Correspondence from ACOBA to Mark Jenkinson, breach of the Rules (Redghyll Ltd and Nuvia Group)
Published 18 December 2024
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1. Re: Application for advice on establishing an independent consultancy, Redghyll Ltd, and taking up a commission with Nuvia Group.
Dear Mark,
Thank you for your recent correspondence to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) enclosing your applications for advice. This included applications for advice on establishing an independent consultancy, Redghyll Ltd and taking up work with Nuvia.
You applied for ACOBA’s advice on Redghyll Ltd and Nuvia, after starting these roles. You listed your directorship of Redghyll on your linkedin profile as starting in July 2024; and you took up work with Nuvia, as a paid Technical Author, in September 2024.
Under the government’s Business Appointment Rules (the Rules), as set out in the Ministerial Code, you are required to seek and await final advice before taking up or announcing any appointments or employment for two years after leaving office. Alongside your application, you attached a letter to ACOBA acknowledging that you had not sought advice and apologising for failing to do so. This correspondence is annexed below.
The government’s Rules exist to protect the integrity of government. Failure to seek advice before commencing work is a clear and unambiguous breach of the Rules.
ACOBA’s long-established practice is not to provide retrospective advice and report breaches to the government. You must seek advice from ACOBA on all work, roles or positions for two years from the date of your work termination from the government. Failure to do so would be a further breach. You must continue to follow the Rules and apply for advice on any future work you plan to take up under your consultancy Redghyll Ltd.
Please see the correspondence enclosed, reporting this matter to the government, as the owners of the Rules. In line with ACOBA’s commitment to transparency, the exchange of correspondence will be published on our website.
The Rt Hon Lord Pickles
2. Annex- Previous Correspondence
2.1 Correspondence from Mr Jenkinson to the Rt Hon the Lord Pickles, 4 October 2024
Dear Lord Pickles,
I have today sought retrospective advice on appointments, and pre-advice on the others in the usual manner. I must apologise for not following the guidance initially.
I do not recall, nor can I find any evidence of, receiving the letter from ACOBA to departing ministers. That aside, I fully accept that it was my responsibility to understand that the rules applied to me as a departing Assistant Government Whip. It was not my intention to circumvent the rules, or to cause the committee any additional work.
I apologise wholeheartedly to you and the other members of the committee for this oversight, and the committee can be assured that future appointments will be submitted in line with the guidance.
Yours ever
Mark Jenkinson