---
title: "Natural England Chair Executive Search"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-e3c24b8b-61af-4e09-a7ae-489b9b4a030c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e3c24b8b-61af-4e09-a7ae-489b9b4a030c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e3c24b8b-61af-4e09-a7ae-489b9b4a030c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e3c24b8b-61af-4e09-a7ae-489b9b4a030c.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS"
published: "2026-09-01"
---

# Natural England Chair Executive Search

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-e3c24b8b-61af-4e09-a7ae-489b9b4a030c

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## Summary

Defra Commercial procured executive search services for Natural England’s Chair appointment. The requirement is classified as executive services and is a services contract. The work is associated with Natural England and may be delivered across the United Kingdom and internationally, including Europe, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, British Overseas Territories and the rest of the world. The buying organisation is Defra Commercial, based at 17 Smith Square, London. The requirement is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises, making it relevant to specialist executive search firms of different organisational types. The procurement concerns a focused leadership recruitment assignment rather than general staffing or broader consultancy services.

The procurement has been completed and awarded. Defra Commercial used a direct single-tender action below the threshold. The tender submission deadline was 13 July 2026 at noon. The contract was awarded to Saxton on 1 September 2026 for £30,000. The contract period runs from 13 August 2026 to 13 February 2027. There was one requirement, covering the Natural England Chair executive search. The award is active. The published evaluation approach is reflected in the use of a single tender action rather than an open competition. The outcome identifies Saxton as the selected supplier. The opportunity was suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, but the procurement route was a direct award rather than a multi-supplier tender.

This award is evidence of a defined requirement for specialist executive search services supporting the appointment of a public body chair. Firms competing when a similar requirement returns would need credible executive search capability, experience of senior leadership recruitment and the capacity to manage a focused chair-level assignment for a public sector client. The buyer’s acceptance of SME and VCSE participation indicates that this type of work can suit specialist boutiques as well as larger search businesses. Relevant suppliers should be able to operate across the United Kingdom and, where required, support searches involving Europe, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, British Overseas Territories and international locations. Understanding public sector leadership appointments and responding through a direct, below-threshold route would also be commercially relevant.

## Notice

Natural England Chair Executive Search

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ee207cd4-6612-4c5d-b7f5-305094d25353 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Single tender action (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 1 Sep 2026 |
| Contract period | 13 Aug 2026 - 13 Feb 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £30,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Saxton |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services

### Codes

- 75111100 - Executive services

## Release History

- 1 Sep 2026 at 09:37 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ee207cd4-6612-4c5d-b7f5-305094d25353

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ee207cd4-6612-4c5d-b7f5-305094d25353
  1st September 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-e3c24b8b-61af-4e09-a7ae-489b9b4a030c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-e3c24b8b-61af-4e09-a7ae-489b9b4a030c.json.