Chair of South Yorkshire Energy Strategic Partnership Board

Job description

Chair of South Yorkshire Energy Strategic Partnership Board

Application Deadline: 13 March 2025

Department: Growth, Business and Skills

Employment Type: Fixed Term – Part Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Compensation: £750 / day

Description
• Hours: 16 hours/2 days per month
• Contract: Fixed term – 2 years
• Location: Sheffield

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) brings together the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and to serve the communities and businesses of South Yorkshire. From transport to housing, from business growth to skills, the MCA has a great story to tell. We have ambitions to deliver recovery and renewal for people, businesses and places across South Yorkshire.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is seeking to appoint a Chair of the South Yorkshire Energy Strategic Partnership Board. This is a non-executive role that will oversee the activities of the South Yorkshire Energy Strategic Partnership Board.

About the South Yorkshire Energy Strategic Partnership Board

The vision of SY Energy is to support and maximise the economic opportunities in South Yorkshire in emerging areas of the energy sector, such as Small Modular Reactors, Hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuels.

South Yorkshire has unique strengths in Small Modular Reactors, Hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation and is becoming the natural home for these emerging sectors.

SY Energy will work to de-risk investment decisions for clean-tech businesses together with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) who will help to attract talent and develop targeted skills programmes.

SY Energy will promote the region, establishing links with key partners, building local capability, and developing investment proposals.

The main partners within the SY Energy Partnership are SYMCA, Sheffield City Council, University of Sheffield and Sheffield Forgemasters.

Time Commitment

The Partnership Board meets formally in person on a quarterly basis with, potentially, an additional one or two meetings scheduled if required. Ad hoc virtual meetings may also be convened to brief members in between formal meetings. All formal meetings will last half a day, with time also required for meeting preparation.

Appointment and Allowances

Successful applicants will be appointed for 2 years and remunerated for the services that they provide. An allowance of £750 per day will be paid together with reimbursement for reasonable expenses up to a maximum £12,000 expenses claimable over the duration of the appointment.

Key Responsibilities
The Chair of the Energy Strategic Partnership Board will:
• Provide strategic oversight for the activities of SY Energy with the aim of maximising jobs, investment and supply chain development in South Yorkshire, in emerging areas of the energy sector such as Small Modular Reactors, Hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuels.
• Engage with the Mayor and secretariat of SY Energy to agree priorities and set direction for SYMCA policy and engagement work on clean energy investment.
• Secure agreement from board members on strategy and implementation actions, including by chairing quarterly meetings and engaging with board members as necessary.
• Engage with government, industrial and local stakeholders to provide intelligence and promote the objectives of SY Energy.

In addition, the post-holder will need:
• To offer advice to the mayor on best practice and opportunities to develop the SY industrial base
• To be an advocate for business in South Yorkshire and communicate opportunities in South Yorkshire both nationally and international
• To oversee the development of supply chain and growth opportunities in South Yorkshire

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
You will be a person with executive experience in industry, with executive experience of working with national government and industry on developing business cases for public and commercial propositions and with an executive understanding of the industrial and energy landscape within the UK.
• Experience of the practical, political, financial, and commercial realities of delivering multi-million pound industrial projects and programmes from an executive position
• In depth and executive understanding of industry (defence, energy and advanced manufacturing more broadly), acquired over a career
• Experience of leading a national/international industrial enterprise
• Experience of working with Government Ministers at the most senior level, and a clear understanding and network with the national political environment
• Demonstrate exceptional advocacy, communication, outreach, and stakeholder management skills, with sufficient stature and credibility to represent the mayor

Other:
• You must be eligible for appointment in accordance with the Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) Order 2017
• You have must no criminal convictions
• You must not be an undischarged bankrupt
• You should not be an employee of or the holder of a significant office in an organisation with close commercial links with the Authority or Constituent Authorities
• You should have no formal connection with any political group
• You must have respect for confidentiality

Appointees must also agree to abide by the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct while serving on the Committee and upon appointment, complete a Register of Interest, which will be published on the Authority’s website.

Candidates must be over the age of 18, have recognisable ties to South Yorkshire and be able to attend meetings in South Yorkshire during the working day.