Peter Schofield (civil servant)
Sir Peter Schofield | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Permanent Secretary for the Department for Work and Pensions | |
| In office January 2018 – July 2026 | |
| Minister | Esther McVey Amber Rudd Thérèse Coffey Chloe Smith Mel Stride Liz Kendall Pat McFadden |
| Preceded by | Sir Robert Devereux |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Healey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Hugh Gordon Schofield 27 April 1969 |
| Website | gov |
Sir Peter Hugh Gordon Schofield, KCB (born 27 April 1969) is a former senior British civil servant who served as Permanent Secretary for the Department for Work and Pensions from January 2018 to July 2026.[1][2]
Biography
Born in 1969, Schofield was educated at the Whitgift School and then Gonville and Caius at Cambridge, and then joined the civil service into HM Treasury in 1991.[2] Schofield spent two years on secondment to 3i in 2002–2004, then returned to the civil service in the Shareholder Executive. In 2008, Schofield was promoted and moved to be the director of the Enterprise and Growth Unit in the Treasury, whilst retaining ex officio membership of ShEx's board.[2]
In 2012, Schofield was promoted again to be a director-general, heading the Neighbourhoods Group of the Department of Communities and Local Government for four years. Then he transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions in 2016 as director-general for finance. In January 2018, he succeeded Sir Robert Devereux as the department's permanent secretary.[2][1]
In April 2019 Schofield was appointed as chair of the Charity for Civil Servants, a role he held until July 2026.[3]
Schofield was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Queen's Birthday Honours for 2017 and a Knight Commander of the same order in the King's Birthday Honours for 2024.[4][5]
In February 2026 Schofield announced his intention to step down as permanent secretary in July due to personal reasons. He was succeeded by Sarah Healey who previously led the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.[6][7]
References
- 1 2 HM Government (12 January 2018). "Appointment of Peter Schofield as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 "SCHOFIELD, Peter Hugh Gordon". Who's Who. Oxford University Press. 2011. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.247080.
- ↑ "Sedwill and Schofield join Charity for Civil Servants". Civil Service World. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Peter SCHOFIELD". www.thegazette.co.uk. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ↑ "Awards for Birthday Honours List 2024" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ↑ "DWP perm sec Peter Schofield to depart". Civil Service World. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ "Sarah Healey named as new DWP perm sec". Civil Service World. 11 June 2026. Retrieved 15 August 2026.