Making public appointments in a timely manner
Tuesday 23 June 2026
This new series of blogs from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments explains the process by which ministers make appointments to our most important institutions – and the Commissioner’s role in providing assurance that the best people are appointed to these roles.
The integrity of the public appointments process rests on more than just the fairness of selection: it depends on the efficiency with which competitions are conducted.
Timeliness is not merely an administrative goal but a fundamental component of a successful recruitment strategy. When the process of appointing leaders to our most vital institutions becomes protracted, it undermines the core objective of securing the best talent for public service.
In recent years, timeliness has been a persistent issue in public appointments. Appearing before the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, Sir William Shawcross, identified delays as a critical issue facing the system. The evidence is clear: lengthy and unpredictable timelines actively discourage highly qualified and talented individuals from applying for these roles. Potential candidates, often leaders in their own fields, may be unwilling or unable to remain in a state of professional limbo for months on end while waiting for a decision.
To address this, the government has introduced new formal aims to provide clarity and momentum to the process. Most recruitment contests should be completed within a three-month window; for more complex appointments, which may require additional layers of scrutiny or consultation, a target of four months has been established. These aims are set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments, published in October 2025.
Ultimately, improving the speed of public appointments is about protecting the ‘merit’ principle. By streamlining the path to appointment, the government can ensure it remains competitive in attracting a diverse and elite pool of candidates ready to serve the public interest.