Business appointment rules advice

Outlines the business appointment rules process, who this applies to and where to find our published data.

Senior civil servants in Ofgem are senior staff who make strategic decisions, develop policy work and oversee government priorities. They are a part of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA) and Senior Executive Committee.

All senior staff employed by us must follow the government’s business appointments rules if they plan to leave and accept a new job outside of Ofgem. This may be paid or unpaid.

The rules apply to:

  • permanent secretaries
  • directors
  • deputy directors
  • director generals
  • special advisors
  • other equivalent roles

Submitting an application

The senior staff member must notify us before accepting the new job by filling in an application form, unless they are:

  • moving to another government department
  • retiring
  • travelling and have not confirmed when they will return to work

The rules may be in place for either 1 or 2 years depending on their senior civil servant level or role. Former staff may also need to follow this process if they have left Ofgem in the last 2 years.

After we receive applications

We review all applications from senior staff who plan to leave Ofgem.

If we have concerns, we might put restrictions in place. The senior staff member must follow the restrictions until their last working day. There are circumstances where this must be followed even after leaving Ofgem.

Applications reviewed by year 

We publish information about senior staff who have left Ofgem every 3 months. The data is published from 1 April to 31 March for each year. The next set of data will be published in August 2026.

Any decisions relating to senior civil service staff at level 3 are published by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

2026

2025

2024

  • Business appointment rules advice: October to December 2024 - no decisions issued
  • Business appointment rules advice: July to September 2024
  • Business appointment rules advice: April to June 2024 - no decisions issued
  • Business appointment rules advice: January to March 2024 - no decisions issued

2023