Public appointments shape the services we all rely on – from health to transport, culture to children’s rights. But if only a narrow group of people is represented in these roles, are we missing out on vital perspectives?
The Senedd’s Public Accounts and Public Administration (PAPA) Committee has launched its latest report, highlighting issues with the Welsh Government’s approach, relying too much on candidates from the Cardiff area, and an inaccessible recruitment process that deters potential applicants from varied backgrounds across Wales.
Whether you’re already in a public role, have been in the past or are considering one in the future, the PAPA report asks some important questions that could lead to some improvements in how things are done in Wales.
What are the main barriers to public appointments in Wales?
There are several barriers to those pursuing public appointment, including:
Inaccessible and inflexible recruitment processes
Individuals who have pursued public roles report significant challenges in accessing information about available positions. The application process is often perceived as an 'art' requiring insider knowledge, which can be discouraging for newcomers.
Additionally, issues such as inaccessible documents, inadequate remuneration, and inflexible roles that don't accommodate caring responsibilities or accessibility needs further deter diverse candidates.
Damian Bridgeman, who has held several public appointment roles since 2014 and has cerebral palsy, shared his experiences:
"I truly believe that disabled people need to have representative voices that reflect society in the corridors and the rooms of power. That’s why I decided to step into public life.
But, when you start looking at reasonable adjustments, it’s automatically assumed that you are going to need a lot of care when all I need is a secretariat to help me take my own notes. Another issue, for example, is that the application process doesn't work with screen readers. I was lucky, because I was able to tell the (Welsh Government’s) public appointments unit exactly what I needed, but it was clear that the knowledge about what adjustments could be made just wasn't there. Trying to get any support was really quite difficult.
All the way through the process I've had to be willing to ask, and there are a number of disabled people that won't ask for reasonable adjustments because they think that's going to not stand them in good stead when applying for public appointments."
The PAPA Committee has outlined recommendations directly related to these issues, including:
Recommendation 14: The Welsh Government’s Public Bodies Unit should undertake work to improve its awareness of what constitutes a reasonable adjustment and take a proactive approach in providing applicants with multiple options in terms of the adjustments they require. We ask that an update on this work including details of options available be provided to us in 6 months’ time.
Recommendation 15: The Welsh Government should progress its work to improve the accessibility of the public appointments recruitment process with greater pace and we ask for an update on the outputs of its work with the accountability group of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan as soon as possible.
Lack of awareness and engagement
The Committee's engagement findings reveal a general lack of awareness about public bodies and their functions. Many individuals are unaware of the range of opportunities available, and there is a perception that public appointments are reserved for a certain demographic. One participant noted:
“People don't know about public appointments or what a public appointment is. There's an assumption that…it's another job. Only after my first application did I see all the different appointments, I didn’t realise that there were so many opportunities…
When the door opened I realised that there was this whole other world, then you think, how do people get into these roles if they don’t even know about them?”
- Engagement participant
The Committee’s report makes the following recommendations to help tackle the lack of awareness and engagement:
Recommendation 5: The Welsh Government should rebrand and relaunch the Public Bodies Unit, setting out clearly its role and purpose and ensuring it is fully visible and interacts with the public. This should include more public-facing information about its role and remit, available to all candidates on the Welsh Government’s website.
The Public Bodies Unit is tasked with overseeing public appointments, however the Committee concluded that they had been underperforming in this role, with many applicants unaware of its existence.
Recommendation 6: The Welsh Government should prioritise increasing the visibility of the Public Bodies Unit, setting out clear actions to achieve this and timescales for when actions to achieve this will be complete. The Welsh Government should provide updates to the Committee on their progress in implementing this
What changes could be made to improve things in Wales?
The Senedd’s Citizen Engagement Team met with several people to discuss the current public appointments process and what could be done to improve things. Some of their suggestions have been taken forward by the Committee, and used as recommendations in their report, including:
A mentoring programme
Establish a centrally coordinated, Wales-wide mentoring programme to connect potential mentees with experienced board members, particularly pairing individuals from underrepresented groups.
Enhanced advertising
Public appointments should be advertised more widely, with targeted efforts to reach specific underrepresented groups.
Simplified application process
Application forms should use clear language, outline commitments and responsibilities, and be available in various formats and languages.
Feedback mechanism
Provide constructive, bespoke feedback to all unsuccessful applicants to help them improve and encourage future applications.
Data collection
Collect and maintain comprehensive data on current, potential, and unsuccessful board members to develop meaningful targets for improving board diversity.
The Committee has also argued that the current Public Appointments Commissioner for England and Wales is no longer fit for a devolved Wales, and that a dedicated Public Appointments Commissioner for Wales should be brought in instead. This would help bring clearer leadership, better accountability, and long-term commitment to improving diversity and accessibility.
It’s now up to the Welsh Government to decide whether to act on the recommendations – and whether public appointments in Wales will finally become more open to all.
For more information, read the report in full and check out the Engagement Findings to find out what others have to say about public appointments in Wales.
