Appointment details

Low Carbon Contracts Company and Electricity Settlements Company, Chair

Summary
About the appointment
Person specification
Application and selection process
Additional information for candidates
Attachments

Summary

Organisation: Low Carbon Contracts company Ltd
Sponsor department: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Location: London
Sectors: Energy
Skills: Audit and Risk, Commercial, Communication, Major Projects
Number of vacancies: 1
Time commitment: 2 day(s) per week
Remuneration: £102,500 per annum
Length of term: 4 years
Application deadline: Midday on 22 April 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

Opening date

6 March 2025
Application deadline

Midday on 22 April 2025
Sifting date

9 May 2025
Interviews expected to end on

27 June 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the role of Chair for the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) and the Electricity Settlements Company (ESC).

LCCC and ESC are sister companies (wholly-owned by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero) that play key roles in supporting delivery of secure and low-carbon electricity for the UK. LCCC was established in 2014 to be the counterparty for the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, which incentivises investment in low-carbon electricity generation. ESC is responsible for all financial transactions and associated assurances for the Capacity Market scheme, which maintains a healthy surplus of electricity capacity.

ESC’s role, and LCCC’s role in particular, are growing significantly. To help deliver the Government’s clean energy superpower mission, we are supporting more low carbon capacity than ever before under the Contracts for Difference and Capacity Market. LCCC is also delivering new schemes incentivising the deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage, hydrogen and new nuclear projects, all of which are vital to delivery of the clean energy superpower mission.

As the Chair of LCCC and ESC, you will bring strong leadership to the Boards and ensure that they engage with the key issues and priorities facing the companies, particularly legal and technical issues relating to the schemes administered by the companies. You will also utilise your communication and interpersonal skills to build consensus within the Boards, promote high standards of corporate governance and engage with senior stakeholders, in particular with regards to facilitating the resolution of difficult issues when required.

My Ministerial colleagues and I are committed to fair and open recruitment processes across all public appointments that we make. We proactively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from under-represented groups.

Should you need any further assistance, my officials would be happy to talk to you about this and other senior roles in the public sector.

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking for this important organisation, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

Michael Shanks MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Introduction from the Chair

The LCCC was established in 2014 to deliver key elements of the Contracts for Difference (CfDs) scheme, which incentivises investment in low carbon electricity generation. In all its operations as the counterparty to CfDs, the LCCC is led by its principles of maintaining investor confidence in the scheme and to minimise costs to consumers. More recently, LCCC has been asked to deliver new schemes for government, incentivising the delivery of new nuclear generation, carbon capture and storage projects and hydrogen production.

The role of the ESC is to maintain a healthy surplus of electricity capacity. It oversees settlement of the Capacity Market to ensure 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 Energy Security and Net Zero as sole Shareholder. 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.

LCCC currently employs 250FTE, with the majority of staff based in London at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. However, the company also has employees based in Leeds and Birmingham. Headcount is expected to grow rapidly as LCCC takes on new schemes and existing schemes grow in scale.

Further information about the companies can be found here: https://www.lowcarboncontracts.uk/

Appointment description

The non-executive Chair of the LCCC and the ESC is a demanding and influential role. The successful candidate will be expected to bring strong leadership to the Board and deliver confidence to the wide range of commercial stakeholders who partner with the businesses to deliver on the UK’s vision of a decarbonised economy.

As a private law company wholly owned by Government, LCCC currently manages almost 400 Contracts for Difference (CfDs) with low carbon energy producers worth over £80bn and the number of contracts continues to grow each year through annual auction rounds held by government. The business is also working closely with industry and government to bring the success of the CfD to other sectors of the economy including power and industrial carbon capture use and storage and hydrogen production, transport, storage and use.

To meet government ambition to decarbonise the wider economy the business is also taking on new roles for example in hydrogen certification and is discussing potential future roles including developing a CfD tool to support the development of sustainable aviation fuel.

In a rapidly growing business with many commercial touchpoints, as well as key relationships with government and other delivery bodies, the Chair will need excellent communications and interpersonal skills, commercial credibility especially with private sector investors, and an ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders.

He or she will also bring these skills to the board table. The Chair is responsible for maintaining a high performing Board by encouraging participation and challenge, building consensus and ensuring the Board has the skills and competencies to lead this fast moving critical business. The Chair will build a strong relationship with the Chief Executive, promote the highest standards of corporate governance and play a crucial and high-profile role in managing relationships with interested parties at the highest levels in Government and in the energy sector.

Organisation description

LCCC currently employs c.250FTE, with the majority of staff based in London at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. However, the company also has employees based in Leeds and a new office is being opened in Birmingham. Headcount is expected to grow rapidly as LCCC takes on new schemes and existing schemes grow in scale.

Further information about the companies can be found here: Low Carbon Contracts

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website

Person specification

Essential criteria

We are seeking candidates who have tailored their application to demonstrate, and have provided specific examples of, the following:

Experience of working within the private sector, preferably in an area that involves significant capital investment;
Ability to lead a high-performing Board;
Experience of major infrastructure projects, noting that LCCC manages a CFD for Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, one of the largest infrastructure construction projects in Europe;
Ability to work at the interface of the public and private sectors;
Ability to quickly understand the economic and commercial issues that shape the electricity market; and
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage stakeholders proactively.

In the event of a large number of applications being received, we will sift on the lead criteria: Ability to lead a high-performing Board.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to DESNZ on this appointment.

Your application contains two parts.

Both parts must be submitted by midday 22nd April 2025 for your application to be considered complete. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

• Part one: A two-page statement of suitability and two-page CV

• Part two: Diversity Monitoring and Conflict of Interest Form.

Candidates should apply for this role through Saxton Bampfylde’s website at www.saxbam.com/appointments using code QBGGC. Click on the ‘apply’ button and follow the instructions to upload a CV and cover letter and complete the online diversity monitoring* form and the Conflict-of Interest Form.Please visit: Low Carbon Contracts Company and Electricity Settlements Company - Saxton Bampfylde - Global Executive Search & Leadership Consulting

For queries about your application or the recruitment process, please email Ellie.Dugdale@saxbam.com.

*The diversity monitoring online form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your application. Please complete as part of the application process.

GDPR personal data notice

According to GDPR guidelines, we are only able to process your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, health, sex life, or sexual orientation) with your express consent. You will be asked to complete a consent form when you apply and please do not include any Sensitive Personal Data within your CV (although this can be included in your covering letter if you wish to do so), remembering also not to include contact details for referees without their prior agreement.

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)

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.

The AAP has been confrimed as:

Panel Chair and DESNZ Representative: Ashley Ibbett (Director General, DESNZ)

Representatives of the Partner Organisation: Regina Finn (Current Chair, LCCC and ESC)

Independent Panel Member: Liz Ditchburn (Chair, North Sea Transition Authority)

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 Ellie.Dugdale@saxbam.com

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.

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 ‘essential 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

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

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 ten years in any one post.

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

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

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

Please also find attached the DESNZ privacy policy.

Saxton Bampfylde's privacy statement is here .

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