Civil servants face stricter outside employment rules than almost any other group of UK employees. The Civil Service Management Code requires prior approval before accepting outside employment that might affect civil service work — not just work that definitely creates a conflict, but work that might. The threshold is lower than in most private sector employment contracts, and the obligation to seek approval is explicit rather than implied.
This does not mean civil servants cannot have side hustles. Many do, legally and with approval. But the process is different from the approach described for private sector employees: disclosure is not optional, it is mandatory, and the approval process must be completed before starting — not after.
This guide explains the Civil Service Management Code rules in full, walks through the approval process, identifies the types of side hustle that are typically approved and typically refused, and covers what happens after you leave the civil service.
For the general UK framework on employer disclosure for side hustles, see our complete guide on how the rules about employer disclosure work generally.
The Legal Framework: Civil Service Management Code Paragraph 4.3.4
The Civil Service Management Code is published by the Cabinet Office and applies to all civil servants in UK government departments and their agencies. Paragraph 4.3.4 sets out the requirement clearly:
Civil servants must seek permission before accepting any outside employment which might affect their work either directly or indirectly.
Three words matter most here: “might affect”. This is a lower bar than “does affect” or “would conflict with”. The obligation to seek permission applies even when the outside work seems entirely unrelated, if there is any plausible connection to your civil service role or any potential for it to affect your work.
The underlying principle is that civil servants must not place themselves in a position where their outside interests conflict with their public duties, or where they could be seen to have done so. The perception of conflict matters as well as the reality.
The Civil Service Code
Alongside the Management Code, the Civil Service Code which applies to all civil servants as part of their terms and conditions requires civil servants to:
- Behave with honesty, integrity, and impartiality
- Not misuse their official position to further private interests
- Not make use of official information acquired in the course of their duties for personal gain
A side hustle that draws on contacts made in your civil service role, uses knowledge developed in your official capacity, or could be perceived as leveraging your government position is likely to fall foul of the Code regardless of whether it creates a practical conflict.
What “Outside Employment” Means — and What It Does Not?
The phrase “outside employment” in paragraph 4.3.4 is interpreted broadly.
It covers:
- Employed roles with another organisation (paid, regular work for a separate employer)
- Self-employment (sole trader activities, freelance work, consultancy)
- Directorships and non-executive roles (including unpaid trusteeships and charity board positions)
- Any paid public speaking, writing, or broadcasting that draws on official experience
What is not typically covered:
- Selling personal possessions you already own (decluttering on Vinted, for example)
- Purely passive income from savings accounts, ISAs, or dividend investments
- Royalties from work created entirely before joining the civil service
- Volunteering activities that do not create a conflict of interest though even some voluntary roles may require approval where a conflict is possible (see below)
The practical test is whether the activity involves providing services, selling goods at a profit, or taking on a commitment that could affect your civil service work or be perceived to do so.
The Approval Process: Step by Step
Step 1: Identify the Correct Approver
Approval is sought from your line manager in the first instance. Senior Civil Servants (SCS) have additional requirements — their outside employment is subject to departmental board oversight, and SCS declarations are reviewed annually (including a nil return if there is nothing to declare).
Most departments have a specific HR policy or declaration form for outside employment. Check your department’s intranet for the relevant form before approaching your manager.
Step 2: Submit a Written Request
Prepare a written description of the proposed outside activity that covers:
- What you intend to do (role, service, or business description)
- How many hours per week or month you expect to spend
- Whether it involves any area related to your civil service work
- Whether it could create any conflict of interest, direct or indirect
- Whether it involves any use of information or contacts from your civil service role
- The identity of the organisation or clients you will work for (where applicable)
Being specific and transparent in your request significantly improves the likelihood of approval. Vague descriptions create uncertainty that tends to result in refusal or additional queries.
Step 3: Wait for Written Confirmation Before Starting
This point cannot be overstated: you must receive written approval before beginning any outside employment. Starting the activity before approval is received — even if you are confident it will be approved — is a breach of the Code.
Step 4: Renew if You Change Roles
If you move to a different role within the civil service, any existing outside employment approval does not automatically carry over. You must tell your new line manager about your outside employment and seek their approval. A role change that takes you to a department with responsibility for areas related to your side hustle may result in previously approved activity being reviewed or withdrawn.
Step 5: Notify of Any Changes
If the nature, scale, or client base of your approved outside activity changes significantly, you must notify your line manager and seek fresh approval for the amended activity.
Side Hustles Typically Approved
While approval is never guaranteed — it depends on the specific role and the specific activity — the following types of side hustle are generally approved for civil servants who are not in sensitive policy roles:
Craft and Creative Selling
Selling handmade goods on Etsy, Vinted reselling, creating digital products, photography — where there is no connection to your civil service work and no use of official information or contacts. The key test: could the activity be seen to leverage your government position or access in any way? If no, approval is likely.
Tutoring in Unrelated Subjects
Private tutoring in subjects entirely unrelated to your policy area. A civil servant working in transport policy tutoring A-level history has no obvious conflict. A civil servant working in education policy tutoring students in curriculum subjects would require more careful consideration.
