Which RDAs have Board member vacancies this year?
What Board member positions are being advertised in each RDA?
Where will the vacancies be advertised?
When can I apply?
When is the closing date?
What happens if I am late sending my application form?
What is the eligibility to become a Board member?
What are the terms of the appointments?
What do the 2 days time commitment involve?
When will I be able to find out more about the vacancies and the role of a Board member?
What do I need to do to apply for a position on an RDA?
Who do I contact if I need a copy of the Applicants Pack and Application Form in an alternative format?
Can I just send in my CV?
Do I need to complete a CV?
When will I know the outcome of the sift?
When will the interviews take place?
What happens if I am not available on the date of the interview?
Would the interview date ever need to be changed from that advertised?
When will I know the outcome of the interview?
When will the appointments commence?
Can I apply for more than one role?
Who sits on the interview panel?
What are the restrictions around conflicts of interest?
Where will the post be based?
Who can I contact for advice as to my suitability as an RDA Board member?
What is the role of the Commissioner for Public Appointments?
Will the general election have an impact on the appointments process?
What is the extent of Ministerial involvement in the public appointments process?

Which RDAs have Board member vacancies this year?

Vacancies to be confirmed

It is likely that the other seven RDAs will be advertising later in the year.

• Advantage West Midlands
• East of England Development Agency
• East Midlands Development Agency
• North West Regional Development Agency
• One North East
• South West Regional Development Agency
• Yorkshire Forward

What Board member positions are being advertised in each RDA?

Where will the vacancies be advertised?

The two business vacancies for SEEDA will be advertised on the 7 February 2010 in the Sunday Times, plus Public Appointments website, BIS website, SEEDAs website and GatenbySanderson website.

Further vacancies across the seven RDAs, advertising tbc.

When can I apply?

You can apply for the SEEDA Board from the 7 February.

The other seven RDA vacancies you can apply yet tbc.

When applying you will need to use the appropriate application form that we will make available on this site from 7 February.

When is the closing date?

The closing date for SEEDA is Thursday 4th March 12 noon.

The closing date for the seven othe RDAs yet tbc.

What happens if I am late sending my application form?

Late applications received will not be accepted without evidence that your application form was uploaded to this site on or before the closing date and hard copies being posted before the closing date.

Only certain extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration such as a serious health issue or bereavement. Being away on holiday, being abroad on business or being ill during part of the advertising process is not a valid reason for an extension to be requested. 

When an extension has been requested on the grounds of extenuating circumstances this will be forwarded to the Commissioner for Public Appointments for her final decision.

What is the eligibility to become a Board member?

There are two criteria:

• You must either live or work in the region where the role is based:
  
  Advantage West Midlands – the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire; the unitary authorities of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Telford and Wrekin; and the seven metropolitan districts of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
  East of England Development Agency – the five counties of Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and the unitary authorities of Peterborough, Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.
  East Midlands Development Agency -
  North West Regional Development Agency – Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
  One North East -
  South East England Development Agency – the counties of Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex and the unitary authorities of Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Medway, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Reading, Slough, Southampton, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Wokingham.
  South West Regional Development Agency - the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset and the unitary authorities of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Bournemouth, Poole, Torbay and Plymouth.
  Yorkshire Forward – Yorkshire and the Humber.
  
  And
• You must be able to demonstrate the following for the position you are applying for:
  
  Business Position SEEDA - for the advertised business positions you will need to be currently working in or have recently worked in an organisation at senior management/Board level and can demonstrate a sunstantial record of business achievement in either the private sector, public sector or a social enterprise.
  The other positions eligibility criteria tbc.
  

What are the terms of the appointments?

Time Commitment
This requires a commitment of a minimum of two days a month for an initial period of around three years.

Remuneration
Non-Executive board members remuneration is £8,666 (to be reviewed) per annum. In addition, any appropriate travel and subsistence expenses may be claimed.

What do the two days time commitment involve?

The two days cover attendance at the monthly Board meeting and attendance on other sub-groups/committees that Board Members sit on and/or involvement in particular projects. You can find out more about being a Board Member on this website, please visit Board Members experience.

When will I be able to find out more about the vacancies and the role of a Board member:

Full information will be made available on this site from the 7 February for the SEEDA vacancies. If required, we can arrange for copies to be available in hard copy or alternative formats. Please contact GatenbySanderson on 0207 426 3966 after 7 February if you do require the information in an alternative format.

