Gangmasters Licensing Authority Announces New Board Recruitment

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) was established as a Non-Departmental Public Body on 1 April 2005 following the tragic deaths of 23 Chinese cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay. It was created with a governance Board drawn from stakeholder representatives from across the industries the GLA regulates.

In 2012 the Government’s Red Tape Challenge review concluded that, as part of a package of measures, proposals to “Amend the structure of the Board of the GLA and introduce a smaller Board to provide clear strategic leadership and direction to the GLA” would be developed.

Following a public consultation on the scope and governance of the GLA in 2013, a triennial review confirmed that GLA was fit for purpose, but agreed that these governance changes should be made. In April 2014 GLA sponsorship moved from Defra to the Home Office, as part of its role to tackle modern slavery. Following the bedding in of this change, the process for the recruitment of a new Board has commenced.

Margaret Beels, GLA Chair, said: “The reviews of the GLA have confirmed that it is an appropriate regulator, and fit for purpose, but that its future direction would benefit from greater strategic analysis by non-executive Directors that can bring a range of professional skills to support that direction. I welcome those conclusions. The new Board will assist the Chief Executive and me to steer the role of the GLA in a way that protects workers from exploitation, reduces burdens on compliant businesses, and effectively contributes to the pursuit and prevention of modern slavery in the UK today. I would encourage applications from individuals committed to the GLA’s mission and with board level experience and expertise in relevant areas such as regulation in the labour market; enforcement; victim support, or professional expertise in the fields of finance, commerce, or human resources.”

ENDS

Press release issued by GLA Communications and Information Officer Paul Fearn. For more information contact 0115 959 7069 or email communications@gla.gsi.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1. The GLA operates throughout the UK and is a Non-Departmental Public Body, reporting to the Home Office.

2. The candidate brief can be accessed at www.odgers.com/49502

3. The closing date for applications is 12:00 Friday, 21 November 2014

4. Interested parties who wish to obtain further information, or have an informal discussion about the roles, should contact Simon McDonald on 0207 529 6359 or by email to: simon.mcdonald@odgersberndtson.com

5. The GLA licences companies that supply labour (gangmasters) for agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering as well as all associated processing and packaging.

6. Its main strategic priorities are to prevent worker exploitation, protect vulnerable people and tackle unlicensed and criminal activity.

7. Under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act (2004), it is illegal both to operate as, or employ the services of, an unlicensed gangmaster.

www.gla.gov.uk