Writing and Content Creation (Non-government Topics)
Writing fiction, a lifestyle blog, recipe content, or creative material that has no connection to your civil service work and does not draw on official experience. Approval is typically straightforward.
Property Income
Renting a spare room under the Rent-a-Room scheme or letting a property as a landlord is generally not classified as “outside employment” in the employment sense, but it is worth confirming with HR if your role involves housing policy or if the property income is substantial.
Teaching and Lecturing
Evening or weekend teaching at a college or university, in a subject unrelated to your policy area, is generally approvable. Academic lecturing related to your civil service area requires more scrutiny — it may involve sharing experience gained in your official capacity.
Side Hustles Typically Refused or Requiring Extra Scrutiny
Consultancy in Your Policy Area
This is the highest-risk category. A civil servant working on health policy offering health policy consultancy services to private healthcare organisations creates an obvious conflict and a perception risk. Even if the specific advice does not draw on official information, the overlap with your role makes approval very unlikely.
Working for Organisations Your Department Regulates or Funds
Any outside employment with an organisation that your department regulates, funds, or has a procurement relationship with is very likely to be refused. The risk of real or perceived influence is too high.
Political or Campaigning Roles
The Civil Service Code requires political impartiality. Civil servants in politically restricted posts (most positions above administrative assistant level) cannot take part in national political activities or hold public office. Side hustles that involve political campaigning, standing for election, or taking public positions on policy matters are not compatible with civil service employment.
Publicly Prominent Media Roles
Regular media appearances (presenting, podcasting, writing opinion columns) that draw on civil service experience or that could create a public profile incompatible with your role as an impartial public servant require very careful consideration. Broadcasting rules for civil servants are covered in the Management Code and vary by grade.
Paid Writing or Speaking on Official Topics
The Civil Service Code explicitly states that civil servants should not accept payment for speeches, books, or magazine articles that draw on their official experience without prior departmental approval. This applies even after leaving — see Business Appointment Rules below.
Senior Civil Servants: Additional Rules
Senior Civil Servants (SCS grades) face additional obligations:
All outside employment by SCS members must be declared on departmental transparency disclosures. SCS members must confirm annually that their declarations of interest are up to date, including a nil return if there is nothing to declare. Any changes to approved activities must be notified promptly.
For SCS who also sit on departmental boards, all outside employment and interests are published in the annual report and accounts.
The Business Appointment Rules After Leaving
Civil servants who leave the civil service face additional restrictions on outside employment under the Business Appointment Rules (published April 2025). These are particularly important for anyone considering building a consultancy or business related to their civil service work.
The rules require civil servants to apply for approval before taking up certain appointments or employment after leaving. The rules continue to apply for one year after leaving for most civil servants, and for two years for Senior Civil Servants. The rules are particularly focused on preventing former civil servants from exploiting privileged contacts or access to sensitive government information in commercial roles.
Civil servants planning to start a side hustle that could grow into a post-civil-service business should be aware that the Business Appointment Rules may affect their ability to operate in the same area immediately after leaving. Early advice from the department’s ethics team is worth seeking before building something that may face post-employment restrictions.
Tax Rules for Civil Servants With Side Hustles
Civil servants’ side hustle income is taxed identically to any other UK earner. The £1,000 trading allowance applies, Self Assessment registration is required once gross income exceeds £1,000, and Class 4 NICs apply on profits above £12,570.
One civil-service-specific consideration: civil servants receive a government pension (often a defined benefit scheme) which does not affect side hustle tax. However, any tax underpayment identified through Self Assessment may be collected via an adjustment to the PAYE code applied to your civil service salary — meaning your employer’s payroll may see a tax code change. This does not reveal the nature or amount of your side hustle income, but it may prompt questions.
For the full explanation of how the tax threshold works for civil servant earners, see our guide on how the tax threshold applies to civil servant earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tell my line manager about Vinted sales?
Only if you are operating as a trader rather than casually clearing personal possessions. Selling your own unwanted clothing is not “outside employment.” Operating a systematic reselling business — buying items specifically to sell at a profit — may need to be disclosed, particularly if you are in a role with any connection to consumer markets or retail policy.
Can a civil servant run a limited company on the side?
In principle yes — but a limited company directorship requires disclosure and approval as outside employment. The conflict of interest test applies. A limited company in an unrelated field with no connection to your civil service role can typically be approved. One in a related area or with connections to your department’s regulated or funded entities is likely to be refused.
What happens if I do not seek approval and my manager finds out?
Failure to seek prior approval for outside employment is a breach of the Civil Service Code. Depending on the seriousness of the breach and whether a real or perceived conflict existed, this can result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. The civil service takes integrity obligations seriously, particularly for more senior grades.
Can civil servants write books?
Yes, with approval. Writing that draws on your official experience or that could be perceived to do so requires prior approval. Fiction or writing with no connection to your official role is typically approved straightforwardly. Payment for writing that draws on official experience requires explicit departmental clearance.
What to Read Next?
For the broader framework on employer disclosure that applies to the private sector, see our guide on how the rules about employer disclosure work generally.
For a comparison with another profession with similar disclosure requirements, see our guide on side hustles for teachers facing similar disclosure rules.
Verified against Cabinet Office guidance as of 16 June 2026.
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