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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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: 17 February
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Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) & Electricity Settlements Company (ESC) – Chair
“The LCCC delivers key elements of the Contracts for Difference (CFDs) scheme, established to incentivise investment in low carbon electricity generation. In all its operations as the counterparty to CFDs, the LCCC is led by its principle of maintaining investor confidence in the scheme and to minimise costs to consumers. The role of the ESC is to maintain a healthy surplus of electricity capacity. It oversees settlement of the Capacity Market to ensure that regular payments are made to capacity providers who have agreed to provide capacity at times of system stress. In carrying out its activities ESC seeks to maintain participants confidence in the Capacity Market whilst minimising costs to consumers. LCCC and ESC are private limited companies wholly-owned by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The companies have day-to-day operational independence, subject to certain limited exceptions which require shareholder consent. The Boards of LCCC and ESC comprise the same members so we are seeking to appoint an individual to be Chair of both companies.”
Time: Two days per week.
Remuneration: £100,000 per annum plus expenses.
Closes: 18 February
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Department for Education – Chair of the SEND System Leadership Board
“The newly formed SEND Leadership Board will: clarify and communicate the principles which should underpin all SEND commissioning and the good outcomes we are seeking to achieve for children and young people with SEND; encourage improved joint working, commissioning and planning by and between education, health and social care partners; identify where partners can better share data, insight, guidance, good practice and peer support to help encourage improved commissioning and planning, working to alleviate the long-term high needs budget pressures… We are looking for a person who has: the ability to use authority, make decisions with, and set direction, in a board environment; a strong understanding of commissioning in Clinical Commissioning Groups and/or Local Government, and will have knowledge of the legal requirements in the 2014 Children and Families Act, in relation to SEND…”
Time: 60 days per annum.
Remuneration: £500 per diem, plus expenses.
Closes: 21 February
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Great Britain China Centre – Independent Board Members
“The Great Britain China Centre is a public body under the auspices of, but independent from, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Its remit is to promote understanding between the UK and China. It works to strengthen the UK-China relationship by building trust and supporting dialogues between government, judiciary and policy making actors on key governance, rule of law and reform issues. It has developed a reputation as an international leader for its project work with influential Chinese partners. With forty-five years of experience, GBCC has established unique networks in Chinese, British and European legal, judicial, academic and political spheres. Our relationships and influence have provided a trusted and consistent mechanism for exchange throughout changing political climates. The Board of Directors comprises independent non-executives, including Members of Parliament, and is attended by representatives of the FCO, the British Council and the China Britain Business Council. Our Chairman is Sir Martin Davidson and our Honorary President is Lord Mandelson.”
Time: Two days per month.
Remuneration: None.
Closes: 24 February
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Ofsted – Board Member
“The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) is a force for improvement through intelligent, responsible and focused inspection and regulation, and an organisation committed to putting children and students first. Ofsted is recruiting up to four individuals to its board. The board agrees Ofsted’s strategic priorities, targets and objectives. Its members provide constructive and supportive advice and challenge to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector (HMCI) on Ofsted’s activities and performance, and monitor Ofsted’s performance and spending. Successful applicants will be strategic thinkers able to lead and influence at Board level. You will be able to consider issues from a big picture, macro perspective, and to support and challenge the executive in its strategic planning. Practical experience in a relevant sector, and theoretical understanding of the challenges and issues facing Ofsted will be crucial to your ability to contribute across the breadth of Ofsted’s activities.”
Time: Up to 20 days per annum.
Remuneration: £8,282 per annum.
Closes: 26 February
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Regulator of Social Housing – Chair
“Those who serve on the Boards of public bodies play a vital role in the life of this country, whether by improving the delivery of public services or providing independent advice to Government. Many people from a wide range of backgrounds across the whole of the UK participate in public life by being members of the Boards of public bodies. They are involved in making decisions that develop, shape or deliver government policy and public services. The information pack sets out the requirements for the RSH Chair position along with information on the work of the RSH and the appointment process. On 1 October 2018, through a Legislative Reform Order, the RSH became an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which is responsible for the regulation of social housing. The successful candidate will have experience and understanding of how to operate effectively at Board level, and have knowledge of the social housing sector, regulation and finance.”
Time: 104 days per annum.
Remuneration: £65,000 per annum.
Closes: 03 March
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Ofqual – Board Member
“Ofqual wishes to recruit up to five, high calibre individuals to the Board. We are looking to appoint at least one in each of the following areas: assessment and qualification design, regulation, finance and apprenticeships. You will be expected to support Ofqual’s aims and objectives and act as ambassadors for the organisation. We are looking for independent thinkers who will offer challenge and guidance to Ofqual’s executive to support their decision making. We seek applicants who have significant experience and expertise to bring to Board discussions and are committed to driving forward the work of the organisation. You will have: the ability to think strategically and to contribute to strategic development in different organisational contexts; the ability to build effective relationships at senior levels and/or between organisations; and the ability to support and provide challenge to Ofqual’s executive on both strategy policy and organisational matters.”
Time: Up to 20 days per annum.
Remuneration: £6,000 per annum.
Closes: 10 March
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Defence Electronics & Components Agency Board – Chair
“The Defence Electronics and Components Agency (DECA) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), whose world-class workforce is proud to provide Defence with long-term agile sovereign capability. It delivers maintenance, repair, overhaul, upgrade and obsolescence management services for a range of avionic and electronic equipment. Run along commercial lines, it also grows profitable business streams through the supply of electronics components products and services to its customers, the Army, Navy, RAF, Defence Equipment & Support (DES) and industry. The current Chair is standing down after four years’ successful stewardship of this complex organisation and a successor is now being sought to continue leading the Board in overseeing its important delivery programme and in transforming the organisation’s capabilities.”
Time: 30 days per annum.
Remuneration: £22,500 per annum.
Closes: 11 March
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Defence Science and Technology Laboratory – Chair
“Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) is an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The highly-skilled 4,000 strong workforce is committed to providing sensitive and specialist science and technology research, advice and analysis for MOD and the wider UK government. The context is exciting and demanding, with continuing globalisation and the rapid development and emergence of new technologies, against a backdrop of ongoing shifts in economic and military power, all influencing our customers and, by extension, DSTL. It plays a central role in helping MOD respond in a rapidly evolving and complex setting, and our advice to the Department’s Chief Scientific Advisor and other MOD stakeholders makes a major contribution to keeping our country safe.”
Time: 30 days per annum.
Remuneration: £28,000 per annum.
Closes: 11 March