For the first event in our Chairs’ Challenge series, we were joined by speakers Martin Thomas, Chair of NHS Resolution, Elisabeth Davies, Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints, and Jane Hanson, Chair of the Reclaim Fund Ltd.

All highly experienced in leadership and governance, but new to chairing an Arm’s-Length Body (ALB), they presented several stakeholder relationship challenges they have encountered in the role. Mark McAllister, PCF Management Committee Member and Chair of the Office for Nuclear Regulation, then led a discussion with the wider audience of PCF members on possible resolutions.

Stakeholder relationships are as much a challenge for the Chair as other members of the Board and Executive. Participants considered it particularly important to understand the external context and appreciate the limits of control available to the Chairs of Arm’s-Length Bodies.

Understand the environment   

When taking on the role of Chair of an ALB, it’s important to understand the political and policy context that you’re stepping into. ALBs operate within the much larger structure of government and therefore report directly to Ministers, respond to changing priorities, and face a greater level of scrutiny.

As administrators of public policy, recognising the part you play within government and being realistic about what is within your control is vital. Connecting and building relationships with your sponsoring department at every level can also help to improve trust and transparency.

Appreciate the different skillsets of executives and non-executives

Chairs of Public Bodies find themselves in a rather unique position, given that they are appointed directly by Ministers. Developing strong relationships with Board members and demonstrating your value early on is critical to the onwards success of the organisation.

Those chairing unitary boards have an opportunity to leverage the unique strengths and expertise of executives and non-executives. Identifying when to employ different perspectives and who to assign tasks to is helpful to ensure harmonious relationships

Take advantage of ‘trigger’ events

Throughout the lifecycle of an ALB, there are certain ‘trigger’ events which can be useful to re-set relationships with external stakeholders. For example, the appointment of a new Chair or a tailored review can often provide fresh perspective and impetus to an organisation.

For ALBs trying to re-build and strengthen their reputation, these events provide a valuable opportunity to draw a line between the past and future.

Draw focus to the purpose of the organisation

Though Arm’s-Length Bodies are created to deliver a key function for government, often their remit can be poorly understood. Highlighting the core purpose of the organisation and the value it brings to the public can go a long way in improving relationships with stakeholders.

Being Chair of an ALB is a complex and challenging role. Given the cyclical nature of public appointments and the high-profile of many of these organisations, leaders can often inherit relationships with stakeholders which carry a long history. We hope to create a safe space for our members to discuss their experiences and share best practice with each other.

If you have any “challenges” that you’d like to discuss in a future session, please get in touch with us at secretariat@publicchairsforum.org.uk