3 The recruitment process
12. The Chair of BBSRC is appointed by the Secretary
of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, in a process
that must be in accordance with the recommendations of the Code
of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.[24]
DIUS informed us that the job information pack (attached to this
report as Annex B to Appendix 1) was approved by the Office of
the Commissioner for Public Appointments' (OCPA) independent public
appointments assessor before the post was advertised in the Sunday
Times on 2 November 2008. The recruitment exercise was carried
out by head-hunting firm Saxon Bampfylde which also conducted
a search. All applications were put before a panel consisting
of:
— Professor
Adrian Smith, Director General Science and Research at DIUS (Chair);
— John Neilson, Director Research Base
Group;
— Professor Dame Jean Thomas FRS, Master
St Catharine's College, Cambridge;
— Professor Sir David Read FRS; and
— Ray Mingay (OCPA independent public appointments
assessor)[25]
13. The panel shortlisted suitable candidates and
held interviews on 26 January 2009. In accordance with the terms
of the BBSRC Royal Charter the current Chair (Dr Peter Ringrose)
was consulted, and recommendations were then made to the Secretary
of State who "considered their advice and decided whom he
wished to appoint".[26]
DIUS also informed us that the Prime Minister was consulted (in
accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines[27])
and has given his approval.[28]
24 Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments
, The Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice
for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies, August 2005 Back
25
Appendix 1, Annex A: The recruitment process Back
26
As above. Back
27
Cabinet Office, Making and Managing Public Appointments: a
Guide for Departments, February 2006, p 85 Back
28
Appendix 1, Annex A: The recruitment process Back
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