Business appointment rules advice: January to March 2026

Summarises details about former Ofgem staff, at senior levels SCS1 and SCS2 and its equivalents, who have left the civil service. This includes the conditions under which their new employment (paid or unpaid) was approved. These rules apply for either one or two years after leaving, depending on the role.

Stuart Macnaughton

Full name of applicant: Stuart Macnaughton

Title of former civil service role: Deputy Director, Public Affairs

Date left or retired from the civil service: 15 February 2026

Name of new employer: iNHouse Communications

New appointment or employment (including when taken up): Associate Director

Department’s decision on application (including details of any waiting period or other conditions or restrictions applied):

• A restriction placed on any dealings on matters relating to Ofgem, or wider Government n matters relating to Ofgem in the form of, for example, consultancy or lobbying that draw on privileged information from the applicant’s time at Ofgem.
• A restriction on advising on a bid with, or contract relating to the work of, Ofgem; and
• In all cases, a restriction on drawing on any privileged information (as defined by Advisory Committee on Business Appointments) available to the applicant because of their role at Ofgem. Engagement with Government bodies on matters that are unrelated to Ofgem’s work or do not draw on privileged information, would generally not be considered a conflict.
• The above apply for two years following the last day of paid employment.