Appointment of Members of the Board of South of Scotland Enterprise

Scottish Ministers value very highly the benefits of having different experience and points of view on our Boards and we are keen that people from all walks of life apply for public appointments. Scottish Ministers particularly welcome applications from women, disabled people, LGBT+ people, people from ethnic minority communities and people aged under 50.

If you have a disability and require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the appointments process or if you require further support with your application, please contact the Scottish Government, Public Appointments Team by email at public.appointments@gov.scot.

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND ENTERPRISE

South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) is the dedicated economic and community development agency for the South of Scotland.

Recently celebrating its fifth anniversary, SOSE has led the way in responding to the unique opportunities and challenges in the South of Scotland.

Aims, Vision and Role

With a focus on growing the economy, both regionally and nationally, SOSE works closely with the Scottish Government and partners to build on Scotland’s entrepreneurial strengths, boosting innovation and productivity, supporting trade and exports and attracting investment. By working with communities and social enterprises through its place-based activities, they maximise their contribution to economic growth and to tackling inequalities.

More widely, SOSE works to help support and deliver the actions set out in the Programme for Government Programme for Government to deliver on the Scottish Government’s four main priorities of growing the economy, eradicating child poverty, tackling climate emergency and ensuring high quality and sustainable public services.

MEMBER ROLES

The main duties of SOSE board members are to provide leadership, governance, direction, support, and guidance, to ensure that SOSE delivers its functions effectively and efficiently and in accordance with the aims, policies and priorities of Scottish Ministers.

Members’ corporate responsibilities, under the leadership of the SOSE Chair, include:

• ensuring that SOSE’s corporate plan reflects its strategic aims, objectives and key targets as agreed by the Scottish Ministers and focusing on how its work can most effectively contribute to the achievement of the National Performance Framework and the annual Programme for Government in collaboration with the Scottish Government and other public bodies;

regularly scrutinising current and projected performance against the aims, objectives and targets set out in SOSE’s corporate plans and taking decisions on remedial action where required;

ensuring that decision-taking is open and transparent and that effective arrangements are in place to provide assurance on governance, internal control, and risk management. The Board must set up an Audit Committee, chaired by a non-executive member, to provide independent advice and assurance on the effectiveness of the internal control and risk management systems;

approving the annual report and accounts and ensuring these are provided to the Scottish Ministers to be laid before the Scottish Parliament;

promoting the efficient, economic and effective use of staff and other resources consistent with the principles of Best Value, including participation in shared services where appropriate;

regularly scrutinising financial performance and compliance with financial guidance issued by the Scottish Government;

appointing, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, SOSE’s Chief Executive and ensuring that the Chief Executive’s objectives give due weight to the proper management and use of resources and the delivery of outcomes;

promoting the wellbeing, learning and development of staff, providing support and challenge to the Chief Executive on staffing matters and ensuring that SOSE meets its staff management responsibilities.

Board members will also be expected to demonstrate a willingness to develop an understanding of SOSE’s operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Public Appointees are responsible for:

• ensuring that the public body delivers its functions in accordance with Scottish Ministers’ policies and priorities
• providing strategic leadership
• ensuring financial stewardship
• holding the Chief Executive and senior management team to account
  
  

Further information about the role and the board can be found in the information pack.

Renewables/Energy/Net Zero Role

We are looking for a Board member who has a strategic understanding of the UK energy sector and understands how that is likely to develop and change over the coming years through both technology and political change.

Financial Role

We are seeking a Board member who has substantial experience of working with Boards or Committees and external auditors or being a Chair of an Audit and Risk Committee. They would have knowledge of current financial reporting standards and corporate governance best practice and a strong understanding of risk assessment, management and mitigation techniques, and be able to relate these to the public sector.

Communities Role

We are looking for someone that can help us spot potential in the people and places we serve, and with the skills and experience to help us guide communities, through sound judgement and strategic decision making to turn that into successful projects that create jobs, generate revenue and improve people’s lives and localities.

REMUNERATION AND TIME COMMITMENT

Members receive £275.58 per day for a time commitment of 2.5 days per month. Reasonable expenses incurred will be reimbursed. The appointment is non-pensionable.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information about SOSE and the Board Member roles, please contact Susan Cannon, Corporate Governance Lead, SOSE on 01750 535917 or at susan.cannon@sose.scot.

You can also find out more about SOSE at www.southofscotlandenterprise.com.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The person specification, which is detailed at pages 13-17 of the Applicant Information Pack, sets out the skills, knowledge, experience and attributes that we are seeking and explains how the criteria will be tested.

Priority Criteria

• Renewables; energy; net zero; and/or
• Financial acumen; and/or
• Communities/Community Wealth Building.
  
  

Essential Criteria

1. Ability to think strategically about the issues impacting SOSE;

• Ability to communicate succinctly and influence effectively;
• Ability to work co-operatively and collaboratively;
• Ability to explore innovative and creative solutions to problem solving.
  
  

APPLICATION

Priority Criteria

Please demonstrate evidence of at least one of the priority criteria:

• Renewables; energy; net zero;
• Financial acumen;
• Communities/Community Wealth Building.
  
  

This Should Be The One Which You Consider You Can Demonstrate The Strongest Evidence. You May Provide Evidence For More Than One If You Wish:

Your evidence should be no more than 300 words for each criterion chosen.

If you choose to provide evidence of more than one priority criterion, please make it clear in your application which you consider is your strongest.

Essential Criteria

Please demonstrate evidence of the criterion 2 and 3 together:

• Ability to communicate succinctly and influence effectively;
• Ability to work co-operatively and collaboratively.
  
  

This should be done by answering the following question - “South of Scotland Enterprise aims to be bold, different and ambitious and the Board and the staff operate as a single team to achieve that. How would you, as part of that team, contribute to achieving that?”

Your evidence should be in the form of a written statement and no more than 600 words. Ideally the selection panel want approximately 300 words on each criterion (i.e. roughly equal proportions; not two statements).

Criterion 1 and 4 will be tested at interview.

CV

Finally, please upload a CV relating to the priority and essential criteria. This should be a maximum of two pages in length.

Full details are contained in the Applicant Information Pack.

Applications must be submitted by 5.00 pm on Monday, 4 May 2026. Late applications will not be accepted by the selection panel.