The government is advertising for applicants to be the next chair of the Charity Commission, to replace William Shawcross, who is leaving later in the year having been in post since 2012.

Published through the Centre for Public Appointments, the vacancy attracts remuneration of £62,500 a year for a two-and-a-half days a week. Shawcross, by comparison, works three days a week on a £50,000 annual salary.

The successful candidate must be able to support the organisation “through a period of significant change and cultural development in either the private or charity/not-for-profit sector”, and will be responsible for leading the regulator’s board in setting the commission’s strategic priorities and policy direction over the next three years, it says. This is likely to include the subject of the regulator charging charities for its services, something the regulator has been edging towards in recent years and on which it is soon due to launch a consultation.

An ‘accessible and engaging ambassador’ for the organisation, able to ‘influence high-level stakeholders within government and in parliament, the media, the charity sector and the business world’ are requirements. As is an understanding of and interest in the charity sector, ‘including an awareness of the multifaceted challenges it faces resulting from changing social and economic circumstances’.

Applicants will be scrutinised by a four-member panel comprising Sue Owen, permanent secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, and chair of the panel; Lord Kakkar, chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission; Julia Unwin, chair of the Independent Inquiry into the Future of Civil Society; and Alan Downey, who is described in the job advert as an “other panel member”. They will also have to attend a pre-appointment hearing before the Culture, Media & Sports Select Committee.

The closing date for applications is 3pm on 22 September, and the successful applicant will be expected to serve a term of up to three years.

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, has announced the appointment of Lawrence Waterman, a passionate health and safety campaigner, as the new Chairman of the British Safety Council.
Lynda Armstrong OBE, Chair of the British Safety Council since October 2010, will retire after seven years in the post, on 24 November 2017.

Lawrence Waterman OBE CFIOSH is a founding partner at the Park Health and Safety Partnership, and was formerly head of health and safety for the London Olympic Delivery Authority. He is past president of IOSH. Lawrence is also a visiting professor at Loughborough University where he both teaches and participates in research. He was appointed OBE for services to health and safety in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Honours.

Mike Robinson said: “We are delighted to welcome Lawrence Waterman to the Board of the British Safety Council. He will be joining the charity at a time of significant domestic and international developments and wide-ranging public debates, which present both challenges and opportunities for health and safety professionals. Lawrence has considerable health and safety experience and he will help the British Safety Council have its voice heard on key issues and promote our vision that no one should be injured or made ill at work, both in Britain and abroad.

“Over seven years as Chair of the British Safety Council, Lynda Armstrong has presided over a period of transformation that has seen the charity became a leading voice of health and safety. We are very grateful for her leadership and hard work in raising the profile of the British Safety Council and promoting the business case for sensible and proportionate health and safety management.”

Lynda Armstrong, current Chair of the British Safety Council, said: “It has been a privilege to serve as Chair of the British Safety Council for the last seven years. The organisation has remained as relevant today as it was at its foundation 60 years ago, by growing its reach and adapting to new challenges in promoting health and safety. The last years have seen an emphasis on growing internationally, culminating in the establishment of an office in India this year, and an increased effort in promoting health and wellbeing. It is an exciting time for the organisation and it will be a wrench to leave, but I can’t think of a better person than Lawrence to steer the organisation through the challenges ahead.”

Commenting on his appointment, Lawrence Waterman said: “I have had the privilege to act as a trustee to both the British Safety Council and IOSH and I am familiar with the excellent work done by charities committed to making a difference. I am looking forward to taking on the role of Chairman of the British Safety Council, which focuses on protecting vulnerable people in the workplace and empowering them to better manage risk, wellbeing and mental health. I am also keen to help the British Safety Council develop its new programme in India which, through effective partnerships, will raise health and safety standards in that country. The British Safety Council, together with its member organisations, is a powerful force for good and I am proud to take on a leading role within it.” 

Dame Inga Beale, ACII, Chartered Insurer has been elected the 121^st president of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) at the professional body’s Annual General Meeting held in London on 2^nd August.

Beale started her career in 1982 at Prudential Assurance Company in London. She trained as an underwriter, specialising in international treaty reinsurance. She left Prudential in 1992 to work as an underwriter in General Electric’s insurance division, joining GE’s management in Kansas in 2001, and taking leadership roles in Paris and Munich. Beale then headed Swiss reinsurer Converium. In 2008 she joined Zurich Insurance Group as a member of their Group Management Board.

The following year she was named the group’s Global Chief Underwriting Officer. From 2012-13, she was the Group CEO at the privately held Lloyd’s insurer Canopius. Beale was announced as the new CEO of Lloyd’s of London in December 2013: the first female CEO in the insurance market’s 328-year history. She succeeds John Moore MBE, Chartered Insurance Broker and Chairman at Thomas Carroll Group. CII members also voted Jonathan Clark, ACII, and Chartered Insurance Practitioner as CII deputy president.

Commenting on her election, Inga Beale said: “Attracting a new generation of digitally savvy talent will be crucial to our success in meeting the future needs of a more diverse and demanding group of customers across the globe. That’s why I have chosen New Talent as the theme to underpin my presidency of the Chartered Insurance Institute.”

