Who we are
We are Britain’s diplomatic service and represent the UK government overseas.
We are made up of 14,900 people working in over 160 countries.
Around one-third of our workforce is made up of British civil servants and two-thirds is employed locally by our embassies and posts.
We celebrate diversity and recruit our staff from a broad range of backgrounds so that we benefit from fresh experiences and perspectives.
Our ministers
This is where you can meet the people in charge – the Secretary of State and the various Ministers who make up the political team
Special representatives
The Prime Minister and/or Foreign Secretary appoint special representatives
Permanent Under-Secretary
Peter Ricketts is Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service. Watch video of him outlining the aims of the FCO
The FCO Board
Find out about the role, function, purpose and membership of the FCO Board. The board is chaired by the Permanent Under-Secretary
Our directorates
Read about the responsibilities of our directorates
Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consuls
Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consuls lead the work of our posts around the world.
Our history and buildings
The FCO has come a long way since its beginnings in 1782. You can read about our history and check out every one of our former foreign secretaries
Diversity in the FCO
How and why diversity plays a major role in what we do as an employer, service provider and policy leader