Appointment details

Great British Energy (GBE) - Chair

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

Summary

Organisation: Great British Energy
Sponsor department: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Location: Scotland
Sectors: Energy
Skills: Major Projects
Number of vacancies: 1
Time commitment: 2 day(s) per week
Remuneration: £114,400 per annum
Length of term: 4 Years
Application deadline: 9am on 14 August 2026

Apply for this appointment

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Timeline for this appointment

Opening date

4 June 2026
Application deadline

9am on 14 August 2026
Sifting date

31 August 2026
Interviews expected to end on

30 September 2026

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

Great British Energy is the government’s publicly owned, energy development company with a mission to accelerate clean power deployment to create jobs, boost energy independence, and ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers, and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown energy.

Our ambition is to become a lasting national institution that the British public will be proud of. We are building GBE not just as a company, but as a cornerstone of the UK’s energy landscape: a trusted, transparent, and innovative public champion that stands shoulder to shoulder with the leading state-owned energy companies of Europe.

For too long, Britain has relied on imported energy, while other state-owned companies have benefitted from owning our crucial energy assets. GBE marks a decisive break — a permanent national capability to plan, invest, and build the infrastructure that powers our future.

Public ownership with purpose means we use public capital to unlock private investment, not replace it. GBE’s investments will catalyse further investment, building industries that last. Returns from assets the public owns are reinvested — back into more capacity, more jobs and more opportunity.

Great British Energy works collaboratively with industry, local authorities and communities, and other public sector organisations such as the National Wealth Fund, to spread skilled jobs and investment across the country.

In recognition of Scotland’s leading role in the UK’s clean energy revolution, Great British Energy is headquartered in Aberdeen.

More information can be found at FWB's page here.

Introduction from the Minister

Great British Energy was created for a simple reason: to give Britain greater control over its energy future and to give the British public a stake in it.

For too long, our country has been exposed to volatile global fossil fuel markets that we do not control, leaving households, businesses and public services vulnerable to price shocks and international instability. Clean, homegrown power is not just about tackling climate change - it is fundamental to our national security and our economic future.

That is why this government established Great British Energy as a publicly owned company to invest in, develop and support clean energy across the UK. Its purpose is to accelerate the roll out of clean power, strengthen our energy independence, and ensure that the benefits of the transition are felt by communities across Britain. It is about building resilience, backing British industry and skills, supporting good jobs, and proving that public ownership can deliver real, lasting outcomes for the country.

The role of Chair is therefore of critical importance. Great British Energy is being built to operate at scale, to work in partnership with the private sector, local communities and devolved governments, and to take strategic decisions that will shape our energy system for generations. The Chair will play a central role in setting the organisation’s direction, upholding the highest standards of governance, and ensuring that strong public purpose is matched by rigorous commercial discipline.

My priorities for Great British Energy are clear: to accelerate clean power deployment, crowd in private investment, strengthen British supply chains, put communities at the heart of the energy transition, make the case for 21st century public ownership and help deliver the energy security that underpins a strong and resilient nation. Achieving this will require leadership of the highest calibre.

I encourage applications from outstanding leaders who are motivated by public service and who want to play a defining role in building something that will have a lasting legacy for the British public.

From Michael Shanks, Minister for Energy

Appointment description

This is not a typical Chair role. This is an opportunity to shape a new national institution on behalf of the British people - a publicly owned energy company committed to serving the country.

We are seeking a Chair to lead a values-driven Board as Great British Energy enters its next phase of maturity. The successful candidate will join in autumn 2026, after the completion of GBE’s initial organisational set-up. The Chair will lead efforts to embed GBE as a lasting and dynamic pillar of the UK’s energy and economic landscape ensuring it delivers real value for the British people.

As Chair, you will provide strategic leadership to the Board, ensuring effective governance, oversight, and accountability during a pivotal period of growth and national significance. This role requires balancing the traditional responsibilities of a Chair with championing reshaping public ownership for the modern world.

The Opportunity

Great British Energy is over one year into its journey. We are recruiting a Chair to join the Board of Great British Energy at an exciting time for the company, following its initial ‘set up’ period. A key focus for GBE will be maturing its organisational capabilities as it moves out of this set-up phase, whilst continuing to deliver at pace in line with its mandate set by government.

Over the next five years, GBE will become a world-class energy institution, accelerating the delivery of clean energy generation while mobilising up to £15 billion of private investment alongside public capital. Through a strong focus on local and community energy, and by strengthening UK supply chains, GBE will help deliver thousands of skilled jobs and ensure the benefits of the energy transition flow back to communities and taxpayers across the UK. About the Role Public ownership with purpose will enable returns from these investments to be reinvested into further capacity, jobs and opportunity.