Sian Fisher, CII chief executive, said: “It is a great pleasure for me to welcome Inga Beale as the new president of the CII. Her extensive experience and achievements in the market will be a welcome addition and I very much look forward to working with her in the coming months. I would also like to congratulate Jonathan Clark as deputy president and thank John Moore for all his hard work and dedication in his year as CII president.”

The President of the Prison Governors Association has written an open letter to members which is roundly critical of the governments approach to the current crisis in prisons. Andrea Albutt launched a scathing attack on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) saying that the PGA are “devastated at the complete decline of our service”, and stating that nothing tangible had come from the ministry to “to ease the burden” on her members.

Responding to her comments, Dr Amanda Goodall, an Associate Professor and expert in leadership at Cass Business School, commented thus: “The decision, originally made by Liz Truss when she was Secretary of State of Justice and Lord Chancellor, to separate prison decision-making and policy from prison governors was illogical. Of note is that Ms Truss was the first Lord Chancellor to be appointed with no knowledge of the law – no law degree – a point that got a lot of attention at the time. Thus, it is not so surprising that she made this decision with no core business knowledge of either the law or prisons. Unfortunately, the government has essentially rendered prison governors impotent, and at a time when our prisons are in chaos, and they are finding it hard to recruit prison governors.”

Coinciding with the launch of its call for evidence, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers – the trade body representing the interests of the UK’s pubs, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and coffee shops sector – has written to the Migration Advisory Committee carrying out the investigation into the benefits of migrant workers in the UK.

The ALMR’s letter highlights the important economic contribution being made by eating and drinking out businesses and the need for access to EU workers in order to secure growth. It also confirms the ALMR’s intention to provide evidence to the MAC’s consultation to secure a deal for eating and drinking out businesses.

ALMR Chief Executive Kate Nicholls “This is an encouraging first step from the Government and shows that decision-makers are ready to listen to the concerns of employers. Food and drink businesses in the UK are the second largest employer of EU workers and the 5th highest as a percentage of the workforce. It is vital that the Government understands the concerns of the UK’s eating and drinking out businesses and the need for continued access to non-UK workers.

“We have written to the MAC to provide them with the information they need to make an informed decision on an immigration policy that suits employers. We have offered our full support as the voice of eating and drinking out venues and will be responding to the consultation to make sure our members’ voices are heard.

“This is a good opportunity to engage with the Government on an issue that is going to have a huge effect on UK businesses and influence an immigration policy that will have longstanding consequences.”

Source: www.almr.org.uk.

In a new report considering the challenges and opportunities for economic development within Wales’ rural areas, the Federation of Small Business Wales has called for the Welsh Government to develop a Taskforce for Rural Economies 

A Taskforce for Rural Economies makes the case that the rural economy must not simply be considered an agricultural economy. Given the need to diversify the rural economy and create opportunities for new businesses as well as some of the potential challenges posed by Brexit, the report suggests that the Welsh rural economy must in turn change to meet those demands and capitalise on any opportunities.

FSB Wales has also called for the taskforce to consider the institution of a Rural Challenge Fund which would be an open fund designed to attract new ideas and new thinking for economic development in rural areas. The emphasis would be on allowing rural areas to design their own projects and interventions.

Commenting on the report, Janet Jones, FSB Wales Policy Chair, said: 

“As someone who runs a rural business which has itself diversified, I know the importance of diversification and ensuring our rural areas have the widest possible economic mix. It has arguably never been more important for policy makers to understand the need for the “rural-proofing” of Welsh and UK Government policies. This would, we feel, be a key role for a taskforce.

“Rural areas have particular challenges and needs but are significant assets to Wales and if properly supported, present some of the most exciting opportunities for business growth. However, now is the time to marshal thinking and resources to have a distinctive conversation and construct a new ambition for rural Wales”


A Taskforce for Rural Economies is available here: 

According to the Association of Convenience Stores’ 2017 Community Barometer report, published last Friday (4^th August), Post Offices and convenience stores are the nation’s favourite high street shops and services for the third year running.

The survey of UK consumers and local councillors across the UK showed that the top three services which have the most positive impact locally are post offices (1), convenience stores (2) and specialist food shops like butchers and bakeries (3).

The services that people wanted to see more of in their local area were specialist food shops, banks and non-food retailers like hardware and clothing stores. The numbers of these and other specialist stores have fallen in recent years in the face of increasing competition on the high street, high business rates costs and increasing wage bills.

Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: “Despite the continuing growth of online shopping and the range of services being provided for consumers on the internet, it is clear that the British public still value the contribution that convenience stores and local post offices make to communities. The decline in the number of specialist stores like pharmacies, bakeries and banks has been picked up in part by convenience stores looking to increase the range of services that they offer, especially in isolated and rural areas. The modern convenience store sector is now as much about providing essential services as it is traditional groceries.”

The survey findings are part of the ACS Community Barometer report, which also looks at what consumers, retailers and councillors believe should be done to support local high streets.

Reducing the cost of parking charges in local car parks is the top priority of consumers but falls second to last among the list of priorities for councillors who are keener to make investment in public transport and shopping areas, and gain further control over planning regulations. 

Retailers believe that reducing business rates should be the top priority, fuelled by increases in rates for many as a result of the 2017 revaluation.

here: