A Department for Work and Pensions employee has been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List 2023.

Nageshwara (Nagesh) Reddy, a senior civil servant of 30 years and a Lytham St Annes resident, has been awarded a CBE – Commander of the Order of the British Empire – for his long career serving the public.

Nagesh is currently a Portfolio Director at DWP, covering a number of areas including labour market strategy, devolution and financial inclusion.

His three decades in the civil service was an unexpected career; he took on a stopgap job as an administrative officer in 1992, not knowing it would turn into a meaningful career he still enjoys today.

Beyond his role, Nagesh is passionate about driving diversity and inclusion at work, creating opportunities for all – something that has personally motivated him in his career.

Nagesh said: “I was in shock. I had to read the letter a few times. And then I rang the Cabinet Office just to check it was me.

“You never think it’s going to be you. People that receive these do amazing things. So to even be considered in that way is absolutely humbling and I’m so delighted and honoured to be in the company of such truly remarkable people.

“It's my 30-year anniversary at DWP. I started as a casual administrative officer in operations and it was meant to be a stopgap, not a long-term career. But I love what I do and it led me to become a director a couple of years ago.

“I’ve pretty much worked on every benefit apart from child maintenance, including working in local offices early on in my career. I’ve moved around in different corporate roles - finance, HR and digital, but in the last 10 to 15 years I’ve worked in the programme/ project management sphere and I absolutely love it.

“As well as DWP, I've worked at the Ministry of Defence, HMRC and the Cabinet Office. My current role is focused on a range of key activities including labour market strategy, bringing the Government’s Plan for Jobs to life and also DWP’s response to Ukraine. Other areas of work have included devolution, EU exit, and Covid.

“I’ve worked in so many roles and I've been fortunate, very fortunate.”

Nagesh has been very heavily involved in over the years is diversity and inclusion during his time as a civil servant.

Nagesh Reddy is one of 15 employees at the Department for Work and Pensions and its arm’s length bodies to be recognised in the King’s first New Year Honours List 2023.

Every year the honours system marks the achievements and breadth of service given by extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.