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Appointment details

Non-Executive Directors of Queen Elizabeth II Centre

Summary

• Organisation: Queen Elizabeth II Centre
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
• Location: London
• Sectors: Public Administration
• Skills: Communication
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Time commitment: 15 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £500 per day
• Length of term: 3 years
• Application deadline: 9am on 3 July 2022

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   3 July 2022

2. Application deadline

   9am on 3 July 2022

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

Dear Candidate ​

Thank you for your interest in these vacancies on the QEII Centre Board. The QEII Centre is the largest dedicated conference, events and exhibition space in central London, providing 32 areas across 10 floors, totalling 30,000 SQMs and hosting circa 400- 500 events per annum. ​

The QEII Centre is an Arm’s Length Body reporting to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Operating as a commercially driven Trading Fund, the QEII Centre has a global reputation for excellence and this role provides an exciting opportunity to be involved in shaping the business for the future.​

​We are looking to appoint two new Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) to our Board. The two new NEDs will replace those who have successfully served upon the Board for the last 9 years but have reached the end of their appointed terms. One of these roles will also Chair the QEII Audit and Risk Assurance Committee.  ​

​The purpose of re-appointing Non-Executive Director Members to the Board is to bring a wider external perspective, having substantive and relevant prior experience, to contribute to the future development of the Centre and improve the rigour of the Board process. They also bring fresh thinking and best practice particularly around financial management. NEDs provide support and constructive challenge across all areas of the organisation to support the Chief Executive and his team in delivering the Centre’s successful, yet challenging agenda.​

​Full details of the role, responsibilities and commitments are set out in this document, and I hope you will decide to apply. We want to receive applications from a wide range of individuals, we welcome candidates from traditionally under-represented groups including those from an ethnic minority background. ​

Information about the Board can be found on the QEII Centre Website.​

Appointment description

Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) provide a key role in the strategic and operational leadership of the QEII Centre. They have a collective responsibility for ensuring that the Centre fulfils the Centre’s overall aims and objectives as set out in its business plan, that financial information is accurate, and that financial controls and risk management systems are robust and defensible. ​

​They attend and contribute to the Advisory Board, which is chaired by MHCLG's senior sponsor for the QEII Centre.  Other members include the Chief Executive, 4 QEII Directors; Finance, Human Resources, Venue Operations and Sales and Marketing and the ALB Sponsorship Team. The role of the Advisory Board is to help the Department manage its interests and responsibilities in respect of the QEII Centre, providing oversight, support and challenge to the management of the QEII Centre on its business strategy and delivery.  ​

The Advisory Board has no operational role and does not directly hold the Executive to account for delivery, the Board is specifically responsible for:​

• Ensuring that the QEII Centre has robust corporate governance arrangements in place to promote high performance and to safeguard propriety and regularity; ​
• Considering and helping to shape the QEII Centre’s annual Corporate Business Plan; ​
• Helping monitor the QEII Centre’s performance against approved plans; ​
• Supporting and assisting in identifying commercial opportunities and seek to remove any strategic barriers to progress; and​
• Providing advice to MHCLG’s Ministers and MHCLG’s Accounting Officer on the above as appropriate. ​

NEDS membership of the Advisory Board is also extended to the Centre’s Management Board which meets quarterly (or as required) and is chaired by the Chief Executive and attended by the Centre’s Executive team.​

​Non-Executive Directors will also be expected to attend quarterly meetings of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) . One of the Non-Executive Directors also functions as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. This committee provides a quarterly forum for NEDs to offer insight, advice and challenge.​

Organisation description

The QEII Centre was built in 1986 as a secure venue for Government meetings. It became an executive agency in 1989 and in 1997 received trading fund status. The Centre directly employs c.50 permanent members of staff and these are employees of MHCLG. The Centre also works in close partnership with 3 key contractors providing catering, security, cleaning portage and facilities management services.​

