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ACOBA’s closure: the new process and contact details for applications under the Business Appointments Rules as of Monday 13 October 2025

ACOBA is no longer in operation. Applications for ministers should be sent to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. Applications for Crown servants should be sent to the Civil service Commission. If your case is yet to be finalised, the successor body will be in touch.

From:
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Published
23 July 2025
Last updated
10 October 2025 — See all updates

The government announced on 21 July 2025 that ACOBA will close and that its functions will be transferred as of 13 October 2025.

Arrangements following ACOBA’s closure

As of 13 October ACOBA is closed. Its  functions have been transferred.

In order to receive advice under the government’s Business Appointment Rules, or for enquiries pertaining to the Rules, please follow the relevant instructions below: 

  1. Former ministers should submit applications and enquiries to: the office of the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards at ind.adviser.BARS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

  2. Applications and enquiries from Crown servants at director general level (SCS3 and equivalent) and above, and special advisers at PB4 and equivalent should be submitted to their department’s HR in the first instance. Completed applications should be sent via the department to the Civil Service Commission at bars@csc.gov.uk

  3. If in doubt, contact your department in the first instance.

Updates to this page

Published 23 July 2025
Last updated 10 October 2025 show all updates

  1. The closure of ACOBA

  2. Updated to include interim arangments and successor bodies

  3. First published.