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Remuneration and staff report

The Remuneration and staff report provides information on the CPS’ remuneration policy and amounts paid to the senior management team. It also provides information on other staff related matters, such as fair pay, overall staff numbers and costs, and Civil Service Pensions.

Service contracts

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 requires Civil Service appointments to be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. The Recruitment Principles published by the Civil Service Commission specify the circumstances when appointments may be made otherwise.

Except as noted below, the officials covered by this report hold appointments which are open-ended. Early termination, other than for misconduct, would result in the individual receiving compensation as set out in the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.

Further information about the work of the Civil Service Commission can be found at https://civilservicecommission.org.uk

Non-Executive Board Members

All the non-executive board members have fixed term contracts as follows:

Non-executive board memberTerms
Monica Burch
Lead Non-Executive Board Member and Chair of the CPS Board
28 June 2017 to 27 June 2020, renewed 27 June 2020 to 26 June 2023, extended to 25 July 2025
Simon Jeffreys3 December 2018 to 2 December 2021, renewed 3 December 2021 to 2 December 2024
Kathryn Stone OBE3 October 2022 to 10 March 2025
Dr Subo Shanmuganathan3 October 2022 to 3 October 2025
Dr Peter Kane1 December 2024 to 30 November 2027

 

Independent Audit and Risk Committee Members

Our two non-executive ARAC Members have the following fixed term contracts:

Non-executive board memberTerm
Michael Dunn1 November 2021 to 31 October 2024, renewed 1 November 2024 to 30 October 2027
Deborah Harris-Ugbomah10 January 2022 to 9 January 2025

Either party may terminate the contract for any reason before the expiry of the fixed period by providing three month’s written notice. If the appointment is terminated early by mutual consent no notice will be given by the CPS. No compensation is payable to Non-Executive Board Members for early termination of their contract.

Remuneration policy

The remuneration of CPS Senior Civil Servants is set according to guidance provided by the Cabinet Office, with reference to recommendations made by the Review Body on Senior Salaries. The Review Body provides independent advice to the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor, among others, on the remuneration of holders of judicial office, Senior Civil Servants and other such public appointments as may be specified. The Review Body may, if requested, also advise the Prime Minister on Peers’ allowances and on the pay, pensions and allowances of Ministers and others whose pay is determined by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. In reaching its recommendations, the Review Body is to have regard to the following considerations:

  • The need to recruit, retain, motivate and, where relevant, promote suitably able and qualified people to exercise their different responsibilities.
  • Regional/local variations in labour markets and their effects on the recruitment, retention and where relevant, promotion of staff.
  • Government policies for improving public services including the requirement on departments to meet the output targets for the delivery of departmental services.
  • The funds available to departments as set out in the Government’s departmental expenditure limits.
  • The Government’s inflation target.

Further information about the Review Body can be found at www.gov.uk/government/ organisations/review-body-on-senior- salaries/about.

The CPS Remuneration Committee (RemCom) acts as the pay committee for the CPS senior management team. In 2024-25 this committee was made up of the following:

Monica Burch, Lead Non-Executive Board Member, Kathryn Stone, Non-Executive Board Member, Chair, Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, Julie Lennard, Chief Operating Officer, from November 2024

The Committee is tasked with considering the relative contributions of the CPS’ senior employees, paying due regard to completed performance reports, consistency and scope of objectives and the impact of external factors. It will then provide assurance with respect to pay outcomes in line with Cabinet Office guidance.

The pay settlement for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) from 1 April 2024 adhered to government policy which allowed for a 5% consolidated pay award for eligible employees. Additionally, non-consolidated Performance Related Pay (PRP) awards were considered. A budget of 3.3% of the total SCS pay bill was available for NCPRP pot. The actual distribution of PRP payments was 3.2% of the SCS pay bill.

Remuneration (including salary) and pension entitlements

The following sections provide details of the remuneration and pension interests of the most senior management of the CPS. This is considered to be the membership of the CPS Board and the Executive Group.

