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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Civil Service Commission – First Civil Service Commissioner
“The Civil Service Commission exists to provide assurance that civil servants are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition; and to help safeguard an impartial Civil Service. It is a high profile body whose work can attract considerable public and media interest. Civil Service Commissioners were first appointed in 1855 following the Northcote Trevelyan report, which identified patronage as one of the main reasons for the inefficiency of the mid-19th century Civil Service. Since 2010, the Commission has existed as an independent executive Non-Departmental Public Body, with its powers and responsibilities set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.”
Time: 3 days per week
Remuneration: £89,000 per annum.
Closes: 09 September
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Competition Service – Non-Executive Director
“The Competition Service (CS) is an executive non-Departmental Public Body of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which was established to provide administrative and financial support and services to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). The CAT is a specialist judicial body with cross-disciplinary expertise in law, economics, business and accountancy. Its statutory function is to hear and decide appeals of decisions taken by the Competition and Market Authority and economic regulators concerning infringement of UK and EU competition law. Its jurisdiction extends to the whole of the United Kingdom… The appointee will have a proven background in business, Finance, Human Resources or Law, with experience at senior management level of handling corporate governance issues. Previous experience at Board level would be helpful but is not essential.”
Time: 12 days per annum
Remuneration: £400 per diem plus expenses.
Closes: 12 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 days per week
Remuneration: £35,000 per annum
Closes: 17 September
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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: 03 October
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Historic England – Commissioners
“Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment. Our vision is for a heritage that is valued, celebrated and shared by everyone. A historic environment that people connect with and learn from and that we are proud to pass on to future generations. By protecting and caring for our historic environment, and through our research, listing, grant-aiding, planning and technical advice, we help our heritage have a positive impact on the world around us… The Commission is the governing body of Historic England and provides expert advice and guidance to the Executive. It has corporate responsibility for establishing the overall strategic direction of the organisation and for monitoring its performance against strategic objectives and targets.”
Time: Around 12 days per annum.
Remuneration: £4,133 per annum.
Closes: 03 October
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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