Pam Charlwood - Voluntary/Community Board Member SEEDA

An interesting week as a SEEDA Board member starts with the opportunity to meet the newly appointed Chief Executive of RAISE, the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in the region. One of my roles is to bring the perspective of the voluntary and community sector to the SEEDA Board and the relationship with RAISE is crucial as it helps ensure I have a good understanding of the issues that are of interest and concern to the sector and also enables me to update them. Next is a briefing session with the internal audit team, as I have just joined the Audit Committee and want to get a feel for how this important aspect of the organisation works. The full day’s training for Audit Committee members in London will follow later …. Finally, I meet with a member of the Skills and Employability team to discuss how a particular objective in the Regional Economic Strategy might be monitored, given many recent and impending changes in how local services are structured.

Later in the week, I join seven other guests at a dinner hosted by Southern Water to explore issues of mutual interest to local political leaders, economic and academic partners and SEEDA. An excellent briefing for me has been prepared by the SEEDA team. The discussion covers the issues likely to feature in Southern Water’s Business Plan, the importance of engaging the public in debate about water issues, the interests of salmon in the River Itchen, and the management of sewage: the need for a systematic programme to replace the Victorian sewers is a challenge facing the whole country. The MP and lead council member for the environment who are among the guests lead a genuinely fascinating discussion about sewage management and it is likely that SEEDA can work with the water company and councils to explore opportunities for innovative and mutually beneficial approaches – definitely a contribution to one of our key objectives of Sustainable Prosperity.

Phil Wood – Trade Union Board member SEEDA

Two days a month is the regular requirement of you from SEEDA. You will need to commit that but over and above is down to you there is the opportunity but also the understanding that those on the board have a wide range of interests and involvement.

As the holder of the Trade Union seat on the board you have the unique opportunity of representing the views of people working in businesses across the Region. There are many voices representing the views of owners and managers but the interests of people in the workplace will be your key interest.

Those interests for me have covered the gender pay pap, widening the possibilities of employment for disadvantage groups, flexible working, health and safety at work, opportunities for employment and sadly more recently trying to assist those who are becoming unemployed.

Maintaining connections with unions other than your own both directly and through the Regional TUC and its South East Network will provide you with the ideas and information you need to do this effectively. These support networks are important in helping you to relate SEEDA’s wide range of activities and geographical spread to people in the workplace.

Ensuring your networks are aware of SEEDA’s activities will help them considerably in getting the most benefit from them and support the work of SEEDA in developing the Region for the benefit of all.

Whilst the appointment is personal there is accountability to the Trade Union world and in addition to your regular contacts with Unions you will have the opportunity of reporting to and discussing current issues with the Regional Council of SERTUC.

If you are interested in applying please do not hesitate to ask SEEDA for details of where you can contact me.