Chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
- Body
- Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
- Appointing Department
- Department for Education
- Sectors
- Business, Finance & Skills, Education
- Location
- London, Coventry and other locations as required
- Number of Vacancies
- 1
- Remuneration
- A fee of £29,500 a year is payable. Reasonable expenses properly and necessarily incurred will be reimbursed in line with the Institute’s expenses policy.
- Time Requirements
- 1 day a week
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
15/12/2020
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Closed for Applications
15/02/2021 at 09:00
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Panel Sift
Due to circumstances beyond our control it was not possible to conduct the sift on Monday 22 February. A revised date of 1 March has now been confirmed
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Final Interview Date
Interviews are expected to take place on 13th and 14th April
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Announcement
04/08/2021 at 11:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE has been appointed to serve as chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education board. She will serve from 1 August 2021 for a period of 5 years.
Remuneration is £29,500 for a time commitment of one day per week.
She has declared the following political activity:
public speaking stood for election – London Mayor election for 2020, was not shortlisted for the role member of the House of Lords (Conservative life peer) Baroness McGregor-Smith has declared the following interests as a member of the House of Lords.
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is a Crown non-departmental public body working on behalf of employers to support the delivery of high-quality apprenticeships and technical education in England. The appointment is made by the Secretary of State for Education.
Assessment Panel
- Panel Member
- Eileen Milner
- Added
- 15/12/2020
- Panel Role
- Panel Chair
- Positions
- Chief Executive of the Education and Skills Funding Agency Departmental Official
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- Panel Member
- Hunada Nouss OBE
- Added
- 04/02/2021
- Positions
- Member, ESFA Management Board and chair of the ESFA Audit and Risk Committee. Other Panel Member
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- Panel Member
- James Wharton (Lord Wharton of Yarm)
- Added
- 12/01/2021
- Positions
- Consultant (business) Independent Member
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| Political Activity | Between 2010 and 2017 Lord Wharton was a Conservative MP representing Stockton South. During this time he held two ministerial appointments: - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse 2015-16; - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development 2016-17. |
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Vacancy Description
| The Government has set itself an ambitious agenda to improve the quality of apprenticeships and technical education, to drive an increase in productivity and improve social mobility. To achieve these goals, we need employers to invest more in training their workforce and for people to be trained to fill skills gaps. The Institute was established as a Crown Non-Departmental Public Body, independent of Government and employer-led, with a mandate set by Ministers. The Institute is playing a vital role in continuing the apprenticeship and technical education reform process and works on behalf of employers to support the delivery of high quality apprenticeships, T Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications in England. The Institute enables apprentices or learners to be confident that their apprenticeship or technical qualification is of high quality, respected and will help them to build a career with a clear market value. The chair will take up their role at a key point in the Institute’s development and will need to be able to give outstanding leadership as its board membership evolves, making the most of individual members’ strengths and skills. The board’s effectiveness will be crucial to ensuring the Institute fulfils its vital role in continuing the apprenticeship and technical education reform process, and that it continues to be employer led, supporting the delivery of high quality apprenticeships and T Levels in England while extending its responsibilities for approving technical qualifications. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the skills required to lead a growing organisation with an annual budget of some £25 million which employs two hundred people, maintaining effective governance and robust financial management. The chair will need to ensure the Institute discharges its statutory functions in line with government policy, and to guide it through the tension inherent in being employer led while being accountable to government. To achieve this the chair will need to offer both support and challenge to the Institute’s chief executive and staff. |
Person Specification
A successful candidate will have the following essential criteria:
- exceptional leadership and non-executive chairing skills, with significant experience of providing strategic direction, effective decision making, driving delivery and governance oversight at senior board level in a complex and high-profile environment
- a current or very recent employer with an ability to offer an employer perspective at all times on the Institute’s priorities, as well as the personal reputation, public profile, broad experience and gravitas that would command the confidence and respect of employers, both large and small, at a senior level
- the ability to influence and build effective relationships with stakeholders, and to communicate decisions and complex issues clearly and persuasively, both privately and on the public stage
- a sound understanding of the central role in apprenticeships and technical education that the Government expects the Institute to play, and a passion and determination for it to succeed in this role, and for delivering for employers and learners.
Applicants will be assessed against these criteria in their application and at any subsequent interview. In the event that we receive a large number of applications, those which do not clearly demonstrate the first of these (Exceptional leadership and nonexecutive chairing skills) will be rejected at the first sift stage
We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups, those based outside London and the South-East and applicants who have achieved success through non-traditional educational routes.
Additional Information
The appointment is for a term of five years.
You can find further information about the Institute in the candidate pack and on its website:
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/
If you are considering applying why not watch this message from the Secretary of State for Education https://twitter.com/dfecareers/status/1339547552891478022
How to Apply
Information on the timetable for this campaign, selection process, requisite security clearance, and the Advisory Assessment Panel can be found on the Centre for Public Appointments website:
https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
Please submit the following documents by email to: PublicAppointments.APPLICATIONS@education.gov.uk
- a covering letter not exceeding two sides of A4 paper. (Arial size 12)
- a CV
- candidate application form
- diversity form.
Please include the vacancy title in the subject box and submit each application document as a separate attachment.
We are happy to accept applications in alternative formats from applicants who, for reasons of disability, may find it difficult to fill in our standard form. If you wish to have a chat with us about reasonable adjustments please contact us at: PublicAppointments.APPLICATIONS@education.gov.uk
Please note the following:
- we cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date;
- applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided; please refer to the advert and checklist above to ensure you have provided everything requested;
- applications will be acknowledged upon receipt;
- feedback will only be given to candidates unsuccessful following interview;
- due diligence will be undertaken on all candidates invited to interview and at various points up to appointment.