Jeremy Pocklington

Jeremy Mark Pocklington CB (born 13 October 1973) is a British civil servant who has served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence from October 2025. He served as Permanent Secretary of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero from February 2023 to November 2025 and previously at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) from March 2020 (when it was the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)) to February 2023. He was formerly Director General for Housing and Planning at the MHCLG, having served in that role from August 2018 until his appointment as Permanent Secretary at the MHCLG.

Early life and education Pocklington was born on 13 October 1973 to David Pocklington and Valerie Pocklington. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School. He later studied at Exeter College in the University of Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History in 1995. He later went on to graduate with a Master of Philosophy in Economics and Social History with distinction in 1997 from the same college.

Career Pocklington began his civil service career in 1997 when he joined HM Treasury,

Pocklington was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2020 New Year Honours for public service.

On 30 March 2020, the then Cabinet Secretary, Sir Mark Sedwill, with the approval of the prime minister, approved the appointment of Pocklington as the new Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government following a brief period as acting Permanent Secretary following the resignation of Dame Melanie Dawes. When the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government became the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in 2021, Pocklington became Permanent Secretary to the new department.

Pocklington was announced as the new Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence on the 31st October 2025. He replaces David Williams who leaves the Civil Service after 35 years.

Personal life Pocklington married Katy Jane Wigley in 2005. He lists his recreations as hillwalking.