Overview

A simple description of the work I do is that I am the public appointments watchdog. I’m independent of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government – this allows me to regulate public appointments without external influence or pressure.

What does that mean? My job is to make sure the process used by the Scottish Government to select the people who serve on the boards of Scotland’s public bodies is a fair process, open to everyone who wishes to apply. In 2006, my predecessor, Karen Carlton, published a Code of Practice which makes clear what the Scottish Government must do during every appointment. Karen developed a revised Code of Practice which came into force on 1 September 2011. The team of Public Appointments Assessors scrutinise the public appointments process and facilitate compliance with the applicable Code.

The Codes focus on what should happen. The Scottish Government translates this into how the appointments process will be put into practice. We work to influence the Government’s practices, encouraging them to design a process which is welcoming, easy to understand and work through, as well as effective at identifying the best people for every role. Anyone who has a complaint about the way the appointments process is handled can bring their concern to us.

We have a keen interest in diversity and are working with the Scottish Government to find new and innovative ways to increase the number and diversity of people applying for public appointments. I hope you will be one of them!

More information on the public appointments process is available from the Frequently Asked Questions page.

We regulate appointments to an extensive and diverse range of public bodies. View the list of regulated bodies.

The office was established by the Public Appointments and Public Bodies etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 and amended by the Scottish Parliamentary Commission and Commissioners etc Act 2010.

The Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland is part of the Commission for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.