Cat Little has been appointed permanent secretary of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), ending the interim leadership of Amanda Brooks.
Appointment details
The GOV.UK press release dated 8 September 2026 states that the Cabinet Secretary, with the approval of the Prime Minister, made the appointment. The announcement thanks Amanda Brooks for her leadership during the interim period and confirms that Little will move from her current post in the Cabinet Office to lead BIST.
Cat Little’s civil‑service career
Little is currently the permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office and the civil service chief operating officer. The same release notes that she has previously served as second permanent secretary at HM Treasury and has held senior roles in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Defence. Her breadth of experience across finance, justice and defence is highlighted by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, who said: “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.”
Little will remain in her Cabinet Office role until a successor is appointed, as the release adds: “She will continue in her current role until a successor is in place.”
Implications for UK business and trade policy
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade is responsible for shaping the UK’s commercial strategy, overseeing export promotion, and steering innovation policy. A permanent secretary with Treasury and defence experience may bring a more fiscally disciplined perspective to the department’s agenda. Analysts note that the timing of the appointment coincides with heightened focus on post‑Brexit trade negotiations and the government’s push to boost productivity through innovation.
While the appointment itself does not alter policy, the change in senior leadership could affect the department’s internal priorities. Little’s background in the Cabinet Office suggests she is accustomed to cross‑government coordination, which may help align BIST’s work with wider economic objectives such as the “levelling‑up” agenda and the upcoming fiscal framework.
Stakeholders – from large exporters to small‑and‑medium enterprises – will be watching how quickly Little settles into the role and whether she initiates any organisational reviews. The department’s annual business‑impact report, due later this year, will provide the first quantitative gauge of any shift in performance under her stewardship.
What remains unknown
- The exact date Little will assume day‑to‑day responsibilities at BIST has not been disclosed.
- There is no public timetable for when a permanent successor to her Cabinet Office post will be named.
- Specific policy initiatives that Little intends to prioritise have not been outlined in the announcement.
Key facts of the appointment
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Appointed role | Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) |
| Current role | Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office and Civil Service Chief Operating Officer |
| Interim leader thanked | Amanda Brooks |
| Announced | 8 September 2026 |
| Appointed by | Cabinet Secretary, with Prime Minister’s approval |
| Source: GOV.UK press release, 8 September 2026 | |
Beyond the facts above, the department’s next steps will become clearer once Little takes up the post and outlines her strategic priorities.