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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CDC Group Plc – Chair of the Board
“CDC Group plc (CDC) is the UK’s development finance institution, established in 1948 (and the world’s first development finance institution), with the inspiring impact investment mandate to transform lives and achieve a better and more sustainable future for people in Africa and Asia. Whether it’s investing in the world’s largest solar park in Egypt, investing in off-Grid Solar to bring access to clean energy at some of the lowest prices on the market to rural households in East Africa or establishing a new company to dramatically reduce the cost of medicines, CDC is driven in its mission to be involved in tackling some of the biggest challenges in global development today. Wholly owned by the UK Government, CDC operates with an independent board and has net assets of £6.5 billion with investments in over 1,000 companies and a portfolio of £4.7 billion in growing companies across nearly 70 countries.”
Time: 1-2 days per week
Remuneration: £35,000 per annum
Closes: 27 August
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National Infrastructure Commission – Commissioner
“The Commissioners of the NIC have a unique opportunity to look at the UK’s long-term infrastructure needs, make recommendations to the government, and influence the government’s infrastructure priorities. Commissioners have a strong influence on government across multiple sectors, making links and shaping future infrastructure networks. Commissioners are leaders in their field, with senior level experience in a specific infrastructure sector such as energy or digital communications, or a related field such as economics, engineering or project finance. Current Commissioners are drawn from the worlds of policy, economics, engineering, technology, academia, business and architecture. We are looking to recruit up to three Commissioners with experience in the energy sector, in the relationship between infrastructure and the environment, or with experience in infrastructure policy at local or regional level.”
Time: Two days per month.
Remuneration: £20,000 per annum, plus expenses.
Closes: 27 August
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Care Quality Commission – Chair
“The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is seeking to appoint the next Chair to the board of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The primary objective of the Chair is to ensure the strategic direction of the CQC, the body responsible for making sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care. CQC aims to make a positive impact on the experiences of everyone who receives care, while regulating services in a targeted way, which supports services to improve and prioritise safety.”
Time: 2-3 days per week.
Remuneration: £63,000 per annum.
Closes: 31 August
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British Film Institute – Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland Governors
“The role of the Governors is primarily to develop and oversee the implementation of BFI strategy and policy, as well as provide constructive challenge to the organisation in order to support it in achieving its strategic aims. A Governor should have a commitment to the BFI’s purpose, mission and vision, champion the BFI’s charitable work, and act as an advocate for the BFI, including assistance with activities to generate funding from the corporate sector, trusts and foundations and philanthropy. Furthermore, the Governors will support the BFI to achieve value for money and sustainability across its activities.”
Time: See listing.
Remuneration: None
Closes: 05 September
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Transport Focus – Chair
“Transport Focus is the independent watchdog for transport users, and an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Transport. We’re led by a Board of non-executive directors and run by a management team. As Chair, you will be expected to work in partnership with staff and key stakeholders across the country. You will ensure that the user voice is not only heard but understood and acted upon by those in positions of influence. This is a role for a true leader, a proactive person with the capacity and passion to identify the need for, and promote, change, and communicate superbly. You will chair monthly meetings of the Transport Focus board.”
Time: 2.5 days per week
Remuneration: £125,000 per annum
Closes: 09 September
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Financial Reporting Council – Chair
“The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) sets the UK Corporate Governance & Stewardship Codes which aim to make investors more accountable to their clients and beneficiaries. The FRC also sets standards for accounting, auditing and actuarial work. As the UK’s independent regulator and Competent Authority for Audit it monitors, and takes action where necessary, to promote the quality of corporate reporting and audit. It also operates independent enforcement arrangements for accountants and actuaries… As a regulator working in the public interest, the FRC needs to respond appropriately to political, economic, environmental and technological change. It must be transparent and act with integrity. It must be a well-governed and accountable public body, independent from those it regulates, and follow its own principles of good governance and reporting.”
Time: 2 days per week
Remuneration: £35,000 per annum
Closes: 17 September
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Chair – Ordnance Survey
“OS’s mapping data is relied on by every one of us. If you call for the fire service or an ambulance, more often than not it is OS data that is used to find you. Want to locate your nearest post office, cinema or supermarket? OS is there, supporting the search engines and pointing you in the right direction. As the national mapping services provider of Great Britain, OS provides critical location data and know-how to more than 5,000 organisations working for the public good in areas such as housing, the natural environment, connected transport and national security, and to a broad range of business sectors including energy, utility, property, retail and finance. OS is looking for a Non-Executive Chair with exceptional board leadership skills and a proven track record of building commercial businesses to support management in driving the long-term, profitable growth of the company.”
Time: 60 days per annum minimum
Remuneration: £50,000 per annum.
Closes: 26 September
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Office for the Internal Market – Panel Member
“The Office for the Internal Market (OIM) is being created following the passage of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020. Established within the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Act places a duty onto the new body to carry out a set of independent advisory, monitoring, and reporting functions to support the development and effective operation of the UK internal market on an ongoing basis. Once set up later this year, the OIM will analyse the health of the UK internal market and report to the UK Parliament and the devolved legislatures. At the highest level, the OIM will be guided by and must have regard to the clear objective set out within the Act, which is to support, through the application of economic and other technical expertise, the effective operation of the internal market in the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom, consumers, and those with an interest in its operation.”
Time: Approx 30 days per annum
Remuneration: £400 per diem.
Closes: 03 October