​The Chief Executive Mark Taylor took up his role in 2013 and has overseen the Centre achieve a growth rate of 66% over the period 2013/14 – 2019/20 with the latter being the Centre’s most successful financial year since its opening achieving a profit of £3m with a dividend to government of £1.9m. In addition, the Centre has received significant industry recognition winning numerous industry awards for Best; venue, team, customer service and events totalling 37 awards since 2013. ​

The QEII Centre remains committed to maintaining its position at the heart of the UK events industry. The core trading risk facing the business has been the uncertainty created by future plans to use the Centre as the proposed decant location for the House of Lords  during the restoration of Parliament. However, it has been recently agreed that the Centre will no longer be required for this purpose and thus is now able to trade unencumbered and without restrictions.  The Centre’s operations have been impacted by Covid 19 since 2020 and thus it is in the process of busily rebuilding its business with the full support of MHCLG.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Finance, Audit and Commercial,  Non-Executive Director​

This role is to Chair the Centre’s Audit and Risk Committee, liaising with the National Audit Office and Government Internal Audit Agency, and to oversee the Centre’s adherence to Government financial reporting and auditing requirements. ​

Essential Criteria: ​ ​

• Membership of an accounting body (ies); ICAEW, ACCA, CIPFA, ICAS, CIMA and significant senior financial experience​
• Knowledge of Government financial and accounting practises; ​
• Ability to strategically challenge, prioritise, and scrutinise both business and management performance;​
• Sound judgement and a high level of integrity.

Business Tourism, Events/ Venue Management,  Non-Executive Director ​

This role is to provide business tourism and event/venue industry expertise providing external market insight, advice and challenge. ​

Essential Criteria:​

• Relevant senior leadership experience within the Business Events and Conference Industry; or experience of operating in a senior leadership/Board role in a medium to large commercial organisation; or strategic management or business development consultancy experience;  ​
• Extensive management and leadership skills, including managing staff delivering a quality service;​
• Ability to strategically challenge, prioritise, and scrutinise both business and management performance;​
• Experience of engaging constructively with senior management, providing coaching and support as required; ​
• Sound judgement and a high level of integrity.​

​

Desirable criteria

Finance, Audit and Commercial, Non-Executive Director

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of chairing Audit Committee meetings;​
• Strategic financial planning and performance analysis;​
• Experience of liaising with National Audit Office and internal audit processes.

Business Tourism, Events/ Venue Management,  Non-Executive Director 

Desirable Criteria:

• Sales and/or Marketing experience both at a national and international level.

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to provide:

1. A  Curriculum Vitae which provides your contact details, details of your education and qualifications, employment history, directorships, membership of professional bodies and details of any relevant publications or awards;

2. A supporting statement setting out how you meet the criteria for appointment, as set out in the person specification for the role;

3. Information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues;

4. Diversity monitoring information. This allows us to see if there are any unfair barriers to becoming a public appointee and whether there are any changes that we could make to encourage a more diverse field to apply. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be used as part of the selection process and will not be seen by the interview panel;

5. Disability Confident – please state if you want to be considered for the disability confident scheme;

6. Reasonable adjustments - requests for reasonable adjustments that you would like to the application process (if applicable);

Please provide the information at points 3-6 above on the relevant form, or as part of your supporting statement.

Completed applications should be submitted to PublicAppointments@communities.gov.uk.

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

• Andy Hobart, Commercial Director and MHCLG Panel Chair ​

•  Mark Taylor, Chief Executive and representative of QEII  ​

•  Catherine Walker, Independent Panel Member

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact PublicAppointments@communities.gov.uk.

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. 

As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. These are:

1. Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
3. Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
5. Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
6. Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.
7. Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the MHCLG public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at PublicAppointments@communities.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

The MHCLG Privacy Policy is attached to this advert.

Contact details

publicappointments@communities.gov.uk

Attachments

• MHCLG Privacy Policy