As research by the Taxpayers’ Alliance and Policy Exchange has shown, Conservatives are still heavily under-represented when it comes to appointments to public bodies.
ConservativeHome has regularly highlighted some of the appointments to these bodies, and encouraged subscribers to apply, and we will continue to do so.
As well as checking out the appointments that we highlight, we would also encourage all those subscribers with an interest in offering their expertise to public bodies to sign up to the free Cabinet Office email alert service.
Here is the link for the service; setting up an account takes just a couple of minutes.
– – – – – – – – –
Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs – Official Verderer of the New Forest
“The current Official Verderer is about to finish his term of office after 6 years and we are looking for a suitable replacement. The Verderers of the New Forest oversee commoning and regulate development on the Open Forest, with a statutory obligation to protect the grazing, landscape, fauna and flora, and the Official Verderer is responsible for leading their work. The Official Verderer is the Chairman of the Court and is appointed by the King. Applicants for this unpaid position will have a track record of successful leadership backed up by knowledge of the countryside and the New Forest in particular.“
Time: Time involvement is a minimum of 40 hours each month. You will need to allow sufficient time to help set the direction for the Verderers organisation and its work, help set meeting agenda, read papers, chair monthly meetings of the Verderers Court, and represent the Verderers in external fora and partnerships.
Remuneration: None
Closes: 22nd February
– – – – – – – – –
Ministry of Justice – Chair of the Lay Observers’ National Council
“This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Lay Observers, at a time when independent scrutiny, is high on Ministerial agendas. The Lay Observers role is to inspect conditions in which detained persons are transported or held by escort and custody contractors in England and Wales and we require a voluntary, part-time Chair to provide strategic oversight to the organisation. Lay Observers operate independently of Government and are part of the UK’s National Preventive Mechanism, under the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, (OPCAT).“
Time: Up to eight days per month.
Remuneration: None
Closes: 27th February
– – – – – – – – –
Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy – Executive Chair of the Natural Environment Research Council
“The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the UK’s leading public funder of environmental science, investing £330 million each year in cutting-edge research, postgraduate training and innovation in universities and research centres. We advance the frontier of environmental science by commissioning new research, infrastructure and training that delivers valuable scientific breakthroughs…The Executive Chair, advised by NERC’s Council Members, is responsible for setting and then delivering the strategic vision for NERC, and contributing to the wider direction and activities of UKRI. As the visible and credible leader of NERC you will be responsible for delivering its research, skills and infrastructure investments..“
Time: Full-time. However, the role could be reduced to four days per week to allow for research activity to be maintained.
Remuneration: £130,000 – £145,000 and an opportunity for performance-related pay.
Closes: 5th March
– – – – – – – – –
Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy – OFGEM, Chair (x1)
“The Board wishes to appoint an independent member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee holding a CCAB qualification or similar with a strong background in finance, performance and risk management to complement the skills and experience of the existing Committee members and to add an additional perspective to the Committee’s oversight. The successful candidate will be expected to participate fully in the Committee’s business and will be expected to attend each meeting of the Committee, usually at least four per annum.“
Time: 3- 3.5 days per week
Remuneration: £170,000 – £180,000 per annum. Remuneration and expenses are taxable.
Closes: 13th March
– – – – – – – – –
Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy – Chair of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership
“The Board wishes to appoint an independent member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee holding a CCAB qualification or similar with a strong background in finance, performance and risk management to complement the skills and experience of the existing Committee members and to add an additional perspective to the Committee’s oversight. The successful candidate will be expected to participate fully in the Committee’s business and will be expected to attend each meeting of the Committee, usually at least four per annum.“
Time: A minimum of three to four days per month on average, with a need to commit time on a very flexible basis (to attend meetings with HM Government at short notice, for example)
Remuneration: The Solent LEP Chair may be enumerated up to £12,000 per annum. The LEP will also consider candidates that wish to undertake the role of a voluntary, rather than a remunerated, basis. The Solent LEP will consider all candidates on an equal basis. The Chair can claim reasonable expenses in line with the Solent LEP expenses policy for Directors.
Closes: 14th March
– – – – – – – – –
Department for Work and Pensions – Office For Nuclear Regulation (ONR) – Independent ARAC Member
“The Board wishes to appoint an independent member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee holding a CCAB qualification or similar with a strong background in finance, performance and risk management to complement the skills and experience of the existing Committee members and to add an additional perspective to the Committee’s oversight. The successful candidate will be expected to participate fully in the Committee’s business and will be expected to attend each meeting of the Committee, usually at least four per annum.“
Time: An annual time commitment of around 10 days is envisaged
Remuneration: Independent members will receive an annual honorarium of £5,000 plus reasonable travel expenses incurred in undertaking the role, in accordance with ONR’s travel policy
Closes: 24th March