How many external recruitment exercises it authorised in each financial year from 2021-22 to 2025-26 where one or more employees of the rel…

When organisational change or restructuring leaves a core Scottish Government civil servant without a substantive post, they are given priority mover status and added to the priority movers list. Before any vacancy is advertised, whether internally or externally, it must first be considered for a priority mover. A vacancy may proceed to advertisement only where no suitable priority mover has been identified.Priority movers have exclusive access to vacancies at their own grade through a restricted portal before those vacancies are advertised more widely. Where one priority mover applies and meets the criteria, they are expected to be offered the post, unless there is a clear reason why they could not perform the role. Where several apply, an ‘expression of interest’ exercise is conducted against the published criteria.A priority mover is a suitable match where they meet most of the requirements in the job advert, including through transferable skills, experience and knowledge, and could develop in any remaining areas within a reasonable timeframe. A hiring manager who does not appoint a suitable priority mover must give written reasons, which are reviewed by an HR Business Partner before final approval.The number of positions authorised for external recruitment is displayed in the following table.Financial YearNumber of Positions2021-20225482022-20235342023-20247072024-20252692025-2026127Every proposed recruitment exercise must be approved by the Resourcing Assurance Committee before it proceeds. External recruitment is approved only where a post requires specialist skills that are not typically found within the Scottish Government. Prior to advertising, each of these vacancies had first been considered for priority movers. Given that they were then advertised, no suitable priority mover was matched to them.