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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The Royal Armouries – Chair
“The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is seeking to appoint an outstanding individual as the next chair of the Royal Armouries, to take the Museum forward as this new critical period in its history. The ideal candidate will have a passion for cultural heritage, a commitment to public service, strong commercial acumen and a successful track record in public service, heritage management, or business. This is a very exciting time for the Royal Armouries, having substantially increased its commercial operations, and now in the process of devising a masterplan to transform the museum brand and its offer at the main museum site in Leeds.”
Time: ~4 working days per month.
Remuneration: “Reasonable expenses”.
Closes: 19 June
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Charity Commission – Board Members
“Last year the Charity Commission redefined its purpose: to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society. To help us meet that purpose, fulfil our proud commitment to represent the public interest in charity, and meet the challenges we face, the Board has set a new and ambitious five-year strategic plan. To be the effective regulator that the public demands and the sector requires, the Commission must do all it can to ensure that charities show they are being true to their purposes, can demonstrate the difference they are making, and meet the high expectations of conduct and behaviour demanded by the public.”
Time: 18-24 days per annum approx.
Remuneration: £350 per diem plus reasonable expenses.
Closes: 19 June
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Public Weather Service Customer Group – Chair
“The Public Weather Service Customer Group (PWSCG) is an independent body which acts as the customer on behalf of the public and public sector users of the Public Weather Service (PWS). It provides independent advice to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to enable the formal agreement of the PWS Customer-Supplier Agreement (CSA) between Government and the Met Office. It is responsible for defining the outputs required from the Met Office and holding them to account for delivering to a satisfactory level. The funding for the PWS is currently around £120M per annum, of which £100M is paid by BEIS.”
Time: Up to 36 days per annum.
Remuneration: £20,000 per annum.
Closes: 23 June
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Office of Rail & Road – Board Members
“ORR is the independent regulator for Britain’s railways and the independent monitor of Highways England. We are here to ensure the two networks operate safely, reliably, meet the needs of users, and provide value for taxpayers and customers by making best possible use of their capacity and their funding, and support economic growth across our country. A role on the ORR board provides an opportunity to use your skills and experience to contribute to the development of the sectors and the delivery of a strategy that would help shape the future of rail and road in the UK. Both of these sectors touch fundamentally on the ability of the UK’s economy to grow and prosper and are likely to change significantly in the next few years as opportunities emerge through innovation in technology and changing user behaviour.”
Time: 3.5 days per month average.
Remuneration: £22,429 per annum.
Closes: 24 June
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Innovate UK – Executive Chair
“We are seeking an inspirational leader to lead Innovate UK as it gears up to take centre-stage as the UK’s national Innovation Agency. To enable the UK to thrive in the face of the challenges ahead, Innovate UK will need to seize the economic opportunities they bring, investing in innovative companies that will drive a productive, growing economy and a better society… The Executive Chair will be someone who can lead transformational change and drive a new and holistic approach to achieving Innovate UK’s mission, including – creating the right conditions for growth by driving greater business investment in R&D, and creating the right environment for new innovative businesses to thrive.”
Time: Full-time, other working arrangements considered.
Remuneration: £180,000 base pay & £37,500 performance-related pay.
Closes: 28 June
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UK Research & Innovation – Non-Executive Directors
“UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a vital and strategically important role in this. Through leading the overall strategic direction of research and innovation funding in the UK, the organisation is pushing the frontiers of human knowledge and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy, through world-class research and business-led innovation. UKRI was established a year ago through a joining of seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. With an annual budget of £7.5 billion a year to fund ground-breaking research and new enterprise growth, our combined strength and cross cutting capabilities mean we play a critical part in delivering the Government’s Industrial Strategy.”
Time: 20 days per annum.
Remuneration: £9,180 per annum.
