Person Specification

We are looking to recruit one individual who will bring the following skills to the VMD’s Management Board and Audit and Risk Assurance Committee:

1. An appreciation of the functions and responsibilities of a public service organisation and how such organisations have been responding to the drive for efficiency across Government.

2. An ability to communicate and build relationships at all levels and good interpersonal skills, including the ability to negotiate, persuade and build partnerships at all levels.

3. The ability to provide impartial, objective and pragmatic advice, to contribute to discussions at a strategic level and to think creatively, and bring independent judgement to bear on issues of strategy, performance and resources.

4. A specialism in one or more of the following:

• Senior management experience on a board or at senior management level of running and overseeing a commercial business. This should include experience of financial controls, the use of management information to drive business improvement and working in partnership with other organisations to deliver outcomes, products or services.

• Experience of working within the animal health sector and an understanding of the science related to livestock husbandry, animal welfare, or veterinary science and/or functional animal nutrition.

• Experience of working on an audit committee.

• Experience of working in the IT industry.

You will need to demonstrate in your written application examples of where your experience matches these essential skills. We would like in particular to encourage applications from those who have experience in the animal health/veterinary sectors.

Additional Information

For an information pack please contact Chris Abbott: c.abbott@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk

How to Apply

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter giving clear examples in no more than 1000 words of where your experience matches the essential skills mentioned above to:

or c.abbott@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk

To be received no later than noon, Friday 14 September 2018.

Please also include contact details of two referees who can be contacted to provide a reference prior to interview.

All candidates will be required to complete the following forms:

• Diversity Monitoring Questionnaire
• Political Activity Questionnaire.

The Cambodian national election was undermined by the authorities well before campaigning started and resulted in an election that was neither fair nor credible.

The potential for a legitimate, free and fair election was stymied when the main opposition party – the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved in November 2017. This was particularly disappointing following the more open Commune elections in June 2017.

The Cambodian authorities have demonstrated clear disregard for the key tenets of a functioning multi-party democracy. As well as the dissolution of the CNRP, examples include the imprisonment of CNRP President Kem Sokha, the banning of 118 CNRP members from politics for five years, and a crackdown on independent media.

There was no credible opposition party with the opportunity to challenge the Government. In a democracy, no government has the right to choose its opposition.

The UK will continue to urge the Cambodian Government to demonstrate its commitment to its citizens by lifting restrictions on political debate and media freedom and by creating the conditions for proper functioning democracy.

Distinguished guests – good evening. It is a real pleasure to welcome you all, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the global Chevening scholarship programme.

This is my second visit to China since becoming Minister for Asia and the Pacific just over a year ago.

In that time I have been fortunate enough to visit nearly all the countries in the region, and I always make of point of meeting Chevening alumni scholars wherever I can.

Hearing about their positive experiences; the contacts they have made; and above all seeing the affection they have for the UK has left me in no doubt that this is an immensely valuable programme, for all our countries.

I am proud that this year we are celebrating the 35th anniversary of the launch of the programme.

In that time we have funded over 50,000 scholars to study at top universities across the UK. More than 4,000 of those from China.

Our Alumni network now stretches not just to China, or Asia, but across the world. Its influential membership is made up of Presidents and Prime Ministers, tech pioneers and business leaders, academics and activists.

Many of you in the room are already part of that influential network, and I hope that many more of you will join it when applications for places on the 2019 scholarship scheme open on 6 August.

The China Chevening scholarship programme is not only designed to develop the potential of talented individuals. It is also designed to strengthen the close personal ties between our countries, for many years to come.

Of course our relationship is already strong, and when our Prime Minister met President Xi and Premier Li in China in January, they committed to deepening our partnership even further.

The UK and China are deepening those partnerships across a range of industries, and right across government – with visits to China not only from the Prime Minister, but also the Chancellor and the Trade Secretary.

Together we are determined to make the most of this Golden Era, to deliver benefits to both our countries.

During my visit I have seen first and how our diplomats, our businesses and our people across the region, are working together to make that happen.

