Public Appointments Reception at Lancaster House
14 January 2010

Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, and Maria Eagle, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality, hosted a reception at Lancaster House in London on Thursday 14th January 2010 for BAME communities, women and the disabled to encourage them to take up Public Appointments. The event, chaired by Bonnie Greer, playwright and Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees of the British Museum, hopes encourage a more diverse group of people to apply for public appointments so our public bodies better reflect the communities they serve. The reception was attended by over 180 Public Appointment Ambassadors from across the country.

Only one in eight people have served on a public body, according to new IPSOS MORI research commissioned by the Government Equalities Office and the Cabinet Office, and of these, the majority are men from white backgrounds. The research also showed that women are less likely to consider applying for a public appointment than men; disabled people are less likely to feel that the application process is open and fair; and that while those from BAME backgrounds are more likely to be interested in applying in the future, they are less likely to consider putting themselves forward.

Public bodies make decisions that affect our day to day lives, but too few women, people from ethnic minorities and disabled people sit on boards like the Arts Council, the governing bodies of local hospitals and the Competition Commission. Tough new cross-Government targets state that by 2011 women must form 50% of new public appointees, disabled people 14%, and people from ethnic minorities 11%. This will help ensure that Public Bodies better reflect the communities they serve. As at March 2008 women formed 33% of public appointees, disabled people 5%, and people from ethnic minorities 5.7%.

The research supports the launch of a new Public Appointments Ambassadors network and two new public appointments mentoring programmes. The programmes will support people from diverse backgrounds in applying for public appointments.

Maria Eagle MP, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality, said: “We are a diverse nation and our public bodies should reflect that. It’s only by drawing on the talent and experience of people from all backgrounds that we’ll have public boards that make the best decisions.

“Public bodies carry out a wide range of vital activities that affect the lives of people up and down the country, shaping policy and making key decisions. We all stand to benefit from the improved decision making that can come from a wider range of contributions.

“That’s why our Public Appointments Ambassadors programme is so important. Nearly 200 inspirational people from a wide range of backgrounds will give potential candidates the advice and support they need to apply for public appointments, and will ensure that the best people from diverse backgrounds know about, and apply for, the opportunities available.”