Closes: 28 June
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National Leadership Centre Advisory Board – Chair
“The Chair will: provide leadership to the Advisory Group, contributing to strategic growth and organisational development; play a significant role in maintaining and further developing the National Leadership Centre’s relationship with key stakeholders in the UK including government departments and Ministers, representing the organisation and opening doors; provide encouragement and inspiration to staff and managers in their efforts to achieve the National Leadership Centre’s objectives; lead the Advisory Group in holding the Executive to account for the delivery of the NLC pilot; [and] review the effectiveness of the Advisory Group and its composition, ensuring that appropriate processes are in place to appoint new members.”
Time: Four meetings per annum.
Remuneration: None.
Closes: 28 June
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UK Endorsement Board – Chair
“The new United Kingdom Accounting Standards Endorsement Board (UKEB) will serve the UK public interest by contributing to; the research and development of high-quality international financial reporting standards; their endorsement and adoption for use in the UK; and international debate on developments in financial reporting by entities. It will do this by: providing thought-leadership to research, contribute to and influence the development of financial reporting internationally; [and] following the process for the endorsement and adoption of IFRS specified in legislation; and adopting, following and representing the guiding principles of transparency, accountability and independence in all its activities.”
Time: Full-time, three-year contract.
Remuneration: £190,000 per annum.
Closes: 30 June
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Financial Conduct Authority – Non-Executive Director
“The Government is seeking to appoint a number of Non-Executive Directors to the Board of the Financial Conduct Authority. These appointments are to fill vacancies which arise from retirements in 2019 and 2020 as Directors complete their maximum terms. In accordance with the Financial Services Act 2012, one of these appointments will be made jointly by the Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, with further appointments made solely by the Treasury… These vacancies are senior roles requiring people with the necessary skills to assist the Chair in providing strategic leadership and oversight of the FCA and in supporting and positively challenging the FCA’s senior executives.”
Time: Up to 36 days per annum.
Remuneration: £35,000 per annum, plus £10,000 if committee chair.
Closes: 30 June
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UK Atomic Energy Authority – Non-Executive Directors
“The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is seeking to appoint four Non-Executive Directors who will be responsible for contributing to and overseeing the UKAEA’s strategy, and carrying out its aims, within the overall framework of Government policy. The UKAEA manages the UK fusion programme at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), which is one of the world’s leading fusion research laboratories. UKAEA works with partners around the globe to lead commercial development of fusion power and related technologies, and position the UK as a leader in sustainable nuclear energy. The incoming NEDs will have the exciting role of overseeing the forward work programme and working through the Chief Executive to carry out the Board’s decisions.”
Time: 12-15 days per annum.
Remuneration: £15,000 per annum.
Closes: 07 July
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Trade Remedies Authority – Chair
“Trade remedies measures are key to ensuring an effective rules-based system for international trade. They can level the playing field and restore the competitive balance. The European Commission is currently responsible for undertaking trade remedies investigations – and imposing measures – on behalf of the UK. Once we leave the EU, we will no longer be part of this process. Therefore, the Government is establishing a UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA). It will ensure the UK can continue to provide a safety net to domestic industries after the UK has left the EU. The TRA will be set up as a non-departmental public body.”
Time: 50 days per annum for the first year, with 45 days per annum in the second and third year.
Remuneration: £32,000 for the first year and £29,000 for the second and third year,
Closes: 12 July
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Student Loans Company – Chair
“The Chair of the SLC Board has the usual fiduciary duties associated with a director of a UK Company, but is also answerable to the Minister for Higher Education. This relationship is one of the primary formal communication channels between SLC and its parent department. Striking the right balance between the Board exercising its fiduciary duties and acting on instructions from its shareholders will be a key task for the Chair. The Minister for Higher Education writes to the SLC’s Chair annually on behalf of all four Shareholders setting out their strategic priorities for the year. This is a key document and will form the basis for the Chair’s own objectives.”
Time: ~8 days per annum.
Remuneration: £50,000 per annum.
Closes: 06 August