Transparency data

DBT's business appointment rules advice, July to September 2025

Published 16 December 2025

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) issued a decision on one application submitted under the business appointment rules for the period of July to September 2025.

Full name of applicant David Watson
Title of former Civil Service role Deputy Director, Communications and Marketing
Date left Civil Service 4 July 2025
New employer Immediately after leaving DBT, David worked for ‘London and Partners’ for a short period before establishing his own consultancy.
New appointment/employment (including when taken up) London and Partners: 28 July 2025 to 31 October 2025

Consultancy company: 3 November 2025 to present
Department’s decision on application (including details of any waiting period or other conditions or restrictions applied) David must follow these conditions for a period of 2 years from the last day of paid service:

– they should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK government directly for the benefit of themselves, their employer, or their client

– should they contact any government official, they should identify themselves as a former civil servant

– they should not draw on privileged information available to them from their time in Crown service

– they should recuse themselves from government procurement exercises