Remuneration (salary, benefits in kind, and pensions) (audited)

The following table shows 2024-25 senior management remuneration, with 2023-24 comparatives:

 2024-252023-24
SalaryBonus paymentsBenefits in kindPension Benefits1Total1SalaryBonus paymentsBenefits in kindPension Benefits2Total
£000£000£000£000£000£000£000£000£000£000
Sir Max Hill KC2
Director of Public Prosecutions
(to 31 October 2023)
-----200-205
(fye 240-
245)
--39235-240
Stephen Parkinson
Director of Public Prosecutions
(from 1 November 2023)
255-260--26280-285100-105
(fye 240-
245)
--54150-155
Rebecca Lawrence
Chief
Executive Officer
(to 17 November 2023) 3
-----175-180
(fye 165-
175)
--34205-210
Sue Hemming
Interim Chief Executive Officer (to 30 April 2023)
Director of Legal Services (to 30 June 2023)
- ---30-35
(fye 135-
140)
10-15-2265-70
Julie Lennard
Chief Operating Officer (from 25 November 2024)
55-60
(fye 160-
165)
  69125-130-----
Mark Gray
Chief Digital and Information Officer (to 3 July 2023)
-----30-35
(fye 120-
125)
--5480-85
Matthew Cain
Interim Chief Digital and Information Officer (from 26 June 2023)
110-115
(fye 125-
130)
--41155-16090-95
(fye 120-
125)
  36125-130
Lee Noon 5 6
Interim Chief Digital and Information Officer
(from 17 February 2025 to
17 April 2025)
35-40
(fye 295-
300
---35-40-----
Steve O’Connor
Chief Digital and Information Officer (from 31 March 2025)
(fye 135-
140)
---------
Steve Buckingham
Chief Finance Officer
130-1355-10-84220-225120-1250-5-69185-190
Dawn Brodrick 4
Chief People Officer
125-130
(fye 160-
165)
10-15--140-145155-16010-15--170-175
Helen Starkey
Chief People Officer (from 1 July 2024)
95-1005-10-113215-220-----
Sandra McKay
Director of Communications (to 14 August 2023)
-----35-40
(fye 95-100)
5-102265-70
Mike Browne 5
Interim Director of Communications (from 10 July 2023)
10-15
(fye 200-
205)
---10-15145-150
(fye 190-
195)
---145-150
Lisa Benbow
Director of Communications (from 8 April 2024)
95-100--38135-140-----
Grace Ononiwu
Director of Legal Services
135-14010-15-91240-245130-1350-5 38170-175
Gregor McGill
Director of Legal Services (to 26 April 2024)
10-15
(fye140- 145)
5-10-215-20130-13510-15-34175-180
Nick Price
Director of Legal Services (from 13 May 2024)
125-1305-10-118250-255-----
Baljit Ubhey
Director of Policy
140-1455-10-94240-245135-140
(fye 140-
145)
0-5-38175-180
Tristan Bradshaw
Director of Operational Change & Delivery
(from 24 October 2022 to 9 February 2025) 
Director of Transformation & Change
(from 9 February 2025)
105-110--71175-180100-105--138235-240
Monica Burch
Non-executive Board Member
20-25---20-2520-25---20-25
Mark Hammond
Non-executive Board Member (to 2 July 2023)
-----0-5 (fye 10-15)-0.3-0-5
Simon Jeffreys
Non-executive Board Member
5-10
(fye 10-15)
-0.4-5-1010-15-0.4-10-15
Dr Peter Kane
Non-executive Board Member
(from 12 December 2024)

fye 10-15)
-0.3-0-5-----
Dr Subo Shanmuganathan
Non-executive Board Member 
(from 3 October 2022)
10-15-0.8-15-2010-15-0.8-10-15
Kathryn Stone
Non-executive Board Member (from 3 October 2022)
10-15-0.6-10-1510-15-0.6-10-15
  1. The value of pension benefits accrued during the year is calculated as (the real increase in pension multiplied by 20) plus (the real increase in any lump sum) less (the contributions made by the individual). The real increases exclude increases due to inflation or any increase or decreases due to a transfer of pension rights. Stephen Parkinson has a partnership pension and pension benefits include contributions of £26k were paid into this scheme during 2024-25
  2. 2023-24 salary includes £60k compensation in relation to the Business Appointment Rules.
  3. Rebecca Lawrence stepped down as Chief Executive Officer on 17 November 2023. Salary for 2023-24 includes £30k for loss of office and £43k for an ex- gratia payment and payment in lieu of notice.
  4. Dawn Brodrick stepped down as Chief People Officer on 6 June 2024. Salary for 2024-25 includes £85k for a voluntary exit payment and compensation in lieu of notice.
  5. Mike Browne and Lee Noon were interim members of staff. They were not paid via the CPS payroll and are included in the off-payroll disclosures on page 73 to 74.
  6. Lee Noon was recruited via the Public Sector Resourcing framework as an interim Chief Digital Information Officer for six weeks from 17 February to 17 April 2025.

