Chair
Appointment Brief
July 2015
REF: QORJ
Saxton Bampfylde
35 Old Queen Street
London SW1H 9JA
+44 (0)20 7227 0800
www.saxbam.com
Foreword from the Secretary of State for Transport
This is an exciting time for Britain’s transport infrastructure – the
Government is investing heavily to ensure that it meets the needs
of users and the economy right across the country. Delivering on
these investments is therefore one of our biggest priorities, which
is why the role as Chair of the Office of Rail and Road is highly
important, both for our railways and major roads.
Our railways are a major success story. Passenger demand is at
the highest ever level and freight numbers are growing. However,
a growing railway has brought its own challenges, which require the
whole sector to work together to identify and achieve solutions how to improve and sustain train service reliability while the number
of services increases, improving passenger satisfaction on a busy network which is
undergoing major enhancements, and effectively delivering on a massive programme of
infrastructure investment.
ORR’s work as a combined national economic and safety regulator is central to the overall
effectiveness of our railway, helping to ensure that it meets the needs of all of its customers,
through being efficient, safe and dynamic, and continually working to raise standards and
value for money. The new Chair will arrive at a particularly important time to take forward this
agenda, as ORR works towards the next periodic review of Network Rail, determining the
efficient cost of running the railway infrastructure in the five year control period starting in 2019.
Our major roads are vital arteries of the British economy, which is why, through the Road
Investment Strategy, we are investing heavily in them to improve and enhance the network.
ORR, as the newly appointed Highways Monitor, will hold Highways England to account for
its delivery of the strategy and its management of the strategic road network, driving better
outcomes for road users and the taxpayer.
The Government’s agenda is therefore a challenging one which will leave Britain’s transport
infrastructure fundamentally different to what it is today. If you are an inspirational and effective
leader who has the skills we need and is ready to take on this challenge, this role will provide
you with a unique and rewarding opportunity to make a major contribution to road and rail
users, and to supporting economic growth across Great Britain.
Thank you for your interest.
The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
The organisation
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) oversees Britain’s railways, which are critical to national
and regional economic growth. Last year rail carried 1.65 billion passengers and 110 million
tonnes of freight. It is also a major economic activity on its own terms, with turnover of £13
billion per annum, including significant taxpayer contributions of about £5 billion per annum.
As the monitor of Highways England, the ORR also monitors the strategic network of
Motorways and major A roads in England which in 2014 saw over 150 billion vehicle miles.
ORR is a non-ministerial government department with around 280 staff and a budget of
about £30 million each year. ORR’s rail activity is funded by the railway industry it regulates.
ORR’s roads activity is grant funded by DfT to the order of £2.6 million in 2015-16.
ORR operates out of six offices that are distributed across the country. Over half of ORR’s
staff are based in the London head office and around half are focused on safety. ORR is
structured, staffed and resourced around directorates: safety, economics, planning and
performance, legal, strategy and policy, and corporate operations.
ORR’s Rail responsibilities
ORR is:
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The national health and safety authority for Britain's railways including the mainline
railway, High Speed 1 (HS1), London Underground, light rail and the heritage sector
and it provides resources for regulating the Channel Tunnel.
The licensing authority for the companies that operate Britain’s trains, stations, light
maintenance depots and networks.
The economic regulator of Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail
network. ORR’s principal economic function is to regulate and enforce Network Rail's
stewardship of the national network.
Responsible for establishing terms and conditions for train operators’ access to the
network.
The competition authority for the railways, concurrently with the Competition and
Markets Authority.
Responsible for exercising important consumer protection powers.
Responsible for influencing the development of European economic and safety
policies.
Responsible for publishing key statistics on the performance of railways (ORR is
accredited by the National Statistics Authority as a source of national statistics).
ORR is not responsible for ticket pricing or the granting of franchises to train operators.
ORR’s Road responsibilities
Since 1 April 2015 ORR has the additional remit of holding Highways England to account for
its day-to-day efficiency and performance and for delivering the government’s major five year
Road Investment Strategy. During 2015-16 ORR will develop an appropriate monitoring and
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
reporting framework, define and start delivery of a benchmarking programme and build its
own capability in this new area.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
The role
The Secretary of State for Transport wishes to appoint a new Chair to the Board of the ORR
to take over when the current Chair’s appointment ends at the end of December 2015.
