Shapps, Grant - Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence - ACOBA advice
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-10)

Advice to Rt Hon Grant Shapps, former Secretary of State for Defence, on business appointments after leaving Crown service.

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps left his role at Ministry of Defence in July 2024.

Cambridge Aerospace

The Committee wrote to Mr Shapps (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68e9162b1c8b2a3b5069085c/Response_to_Grant_Shapps_about_Cambridge_Aerospace.pdf) about Cambridge Aerospace, following an enquiry from a member of the public. An accessible version is available here (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/shapps-grant-minister-of-state-department-for-international-development/correspondence-between-acoba-and-grant-shapps-about-cambridge-aerospace?preview=8894701).

Advisor, Ascalane Partners

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Ascalane Partners. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68de9872750fcf90fa6ffd66/Advice_Letter_-_Grant_Shapps__Advisor__Ascalane_Partners.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in September 2025; and the appointment was taken up in October 2025. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/shapps-grant-minister-of-state-department-for-international-development/advice-letter-grant-shapps-advisor-ascalane-partners?preview=8858510)

Member of the Strategic Intelligence Council, 9Yards Capital

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with 9Yards Capital. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68b189a2b0a373a01819fc5f/Advice_Letter_-_Grant_Shapps__Member_of_the_Strategic_Intelligence_Council__9Yards_Capital.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in August 2025; and the appointment was taken up in September 2025. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://draft-origin.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/publications/shapps-grant-minister-of-state-department-for-international-development/advice-letter-grant-shapps-member-of-the-strategic-intelligence-council-9yards-capital?preview=8822215)

Partner, 7percent Ventures

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with 7percent Ventures. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/681201dd9d4e05673112167d/Advice_Letter_-_Grant_Shapps__7percent_Ventures.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in April 2025; and the appointment was taken up in later that month. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/shapps-grant-minister-of-state-department-for-international-development/advice-letter-grant-shapps-partner-7percent-ventures?preview=false)

Chair, Cambridge Aerospace

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Cambridge Aerospace. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6811eaa8c47c2060a9121666/Advice_Letter_-_Grant_Shapps__Cambridge_Aerospace.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in November 2024; and the appointment was taken up later than month. An accessible version of the letter is available here. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/shapps-grant-minister-of-state-department-for-international-development/advice-letter-grant-shapps-chair-cambridge-aerospace)

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps left his role as Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in October 2015, before rejoining government in July 2019. The Committee’s correspondence to Grant Shapps in relation to appointments following his previous departure from government in 2015 are also listed on this page.

Advisor, Avanti Communications Group

The Rt Hon Grant Shapps sought the Committee’s advice about taking up an appointment with Avanti Communications Group. The letter (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75bf5840f0b6488c78ea51/Shapps__Grant_-_Letter_to_Minister_.pdf) containing the Committee’s consideration and the conditions imposed on the appointment was sent in October 2017