A government program to spread policy work beyond London had moved 24,621 roles by March 2025, while the Cabinet Office says about 67% of newly created full-time Civil Service posts were in key regional locations.
The Cabinet Office announced the estimate Oct. 30 but did not specify the period it covers or the number of posts behind it. A companion location-data file published Oct. 29 is titled for March 2025 to March 2026.
Separate official workforce statistics counted 557,825 civil servants by headcount and 523,795 on a full-time-equivalent basis as of March 31, 2026. London accounted for 19.4% of staff, down from 19.6% a year earlier. Headcount rose in every region except East England.
Places for Growth was announced as part of the 2020 Budget. The government’s target to move 22,000 roles outside London was originally set for 2030 and later advanced to 2027. The Cabinet Office says the program passed that target by March 2025.
The government says the initiative is intended to bring policy and senior roles closer to communities. It forecasts £880 million in local economic benefits and £1.1 billion in salary and estate savings by 2030; both figures are projections. Cabinet Office Minister Mark Ferguson described the effort as “shifting power and decision making to local communities.”
In August, the government announced a pilot to second five to 10 civil servants to each of 18 expected mayoral strategic authorities for six to nine months. A separate Fast Stream pilot in Yorkshire and Humber is due to have successful candidates start in September 2027.