The role of the Board
The ORR Board sets the organisation’s strategic direction, approves policy approaches to
support that direction, and plays a critical role in scrutinising and challenging the executive.
The Board also takes important regulatory decisions such as determining access rights,
determining enforcement action and imposing penalties.
ORR’s Board members are appointed by the Secretary of State from a variety of
professional backgrounds. The Board currently comprises 12 members: eight non-executive
members, including the non-executive Chair, and four executive members, including the
Chief Executive. Further information about the Board and their biographies can be found on
ORR’s website: http://orr.gov.uk/about-orr/who-we-are/the-board
The role of the Chair
The Chair plays a central role in the ORR Board through leading the Board, particularly in:
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Ensuring that governance and scrutiny arrangements are appropriate and robust;
Approving the annual business plan and monitoring delivery against it;
Responding to change and to challenge from the industry;
Appointing and holding to account the senior executives, including through providing
constructive challenge as appropriate;
Building effective relationships with senior stakeholders (including: national
governments across the UK, European colleagues, industry leaders, investors, local
leaders, etc.) and representing ORR to the wider public;
Supporting the Chief Executive to lead and engage the ORR staff; and
Identifying and adopting best practice approaches for the board, ensuring its
effectiveness as a team and maximising members’ contributions as skilled
individuals.
Person Specification
Skills and knowledge
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The ability to build strategic consensus and to guide strategy development and
delivery.
The ability to lead a complex organisation, including the ability to maintain and
develop an organisation for high performance, including through establishing and
monitoring performance.
The ability to provide constructive challenge where necessary, seeking answers to
difficult questions, is critically important.
The ability to build strategic working relationships with stakeholders including
Ministers and Government
Understanding of Government processes and political priorities.
Ability to deal effectively with parliament, media and public scrutiny.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
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Highly developed analytical capabilities, with the ability to effectively identify key
issues in often highly complex information and make strong, robust judgments.
Commercial awareness, including of mixed private/public sector environments.
Also desirable is an understanding of the areas of public policy relevant to ORR,
particularly economic regulation and infrastructure management.
Experience
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Previous experience in a senior board position.
Experience of acting as an external spokesperson or ambassador.
Experience of delivery as an organisational leader (executive or non-executive) in
one or more of the following is desirable:
o a national economic or safety regulator,
o a network utility,
o other relevant safety environment,
o transport infrastructure operations, including major projects,
o government,
o law.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
Terms of appointment
Time commitment and salary
The role is for two to three days a week. The salary is to be confirmed.
Contract
Appointments are made by the Secretary of State from among a shortlist of appointable
candidates for a period of up to five years. Appointments may be renewed once, subject to
satisfactory appraisal and ministerial approval, but this is not automatic.
Location
Board meetings are usually held in ORR’s London office (Kemble Street, WC2), but with
occasional travel around the UK, including to regional offices in Glasgow, Manchester, York,
Birmingham and Bristol.
About the selection process
This recruitment is being carried out under the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments
to Public Bodies (‘the OCPA code’) published by the Commissioner for Public Appointments
(1 April 2012). The appointments will be made by the Secretary of State for Transport from
a shortlist of appointable candidates submitted by the selection panel. The Secretary of
State may wish to meet the appointable candidates before making a decision.
The members of the selection panel will be: Sara Nathan OBE (Public Appointments
Assessor and panel chair), Sir Thomas Winsor (Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of
Constabulary), Keith Ludeman (Non-Executive Director, Eversholt Rail Ltd) and Philip
Rutnam (Permanent Secretary, Department for Transport).
All applications will be considered by the selection panel.
Pre-appointment
The role of ORR Chair is subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Transport Select
Committee. The Secretary of State’s preferred candidate will therefore be expected to
appear before the Committee in a public hearing before the appointment is confirmed and
after the selection process has taken place.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
How to apply
Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to the
Secretary of State for Transport on this appointment
Applications should be sent by email to QORJ@saxbam.com
or apply through our website at www.saxbam.com/jobs
Alternatively they may be sent by post to:
Jonathan Morgan
Saxton Bampfylde (ref: QORJ)
PO Box 198
Guildford
Surrey GU1 4FH
The closing date for applications is noon on Thursday 17 September.
Please enclose with your application:
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the completed detachable candidate summary form and equal opportunities
monitoring sheet, which are attached. Applications from all groups are warmly
welcomed;
a full CV;
a covering note of not more than 2 pages (total) summarising the evidence of your
ability to meet the person and job specifications.
Equality and diversity
The Secretary of State is committed to public appointments based on merit, independent
assessment, openness and transparency of process.
ORR is committed to promoting equality and diversity.
Data Protection Act 1998
Information provided by you as part of your application will be used in the recruitment
process. Any data about you will be held securely by DfT with access restricted to those
involved in dealing with your application and in the recruitment process. Once this process is
completed the data relating to unsuccessful applicants will be stored for a maximum of 12
months and then destroyed by DfT. If you are the successful candidate, your application
form will be retained and will form the basis of your personal record. Any equal opportunities
information provided by you will be used to monitor DfT’s diversity policies and practices. By
submitting your completed application you are giving your consent to DfT for your data being
stored and processed for the purpose of the recruitment process, equal opportunities
monitoring and your personal record if you are the successful candidate.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
Complaints
If you have a complaint about the recruitment and selection procedure, you should write in
the first instance to Denise Rose, Sponsorship Manager, Department for Transport, Great
Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR, or email
denise.rose@railexecutive.gsi.gov.uk. If, after receiving a comprehensive response, you are
still concerned, you can contact the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Details of the
Commissioner’s complaints procedure can be found at:
http//publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/whatwedo/complaintsandinvestig
ations/index.html
Commissioner for Public Appointments survey
The Commissioner for Public Appointments would like to find out what you think of the public
appointments process. When you have completed the process, the Commissioner would
appreciate a few minutes of your time to complete this survey:
http://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/candidate-survey/
Your response will be anonymous and will inform the Commissioner's ongoing work with
Government Departments to improve the public appointments process.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
ORR’s strategic objectives
1. Drive for a safer railway:
Enforce the law and ensure that the industry delivers continuous improvement in the health
and safety of passengers, the workforce and public, by achieving excellence in health and
safety culture, management and risk control.
2. Support a better service for customers:
Use its powers to hold the industry to account for performance and standards of service
across the railway network, for passengers and freight. Promote on-going improvement in
the experience of passengers by encouraging the industry to work together, including to
provide greater transparency of information.
3. Secure value for money from the railway, for users and funders:
Strengthen incentives for the whole industry to work together to drive greater efficiency from
the use and maintenance of existing railway capacity, and more cost-effective investment in
the network.
4. Promote an increasingly dynamic and commercially sustainable sector:
Support sustainable economic growth by promoting innovation and efficient long-term
investment across the rail industry through the appropriate development of effective markets
and regulatory intervention.
5. Secure improved performance and value for money from the strategic road
network:
Secure improved performance, including efficiency, safety and sustainability, from the
strategic road network, for the benefit of road users and the public, through proportionate,
risk-based monitoring, increased transparency, enforcement and robust advice on future
performance requirements.
6. Be a high-performing regulator:
Develop and apply proportionate and risk-based regulation, taking a whole sector approach.
Make more effective use of its resources across its safety and economic functions,
maximising the value of its regulation while minimising the costs of compliance for the
industry.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
The Seven Principles of Public Life
The ORR is a transparent organisation, which seeks to meet the highest standards. Board
members are therefore required to understand and comply with the seven principles of
public life.
The principles are:
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Selflessness - holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the
public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material
benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
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Integrity - holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial
obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the
performance of their official duties.
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Objectivity - in carrying out public business, including making public appointments,
awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of
public office should make choices on merit.
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Accountability - holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and
actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate
to their office.
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Openness - holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the
decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions
and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
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Honesty - holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating
to their public duties and take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that
protects the public interest.
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Leadership - holders of public office should promote and support these principles by
leadership and example.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Candidate Summary Form
POSITION APPLIED FOR
Non Executive Chair, Office of Rail Regulation
Job code: QORH
SURNAME
FIRST NAME
INITIAL(S) TITLE
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE
CONTACT TELEPHONE
NUMBER(S)
EMAIL ADDRESS
LATEST EMPLOYER
(ORGANISATION)
LATEST JOB TITLE
SALARY
This process is being run in accordance with the Two Ticks scheme, under which
disabled applicants can request a guaranteed interview provided that they meet the
minimum criteria for the role.