Since the first UK Consul General arrived more than 140 years ago, the UK has played a significant part in helping Chongqing realise its ambitions.

Today I met with Vice Mayor Wu Cunrong to discuss more ways in which the UK can support Chongqing’s future.

Trade and investment is a big part of that future, and we have already seen an increase of more than 2.1% in trade last year alone.

So I am delighted that last month the UK signed an agreement with the Chongqing Commerce Commission focused on increasing our business links.

British companies are already well established in Chongqing, across a range of sectors, from manufacturing to real estate.

And in the technology sector we are supporting Chongqing’s Big Data Intelligence Strategy, to encourage more high-tech companies to set up here.

Ultimately of course, it is the relationships between people that guarantee any successful relationship.

I know that you have a special word for it ‘Guanxi’ [Gwan-shee].

And there is a growing number of people from this region of China who want to make connections in the UK.

In 2017, more than 36,000 people from south west China applied for visas. They join a growing number of Chinese people visiting the UK for study, business and pleasure.

The Chevening programme is just part of the work we are doing to strengthen the ties between the UK and China.

I am pleased to see representatives sponsored by the Newton Fund here. This programme brings together the best researchers and innovators from UK and China to tackle global challenges, and has supported over 800 joint projects since 2014.

To those scholars who are already part of the alumni network, I hope that you will nurture the connections you made during your time in the UK.

To those of you who would like to join the prestigious Chevening network when applications open next month – if you would like to find out more about Chevening or any other of our programmes, please speak to our team at the Consulate General.

I hope that you will play your part in shaping the future of the China UK Global Partnership in this very special Golden Era.

Today the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, has announced increased funding to support businesses that provide extra employment support for disabled people with the greatest barriers to work.

When the Work Choice employment programme ends in March 2019, ongoing support will be offered to individuals working in “supported businesses” through specially designed new elements of the government’s Access to Work scheme.

For 2 years from April 2019, supported businesses will receive increased funding of £5,000 a year from Access to Work for each individual in a Work Choice Protected Place.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, said:

Supported businesses can provide employment opportunities for those disabled people who want to work but may otherwise find it difficult to secure a suitable role.

That’s why we’re increasing the funding for each person working in a supported business, ensuring that disabled people who want to work have the opportunity to enjoy the benefits that work can bring.

Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health, Sarah Newton, said:

We’re committed to ensuring that disabled people have the necessary support to thrive in the workplace and Protected Places plays a big part in helping thousands to reach their full potential.

Access to Work already provides tailored, personalised support to people up and down the country and this announcement will ensure that many more will benefit in the years to come.

The increased payment will not only be available for existing employees but also for businesses to employ more disabled people, enabling a total of over 2,000 disabled people across England, Scotland and Wales to access support.

Disabled employees working for supported businesses can currently benefit from a mix of holistic support, including:

• adapted working practices
• additional HR support
• job coaches
• aides and adaptations
• extra supervision through the existing Work Choice Protected Places scheme

In parallel, the government will work with the Supported Business Alliance (SBA) and The British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) to:

• help them develop a new quality mark for supported businesses
• to develop a new long term element of Access to Work to continue support for those already working for a supported business, and help more disabled people to join them

Martin Davies, Supported Business Alliance, Chair of the Supported Business Steering Group, said:

I welcome today’s announcement which will secure the future of thousands of job for disabled employees.

We have been working alongside the DWP for over 12 months on this and will continue to collaborate with them to develop a quality assurance ‘mark’ for supported employers and a long-term funding model.

We’re committed to supporting the government getting more disabled people into sustainable employment and ensuring the supported business sector can flourish.

Huw Davies, Chief executive of the British Association for Supported Employment, said:

BASE welcomes the announcement on future funding for individuals working in supported businesses.

Along with the Supported Business Alliance, we welcome this increased certainty around funding so that these businesses can plan more sustainably for the future and continue to develop employment opportunities for people who have a disability.

We look forward to working with DWP to ensure a long-term future for the businesses and their thousands of employees.

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