Civil service ‘diversity and inclusion’ officers earn more than senior trade officials

Government job advertisements show that civil service diversity and inclusion officers earn up to £10,000 more than senior trade officials.

The Department of Business and Trade is currently searching for a new “country chief” for Poland, the UK’s 13th largest trading partner with an economy worth £540bn.

The selected candidate will be responsible for “developing a trade policy strategy and shaping overall trade relations” with Poland.

The advert states that someone based outside London could earn between £32,858 and £34,586 for the role, rising to £36,583-£38,272 if they live in the capital. By comparison, the typical diversity and inclusion officer in the civil service in London earns £42,697 a year, according to careers website Indeed.

Earlier this year, ministers under the previous Conservative government said they wanted to cut the number of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) posts in Whitehall amid concerns they had become a tool for “woke hobbyhorses”.

The new government has yet to confirm whether it will continue with this approach. But the pay figures are likely to raise eyebrows at a time when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has made growing the economy his top priority.

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This is not the first time the government has come under scrutiny for claims it does not pay enough for specialist roles that command higher salaries in the private sector.

For example, while scientists working at Meta, the company that owns Facebook, can earn more than $1m a year in California, Whitehall mandarins last year tried to hire a “deputy director of AI international” on an annual salary of £75,000.

Poland is one of Britain’s closest European allies, with trade between the two countries totalling just under £32bn in the financial year to the end of March, up 11% year-on-year, according to a government document.

As a member of the European Union, most of the country’s trade policy is conducted by Brussels under a post-Brexit trade cooperation agreement.

However, 31% of the £11.2bn of UK exports to Poland were services such as legal advice and fund management – ​​which were not comprehensively covered by the EU agreement.

During a meeting with other European leaders, Sir Keir held one-on-one talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk last month and promised closer cooperation on issues such as energy and defence.

The Department of Business and Trade has been contacted for comment.

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