Please tick here if you would like to be considered under the scheme……………
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
REFERENCES
Please give below the name and contact details of two people who may be
asked to act as referees for you. They will be expected to have authoritative
and personal knowledge of your achievements / competencies. The referees
will be approached only if you are invited for interview and before the
interview takes place.
Referee 1
Name:
In what capacity, and over what period of time, has this individual known you?
Phone:
Email address:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Referee 2
Name:
In what capacity, and over what period of time, has this individual known you?
Phone:
Email address:
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Additional Information
This section is for you to note any additional information, including any Ministerial
and/or public appointments you currently hold.
Name and
Address of
Employer or
Organisation
Title /
Positions Held
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
Details (Including
Nature of Work and
Time Commitment)
Dates
From and To
Register of Interest Form
Please register any links and relationships with organisations, individuals or bodies
that may give rise to a potential conflict of interest.
Company/Name
of Individual
Role/Position
held/Relationship
(delete as
appropriate)
Possible Links
to Government
Departments
Date
Date
Joined Left
I certify that the information included within this register is, to the best of my
knowledge and belief, true, accurate and complete.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
Political Activity Question
It is important that all public appointees uphold the standards of conduct set out in
the Committee on Standards in Public Life’s Seven Principles of Public life can meet
these standards and have no conflicts of interest that would call into question their
ability to perform this role.
Political activity is no bar to appointment. This information is for monitoring
purposes only. All applicants for a public appointment should complete the question
below.
Please indicate which of the following activities you have undertaken during
the past five years by ticking the appropriate box and by providing details of
your involvement. Name the party or body for which you have been active. If
you have been, or are, an Independent or have sought or obtained office as a
representative of a particular interest group, you should state this. You should
tick all relevant categories.
Obtained office as a Local Councillor, District Councillor, MP, MEP, MLA etc.
Stood as a candidate for one of the above offices
Spoken on behalf of a party or candidate
Acted as a political agent
Held office such as Chair, Treasurer, or Secretary of a local branch of a party
Canvassed on behalf of a party or helped at elections
Undertaken any other political activity which you consider relevant
Made a recordable donation to a political party*
None of the activities above apply
Name of Party for which activity undertaken
Conservative
Liberal Democrats
Labour
Independent
Other
Please specify
Details of involvement:
*
The Political parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 requires the Electoral Commission to publish a
register of recordable donations (donations from any individual totalling £5000 in any calendar year, or more than
£1000 if made to a subsidiary accounting unit such as a constituency association, local branch, women’s or youth
organisation). These provisions became effective from 16 February 2001.
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair
Equal Opportunities
All Government Departments aim to provide fair and equal access to public
appointments. Questions on ethnic origin, gender/age and disability will help the
Department to monitor the effectiveness of its strategy through information from
those applying for and obtaining appointments. This form will not be seen by the
selection panel. Your answers will be treated confidentially and will not affect your
application in any way.
Alternatively, the form can be returned uncompleted if you do not wish to have these
details recorded.
These categories are not
about nationality, place of birth
or citizenship. They relate to
broad ethnic group categories
as recommended by the
EHRC. When you have read
them all please tick the box
that most accurately describes
you.
Asian or Asian British;
Indian
Pakistani
Bangladeshi
Other
Black or Black British;
Caribbean
African
Other
Chinese or Other ethnic
group
Chinese
Mixed;
White and Black Caribbean
Other
White and Black African
White and Asian
Other
White;
British
English
Welsh
Irish
Any other white background
Other Ethnic Origin
(please describe)
Disability
Definition: Any physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term
adverse effect on an individual’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Do you consider yourself disabled?
Yes
No
Female
Male
Gender
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Age
16 – 24
25 – 29
30 – 34
35 – 39
40 – 44
45 – 49
50 – 54
55 – 59
60 – 64
65+
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Personal Consent
Please put your name in and sign the box below to acknowledge that you have read and
understood the declaration of personal consent.
I declare that the information given in this application form is complete and correct. I
understand that if any of the information provided in this form is untrue I may be removed
from office. I certify that I will immediately inform the department of any changes in
circumstances that affect the answers I have given.
This information will be handled in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and will be used
solely for the purposes of assessing suitability for this role.
Name:
Signature:
Date:
The Office of Rail and Road | Chair