We are looking for an individual who is motivated by public service and committed to Great British Energy’s mission to accelerate clean power deployment to create good jobs, boost energy independence and secure the benefit of clean, secure homegrown energy for the UK.

Responsibilities

• Set Strategic Direction: Lead the Board in setting Great British Energy’s strategic direction, ensuring alignment with national energy policy and the company’s public purpose. Drive innovation in public ownership for a modern energy economy.

• Governance and Accountability: Provide strong oversight and support to the Chief Executive and executive team, holding them to account for delivery and performance. Ensure governance, risk management, and compliance meet the highest standards, balancing commercial discipline with accountability to the British public.

• National Representation: Act as GBE’s leading ambassador, representing the company at the highest levels across government, industry, and communities. Build trust and influence to position GBE as a cornerstone of the UK’s energy transition.

• Champion Public Value: Embed social responsibility at the heart of GBE’s decision making, ensuring community energy and public benefit are integral to commercial success.

• Shape Culture: Foster a purpose-driven culture that reflects GBE’s mission and values, embedding this ethos across the Board and Executive.

• Anchor in Aberdeen: Ensure GBE establishes itself as a proud Aberdeen-headquartered company, with a clear strategy to engage the city and its communities as part of its national role.

Further information can be found at FWB's page here.

Organisation description

Great British Energy (GBE) is the government’s publicly owned, energy development company with a mission to accelerate clean power deployment to create jobs, boost energy independence, and ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers, and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown energy.

In recognition of Scotland’s leading role in the UK’s clean energy revolution, Great British Energy is headquartered in Aberdeen (with additional sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow once the company is up and running).

Great British Energy is committed to building a diverse leadership team and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in the energy and public sectors.

More details can be found in the GBE Statement of Strategic Priorities and GBE’s Strategic Plan.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Leadership: Proven leadership experience as Chair or CEO of a large, complex organisation, ideally in energy, infrastructure, or public service.
Mission-driven: Deeply motivated by public service and committed to Great British Energy’s mission. Brings a forward-looking vision for public ownership in the 21st century, focused on delivering public value, commercial success, and long-term energy security.
Governance and Strategic Oversight: Strong understanding of corporate governance and the responsibilities of a Chair, with demonstrable ability to provide strategic direction and constructive challenge to executive leadership.
Political and Stakeholder Engagement: Politically astute yet determinedly impartial, able to navigate complex political, governmental, and investment landscapes to build consensus across sectors.
Communications and Influence: Exceptional communication skills, including experience in high-profile public-facing roles and media handling. Confident in navigating both government and private sector investment landscapes.
Ambassador: A reputation for building strong multi-stakeholder relationships and acting as a trusted ambassador for a high-profile organisation, with credibility and influence at the highest levels across government, industry and communities

Desirable criteria

Organisation-building: Experience in establishing or scaling up a new organisation.
Policy and Regulation: Familiarity with the UK’s regulatory and policy landscape for energy and climate.

Application and selection process

About this appointment

Some public appointments are made by the Prime Minister, or the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Others are made by Secretaries of State or other ministers and are of interest to the Prime Minister.

Public appointments made by or of interest to the Prime Minister

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

To apply, you must provide:

equality information
information relating to any outside interests or potential reputational issues
You may also be asked to provide:
a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
a supporting statement
a short biography

To submit your application, you are asked to email the following documents as separate attachments:

A cover sheet which includes a short supporting statement (maximum 500 words) detailing how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the criteria in the person specification of this advert.
A concise CV (maximum two sides A4, minimum 11 font) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities, professional qualifications, and achievements.

Completed applications must be submitted to gbenergychair@fwbltd.com by no later than 9am on Friday the 14th August.

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

Further information can be found at FWB's page here.

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)

Clive Maxwell – Departmental Official

Departmental Permanent Secretary

Clive Maxwell has no political activity to declare.

Harry Hampson – Public Body Representative

CEO UKGI

Harry Hampson has no political activity to declare.

Dr Afsheen Kabir Rashid – Independent Panel Member

CEO Repowering London

Dr Afsheen Kabir Rashid has no political activity to declare.

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 gbenergychair@fwbltd.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.

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 Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's public appointments team at publicbodies@energysecurity.gov.uk in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application. 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.

Department for Energy & Net Zero will use your data in line with their privacy policy.

Contact details

gbenergychair@fwbltd.com

Cookies on Apply for a public appointment

Contents