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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NHS Business Services Authority – Chair
“This is an opportunity to operate at national level and support the delivery of a wide range of critical business services to the NHS that have a tangible impact on people’s lives. The core responsibilities of the role are as follows: provide effective, visible and professional leadership to the Board in the pursuit of BSA’s strategic vision and underpinning business plans to support delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan and the Department of Health and Social Care’s priorities; chair Board and sub-committee meetings in accordance with BSA’s corporate governance framework, managing the interface between BSA’s Non-Executive Board members and the senior executive team and monitoring and improving the effectiveness of the Board and leading succession planning….”
Time: “Two to three days per week.”
Remuneration: £63,000 per annum.
Closes: 23 March
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Pension Protection Fund – Chair
“The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) is a public corporation, established by the Pensions Act 2004, which has been protecting members of eligible defined benefit pension schemes across the UK since April 2005. The PPF is run by an independent Board and is accountable to Parliament through the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions. It offers protection to nearly 10 million members belonging to more than 5,300 occupational defined benefit pension schemes. If an employer becomes insolvent and its defined benefit pension scheme has insufficient assets to pay its members what they were promised, the PPF pays compensation for their lost pensions. Before the PPF was established members in this situation would have been at risk of losing their pension benefits.”
Time: Two days per week, 104 per annum.
Remuneration: £60,000 per annum.
Closes: 26 March
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Ofcom – Chair
“Ofcom is the regulator for the UK communications industries, with responsibilities across television, telecommunications, wireless communications, radio and postal services. Ofcom is accountable to Parliament and is independent of both Government and those it regulates. Ofcom operates at the cutting-edge of the digital communications industries in the UK and in a fast changing environment. Ofcom’s principal duty is to further the interests of citizens and consumers, where appropriate, by promoting competition. It has responsibility for overseeing television and radio broadcasting throughout the United Kingdom including regulating the BBC and ensuring news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality; it regulates the postal and telecommunications sectors, taking steps to protect consumers and overseeing universal service obligations..”
Time: “Up to three days per week.”
Remuneration: £142,500 per annum plus expenses.
Closes: 26 March
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Oil & Gas Authority – Non-Executive Directors
“The OGA is seeking to appoint two Non-Executive Directors, both to be appointed in 2021, who will take up their positions ideally between autumn 2021 and early 2022. The OGA has a clear purpose: to maximise the economic recovery of oil and gas. It delivers this through a balance of regulation, influence and promotion and in line with their four core values: Accountable, Fair, Robust and Considerate. Its ambition is to be a world-leading authority, setting the framework for a sustainable and competitive UK Oil & Gas industry, all in the context of the Government’s commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions in the UK by 2050. The Board of the OGA plays a key role in ensuring that the OGA achieves this purpose through effective oversight, approval of strategy, and provision of guidance and advice.”
Time: “Up to three days per month.”
Remuneration: £20,200 per annum.
Closes: 26 March
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Information Commissioner’s Office – Information Commissioner
“We are looking for an outstanding individual to become the next Information Commissioner, who understands the importance of striking this balance and delivering on this critical agenda. The Information Commissioner has a key role to play to drive the responsible use of data across the economy, to build trust and confidence, and to communicate the wider benefits of data sharing for our society as well as for competition, innovation and growth. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is now one of the most important economic regulators in the UK, responsible for supervising almost every organisation in the country, as well as the public sector. We want to invest in its future success and sustain its world-leading reputation. The Information Commissioner should play an active role to keep the ICO at the forefront of regulatory best practice, continuing to develop governance, key decision-making and other processes to reflect the ICO’s evolving role.”
Time: Full time.
Remuneration: £200,000 per annum.
Closes: 28 March
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Charity Commission – Chair
“The Charity Commission is the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales. Its role is to register and regulate the charities in England and Wales, and to ensure that the public can support charities with confidence. It regulates over 168,000 registered charities and £81.2 billion of charitable income. A non-Ministerial Department, it is based across four sites, employing approximately 420 staff and in 2019/20 had a budget of £29.3 Million. Its current Strategic Plan comes to an end in 2023… The Charity Commission’s Board is ultimately responsible for all that the Commission does. In order for the Commission to discharge its responsibilities appropriately and effectively, day-to-day and operational management is delegated to the Chief Executive.”
Time: Two and a half days per week.
Remuneration: £62,500 per annum.
Closes: 09 April
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UK Government Investments Ltd (UKGI) – Chair
“The Chair of UKGI is a critical role of national importance, providing effective leadership and direction to the Board, shaping the organisation’s strategy and providing appropriate and robust challenge to the senior executive team. Appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chair will lead UKGI through a period of growth, maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders, and representing UKGI externally. Lead the Board effectively, drawing out the skills and experience of other Non-Executive Board Members (NEDs) and working collaboratively with the Executive. Ensure the optimal balance between support and challenge, particularly between the Non-Executive and the Executive, both through setting the best example as well as leading and guiding Board discussions and decisions. Ensure that the Board is effective in providing direction and holding the executive to account.”
Time: Six days per month.
Remuneration: £40,000 per annum, plus extra fees.
Closes: 16 April