Salary

‘Salary’ includes gross salary; overtime; reserved rights to London weighting or London allowances; recruitment and retention allowances; private office allowances and any other allowance to the extent that it is subject to UK taxation. This report is based on accrued payments made by the CPS and thus recorded in these accounts.

Benefits in kind

The monetary value of benefits in kind covers any benefits provided by the CPS and treated by HM Revenue & Customs as a taxable emolument. Where expenses are for home to office travel, this is assessed by HM Revenue & Customs as constituting a benefit in kind. The tax and national insurance contributions due on the benefits in kind are paid by the CPS. Stephen Parkinson has a partnership pension.

Bonuses

Bonuses are based on performance levels attained and are made as part of the appraisal process. Bonuses are reported in the year in which they become payable to the individual. Unless otherwise indicated, the bonuses reported in 2024-25 relate to performance in 2023-24 and the comparative bonuses reported for 2023-24 relate to performance in 2022-23.

Pension benefits (audited)

 Accrued pension at pension age as at 31 March 2025 and related lump sum
£000
Real increase in pension and related lump sum at pension age
£000
CETV
at 31 March 2025
£000
CETV
at 31 March 2024
£000
Real increase in CETV1,2,3,4
£000
Sir Max Hill KC
Director of Public Prosecutions (to 31 October 2023)
---43-
Stephen Parkinson 5
Director of Public Prosecutions (from 1 November 2023)
---455-
Rebecca Lawrence
Chief Executive Officer (to 17 November 2023)
---1,366-
Sue Hemming
Interim Chief Executive Officer (to 30 April 2023) Director of Legal Services (to 30 June 2023)
---1,577-
Julie Lennard
Chief Operating Officer (from 25 November 2024)
45-502.5-575669955
Mark Gray
Chief Digital and Information Officer (to 3 July 2023)
  -481 
Matthew Cain
Interim Chief Digital and Information Officer (from 26 June 2023 to 31 January 2025)
5-100-2.5855122
Lee Noon
Chief Digital and Information Officer (from 17 February 2025 to 18 April 2025)
-----
Steve O’Connor 7
Chief Digital and Information Officer (from 31 March 2025)
-----
Steve Buckingham
Chief Finance Officer
40-452.5-592480875
Dawn Brodrick 6
Chief People Officer (to 6 June 2024)
-----
Helen Starkey
Chief People Officer (from 1 July 2024)
40 - 45 plus a lump sum of 105 - 1105 - 7.5 plus a lump sum of 10 - 12.5929795106
Sandra McKay
Director of Communications (to 14 August 2023)
---356-
Mike Browne
Interim Director of Communications (from 10 July 2023 to 19 April 2024)
-----
Lisa Benbow
Director of Communications (from 8 April 2024)
0-50-2.532-25
Grace Ononiwu
Director of Legal Services
60 - 65 plus a lump sum of 150 - 1552.5 - 5 plus a lump sum of 2.5 - 51,4531,31181
Gregor McGill
Director of Legal Services (to 26 April 2024)
65 - 70 plus a lump sum of 185 - 1900 - 2.5 plus a lump sum of 01,6571,6491
Nick Price
Director of Legal Services (from 13 May 2024)
--956--
Tristan Bradshaw
Director of Operational Change & Delivery (from 24 October 2022 to 9 February 2025)
Director of Transformance and Change (from 9 February 2025)
45 - 50 plus a lump sum of 120 - 1252.5 - 5 plus a lump sum of 2.5 - 51,04094057
Baljit Ubhey
Director of Policy
60 - 65 plus a lump sum of 160 - 1652.5 - 5 plus a lump sum of 2.5 - 51,4531,31479
  1. CETV at 31 March 2024 is nil where an individual did not join the Executive Group during 2023-24.
  2. Final salary member (classic/classic plus/premium) who has transitioned to alpha. The final salary pension of a person in employment is calculated by reference to their pay and length of service. The pension will increase from one year to the next by virtue of any pay rise during the year. Where there is no or a small pay rise, the increase in pension due to extra service may not be sufficient to offset the inflation increase – that is, in real terms, the pension value can reduce, hence the negative values.
  3. Any members affected by the Public Service Pensions Remedy were reported in the 2015 scheme for the period between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022 in 2022-23. Accrued pension benefits included in this table for any individual affected by the Public Service Pensions Remedy have been calculated based on their inclusion in the legacy scheme for the period between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022, following the McCloud judgment. The Public Service Pensions Remedy applies to individuals that were members, or eligible to be members, of a public service pension scheme on 31 March 2012 and were members of a public service pension scheme between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022. The basis for the calculation reflects the legal position that impacted members have been rolled back into the relevant legacy scheme for the remedy period and that this will apply unless the member actively exercises their entitlement on retirement to decide instead to receive benefits calculated under the terms of the Alpha scheme for the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2022.
  4. CETV figures are calculated using the guidance on discount rates for calculating unfunded public service pension contribution rates that was extant at 31 March 2025. HM Treasury published updated guidance on 27 April 2023; this guidance will be used in the calculation of 2024-25 CETV figures.
  5. Stephen Parkinson opted to switch from a Civil Service pension to a partnership pension in 2024-25.
  6. Dawn Brodrick chose not to be covered by the Civil Service pension arrangements. No pension contributions were made on their behalf to other pension providers.
  7. Steve O’Connor was not covered by the Civil Service pension arrangement during the year.
     

