Non-executive Director
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
Application Pack
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
1. Catapult Centres 3
2. About the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult 4
3. Structure and Governance 5
4. Funding 6
5. Role Specification 7
6. Person Specification 8
7. Terms of Appointment 9
8. Advert 10
9. Timetable 11
10. How to Apply 12
1. Catapult Centres
Catapults are centres of excellence that bridge the gap between business, academia, research and government. They are a powerful new element in the UK economy, helping businesses develop relevant and exciting ideas in receptive and invigorating environments.
By promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange, many progressive businesses and organisations will be able to build new partnerships with reduced risks. Companies in a wide range of markets will see the Catapults as an invaluable resource to develop their businesses.
Many small companies struggle to get ideas off the ground and raise finance for product investment. Catapults are good news for SMEs because they can work with much bigger companies and universities, and access significant R&D resources. Catapults are also talking shops where independent experts come together to discuss ideas, develop relationships and establish new customer bases.
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is one of seven in a network of world-leading Catapults centres to transform the UK’s capability for innovation in seven specific areas and help drive future economic growth.
The seven areas are:
· high value manufacturing
· cell therapy, offshore renewable energy
· satellite applications
· connected digital economy
· future cities and transport systems
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult will create a critical mass for business and research innovation by focusing on offshore technology to access global markets. This centre will be an important part of the UK's innovation system, making a major long-term contribution to UK economic growth.
The Catapult will allow businesses to access equipment and expertise that would otherwise be out of reach, as well as conducting their own in-house R&D. They will also help businesses access new funding streams and point them towards the potential of emerging technologies.
The new investment will further bridge the gap between universities and businesses, helping to commercialise the outputs of Britain's world-class research base. The Catapult will also complement and link with the other programmes which Innovate UK already manages to promote collaboration between universities and business, and to drive innovation and find commercial opportunities for new technology and ideas.
More information about Catapult programme and the Catapults is available on the Catapult.org.uk website
2. About the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
https://catapult.innovateuk.org/offshore-renewable-energy
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult enables UK business to research, test and measure the application of new technologies and materials, building on the strong track record of innovation in offshore renewable energy undertaken in the UK over many years. It will also help the UK achieve its target of generating 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. In its UK Renewable Energy Roadmap, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) predicts that this could mean the UK installing 18GW offshore wind capacity by 2020 and 400MW of tidal and wave power.
The global market for wind, wave and tidal power is predicted to exceed £64bn by 2050 and UK businesses are expected to gain a 12% share of the offshore wind industry and a 15% share of wave and tidal markets. ‘Generating Energy and Prosperity’, a report published by the Catapult in March 2014, shows that an ‘accelerated growth path’ scenario for offshore wind, where UK companies innovate collaboratively with appropriate support, UK Gross Value Added from the industry could reach £6.7bn in 2020, with 34,000 jobs in the sector.
Following an open competition, the Technology Strategy Board (now re-named Innovate UK) selected a single consortium bid from the Carbon Trust, National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec), and Ocean Energy to run the Catapult. In February 2012 it was announced that the Catapult would have its primary location in Glasgow, Scotland, with a second site at Narec in Northumberland. The Catapult opened for business in 2012.
The Catapult will receive up to £10m a year over five years from Innovate UK. Its focus is on technologies applicable to offshore wind and tidal and wave power. In August 2014 ownership of the Wave & Tidal Knowledge Network, which promotes the sharing of data in the industry, transferred to the Catapult (from the Crown Estate).
The UK has world-leading expertise in offshore engineering and understanding of the seabed and marine environment. In April 2014, the Catapult merged with the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) to form a national champion for the testing and development of innovative technology. The merger combines the world-class development, demonstration and testing infrastructure facilities of Narec with the leadership, relationships and engineering expertise of the Catapult.
The Catapult works with the world-class UK research and innovation community in offshore wind, tidal and wave, and the growing UK offshore renewable energy industry. It builds strong links to centres of excellence, such as the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Wave Hub, and the marine energy park in the South West of England and with companies both large and small. It is also establishing the strong international links required to facilitate the commercialisation of new technologies and will also forge long-term relationships with the European Commission through active involvement in both its current and future framework programmes.
3. Structure and Governance
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is a company limited by guarantee. The executive group manages day-to-day operations under the supervision and guidance of the board of directors.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Catapult is Andrew Jamieson, who spent 24 years with ScottishPower before moving in 2004 to ScottishPower Renewables, where he was responsible for policy and regulation. Mr Jamieson has chaired several Scottish and UK working groups on renewable energy and offshore wind. The CEO leads the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult together with a small number of executives including the Innovation Programmes Director, Innovation Technical Director, Finance Director, Operations Director, Head of Communications and Strategy & Commercialisation Director.
The Non-Executive Directors are members of the supervisory board, the senior body responsible to the Members and to Innovate UK for the successful operation of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. The board is chaired by Colin Hood, who has over 35 years’ experience in the energy industry, latterly as Power Systems Director and then Chief Operating Officer of SEE. The current non-executive director team includes Miriam Greenwood OBE, Baroness Helen Liddell, Professor Sir Jim McDonald (Vice-Chancellor of Strathclyde University), Alan Moore OBE (past Chair, RenewableUK), Rob Saunders (of Innovate UK), Andrew Mill (former CEO, National Renewable Energy Centre) and Dr Chris Floyd. Board members bring with them a wide range of technical knowledge and experience of leadership.
