Five 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 week 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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BDTPS Ltd – Chair
“The Chair of the BPDTS Board will be able to demonstrate excellent communication and strong and effective leadership qualities to shape and support the delivery of the strategic objectives required to support the Department for Work and Pensions in fulfilling its mission and objectives. The successful candidate will have responsibility for: providing clear, strategic leadership to the Board, ensuring its meetings are focused on the organisation’s current and future priorities and that all Board members contribute fully and effectively; working closely with the Board especially the Chief Executive, ensuring BPDTS is managed effectively and that BPDTS objectives and strategy are translated into clear management objectives; reviewing and setting the BPDTS’ strategic direction within a framework agreed with DWP and its Ministers, ensuring that plans and targets are clear and appropriate…”
Time: 20 days per annum.
Remuneration: £10,000 per annum.
Closes: 17 June
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Low Pay Commission – Chair
“The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is a high-profile and independent organisation that works to improve the lives of over 2 million workers in the UK by advising the Government on the rates at which the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage should be paid. The LPC’s goal is to help as many low-paid workers as possible while keeping in mind the impact that wages have on the economy and rates of employment growth. The core of the Commission’s task is reach the right balance on wages through careful consideration of evidence of economic trends and the testimony of individual workers through front-line visits. Across its lifetime the minimum wage has been highly successful in raising pay for low-paid workers without a significant negative impact on jobs.”
Time: Up to 3 days per month.
Remuneration: £530.96 per diem.
Closes: 18 June
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Parole Board – Chair
“The Parole Board plays a vital role in the criminal justice system by ensuring public protection and in supporting the rehabilitation of prisoners. The recent publicity surrounding the Board’s decision in the case of Worboys demonstrates the high degree of scrutiny and accountability required of the Chair. The position of Chair is challenging, demanding and rewarding and requires an exceptional individual to provide first class leadership. To be successful in the role, the Chair will need to be able to: provide strong leadership to Parole Board members and staff; build diversity and inclusiveness at all levels of the organisation; ensure the independence of the Board whilst developing and maintaining strong relationships with Ministers; the Justice Committee; senior MoJ Officials and; a wide range of stakeholders in the criminal justice system.”
Time: Up to 2 days per week.
Remuneration: £400 per diem.
Closes: 19 June
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Single Financial Guidance Body – Non-Executive Director
“In October 2016 the Government announced that it plans to replace the three current guidance organisations – The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS), Pension Wise and the Money Advice Service (MAS), with a single public body, offering debt advice, money and pensions guidance – the Single Financial Guidance Body (SFGB). The Department of Work & Pensions now wishes to appoint up to four NEDs to support the launch and running of the SFGB. We are seeking up to four candidates with the right skills and abilities to work effectively in both the establishment and running of the new organisation.”
Time: Up to 30 days per annum.
Remuneration: £15,000 per annum.
Closes: 24 June
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Office for Students – Student Experience Board Member
“Student interests are at the heart of our reforms and it is essential that the student perspective is represented in the governance of the OfS. With this in mind, the primary legislation sets out the requirement for OfS members to (between them) have experience of representing or promoting the interests of individual students, or students generally, on higher education courses. This is a responsibility of the Board as a whole. We are seeking to appoint one Board member with the right specific skills and experience to help strengthen the overall ability of the OfS Board to discharge this duty. This person must have experience of representing or promoting the interests of individual students, or students generally, on higher education courses.”
Time: Up to 20 days per annum.
Remuneration: £9,180 per annum.
Closes: 25 June
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Consumer Council for Water – Local Consumer Advocate
“Local Consumer Advocates are formally committee members, but are referred to as LCAs. They are allocated to the Committee that serves the consumers of their local water company. The primary role of a Local Consumer Advocate is to: advise and inform the Board on key consumer issues and to be a presence for the CCWater Board in the region; work with the local team to achieve CCWater’s objectives as set out in our Forward Work Programme; review customer complaint cases about local water companies when asked; from time to time members may be engaged, selectively, on policy development work with members of other committees and staff…”
Time: 4 days per month.
Remuneration: £4,510 plus expenses.
Closes: 07 July