Civil Service pensions

Pension benefits are provided through the Civil Service pension arrangements. Before 1 April 2015, the only scheme was the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS), which is divided into a few different sections – classic, premium and classic plus provide benefits on a final salary basis, whilst nuvos provides benefits on a career average basis. From 1 April 2015 a new pension scheme for civil servants was introduced – the Civil Servants and Others Pension Scheme or alpha, which provides benefits on a career average basis. All newly appointed civil servants, and the majority of those already in service, joined the new scheme.

The PCSPS and alpha are unfunded statutory schemes. Employees and employers make contributions (employee contributions range between 4.6% and 8.05%, depending on salary). The balance of the cost of benefits in payment is met by monies voted by Parliament each year. Pensions in payment are increased annually in line with the Pensions Increase legislation. Instead of the defined benefit arrangements, employees may opt for a defined contribution pension with an employer contribution, the partnership pension account.

In alpha, pension builds up at a rate of 2.32% of pensionable earnings each year, and the total amount accrued is adjusted annually in line with a rate set by HM Treasury. Members may opt to give up (commute) pension for a lump sum up to the limits set by the Finance Act 2004. All members who switched to alpha from the PCSPS had their PCSPS benefits ‘banked’, with those with earlier benefits in one of the final salary sections of the PCSPS having those benefits based on their final salary when they leave alpha.

Normal pension age is 60 for members of classic, premium, and classic plus, 65 for members of nuvos, and the higher of 65 or State Pension Age for members of alpha. The pension figures in this report show pension earned in PCSPS or alpha – as appropriate. Where a member has benefits in both the PCSPS and alpha, the figures show the combined value of their benefits in the two schemes but note that the constituent parts of that pension may be payable from different ages.

When the Government introduced new public service pension schemes in 2015, there were transitional arrangements which treated existing scheme members differently based on their age. Older members of the PCSPS remained in that scheme, rather than moving to alpha. In 2018, the Court of Appeal found that the transitional arrangements in the public service pension schemes unlawfully discriminated against younger members.

As a result, steps are being taken to remedy those 2015 reforms, making the pension scheme provisions fair to all members. The public service pensions remedy is made up of two parts. The first part closed the PCSPS on 31 March 2022, with all active members becoming members of alpha from 1 April 2022. The second part removes the age discrimination for the remedy period, between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2022, by moving the membership of eligible members during this period back into the PCSPS on 1 October 2023. This is known as “rollback”.

The partnership pension account is an occupational defined contribution pension arrangement which is part of the Legal & General Mastertrust. The employer makes a basic contribution of between 8% and 14.75% (depending on the age of the member). The employee does not have to contribute but, where they do make contributions, the employer will match these up to a limit of 3% of pensionable salary (in addition to the employer’s basic contribution). Employers also contribute a further 0.5% of pensionable salary to cover the cost of centrally provided risk benefit cover (death in service and ill health retirement).

Further details about the Civil Service pension arrangements can be found at the website www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

Cash Equivalent Transfer Values (CETV)

A CETV is the actuarially assessed capitalised value of the pension scheme benefits accrued by a member at a particular point in time. The benefits valued are the member’s accrued benefits and any contingent spouse’s pension payable from the scheme. A CETV is a payment made by a pension scheme or arrangement to secure pension benefits in another pension scheme or arrangement when the member leaves a scheme and chooses to transfer the benefits accrued in their former scheme. The pension figures shown relate to the benefits that the individual has accrued as a consequence of their total membership of the pension scheme, not just their service in a senior capacity to which disclosure applies.

The figures include the value of any pension benefit in another scheme or arrangement which the member has transferred to the Civil Service pension arrangements. They also include any additional pension benefit accrued to the member as a result of their buying additional pension benefits at their own cost. CETVs are worked out in accordance with The Occupational Pension Schemes (Transfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 and do not take account of any actual or potential reduction to benefits resulting from Lifetime Allowance Tax which may be due when pension benefits are taken.

Real increase in CETV

This reflects the increase in CETV that is funded by the employer. It does not include the increase in accrued pension due to inflation, contributions paid by the employee (including the value of any benefits transferred from another pension scheme or arrangement) and uses common market valuation factors for the start and end of the period.

Fair pay disclosures (audited)

Reporting bodies are required to disclose the relationship between the remuneration of the highest- paid director in their organisation and the median remuneration of the organisation’s workforce.

The banded remuneration of the highest-paid director in the CPS in the financial year 2024-25 was £295,000-£300,000 (2023-24: £240,000-£245,000) This was 6.8 times (2023-24: 5.9 times) the median remuneration of the workforce, which was £43,379 (2023-24: £40,892).

In 2024-25, no (2023-24: nil) employee received remuneration in excess of the highest paid director. Remuneration ranged from £20,000 to £295,000 (2023-24: £20,000 to £245,000).

Pay includes salary, non-consolidated performance related pay, and benefits in kind. It does not include severance payments, employer pension contributions and the cash equivalent transfer value of pensions.

The following table shows the percentage change from the previous financial year for salaries and allowances and for performance pay and bonuses payable in respect of the highest paid director, based on the mid-point of the salary band:

 2024-25
£0
2023-24
£0
Change
%
Salary and allowances297,500242,50023
Performance and bonus pay---
Total remuneration297,500242,50023
  1. For 2024-25, the highest paid director was an interim staff member recruited via the Public Sector Resourcing framework for six weeks.

The following table shows the average percentage change from the previous financial year for salaries and allowances and for performance pay and bonuses in respect of all employees taken as a whole, excluding the highest paid director.

 2024-25
£0
2023-24
£0
Change
%
Salary and allowances49,46346,7686
Performance and bonus pay3501,500-77
Total remuneration49,81348,2683

The following table shows the ratio between the highest paid director’s total pay and benefits and the salary component of their total pay and benefits, and the lower quartile, median and upper quartile remuneration of our workforce:

 25th percentile payMedian pay75th percentile pay
 2024-252023-242024-252023-242024-252023-24
Salary (£)31,41928,74743,00639,39264,25260,052
Bonus (£)3021,5003731,5003731,500
Total pay and benefits (£)31,72130,24743,37940,89264,62361,552
Ratio9.38.06.85.94.63.8

The highest paid director’s pay change as a result of appointment of an interim staff member for six weeks caused ratios to increase in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24. Excluding this individual, the ratios for 2024-25 have increased compared to 2023-24. The CPS believes these ratios are consistent with its pay, reward and progression policies for its employees taken as a whole, as staff are remunerated in pay ranges that are consistent with the wider Civil Service and reflect the levels of seniority at which roles are required to be performed.

Reporting of Civil Service and other compensation schemes – exit packages (audited)

The table below shows exit packages:

 2024-252023-24
Exit package cost bandNumber of
compulsory redundancies
Number of
other departures agreed
Total number of
exit packages by cost band
Number of
compulsory redundancies
Number of
other departures agreed
Total number of
exit packages
by cost band
< £10,000-44-22
£10,000 – £25,000-44-22
£25,000 – £50,000-22-55
£50,000 – £100,000-77-88
£100,000 – £150,000-77-55
£150,000 – £200,000-11-11
Total number of exit packages-2525-2323
Total cost (£000)-1,5981,598-1,5831,583

Redundancy and other departure costs have been paid in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, a statutory scheme made under the Superannuation Act 1972. Exit costs are accounted for in full in the year the departure is agreed. Where the CPS has agreed early retirements, the additional costs are met by the CPS and not by the Civil Service pension scheme. Ill-health retirement costs are met by the pension scheme and are not included in the table.

Staff composition

The table below shows staff composition by whole-time equivalent persons at 31 March 2025. This includes both permanent and fixed term contracts.

