Skills England Board Member – Department for Education

*Closes 27th September*

Meeting the skills needs of the next decade is central to delivering the Government’s missions across all regions and nations. Skills England will drive this effort forward by bringing together employers, education/training providers and unions with national government and combined authorities to a) develop a single picture of national skills needs, b) identify priority training programmes to receive funding and c) ensure that national and regional skills systems are meeting skills need.

Skills England is currently a ‘shadow’ body that sits within the Department for Education. Whilst we are currently recruiting Board members to the shadow body, we expect this to body to become a permanent Arm’s Length Body over the next 6-9 months. Once Skills England is established as an ALB, we expect the successful candidates to remain in post for up to 3 years as Skills England transitions from a shadow body to an ALB.

Board members will shape the strategic direction of the shadow Skills England, providing guidance and oversight during the transition phase (approx. 6-9 months). They will be responsible for overseeing the development of Skills England’s remit, how it engages with key skills bodies both locally, regionally and nationally and how it shapes the training offer available to employers and learners to align with the skills needs of the country.

Board members should:

• Work effectively with the interim Chair and interim CEO to establish the strategic direction of shadow Skills England, providing an independent perspective and insight to the Minister.
• Advise the interim Chair and CEO on the roles and responsibilities of Skills England, challenging and contributing to the development of an overarching strategy: including setting and development of key objectives.
• Support the establishment of processes to proactively engage with skills bodies across the country, identifying high-quality feedback loops to inform key decision making to shape the training offer
• Ensure the Board operates within its statutory authority and in accordance with conditions relating to the use of public funds.
• Ensure high standards of corporate governance are observed at all times.
• Promote and protect the shadow Skills England’s position, values, mission, vision, integrity, image and reputation.

• Strategic and independent thinking with a commitment to exercising impartial and independent judgement, drawing sound conclusions from weighing up evidence
• Exceptional communication skills to support the ability to build effective relationships at senior level and/or between organisations
• The ability to drive forward the work of an organisation at non-executive level, with a successful track record in the public, voluntary or private sectors;
• Experience and knowledge that will contribute to the shadow Skills England