Members - David MacBrayne Ltd - Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration - Gourock

Reference: 1064

Remuneration: £314 per day

Location: Gourock

Closing date: 15 July 2016 at midnight

Appointment of Members to the Board of David MacBrayne Limited

Scottish Ministers are looking to make two appointments to the Board of David MacBrayne Limited from 1 December 2016.  One position requires sound Commercial experience, including experience of Business Transformation.  The other requires practical working knowledge of Human Resources, Employment Law, Pensions and Remuneration.

David MacBrayne Limited

The David MacBrayne Limited Board currently comprises a Chair and three Non-Executive Directors although the full complement comprises a Chair and five Non-Executive Directors.  In addition, there are two Executive Directors appointed to the board, the Chief Executive and the Finance Director.

The Scottish Ministers have defined the overall aims of David MacBrayne limited as contributing to the Government’s purpose and national performance framework by, in particular:

• overseeing the effective delivery of the service contracts entrusted by the Scottish Government to David MacBrayne Limited subsidiaries (CalMac Ferries and Argyll Ferries);
• providing safe, efficient and commercial ferry services to, from and within Scotland, to the benefit of Scotland and the Scottish government;
• working in partnership with the Scottish government to improve ferry services in Scotland.

The company’s mission is to provide transport and infrastructure services to communities, supporting the aims of the Scottish Government to provide a Wealthier and Fairer, Smarter, Healthier, Safer and Stronger and Greener Scotland, and to make a commercial return to our shareholder, the Scottish Ministers.

The company’s longer term vision is to be recognised as a leading outsourced transport and supporting infrastructure services Group.

The Board

The main functions of the board of David MacBrayne Limited are to provide strategic direction to its operating subsidiaries and to maintain high standards of corporate governance and financial probity in the delivery of the services that each subsidiary provides.

The Board operates three main Committees: the Audit and Risk Committee; the Safety Committee; and the Remuneration Committee.  The David MacBrayne Board meets four times a year and the Committees meet five times a year.  Non-executive Directors are expected to serve on at least one of the Committees and subsidiary company boards.

The David MacBrayne Group

The David MacBrayne Group had a turnover of just under £200 million last year, and employs around 1400 people. Through its subsidiary, CalMac Ferries, the Company has recently been awarded a £900 million contract to provide ferry services to the Clyde and Hebridean Islands.  The contract will commence on 1 October 2016 and will run for eight years.  Through another subsidiary, Argyll Ferries, the company also has a contract to provide a passenger only ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon which expires in June 2017 and will soon be retendered by the Scottish Government.  The David MacBrayne Group also participates in a joint venture Company (50% owned by DML).  This joint venture Company, Solent Gateway Limited, has been awarded a contract by the Ministry of Defence to operate the port of Marchwood, near Southampton. This concession will run for a period of 35 years from June 2016.

Non-Executive Director Responsibilities

Non-Executive Directors are expected to:

• provide strategic direction to the company and its subsidiaries within the context of Ministerial expectations and the regulated environment;
• contribute to the implementation of business transformation and organisational change in the company;
• agree and drive delivery against challenging operational and financial targets and performance indicators;
• maintain high standards of corporate governance and financial probity in line with their duties as Directors under the Companies Act and as Ministerial appointees to a public body;
• communicate effectively both within the Group and on behalf of the Group externally to a variety of stakeholders;
• develop and maintain an appreciation of the political and policy context and of the needs and interests of ferry users and communities;
• scrutinise and approve the Group’s strategic, corporate and business plans, investment and service development business cases, regular financial, operational and other reports and annual reports and accounts;
• play a key role in the appointment and remuneration of the senior Executive Directors.

Essential Criteria

We are looking to make two appointments and the successful candidates will already have knowledge and experience at a senior level which will enable them to provide credible support and challenge to the executive team.

Human resources and organisational change

• strategic knowledge and experience of human resources, employment law, pensions and remuneration;
• experience of organisational change.

Commercial development and business transformation

• commercial and business experience at a senior level;
• direct experience of significant procurement and contracts in or to the public sector; and
• experience of business transformation.

Both positions

• experience of developing strategy in a changing context;
• a practical understanding of corporate governance;
• the ability to develop strategy within a regulated environment; and
• the ability to analyse and challenge effectively complex issues.

Desirable Criteria

It would be desirable if all applicants could demonstrate

• knowledge and understanding of the key issues affecting the Highlands and Islands.

Remuneration

Current remuneration is £314 per day.  Travel and subsistence costs directly associated with the work of the Board and reasonable receipted dependent carer expenses incurred whilst undertaking Board duties will be reimbursed.  No payment can be made in respect of expenses incurred in taking up the appointment or on the termination of appointment.

This appointment is non-pensionable.

Term of Appointment

The term of the successful candidate’s appointment will be for three years from 1 December 2016.  There is the possibility of re-appointment, subject to evidence of effective performance.  Any appointments and subsequent re-appointments will not extend beyond the limits established by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland which currently stipulate a maximum of eight years.

Applicants will be ineligible to apply for this appointment if they have already served a total of eight years on the David MacBrayne Limited Board.

Time Commitment

The appointment is part-time and Non-Executive Directors are expected to give a time commitment of around two days per month although this may vary in line with organisational commitments.

Location of Meetings

Both David MacBrayne Ltd and CalMac Ferries Boards currently meet four times a year.  Normally the Boards meet in Gourock but on occasion, it meets elsewhere including on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry network.  In addition, there are between five Safety and Audit and Risk Committee meetings a year.

Closing date for applications is 15 July 2016.

An application pack and full details on this and other public appointments can be found at the public appointments websit www.appointed-for-scotland.org/.

Scottish Ministers welcome applications from groups currently under-represented on Scotland’s public bodies, such as women, disabled people, those from black and minority ethnic communities and people aged under 50.

Appointed on merit; committed to diversity and equality