 HeadcountFTE
G1 Perm Sec11
SCS311
SCS266
SCS11818
SLM22120
SLM15150
Total SCS9896
ONS GradeFemaleMaleTotal
HeadcountFTEHeadcountFTEHeadcountFTE
SCS605938379896
Other5,1604,7332,3402,2697,5007,002
Grand total5,2204,7922,3782,3067,5987,098

Average number of persons employed for 2024-25 (audited)

The average number of whole-time equivalent persons employed during the year was as follows:

 2024-252023-24
Permanently employed staff7,0396,963
Others252313
Total7,2917,276

Staff costs for 2024-25 (audited)

 Permanently
employed staff
(£000)
Others
(£000)
2024-25
Total
(£000)
2023-24
Total
(£000)
Wages and salaries350,8066,873357,679373,016
Social security costs40,494-40,49440,212
Other pension costs95,686-95,68688,265
Total staff costs486,9866,873493,859501,493
Less: recoveries outward secondments(307)-(307)(782)
Total net costs486,6796,873493,552500,711

Further details of staff costs can be found in Note 3 to the Accounts

Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme

The Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) and the Civil Servants and Other Pensions Scheme (CSOPS) – known as ‘alpha’ – are unfunded multi-employer defined benefit schemes in which the CPS is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities. The scheme actuary valued the PCSPS as at 31 March 2020. Details can be found in the resource accounts of the Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation (www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/about- us/resource-accounts/).

For 2024-25, employers’ contributions of £95,162,753 were payable to the PCSPS (2023-24: £87,816,105) at 28.97% of pensionable pay, based on salary bands. The Scheme Actuary reviews employer contributions usually every four years following a full scheme valuation. The contribution rates are set to meet the cost of the benefits accruing during 2024-25 to be paid when the member retires and not the benefits paid during this period to existing pensioners.

Employees can opt to open a partnership pension account, a stakeholder pension with an employer contribution. Employers’ contributions of £505,062 (2023-24: £439,819) were paid to one appointed stakeholder pension providers. Employer contributions are age-related and ranged from 8% to 14.75% (2023-24: 8% to 14.75%) of pensionable pay. Employers also match employee contributions up to 3% of pensionable pay. In addition, employer contributions of £19,075, 0.5% (2023-24: £16,982, 0.5%) of pensionable pay were payable to the PCSPS to cover the cost of the future provision of lump sum benefits on death in service or ill health retirement of these employees.

Contributions due to the partnership pension providers at the reporting period date were £42,270 (2023-24: £36,852). Contributions prepaid at that date were £Nil (2023-24: £Nil).

10 individuals (2023-24: 4) retired early on ill- health grounds; the total additional accrued pension liabilities in the year amounted to £226,809 (2023-24: £72,514).

Disability confident

In 2024-25, the CPS has successfully renewed its Disability Confident Leader status. This required the CPS to demonstrate that the right employment policies and procedures are in place to be fully inclusive of disabled people not just at recruitment but also in retention and development.

This includes the ability to:

  • Actively attract and recruit disabled people to help fill opportunities (including jobs, apprenticeships, internships, work experience).
  • Provide a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process and offer interviews to all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job.
  • Offer flexibility when assessing people and proactively offer and make reasonable adjustments so disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate that they can do the job.
  • Provide an environment that is inclusive and accessible for staff, clients and customers ensuring all employees have sufficient disability awareness.
  • Support employees to manage their disabilities or health conditions and ensure there are no barriers to the development and progression of disabled staff.
  • Ensure managers are aware of how they can support staff who experience mental or physical ill health or are absent from work.
  • Value and listen to feedback from disabled staff and provide mentoring, coaching, buddying and other support networks.
  • Introduced 5 days paid carers leave prior to the introduction of The Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024.

The undertakings relating to recruitment do not override the Civil Service Commissioner Principles and the need for selection on merit through fair and open competition. Applicants who would be selected for interview on the basis of additional sift criteria are not displaced by disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria. Instead, the numbers invited for interview are increased by the inclusion of those disabled candidates.

Diversity and inclusion

Being a fair, diverse, and inclusive employer is important for the CPS to enable us to represent the public we serve and to support everyone in being themselves at work. We are proud that we are making good progress in this important area through recruiting and developing a diverse workforce and promoting an inclusive and supportive working environment.

We have an excellent track record in attracting and retaining a strong and diverse workforce – we are above Civil Service average for women at most grades, including our SCS cadre and our representation of ethnic minorities, also compares favourably with the Civil Service as a whole. We have been recognised in a range of ways for our work on diversity, equality and inclusion, including being accredited as a Disability Confident Leader and recognised as a Top 10 Employer by Working Families for the eighth year running.

