An audit has revealed that many high-ranking UK civil servants are holding profitable secondary positions in the private sector. These roles, which include consulting for Formula One and appearing on reality television, are being held by officials receiving substantial taxpayer-funded salaries.
From Formula One Consulting to Channel 4 Reality TV
High-profile secondary roles are being occupied by officials who already command significant public salaries. Emma Hodges, a human resources director at HM Revenue and Customs earning up to £130,000, serves as a consultant for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team. Similarly, Dr. Steve Hersee, who has moved to the Home Office as its head of information security, previously appeared as the head of intelligence on the Channel Four reality show Hunted.
According to an audit conducted by the Daily Mail, these positions often extend well beyond typical advisory capacities. Both Hodges and Hersee earn up to £130,000 from their respective civil service roles, highlighting a trend where high-level expertise is being utilized in the entertainment and elite sports sectors alongside government duties.
The £220,000 CEO and Other High-Earning Mandarins
The financial scale of these outside interests is significant, particularly for the highest-paid officials in Whitehall. Mark Bourgeois, the chief executive of the Government Property Agency, earns between £220,000 and £224,999 annually and also serves as a director for the leadership firm Velement. Another notable figure is Catherine Blair, the chief financial officer at HM Courts and Tribunals Service, who earns up to £163,000 while acting as a director for the consultancy firm Cadrup.
These declarations, which were published by the Cabinet Office, illustrate the diversity of financial interests held by top-tier public servants. The data shows that the most highly compensated officials are often the ones most active in the private sector , creating a dual stream of income from both the public purse and private entities.
Humbot Advisory and Property Directorships in Whitehall
The intersection of public duty and private profit is increasingly common as senior officials leverage specialized expertise in emerging industries. As reported by the Cabinet Office, many of these second jobs are closely linked to the officials' professional day-to-day responsibilities. For instance, Karl Hoods, the chief digital and information officer at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, serves as an adviser to the artificial intelligence firm Humbot.
Commercial and property expertise is also heavily represented among these outside appointments . Officials such as Noreen Winhall and Kerry Williams are listed as directors of various property or building development firms. This overlap suggests that senior civil servants are maintaining active, paid engagement in the specific sectors they oversee or influence within the government.
The Demands for Accountability from Mike Wood and Shimeon Lee
The revelation of these side hustles has triggered sharp criticism from political figures and taxpayer advocacy groups regarding the ethics of moonlighting.. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood has questioned why the highest-paid public servants are pursuing lucrative private roles while taxes continue to rise. Shimeon Lee, a policy analyst at the TaxPayers Alliance, argued that the public would be astonished to learn that civil servants can build such lucrative side incomes on top of their existing salaries.
While the government maintains that all paid outside employment is approved and declared to ensure transparency, several critical questions remain unaddressed. It is currently unclear how the Cabinet Office prevents subtle conflicts of interest in sectors like AI and property , or whether the public is receiving the full-time dedication their taxes fund. Furthermore, the report does not specify if any of these officials have faced scrutiny regarding the specific timing of their private-sector engagements.
Comments 0