Sir Stephen Bubb, chief executive of Acevo; Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support; and Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice have all made this year’s Debrett 500, an annual list of Britain’s 500 most influential people.

The Debrett's 500, which began in 1769, is compiled by an independent panel of specialists in 26 fields, including charity, law, film and sports. It has made the list publicly available for the first time ever this year.

Sir Stephen is in this year’s group of the 20 most influential people in healthcare, along with Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, is recognised as one of the most influential people in law, along with Salil Shetty, secretary general of Amnesty International.

Other civil society faces in the list include Sir Alan Parker, chair of Save the Children, who is in the group of the country’s most influential people in PR; Sir Nicholas Hytner, director of the National Theatre, recognised for his influence in theatre; and Sir Ronald Cohen, chair of Big Society Capital, who is in the group of the finance sector's most influential.

Brett Wigdortz, founder and CEO of Teach First; Lucy Heller, managing director at ARK Schools and Tony Little, headmaster at Eton College are among education’s most influential. Meanwhile Amanda Nevill, CEO of the British Film Institute, is recognised for her influence in the film industry.

Philanthropists honoured in charity field

The Debrett's 500 also has a dedicated field to the most influential people in the field of charity. The 17-strong list heavily features philanthropists and campaigners, such as the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Malala Yousafzai, Sir Elton John, Stephen Fry and Sir Richard Branson.

Charity founders are also recognised, including Lord Sainsbury of Turville, founder of Gatsby Charitable Foundation; Lord Ashcroft, founder and chair of Crimestoppers; Christopher and Jamie Cooper-Hohn, founders of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation; John Caudwell, founder of Caudwell Children charity; and Richard Curtis and Lenny Henry, founders of Comic Relief.