Declaration

Declaration rates indicate the number of CPS employees who have chosen to provide their personal information for the characteristic indicated. The declaration rates for Q4 of 2024-25 for the characteristics listed below are as follows:

 All staffG6/G7SCS
Gender100%100%100%
Ethnicity89%90%97%
Disability72%74%90%
Sexual orientation79%78%90%

These figures are taken from our HR system, where declaration is voluntary except for gender and age.

Gender

The gender makeup of the CPS has been stable for many years and the CPS has had a consistent female representation of over 66% for at least 12 years, currently standing at 69%. Women are also in the majority at more senior levels, but to a lesser degree – women make up 61% of Senior Civil Service (SCS) and equivalent grades in the CPS. This is reflected across the wider Civil Service, where women make up a higher percentage of junior grades than they do of more senior grades.

Ethnicity

The CPS has worked hard to address inequalities in the organisation over the last 24 years and is proud to be an open and diverse organisation. However, we recognise that there are still very real challenges, and we are determined to continue working to ensure that everyone is able to achieve their full potential.

23% of the CPS workforce is declared as being from an ethnic minority background. This compares favourably with both the wider Civil Service, in which 16.6% of civil servants had declared as ethnic minority, as of 20 August 2024, and with the population of England & Wales, of which 18.3% declared an ethnic minority background in the 2021 National Census Survey.

There is a regional variation in our ethnic minority workforce representation and, whilst there is no immediate evidence of significant disparities between our employee profile and those of local communities, the Inclusion Community Engagement Strategy commits CPS areas to review their representation.

In 2024-25 the CPS has been working to remove barriers to progression to increase ethnic minority representation at senior grades with targeted interventions and cross civil service opportunities offered.

Age

26.8% of the CPS workforce is over the age of 55. The challenge for the CPS and its line managers is to recognise and use the skills and experience of all staff to the best effect, meeting training and development needs appropriately to create an engaged and valued multigenerational workforce.

Sexual orientation and gender identity

LGBO representation across all grades is constant with previous years; 6% of all staff, 5% of Grades D and E, and 9% of SCS. Our HR Business Information system now includes the option to use pronoun Mx, as a title for those who do not identify as being of a gender, or for people who simply do not want to be identified by gender.

Socio-economic background

The CPS has been recognised in the Social Mobility Employer Index, the leading authority on employer best practice, as one of the Top 75 employers. The Social Mobility Foundation’s Employer Index was established to encourage organisations to become more accessible to individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Questions about the Social Economic background of our employees are now included on our HR Business Information system and our annual People Survey. Better understanding the profile of our workforce will help us continue to remove any barriers to career progression and ensure our people reflect the communities we serve.

Disability

The CPS continue to support staff with disabilities and long-term health conditions, shining a spotlight on all types of disability, including those that are invisible, working hard to promote a greater awareness and understanding of these conditions.

72% of our staff have declared whether they have a disability or long-term health condition. Workforce disability representation is 20% – higher than the Civil Service average, with SCS disability representation at 14%.

Achievements this year

  • A consistent level of the representation of our ethnic minority group employees at 23%
  • An increase in disability representation at 20% linked to:
    • Implementing disability-related case studies into learning and development interventions
    • Updating disability language within the Oracle HR Platform
    • Piloting ‘questions in advance of interview’ for operational grades to improve accessibility within recruitment practices
    • Updating recruitment guidance to affirm the need for diverse and inclusive practice

Declaration: The CPS has initiated the ‘Count Me In’ campaign to gather accurate information about employees’ backgrounds, helping to identify and remove barriers for current and future colleagues. This initiative demonstrates our proactive approach to promoting inclusion and understanding the diverse needs of its workforce

Diversity Champions and Staff Associations:

The CPS has successfully embedded diversity champions and ambassadors into their roles, bringing diverse voices to high- level discussions and embedding inclusion throughout CPS decision-making. Staff Associations have undergone an official review to ensure they have the sponsorship and resources needed to continue supporting workplace inclusion for all.

These achievements reflect the CPS’ ongoing dedication to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and supported.

  • We will aim for 75% declaration rates across all protected characteristics.
  • According to the 2024 People Survey, reports of bullying, harassment and discrimination remain broadly consistent – we will seek to reduce this across a number of interventions including changes to policy, procedures and continued support for colleagues through our Speak Out Champion.
  • Following reviews undertaken in 2023- 24 to explore barriers to progression to senior roles for ethnic minority staff, and the recruitment experience of this group and disabled staff, the CPS will continue to deliver the recommended activities to improve the experience of these groups.
  • In our commitments as part of the Disproportionality Action Plan, we will work to ensure the CPS is an anti-racist organisation, equipping our people with the skills to identify and challenge racial bias in decision making and address race disproportionality across the CJS to and build public confidence.

