Chair

Great British Energy is the government’s publicly owned, energy development company with a mission to accelerate clean power deployment to create jobs, boost energy independence, and ensure UK taxpayers, billpayers, and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown energy.

Our ambition is to become a lasting national institution that the British public will be proud of. We are building GBE not just as a company, but as a cornerstone of the UK’s energy landscape: a trusted, transparent, and innovative public champion that stands shoulder to shoulder with the leading state-owned energy companies of Europe.

For too long, Britain has relied on imported energy, while other state-owned companies have benefitted from owning our crucial energy assets. GBE marks a decisive break — a permanent national capability to plan, invest, and build the infrastructure that powers our future.

Public ownership with purpose means we use public capital to unlock private investment, not replace it. GBE’s investments will catalyse further investment, building industries that last. Returns from assets the public owns are reinvested — back into more capacity, more jobs and more opportunity.

Great British Energy works collaboratively with industry, local authorities and communities, and other public sector organisations such as the National Wealth Fund, to spread skilled jobs and investment across the country.

In recognition of Scotland’s leading role in the UK’s clean energy revolution, Great British Energy is headquartered in Aberdeen.

The Role

This is not a typical Chair role. This is an opportunity to shape a new national institution on behalf of the British people – a publicly owned energy company committed to serving the country.

We are seeking a Chair to lead a values-driven Board as Great British Energy enters its next phase of maturity. The successful candidate will join in autumn 2026, after the completion of GBE’s initial organisational set-up. The Chair will lead efforts to embed GBE as a lasting and dynamic pillar of the UK’s energy and economic landscape ensuring it delivers real value for the British people.

As Chair, you will provide strategic leadership to the Board, ensuring effective governance, oversight, and accountability during a pivotal period of growth and national significance. This role requires balancing the traditional responsibilities of a Chair with championing reshaping public ownership for the modern world.

Candidate Criteria

Candidates will have:

• Proven leadership experience as Chair or CEO of a large, complex organisation, ideally in energy, infrastructure, or public service

• A deep motivation and commitment to Great British Energy’s mission

• Strong understanding of corporate governance

• Stakeholder engagement across political, governmental and investment landscapes

• Experience in high-profile public-facing roles and media scenarios

• The ability to act as a trusted ambassador with credibility and influence at the highest levels in government, industry and communities

• A familiarity with the UK’s regulatory and policy landscape for energy and climate is highly desirable

Great British Energy is committed to building a diverse leadership team and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in the energy and public sectors.

Terms of Appointment

Term: 4 years

Time commitment: 2 days per week

Remuneration: £114,400 per annum

Location: The Chair will be expected to work from GBE’s Aberdeen HQ as well as attend other sites across the UK.