On 8 September 2026 the Cabinet Office announced that Cat Little will become the new Permanent Secretary of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), succeeding interim leader Amanda Brooks.
Appointment details
The press release on GOV.UK states: “The Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, has appointed Cat Little as the new Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST).” It also confirms that “Cat is currently the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office and the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer.”
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Jonathan Reynolds welcomed the move, saying: “The work we’re doing in BIST is vital to driving the growth people across our country need, and Cat has the experience to help us deliver.” Cabinet Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo added, “I am delighted to announce Cat’s appointment as Permanent Secretary for BIST.” The announcement also thanked Amanda Brooks for her interim leadership: “I would also like to thank Amanda Brooks for her leadership of the department in the interim period.”
Policy implications for BIST
Little’s résumé includes a stint as Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury and senior roles in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence. That blend of fiscal, legal and defence experience positions her to influence three key policy fronts that BIST oversees.
- Trade negotiations. With the UK seeking new trade deals post‑Brexit, a Permanent Secretary who has navigated Treasury budgeting and defence procurement may bring a more disciplined cost‑benefit lens to trade talks, potentially tightening the economic modelling behind future agreements.
- Regulatory reform. BIST is responsible for the regulatory environment affecting everything from fintech to clean‑tech. Little’s background in the Treasury suggests she could push for tighter alignment between fiscal policy and regulatory impact assessments, accelerating reforms that support investment.
- Innovation funding. The department’s growth agenda relies on targeted funding for research and development. Little’s experience across ministries may help streamline cross‑departmental funding pipelines, reducing duplication and speeding delivery of grants.
These potential shifts are speculative, as the announcement does not detail any immediate policy changes. However, the combination of her Treasury experience and senior civil‑service operational knowledge makes it plausible that BIST will adopt a more integrated approach to fiscal‑policy coordination.
Cabinet Office succession
The press release notes that Little will remain in her current Cabinet Office role “until a successor is in place.” A recruitment process will be launched to find that successor, but no timeline has been disclosed.
Because the Cabinet Office underpins the civil service’s overall efficiency, the vacancy could create a short‑term bandwidth strain. The department will need to balance the hand‑over of ongoing projects – such as the civil‑service digital transformation programme – while maintaining continuity in BIST’s strategic work.
Little’s appointment arrives at a moment of heightened economic focus for the UK, with upcoming trade talks and a domestic push for innovation‑led growth. Stakeholders in finance, technology and manufacturing will be watching how her leadership style translates into concrete policy actions.
What remains unknown is the exact date when a new Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary will be named, and whether that appointment will bring a shift in the civil service’s broader agenda. The government has not provided a timetable for the recruitment process, leaving industry observers to wait for further signals.
“The work we’re doing in BIST is vital to driving the growth people across our country need, and Cat has the experience to help us deliver.” – Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
In the weeks ahead, the real test will be whether Little’s cross‑departmental experience translates into faster decision‑making on trade deals, more coherent regulatory reforms and a stronger pipeline for innovation funding. For now, the appointment itself is the most concrete development, and the search for her Cabinet Office successor adds a layer of uncertainty that could shape the civil service’s capacity to support BIST’s agenda.