Three years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
Since then, the figures have varied, and some Conservative members or supporters have been selected to fill important posts.
Nonetheless, it remains the case that, since it took office in 2010, our Party has punched beneath its weight when it comes to public appointments. One of the reasons seems to be that Tories simply don’t apply in the same number as Labour supporters.
To help remedy this, every fortnight we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives might be aware of the opportunities presented.
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Medical Research Council – Members
“Council is the MRC’s governing body; it directs and oversees corporate policy and scrutinises performance. Council decides on issues of major importance including issues of corporate strategy, key strategic objectives and targets, and major decisions involving the use of financial and other resources.”
Time: 20-25 days per annum.
Remuneration: £6,850 per annum.
Closes: 19 July
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Institute for Apprenticeships – Board Members
“Board members will bring together strategic input from business, employer representatives, academics and other senior representatives with expertise in particular aspects of apprenticeships and broader aspects of the skills landscape. All members contribute corporately to the Institute’s successful pursuit of its mission to ensure that apprenticeships are high-quality.”
Time: Two days per month.
Remuneration: Up to £15,000 per annum.
Closes: 20 July
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Committee on Fuel Poverty – Chair
“As Chair of the CFP you will play a key role in leading the group to deliver high quality, independent, evidence-based advice to Government. You will also be responsible for reporting this advice to Parliament and communicating with stakeholders and the wider public. You will lead, and set the strategic direction of, a group of independent experts.”
Time: 2-3 days per month on average.
Remuneration: £14,000.
Closes: 20 July
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Imperial War Museums – Trustee
“Members of the Board have corporate responsibility for the general management and control of the Museum, subject to the terms set out in the Imperial War Museum Acts (1920 and 1955), subsequent amending legislation and other governing documents. It is their responsibility also to ensure that the Museum complies with any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds.”
Time: Up to one day per month.
Remuneration: Reasonable expenses.
Closes: 21 July
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Low Pay Commission – Chair
“The Low Pay Commission is looking to replace Sir David Norgrove as Chair in November, after his successful term comes to an end. As Chair you will need to bring: credible leadership skills, which will enable you to bring together differing views and present a common solution; ambassadorial skills, to be the public spokesperson for the organisation in high profile, national forums; and technical skills, enabling you to digest large volumes of financial and economic data and convert these into coherent strategies.”
Time: Up to three days per month on average.
Remuneration: TBC.
Closes: 22 July
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National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – Non-Executive Directors
“The Secretary of State for Health is seeking to appoint five new Non-Executive Directors to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE); one as the Audit and Risk Chair, one a consultant in hospital medical practice, one with a background in public health, one with a background in social care and one as a patient/lay representative.”
Time: 2-3 days per month.
Remuneration: £7,883 per annum/£13,137 for Audit Committee chair.
Closes: 01 August
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British Tourist Authority – Chair
“The incumbent’s term ends in March 2017 and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport wishes to appoint a new Chair of our national tourist board, the BTA. The successful candidate will lead on the governance of this public body and the delivery of its objectives.”
Time: Two days per week on average.
Remuneration: £40,000 per annum.
Closes: 02 August
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British Tourist Authority – Chair of the VisitEngland Advisory Board
“Following the 2015 Spending Review and significant restructure and governance at the BTA in order to deliver on the government priorities for tourism, the role of the VisitEngland Advisory Board was clarified. The BTA Board is accountable for all Britain and England spend, with the VEAB responsible for advising the executive and the Board of the BTA on matters relating to tourism in England, helping to drive economic growth and excellence in English tourism.”
Time: Up to four days per month on average.
Remuneration: £340 per diem. Up to £16,320 per annum.
Closes: 02 August
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Legal Services Board – Chair and Panel Member
“We are now looking for a new Chair to lead the Panel into this next important phase of the legal services reform programme. Bringing a distinct and informed voice and a passionate commitment to consumer issues, you will help deliver a vision for accessible, high quality and affordable legal services and will bring inspirational leadership to the Panel, enabling it to deliver on its work providing authoritative advice to the Legal Services Board and others.”
Time: AUp to 30 days per annum for the Chair, 13 for the Panel Member.
Remuneration: £15,000/£3.380 per annum.
Closes: 05 August
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British Business Bank – Chair
“The British Business Bank (BBB) is a government-owned economic development bank, which has been operating since 1 November 2014. It is responsible for designing and managing the UK Government’s domestic access to finance schemes for smaller businesses and currently supports more than £3bn of finance through its lending and equity programmes.”
Time: Full time.
Remuneration: £140,000 per annum.
Closes: 25 August