Six 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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Office of Tax Simplification – Chair
“We are looking for a motivated individual to Chair the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS). This role offers a unique opportunity to participate in tax policy-making at the heart of government. The Chair will lead the OTS board’s bimonthly meetings and the Office’s engagement with HM Treasury ministers. The OTS board is responsible for shaping the strategy and priorities of the OTS, deciding on proposals for potential reviews to put forward to the Chancellor and agreeing key recommendations in the reviews. The Chair will also represent the OTS at public engagements and can be requested to present evidence on the Office’s work to Parliamentary Committees. The recommended candidate for the Chair role will require approval by the Chancellor of the Exchequer before the appointment can be confirmed and will be subject to a post-appointment hearing held by the Treasury Select Committee.”
Time: Up to two days per month.
Remuneration: £400 per diem.
Closes: 04 December
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Committee on Fuel Poverty – Member
“The Committee on Fuel Poverty (CFP) advises the Government on the effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing fuel poverty to help keep UK residents warm and improve energy efficiency in their homes. It also persuades greater co-ordination across organisations working to reduce fuel poverty in the UK… The responsibilities of the new Members will include monitoring and reporting on progress towards the Government’s 2030 fuel poverty target and interim milestones, supporting and challenging the Government on its delivery approach, and encouraging a partnership approach between and within Government and stakeholders in tackling fuel poverty.”
Time: Two days per month.
Remuneration: £8400 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence.
Closes: 06 December
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NHS Pension Board – Chair
“Ministers are seeking to appoint the Chair of the NHS Pension Board. They are looking to appoint a candidate with a strong working knowledge of public and private sector pension schemes. The successful candidate should have good communication skills and be able to devise strategies to promote the value of the scheme as part of the NHS total reward offer, maximising its impact as a recruitment and retention lever. Candidates should be able to understand and utilise the potential of technology to improve the efficiency of scheme administration and create value for employers… The Chair of the NHS Pension Board is appointed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is responsible for the NHS Pension Scheme, and is accountable to the Secretary of State via a senior Departmental official for carrying out their duties and for their performance.”
Time: Up to three days per month.
Remuneration: £13,137 per annum.
Closes: 11 December
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The Crown Estate – Chief Executive Officer
“The Crown Estate is a £14bn UK real estate business with a portfolio unlike any other. It includes some of central London’s best places to work, shop and visit as well as brilliant destinations across the country (including retail assets and Windsor Great Park). We also have a substantial rural and coastal portfolio, and play an active role in the UK’s world-leading offshore wind sector. We actively manage our portfolio to deliver strong returns for the nation’s finances, contributing over £2.7bn in the last 10 years. We take a long term view, working alongside our customers, partners and communities to create great experiences. We call this creating brilliant places through conscious commercialism. The Crown Estate is seeking a new Chief Executive who will lead the continuing transformation of our business. We are moving from a “bricks and mortar” model to one that delivers services and experiences to build deep relationships with customers and community, delivering value for all our stakeholders, and seizing the opportunities that demographic, social and technology trends create.”
Time: Full-time.
Remuneration: “Remuneration commensurate with the role and responsibilities”.
Closes: 14 December
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Construction Industry Training Board – Trustee
“CITB is the statutory skills body for the construction industry in Great Britain and its purpose is to make better provision for the training and maintenance of skills in the industry. CITB raises around £200m annually via a training levy, and works closely with employers and the Government to ensure national construction skills needs are met. CITB seeks to create the culture and conditions that will deliver new ways of working, embracing new technologies, creating a demand in construction for more skills, new skills and higher-level skills. CITB aspires to be at the forefront of effective commissioning and grant practice and is undertaking a high-profile transformational reform programme in order to achieve this… Trustees will bring their specific knowledge and expertise to the Board. They seek to deliver the statutory functions of the Board in the best interests of the Construction Industry as a whole and must make decisions independent of any affiliation to their own business or sector interests.”
Time: ~Two days per month.
Remuneration: None.
Closes: 20 December
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Consumer Council for Water – Chair
“The Chair has the following leadership responsibilities: lead on formulation of the Council’s strategy; leading the board in its relationship with the Executive, providing support but constructively challenging where necessary; acting as the public face of CCWater to raise its profile not only with consumers but also policy makers and government; campaigning on behalf of consumers and championing their views to Ofwat, policy makers and Government; ensuring that the board, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of guidance provided by Welsh ministers and/or the Secretary of State of appropriate departments; promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources; and delivering high standards of regularity and propriety.”
Time: Two days per week.
Remuneration: £33,280 per annum.
Closes: 07 January
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Civil Nuclear Police Authority – Independent Members
“The Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA) is a body corporate established by the Energy Act 2004 and an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) of the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The CNPA has a statutory responsibility for maintaining an efficient and effective Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC). The CNC provides an armed response capability for the UK’s civil nuclear industry, operating from units based at licensed nuclear sites throughout the UK and providing armed escorts – road and marine – for movements of nuclear materials within the UK and overseas. The CNPA sets the strategic direction for the CNC and ensures that it’s policing meets the needs of the nuclear operating companies. This could mean denying unauthorised access to nuclear material or recovering control of nuclear material lost to unauthorised persons.”
Time: 35 days per annum.
Remuneration: £17,500 per annum.
Closes: 27 January