What do I need to do to apply for a position on an RDA?

You will need to send your CV, plus complete an application form. Application forms will be made available on the site from 7 February. You will be asked to demonstrate your experience in the six essential criteris for SEEDA. Your application will be sifted against these criteria. 

Who do I contact if I need a copy of the Applicants Pack and Application Form in an alternative format?

If you require the information in an alternative format (audio, braille, large print) please contact Kelly Butterfield on 0207 426 3966.

Can I just send in my CV?

CVs cannot be submitted without a completed application form. The Commissioner for Public Appointments requires completed application forms from applicants applying for all Ministerial Public Appointments.

Do I need to complete a CV?

You will be asked if you would like to include your CV (no more than 2 sides of A4) alongside your application, which is strongly recommended. Your CV will give the selection panel further background about you as a person and the distance that you have travelled in your career, plus the level of experience. Any evidence that you feel is relevant to your application contained in your CV will need to be copied into your application form. Your CV will not be used directly in the sifting process.

When will I know the outcome of the sift?

The sifting process will take place during March for the SEEDA positions. You will be advised whether or not your application has been successful by the end of March (subject to change).

When will the interviews take place?

The interviews will take place on 25 and 27 May.

What happens if I am not available on the date of the interview?

As all of the dates are published for the positions at least one month in advance from the closing date applicants are expected to make themselves available on the dates given. The selection panel is not obliged to make alternative arrangements for non availability. Only in exceptional circumstances will BIS consider requests for an alternative interview date. BIS would ask the selection panel for their views about the principal of proportionality before making a final decision. For example, if there is a wide field of candidates for that vacancy the additional time and public money involved in reconvening the selection panel may not be justified.

Would the interview date ever need to be changed from that advertised?

Only in exceptional circumstances would the selection panel need to change the advertised date, for example a panel member being called to a ministerial meeting at short notice. Every effort would be made to accommodate all candidates invited for interview. BIS would seek an alternative date from the selection panel to offer candidates, plus a contigency date would be provided to BIS which could be used only if circumstances met the principal of proportionality.

When will I know the outcome of the interview?

Appointments are subject to Ministerial approval which will take place during June. Appointed candidates will be asked if they wish to take up the appointment in late June early July and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application at the same time. Successful candidates will be notified formally mid July (subject to change).

When will the appointments commence?

SEEDA appointments will commence on:

• First business position end of July beginning of August (subject to change)
• Second business position 14th December 2010 (subject to change)

Can I apply for more than one role?

Yes – provided that you live or work in either region you are applying for. If you are applying for more than one role, you must submit a separate application for each.

Who sits on the interview panel?

The interview panel consists of: the RDA Chair, the Government Office Regional Director (who Chairs the panel) and the Independent Public Appointments Assessor.

What are the restrictions around conflicts of interest?

Public Appointments require the highest standards of propriety, involving impartiality, integrity and objectivity, in relation to the stewardship of public funds and the oversight and management of all related activities. This means that any private, voluntary, charitable or political interest which might be material and relevant to the work of the body concerned should be declared.

There is always the possibility for real or perceived conflicts of interest to arise, which may preclude your appointment to one of the Board positions with the RDA’s. It is important, therefore, that you consider your circumstances when applying for a public appointment and identify any potential conflicts of interest in the appropriate section in the application form, whether real or perceived. For further information and guidance on this, please read the following document titled Public Appointments Probity and Conflicts of Interest: A Guide for Candidates.

Where will the post be based?

The posts will be based at the following locations. Travel within the region will be expected

South East England Development Agency - Guilford, Surrey

Who can I contact for advice as to my suitability as an RDA Board member?

You can send an email to or

What is the role of the Commissioner for Public Appointments?

The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. An Independent Public Appointments Assessor, who is an expert in the appointments process, sits on the selection panels and is a full member of the panel. Their role is to offer independent scrutiny and underwrite the integrity of the whole appointments process. For further information on the role of the Commissioner please click on the link.

Will the general election have an impact on the appointments process?

Once the general election is called we will be asked to delay the appointments process until we are given agreement to proceed by the Minister.

What is the extent of Ministerial involvement in the public appointments process?

At the planning stage the Department will consult the Minister on the extent to which they wish to be involved. The Minister is also consulted on the extent to which any relevant Regional Minister should be involved, subject to the provisions of the Commissioners Code. It is the responsibility of the Minister to determine the level and nature of the involvement of any regional Minister in the process.