4. Funding
In addition to funding received from Innovate UK, direct contracts with UK business form a significant part of the overall funding for the Catapults. The Catapults are also well positioned to secure funding from competitive Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) grants, including EU funding.
The aim is that the Catapults will generate their funding broadly equally from three sources:
1. Business-funded R&D contracts (i.e. contract research) won competitively
2. Collaboratively applied R&D projects funded jointly by the public and private sector, again won competitively
3. Core public funding for investment in the capabilities; know how, expertise and skills and long term capital assets of the centre.
5. Role Specification
Board members are required to undertake the following responsibilities:
n Direct the Catapult’s strategic development through firm leadership and clear policies and plans.
n Work effectively with the Chair to discharge the leadership functions of the Catapult.
n Monitor the strategic performance of the organisation, ensuring that it delivers services in line with the targets set by Innovate UK.
n Develop the Catapult’s key relationships with industry, government, Universities, sector bodies and other major stakeholders.
n Communicate the development of the Catapult and its achievements to industry stakeholders, the government and Universities and agencies.
n Account for the performance of the Catapult.
n Monitor budgets, tracking spending against service delivery and targets.
n Act as a statutory director with associated fiduciary duties and responsibilities. This may include the need to join, or chair, a committee of the board – eg: remuneration committee, advisory group.
6. Person Specification
It is essential that in your application you address as many of the criteria in part one of the specification as you can. These criteria, as well as those in part two, will be explored further with those who are invited to interview.
Part one — experience
n A proven track record of successful leadership and governance within a major organisation of similar complexity — or can demonstrate the capacity to operate effectively at this level.
n Evidence of significant personal achievements in driving and delivering change and improvements in a fast-moving environment.
n Track record of engaging successfully with others, building productive working relationships with a variety of industry partners, Scottish and UK government, Universities, public agencies and regulatory bodies.
n Demonstrable experience of effective communication and influencing others.
n Proven understanding and experience of strategic and financial planning within an innovative organisation.
n Demonstrable commercial and political know-how exercised at a significant leadership level.
n A demonstrable commitment to developing robust and efficient governance mechanisms.
Part two — skills and attributes
n A strong intellect, analytical and communication abilities.
n An appreciation of the Catapult’s remit and the ability to demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, the growth of the Offshore Renewable Energy Sector in the UK.
n Ability to understand fully the strategic role of the Board and its accountabilities.
n Undisputed personal integrity and a personal style that demonstrates authority, commitment and consistency.
7. Terms of Appointment
Term of Office: 3 years
Time commitment: circa 20 days per annum
Remuneration: £10,000
Location: Glasgow
8. Advert
Driving Innovation for Future Prosperity
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
Non Executive Director
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE) is a company limited by guarantee (CLG) that will harness existing UK world-leading expertise in offshore engineering and understanding of the wider environment. Development of Offshore Renewable Energy is essential to the delivery of future global energy and economic policies, multiplying UK wealth generation whilst actively supporting more effective commercialisation of offshore renewable energy technologies into a global multi-billion market for offshore wind, wave and tidal power.
To ensure the success of the ORE, we require dynamic, entrepreneurial non-executive directors, who will work closely with the board and CEO to establish inspired leadership of unparalleled calibre, best-in-class governance and a reputation for excellence for the ORE.
Your ability to stand out from the crowd is more important than your area of commercial expertise. What we want is demonstrable success that commands the respect of influential business leaders.
We are particularly seeking a non-executive director from a financial background to chair the Audit Committee.
To apply visit www.rockpools.co.uk/opportunities
For an informal, confidential discussion on this opportunity, please call our advising consultants:
Baljit Dhadda on 020 3137 3452 or 07939 074973 or
Janice Dean on 020 3137 3450 or 07793 606015
Closing date: 12 January 2015
9. Timetable
Applicants should note the key dates when you may be required to submit information and/or participate in assessment, subject to progression at each stage.
· Closing date for applications is 12th January 2015
· Shortlisting interviews will commence week commencing 19th January 2015
· Final Panel interviews will commence week commencing 2nd February 2015
The dates given are indicative and subject to change.
Venues for all interview stages to be confirmed but are likely to be in Glasgow. Telephone, video conference and Skype facilities are also available if necessary.
10. How to Apply
To submit an application, go to www.rockpools.co.uk/opportunities
For an information pack and an informal and confidential conversation, call our advising consultants:
· Baljit Dhadda on 020 3137 3452 / 07939 074973
· Janice Dean on 020 3137 3450/ 07793 606015
You will be required to submit a CV and brief supporting statement that provides evidence of the competencies outlined in the Person Specification. You will also be asked to complete an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.
Reasonable expenses for unavoidable travel expenses in connection with attending interviews will be reimbursed.
Diversity policy
The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns.
This appointment will be conducted in line with principles of merit, fairness and openness.
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