview Pack - redacted
Document 16 - Board Report - redacted
Document 17 - A redacted email to UKG Cabinet Secretary dated 10 March 2026.

4. Number of candidates placed on the reserve list - 1

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(s) under section s.38(1)(b) of FOISA where personal information such as phone numbers, staff and candidate 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 202600509890 - Information Released - Annex

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