National statistics

MOD biannual civilian personnel report (BCPR) - October 2021

Published 25 November 2021

This statistical release presents figures on the strengths, inflow and outflow of all civilian personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence.

For further information on the MOD Biannual Civilian Personnel Report please visit:

• MOD Biannual Civilian Personnel Report statistics

• MOD Biannual Civilian Personnel Background Quality Report

• MOD Biannual Civilian Personnel Notes and Glossary

• MOD Biannual Civilian Personnel Excel ODS table

The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics (November 2013), in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.

Definitions of terms used in this publication are present throughout the publication.

1. Main Points

MOD civilian personnel strength (FTE)

At October 2021, MOD civilian personnel strength (FTE) was 60,410. This is an increase of 1,560 (2.7%) compared with 1 October 2020.

MOD civilian personnel inflow

For the 12 months to 30 September 2021, MOD civilian personnel inflow was 6,160. This is an increase of 620 (11.1%) compared with the previous 12 months.

MOD civilian personnel outflow

For the 12 months to 30 September 2021, MOD civilian personnel outflow was 4,620. This is a decrease of 290 (5.9%) compared with the previous 12 months.

2. Civilian Personnel

FTE & Headcount (HC) Strengths

The MOD civilian personnel strength (FTE) at 1 October 2021 was 60,410, an increase of 1,560 personnel (2.7%) compared with 1 October 2020 (Excel ODS Table 1).

The MOD civilian personnel strength (HC) at 1 October 2021 was 62,460 an increase of 1,620 personnel (2.7%) compared with 1 October 2020 (Excel ODS Table 3).

Headcount (HC) A measure of the size of the workforce based on number of personnel employed rather than by their FTE proportion.

Strength Total number of personnel employed by the Department at a specific time period.

Full Time Equivalence (FTE) A figure that allows part-time workers’ hours to be put into the same units as full-time workers. This publication often uses the term jobs to mean full-time equivalent employment.

Figure 1: Breakdown of Civilian Personnel (FTE) by main groups, as at 1 October 2021

Figure 1 shows that Top Level Budgetary areas have by far the largest FTE share: 60.3%. Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s share is smallest 3.0%, with remaining FTE split between DE&S Trading Entity 17.5%, Trading Fund & Executive Agencies 13.1% & Locally Engaged Civilians 6.1%.

The table below shows the primary drivers by FTE for the rate of increase in personnel between 1 October 2020 and 1 October 2021.

Primary increase has occurred in Top Level Budgetary areas and Trading Fund & Executive Agencies, while remaining areas show minor increases or have remained stable.

Table 1: MOD Civilian Personnel by Main Groups (FTE)

	FTE as at 1 October 2020	FTE as at 1 October 2021	Difference	% Change
Top Level Budgetary areas	35,490	36,450	960	2.7%
DE&S Trading Entity	10,490	10,550	60	0.6%
Trading Fund & Executive Agencies	7,400	7,890	490	6.5%
Locally engaged civilians	3,630	3,690	60	1.6%
Royal Fleet Auxiliary	1,840	1,840	0	-0.1%
Total	58,850	60,410	1,560	2.2%

Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB) The major organisational groupings of the MOD directly responsible for the planning, management and delivery of departmental capability.

DE&S Trading Entity Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) has been reported as a bespoke trading entity from 1 July 2015. Prior to this it was reported as a TLB.

Trading Funds Self accounting units that have greater freedom than other government departments in managing their own financial and management activities. From 1 July 2017 this total includes ‘Executive Agency’ data.

Locally Engaged Civilians LEC employees are recruited overseas exclusively for employment in support of the UK Armed Forces. LECs are also employed on terms and conditions analogous with local employment law and market forces, and not those of the UK.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary A civilian-manned fleet, owned by the MOD, which supports Royal Navy ships around the world, supplying warships with fuel, ammunition and supplies.

Figure 2: Civilian Level 0 personnel strength (Full Time Equivalent)

Figure 2 above demonstrates a gradual FTE strength rise through to October 2019 at 58820, with slight drops to April 20 at 58250, followed by more active increase to October 21 at 60410 FTE personnel. While there has been a consistent trend of increasing civilian strength total across the reported period as shown in figure 2, this trend has become more notable since April 2020.

Civilian Level 0 Contains all those at Level 1 plus Trading Funds and Locally Engaged Civilians. This is used for external reporting, including National Statistics publications, Strategic Defence and Security Review Baseline, UKDS and Parliamentary Business.

3. Civilian Personnel by Grade

The proportion of civilian personnel in a Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB) who were classed as non-industrial personnel has slowly increased since 1 April 2016. The proportion has ranged from 84.9 % at 1 April 2016 to 90.7 % as at 1 October 2021.

Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB) The major organisational groupings of the MOD directly responsible for the planning, management and delivery of departmental capability.

Non- industrial Personnel Civilian personnel who undertake work such as administration, analysis, policy, procurement, finance, medical, dental, teaching, policing, science and engineering.

Figure 3: Proportion of civilian personnel by grade*, as at 1 October 2021

^{* Excludes unknown grades.}

Figure 3 shows the breakdown of FTE by pay band in October 2021 has SCS with the smallest proportion of 0.8%. Band E has the highest share of 32.4% followed closely by Band C at 31.9%. The remaining proportions were between Band B 7.3%, Band D 18.2% and Industrial 9.4%.

4. Inflow and Outflow

The annual inflow of civilian personnel in the 12 months to 30 September 2021 was 6,160, a 11.1 % increase (620 personnel) compared with the previous 12 months (Table 2). Primary increase in inflow levels occurred in Top Level Budgetary areas and Trading Fund & Executive Agencies, with inflow levels for DE&S Trading Entity (DE&S) falling.

Table 2: Inflow of Civilian personnel (headcount)

	12 months to 30 September 2020	12 months to 30 September 2021	Difference (number)	Difference (% change)
Top Level Budgetary areas (TLB)	3,580	4,160	580	16.2%
DE&S Trading Entity (DE&S)	1,250	1,140	- 110	- 8.8%
Trading Fund & Executive Agencies	710	860	150	21.4%
Total	5,540	6,160	620	11.1%

The annual outflow of civilian personnel in the 12 months to 30 September 2021 was 4,620, a 5.9 % decrease (290 personnel) compared with the previous 12 months (Table 3).

Inflow The number of personnel joining the Department within a monthly, quarterly or financial year period.

Outflow The number of personnel leaving the Department within a monthly, quarterly or financial year period.

Table 3: Outflow of Civilian Personnel (headcount)

	12 months to 30 September 2020	12 months to 30 September 2021	Difference (number)	Difference (% change)
Top Level Budgetary areas (TLB)	3,720	3,330	- 390	- 10.6%
DE&S Trading Entity (DE&S)	690	730	50	6.9%
Trading Fund & Executive Agencies	500	560	60	11.2%
Total	4,910	4,620	- 290	- 5.9%

Figure 4: MOD Main TLB outflow by reason, 12 months ending 30 September 2021

For Figure 4 Retirement and Resignation rates were highest in October 2021 at 34.0% and 32.7% respectively.

Figure 5: Inflow and outflow of MOD Main civilian personnel (Headcount)

For figure 5, the overall trend in the net flow of MOD Main civilian personnel through to September 20 is generally negative, with a trend of positive net flows from December 20. For the 12 months to 30 September 2021, the outflow was minus 3330, whereas the intake was positive 4160. This resulted in a net flow of 830.

5. Grade structures

Since 1 April 1996 all departments and agencies have had delegated responsibility for the pay and grading of their employees, except for those in the Senior Civil Service (SCS). The MOD grades are shown here against levels broadly equivalent (in terms of pay and job weight) to the former service-wide grades.

MOD grades	Former service-wide grades
SCS – Senior Civil Service	SCS – Senior Civil Service
B1 & equivalents	Grade 6
B2 & equivalents	Grade 7
C1 & equivalents	SEO – Senior Executive Officer
C2 & equivalents	HEO – Higher Executive Officer
D & equivalents	EO – Executive Officer
E1 & equivalents	AO – Administrative Officer
E2 & equivalents	AA – Administrative Assistant

6. Rounding

6.1 Tables and Charts within this document

Where rounding has been used, totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. This also applies to Civilian personnel data expressed in terms of Full-Time Equivalents (FTE).

When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in “5” have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

6.2 Excel tables accompanying this publication

An updated MOD Disclosure Control and Rounding policy has been published on GOV.UK and we have applied this policy to the statistics on Civilian personnel in the accompanying Excel tables. The policy is available here.

Disclosure control will still be applied to statistical or numeric information to safeguard the confidentiality of individuals. ‘Disclosure control’ refers to the efforts made to reduce the risk of disclosure, such as applying statistical methods to protect ‘personally identifiable information’ (PII) in aggregate data tables. These safeguards can take many forms (e.g. data suppression, rounding, recoding etc.).

7. Revisions

Occasionally errors can occur in statistical processes; procedures are constantly reviewed to minimise this risk. Should a significant error be found the publication on the website will be updated and an errata slip published documenting the revision.

Responsible statistician: Analysis Civilian Head of Branch
Further information/mailing list: DefStrat-Stat-CivEnquiries@mod.gov.uk Background quality report: Background quality report

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