HM Government Northern Ireland Public Appointments Talent & Outreach event

Event Description

Baroness Neville-Rolfe, the Cabinet Office Minister overseeing the UK Government public appointments system, invites those interested in applying for a public appointment role, to a networking event on Thursday 11 April 2024 14:30 – 17:30 in partnership with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council.

This event is open to all professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland, and all those who are interested in finding out more about UK public appointments, forthcoming opportunities, and how to apply for – and land – the role you want

We are particularly keen to encourage those with business experience to take up roles on government and public sector boards.

Every year, the UK Government makes over 1000 public appointments to over 300 public bodies and offices in the UK. Appointments vary in time commitment and remuneration and are normally held for a period of three to five years. There are roles at local levels which directly support communities, and roles at national levels. The Bodies and Offices, appointments to which are made by HM Government Ministers and regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments include:

• Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland, members known as Commissioners excluding the Chair and Deputy Chair
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• The Northern Ireland Committee
• BBC Member for Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland Governor for the British Film Institute Board
• Human Tissue Authority
• Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland
• Departmental Board for the Northern Ireland Office, non-executive members only
• Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
• Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, excluding the Chief Commissioner
• Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
• Parades Commission for Northern Ireland

Public appointees provide leadership and guidance based on their skills and experience. While responsibilities can vary, they may include:

• setting the organisation’s strategy
• agreeing business plans
• recruiting key staff
• holding senior staff to account on how the body is managed
• scrutinising the delivery of business plans
• monitoring how budgets are spent
• representing the work and views of the body to ministers, parliamentarians, stakeholders and the wider public

Taking up a public appointment is a fantastic way for an individual to bring their skills and experience to bear for the good of the public sector, while expanding their own career horizons. We want to make sure that we are attracting the broadest possible range of prospective candidates for public appointments, from right across the country. Having more people from Northern Ireland informing public sector decisions benefits both the local area and decision making as a whole.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is home to a growing number of global companies and thriving sectors of high growth companies, with significant strengths in creative and digital, financial and professional services, technology and advanced manufacturing. The FinTech sector, in particular, has boomed in recent years leading to its recognition as one of the top 10 FinTech hubs and fastest-growing tech cities in the UK.

Northern Ireland has a number of high-growth sectors with clusters of expertise and opportunities for growth, including: Artificial Intelligence, Creative and digital industries, Cyber Security, Energy (including renewables), Life and Health Sciences, and Tourism. Northern Ireland is home to 4% of the UK’s cyber security workforce despite representing 2.8% of the UK population.

Northern Ireland also has a strong agri-food sector (the largest manufacturing sector in the region) with high rates of export growth. Indeed, Northern Ireland produces enough food for more than five times its own population and ranks second in terms of exports outside the UK, with a commercial balance of +£248m.

The UK Government is keen to encourage those individuals into the public appointments arena – Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of the society they serve and this is an important part of our levelling-up agenda.

Public bodies, and their boards, play an important role in the lives of all of us. Becoming a public appointee will give you a unique opportunity to get more involved and contribute to improving public services, and making a difference to society. In return, public appointees develop their own skills, gain vital experience, and build up their own professional contacts.

We are focussed on diversity in its broadest sense including improving the diversity of thought and our regional representations on UK Government and public sector boards.

You will receive further details upon registering.

Limited spaces apply.

If you would like to attend, please sign up by Thursday 29 March 2024.

Upon registering you will receive joining details closer to the date. The location is a Lisburn city centre venue. In the interim, please see our privacy notice on how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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