London Markets Board Members (up to 9)

Salary: Unpaid

Grade: Board

Contract type: Fixed term

Reference: Markets01

Interview date: Weeks commencing 31 January and 07 February 2022

Application closing date: Monday 17 January 2022 at 23:59 GMT

Mayoral Appointment: Board Member recruitment for the next London Markets Board.

Could you help the Mayor to support the recovery of London’s markets at a city level?

The Mayor of London is looking to appoint up to 9 Board Members to his London Markets Board. Board members must share the Mayor’s passion and ambition to ensure that markets in the capital flourish; support recovery and good growth in our high streets and town centres; and continue to offer something for every Londoner.

Retail and wholesale markets play a vital role in London as places of employment, trade and leisure. They provide variety and diversity, history and character, and bring footfall to high streets and town centres. They are an essential part of Londoners’ everyday experience of the city, as well as London’s international identity. They are local manifestations of London’s openness to the world in terms of the diversity of goods they offer, the traders who work in them, and the communities they serve.

Markets are London’s original ‘incubators’ for new businesses to get off the ground, offering low-cost, low-risk spaces for self-employment, testing new ideas and entrepreneurship, as well as entry-level routes into employment.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to London’s markets and accelerated existing pressures from technological, social and economic change. Despite these challenges, the pandemic has demonstrated the resilience and entrepreneurialism of the sector and has underlined the important role that London’s markets play in serving local communities and providing essential access to affordable healthy food and other goods.

Sadiq Khan set up the first London Markets Board in 2017 in recognition of the value and important role markets play across London’s high streets and town centres.  The inaugural Board convened experts from across the sector who have worked diligently to provide effective strategic oversight and management of key issues faced by markets at a city level.

The next London Markets Board will build on this work and advise the Mayor on the delivery of a London markets strategy, agreeing a prioritised workplan to support and promote the capital’s markets. It will provide a platform and advocacy for sector organisations. It will make recommendations to the Mayor on opportunities to improve long-term sustainability and impact and address issues related to markets and their recovery in London.

The Mayor is seeking candidates from a broad range of backgrounds who reflect the breadth of experience and diverse range of activity in the sector. This includes industry experts, economic development practitioners, and experienced business and community leaders. It also includes public and private traders and SMEs, operators and representative bodies, and individuals with market related experience from other sectors.

Candidates must understand the complexity of issues faced by the sector and bring drive, commitment and practicality to devise solutions to the challenges faced by London’s markets now, and in the years to come.

How to apply

For essential information on the roles and application criteria, please read the RECRUITMENT PACK

Candidates are invited to apply by submitting a CV and a supporting statement. Please ensure your Supporting Statement clearly addresses the criteria listed under ‘Selection Criteria’ in the Recruitment Pack.

We aim to achieve a diverse breadth of skills within the London Markets Board. Appointments will be made with the breadth of skills across the Board, as well as the strength of the individual applications in mind. London’s diversity is its biggest asset, but this isn’t currently reflected across the markets sector. The GLA strives to reflect London’s diversity across all appointments. As such, we strongly welcome applications from underrepresented sections of the community, in terms of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We are keen to develop and nurture the future leadership of the sector. To ensure voices from across the sector are heard, we would encourage not just leaders, but individuals at all stages of their career, to apply. If you are unsure about whether you meet the requirements set out in the Recruitment Pack, we strongly encourage you to get in contact with us via the email addresses below and we can advise.

If you have any queries about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact Megan.Dean@london.gov.uk and Ellie.Howard@london.gov.uk in the first instance.

If you have any queries regarding the application process or if you require information in an alternative format, please email Andrew.Baxter@london.gov.uk quoting reference ‘Markets01’.

Appointments are subject to confirmation by the Mayor of London.