Non Executive Directorships

Low Carbon Contracts Company and Electricity Settlements Company, Chair

Location: London

Date Posted: 02/03/2025

Closing Date: 22/04/2025

£102,500 per annum 2 days/week

About the appointment

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the role of Chair for the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) and the Electricity Settlements Company (ESC).

LCCC and ESC are sister companies (wholly-owned by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero) that play key roles in supporting delivery of secure and low-carbon electricity for the UK. LCCC was established in 2014 to be the counterparty for the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, which incentivises investment in low-carbon electricity generation. ESC is responsible for all financial transactions and associated assurances for the Capacity Market scheme, which maintains a healthy surplus of electricity capacity.

ESC’s role, and LCCC’s role in particular, are growing significantly. To help deliver the Government’s clean energy superpower mission, we are supporting more low carbon capacity than ever before under the Contracts for Difference and Capacity Market. LCCC is also delivering new schemes incentivising the deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage, hydrogen and new nuclear projects, all of which are vital to delivery of the clean energy superpower mission.

As the Chair of LCCC and ESC, you will bring strong leadership to the Boards and ensure that they engage with the key issues and priorities facing the companies, particularly legal and technical issues relating to the schemes administered by the companies. You will also utilise your communication and interpersonal skills to build consensus within the Boards, promote high standards of corporate governance and engage with senior stakeholders, in particular with regards to facilitating the resolution of difficult issues when required.

My Ministerial colleagues and I are committed to fair and open recruitment processes across all public appointments that we make. We proactively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from under-represented groups.

Should you need any further assistance, my officials would be happy to talk to you about this and other senior roles in the public sector.

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking for this important organisation, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

Michael Shanks MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Introduction from the Chair

The LCCC was established in 2014 to deliver key elements of the Contracts for Difference (CfDs) scheme, which incentivises investment in low carbon electricity generation. In all its operations as the counterparty to CfDs, the LCCC is led by its principles of maintaining investor confidence in the scheme and to minimise costs to consumers. More recently, LCCC has been asked to deliver new schemes for government, incentivising the delivery of new nuclear generation, carbon capture and storage projects and hydrogen production.

The role of the ESC is to maintain a healthy surplus of electricity capacity. It oversees settlement of the Capacity Market to ensure regular payments are made to capacity providers who have agreed to provide capacity at times of system stress. In carrying out its activities ESC seeks to maintain participants confidence in the Capacity Market whilst minimising costs to consumers.

LCCC and ESC are private limited companies wholly-owned by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero as sole Shareholder. The companies have day-to-day operational independence, subject to certain limited exceptions which require shareholder consent. The Boards of LCCC and ESC comprise the same members so we are seeking to appoint an individual to be Chair of both companies.

LCCC currently employs 250FTE, with the majority of staff based in London at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. However, the company also has employees based in Leeds and Birmingham. Headcount is expected to grow rapidly as LCCC takes on new schemes and existing schemes grow in scale.

Further information about the companies can be found here: https://www.lowcarboncontracts.uk/

Appointment description

The non-executive Chair of the LCCC and the ESC is a demanding and influential role. The successful candidate will be expected to bring strong leadership to the Board and deliver confidence to the wide range of commercial stakeholders who partner with the businesses to deliver on the UK’s vision of a decarbonised economy.

As a private law company wholly owned by Government, LCCC currently manages almost 400 Contracts for Difference (CfDs) with low carbon energy producers worth over £80bn and the number of contracts continues to grow each year through annual auction rounds held by government. The business is also working closely with industry and government to bring the success of the CfD to other sectors of the economy including power and industrial carbon capture use and storage and hydrogen production, transport, storage and use.

To meet government ambition to decarbonise the wider economy the business is also taking on new roles for example in hydrogen certification and is discussing potential future roles including developing a CfD tool to support the development of sustainable aviation fuel.

In a rapidly growing business with many commercial touchpoints, as well as key relationships with government and other delivery bodies, the Chair will need excellent communications and interpersonal skills, commercial credibility especially with private sector investors, and an ability to influence a wide range of stakeholders.

He or she will also bring these skills to the board table. The Chair is responsible for maintaining a high performing Board by encouraging participation and challenge, building consensus and ensuring the Board has the skills and competencies to lead this fast moving critical business. The Chair will build a strong relationship with the Chief Executive, promote the highest standards of corporate governance and play a crucial and high-profile role in managing relationships with interested parties at the highest levels in Government and in the energy sector.

Organisation description

LCCC currently employs c.250FTE, with the majority of staff based in London at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. However, the company also has employees based in Leeds and a new office is being opened in Birmingham. Headcount is expected to grow rapidly as LCCC takes on new schemes and existing schemes grow in scale.

Further information about the companies can be found here: Low Carbon Contracts

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website

Person specification

Essential criteria

We are seeking candidates who have tailored their application to demonstrate, and have provided specific examples of, the following:

Experience of working within the private sector, preferably in an area that involves significant capital investment;
Ability to lead a high-performing Board;
Experience of major infrastructure projects, noting that LCCC manages a CFD for Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, one of the largest infrastructure construction projects in Europe;
Ability to work at the interface of the public and private sectors;
Ability to quickly understand the economic and commercial issues that shape the electricity market; and
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage stakeholders proactively.

In the event of a large number of applications being received, we will sift on the lead criteria: Ability to lead a high-performing Board.

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Other Positions Available:

Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Climate Change Committee x 2

Location: Various

Date Posted: 11/04/2025

Closing Date: 11/05/2025