Eight years ago, the TaxPayers’ Alliance reported that “in the last year, five times more Labour people were appointed to public bodies than Tories”.
It currently reports that almost half of avowedly political appointees last year owed their allegiance to Labour Party, compared to less than a third for the Conservatives.
Despite the selection of some Party members or supporters to fill important posts, over time, the Conservatives have punched beneath their 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, each week we put up links to some of the main public appointments vacancies, so that qualified Conservatives can be aware of the opportunities presented.
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Scottish Housing Regulator – Board Members
“Join the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) to protect and promote the interests of tenants and others who use social housing services, such as people who may be homeless and Gypsy/Travellers. Due to retirements, Scottish Ministers would like to appoint two new Board members to complement the existing SHR Board team. The Board sets the Regulator’s strategic direction and ensures it is focused on key priorities to meet its statutory objective. SHR is an independent regulator that reports directly to the Scottish Parliament.”
Time: One day per week.
Remuneration: £9,348 per annum.
Closes: 28 June
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The National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) Corporation – Chair
“The National Employment Savings Trust (Nest) is a workplace pension scheme designed around the needs of employers and workers to support automatic enrolment. Nest offers a high quality, easy to use way to save for retirement and is now the largest defined contribution pension scheme in terms of members. Nest currently has 9.5 million individuals saving with it and it is currently looking after £14.5 billion on behalf of those members. Nest Corporation is the Trustee of the scheme and a Public Corporation based in London. Though Nest Corporation is independent from government, it is accountable to Parliament through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).”
Time: 2.5 days per week minimum.
Remuneration: £91,000 per annum.
Closes: 30 June
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Digital Health Care Wales – Chair
“The Chair will be accountable to the Minister for Health and Social Services for the performance of the Board and its effective governance, upholding the values of the NHS, and promoting the confidence of the public and partners. The Chair of Digital Health and Care Wales will: lead development of a strategic vision for DHCW, ensuring the promotion of a culture of continuous improvement and digital transformation across the organisation and more widely across health and social care; provide effective and visible leadership, both externally and internally to DHCW across the breadth of its responsibilities, including the advancement of equality, diversity, inclusion and the Welsh Language and culture; ensure the Board works effectively to support challenge, scrutiny and assure operational delivery, maintaining focus on strategic aims, reinforced by strong governance…”
Time: 14.5 days per month.
Remuneration: £43,326 per annum plus expenses.
Closes: 30 June
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Natural History Museum – Commercial Trustee
“The Prime Minister wishes to appoint a new Commercial Trustee to the board of the Natural History Museum. Applications are encouraged from all sections of the community to help ensure that the Museum’s board is representative of the diverse society it serves. The Trustees of the Museum have statutory duties under the British Museum Act 1963 and the Museums and Galleries Act 1992 for the general management and control of the Museum and for the appointment of the Director. Within the framework of these statutory duties, the role of the Trustees is primarily to establish Museum policy, review performance, support the generation of income and endorse appointments to key management positions.”
Time: See ad.
Remuneration: Expenses.
Closes: 02 July
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Power to Change – Trustee
“Power to Change backs community businesses, and helps communities use shared power and business to transform where they live. To achieve this effectively, we need expertise and knowledge from the frontline of working in those communities and real insights into the challenges of running a community business. This will help us provide the most appropriate support possible and sharpen our advocacy and influencing on behalf of community business. We are looking for motivated individuals to make an active contribution and bring the community perspective to robust board discussions, and be a passionate advocate for all our work.”
Time: See ad.
Remuneration: Reasonable travel expenses.
Closes: 04 July
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Office of Rail and Road – Non-Executive Directors
“We are seeking up to three Non-Executive Board Members to strengthen our board’s capability across the following areas: data analytics and understanding the application of big data; infrastructure operations and delivery programme management; sustainability and decarbonisation; digital technology and innovation; consumer interests and promoting the use of the networks. Our current board members are from a range of disciplines and sectors and we are keen to receive applications from individuals who are also able to represent the diverse views of rail passengers, freight customers, road users, and their representatives. Previous executive experience across the transport (aviation, marine, rail or road) and infrastructure sectors and operation of other infrastructure networks may be helpful.”
Time: 3.5 days per month.
Remuneration: £20,000 per annum
Closes: 07 July
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UK Infrastructure Bank – CEO
“The Chancellor of the Exchequer is looking to appoint a CEO for the new UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB). The objective of the Bank is to support and enable private and public investment in infrastructure and to help the UK government deliver its goal to create a net zero economy by 2050 and support regional and local economic growth across the country. With £22 billion of financial capacity to deliver on its objectives, the Bank will advise, finance and co-invest alongside private sector investors. It will be available as a source of advice, including to local authorities, on developing and financing vital infrastructure. Headquartered in Leeds, the Bank will operate UK-wide, working to a mandate set by government with a high degree of operational independence.”
Time: Full-time.
Remuneration: £330,000 per annum, plus awards.
Closes: 07 July
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All Wales Medicines Strategy Group – Chair
“The appointed Chair will: play a key role in shaping the medicine management agenda in Wales, and the implementing AWMSG’s prescribing strategy; provide strategic direction to the NHS in Wales and all key stakeholders; play a critical role in ensuring the work of the All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre (AWTTC) supports the Committee and NHS Wales in achieving their strategic objectives; be instrumental in developing innovative partnerships which benefit patients; achieve best outcomes from the use of medicines in Wales; chair up to ten AWMSG meetings each year and be a member of the AWMSG Steering Committee which meets monthly; and responsible for appointment and appraisal of Steering Group members.”
Time: 30 days per year minimum.
Remuneration: £337 per diem
Closes: 12 July
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Skills Reform Board – Independent Chair
“Skills reform is a top government priority. The Prime Minister set out his personal commitment to delivering a Lifetime Skills Guarantee last year and the Skills for Jobs White Paper Skills and the recently introduced Post-16 Education Bill have set out how this will be achieved. The Skills Reform Board is responsible for delivering the department’s ambitious plans and to transform the skills, training and post-16 education landscape and level up opportunities across the country… The DfE is offering the high-profile and exciting opportunity to Chair the newly formed Skills Reform Board. This is a great opportunity to use your skills and experience to make a difference to the skills reform delivery programme.”
Time: Up to 12 days per annum.
Remuneration: £400 ‘per meeting’ expenses.
Closes: 18 July
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Committee on Fuel Poverty – Chair
“The Committee on Fuel Poverty (CFP) is an advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Committee advises on the effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing fuel poverty and encourage greater co-ordination across the organisations working to reduce fuel poverty. The Committee on Fuel Poverty (CFP) consists of a Chair and 5 members who are appointed for 3 years. The role of the Committee is to report on the progress towards the interim milestones and 2030 fuel poverty target. It also reports on the effectiveness and impact of policies and schemes on fuel poverty. The Committee has had it’s fourth annual report, published in June 2020.”
Time: 2-3 days per month.
Remuneration: £14,000 ‘per meeting’ expenses.
Closes: 25 July