Trade union facility time

Under the Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017 (SI 2017 no. 328), the CPS is required to publish information about employees acting as trade union representatives.

During the 2024-25 financial year, 67 employees (74 in 2023-24) acted as relevant union officials with pre-approved facility time. Of these, 2 (9 in 2023-24) spent 0% of their time on trade union facility time and 65 (65 in 2023-24) spent between 1-50% of their time on trade union facility time. The total cost of facility time was £350,100 (2023-24: £347,237), which is 0.07% (2023-24: 0.071%) of the total pay bill of £493,551,556 (2023-24: £501,493,509). The time spent on paid trade union activities as a percentage of total paid facility time hours was 0% (0% in 2023-24).

Other staff information

Staff engagement

The annual Civil Service People Survey looks at civil servants’ attitudes to, and experience of working in the Civil Service.

The CPS response rate this year was 46% which showed a -15-percentage point (pp) decrease on the 2023 survey (61%) and was 15pp lower than the Civil Service.

Employee engagement is a workplace approach designed to ensure that employees are committed to their organisation’s goals and values and are motivated to contribute to organisational success.

The EEI is a key metric in measuring employee engagement. Five questions are used in the People Survey to measure employee engagement and combine these responses into a summary index score to determine where they sit on a scale of very disengaged (0%) through to very engaged (100%).

In 2024, the CPS EEI decreased by 2pp to 65%, which remains one of the highest EEI recorded by the CPS since the survey began in 2009 and a full +16pp above the lowest EEI recorded in 2011. The wider Civil Service EEI remained stable at 64% this year.

For a fifth subsequent year, the CPS has exceeded the Civil Service EEI and has a +1pp gap.

The table below provides details of the CPS response rate and EEI for the last 5 years.

 20202021202220232024
CPS response rate70%69%70%61%46%
CPS EEI70%69%69%67%65%

Staff turnover

The CPS applies the Cabinet Office guidance on staff turnover to calculate the rate of turnover within the Department.

For a given period, the turnover figure is calculated as the number of leavers within that period divided by the average number of staff in post over the period. Leavers include all leavers within the financial year and the average number of staff in post is calculated using quarterly staff in post data for the respective financial year.

The Cabinet Office guidance on staff turnover can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/%20file/854929/Annex_A_-_Turnover_Definition__1___2_.pdf.

Off payroll engagements

The table below details the turnover percentage within the CPS for the past five financial years.

 2020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25
Staff turnover5.1%7.6%8.1%9.1%8.6%

Expenditure on temporary staff

 2024-252023-24
Expenditure on temporary staff (£000)6,62512,169

Expenditure on consultancy

 2024-252023-24
Expenditure on consultancy (£000)660(566)

Consultancy expenditure is reported on a resource basis using accounting data underlying the Financial Statements. This is consistent with the expenditure figures reported in Note 3.

Off payroll engagements

Table 1: Highly paid off-payroll worker engagements as at 31 March 2025, earning £245 per day or greater
Number of existing engagements as of 31 March 202515
Of which, number that existed: 
for less than one year11
for between one and two years3
for between two and three years1
for between three and four years0
for four or more years0
Table 2: Highly paid off-payroll workers engaged at any point during the year ended 31 March 2025, earning £245 per day or greater
Number of temporary off-payroll workers engaged during the year ended 31 March 202552
Of which: 
Not subject to off-payroll legislation 10
Subject to off-payroll legislation and determined as in-scope of IR3513
Subject to off-payroll legislation and determined as out-of-scope of IR3529
Number of engagements reassessed for compliance or assurance purposes during the year10
Of which: number of engagements that saw a change to IR35 status following review0
  1. A worker that provided their services through their own limited company or another type of intermediary to the client will be subject to off-payroll legislation and the Department must undertake an assessment to determine whether that worker is in-scope of Intermediaries legislation (IR35) or out-of-scope for tax purposes.
     
Table 3: For any off-payroll engagements of board members, and/or, senior officials with significant financial responsibility, between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025
Number of off-payroll engagements of board members and/or senior officials with significant financial responsibility during the financial year2
Total number of individuals on-payroll and off-payroll that have been deemed “board members and/or senior officials with significant financial responsibility” during the financial year20

Sickness absence

There has been a very slight increase in average working days lost from 8.0 to 8.8 (as at quarter 4 2024-25), against a Civil Service average of 7.8 days.

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