Gangmasters Licencing Authority's CEO Takes up New Appointment

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority is delighted to welcome its new Chief Executive, Paul Broadbent, who commences his new role today, Monday 7 January 2013.

Paul, who was previously Assistant Chief Constable at Nottinghamshire Police, joins with an impressive record of relevant experience. After 30 years of service with the police Paul was looking for a change of career. He was attracted to the GLA role because of the similarities with his experience in enforcement and working with public and private sector stakeholders.

Paul was the regional lead in the East Midlands for collaboration on Serious and Organised Crime, Immigration Crime, Surveillance, Fraud and Financial Investigation. He was regional lead for the National Preventing Violent Extremism Agenda and worked on delivery with public, private and third sector partners.

Paul held a number of national policing portfolios including business crime and implemented a highly successful business crime reduction model across the industry, wider law enforcement and included major partners such as the National Business Crime Forum, British Retail Consortium and Federation of Small Businesses. As senior officer within Nottinghamshire responsible for crime, Paul oversaw the largest crime reductions nationally for three consecutive years and the lowest crime rates in Nottinghamshire for 35 years. This was set against unprecedented budget cuts of 20% and a similar reduction in officers and staff.

Margaret McKinlay, Chair of the GLA said:

“I am greatly looking forward to working with Paul. The Government’s 2012 review of the GLA has presented us with challenges and opportunities. Paul is exceptionally well qualified to provide leadership to the GLA; his past experience will be put to very good use.”

Paul Broadbent, Chief Executive of the GLA said:

"I am delighted to accept this high profile and demanding position and hope that my previous experience will assist in the GLA's determination to protect vulnerable workers in the farming, food processing and shell fish industries. I sincerely look forward to building on the successes of the Authority thus far and working closely with the business sector, partners and other agencies to tackle the exploitation of workers and reducing the burden on legitimate business."

Notes to editors

1. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) was set up to curb the exploitation of workers in the agricultural, horticultural, shellfish gathering and associated processing and packing industries. The Act establishing the Authority was passed in 2004.

2. The key aim of the GLA is to protect workers as well as legitimate labour providers and tax payers by uncovering unpaid taxes. The GLA licensing scheme regulates businesses who supply workers to the fresh produce supply chain and horticulture industries in the UK. The GLA assess compliance against the Licensing Standards which reflects UK legislation, including Forced Labour Offences.

3. Paul Broadbent was appointed to the role of Chief Executive by the GLA Board following an open competition, and like his predecessor is on a fixed term contract.

4. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However in accordance with the Nolan recommendations there is a requirement for an appointee’s political activity (if any declared) to be made public.

5. GLA operates across the whole of the United Kingdom. It has c 60 staff, one third of whom are based in Nottingham; the Area Operations teams are home based. It has an annual budget of £4m.

6. In 2011-12 the GLA was reviewed as part of the Governments “Red Tape Challenge (RTC)”. On 24 May 2012 the Government announced that the RTC Ministerial Star Chamber had endorsed the need for the GLA to continue to enforce protection for vulnerable workers, while requiring it to look at reducing burdens on compliant operators.

7. The Chief Executive will be based at the GLA offices in Nottingham.

8. Paul Broadbent will be available for interview from Monday, 7 January 2013.

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