Public appointment: Chair appointed to the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, today announced the appointment of John Evans as Chair of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.

Chair

John Evans career has been across the private public and third sector and he currently holds a leadership role in a rural third sector organisation.

He has held HR and executive director and CEO roles in the private and public sector and led employment negotiations at local, Scottish, UK and international levels. John has also been joint secretary of a European Works Council. He was a key part of the leadership team that set up South of Scotland Enterprise during the pandemic. John is Chair of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership and is a board member with the Scottish Prison Service and Edinburgh Leisure as well as a trustee of the Leith Community Foundation. John come from a farming community and retains his links with farming through regular visits and conversations. He is passionate about the rural environment and economy and the long-term evolution and survival of farming and agricultural skills.

Appointment

This appointment will be for three years and will run from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027.

This appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This appointment is part-time and attracts a daily rate of £278 for a time commitment of up to 16 days per annum.

Other ministerial appointments

John Evans does not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.   

John Evans has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body set up under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949.  Its purpose is to make statutory Orders fixing minimum wage rates, holiday entitlement and other terms and conditions of service for workers employed in agriculture in Scotland.  The Board’s Orders are legally enforceable and the Scottish Government Rural Directorate has a duty to investigate complaints about non-compliance.  The Rural Directorate also carries out random test inspections on agricultural holdings, in relation to the terms and conditions SAWB sets,  to ensure compliance and pursues recovery of arrears which are then passed on to the workers.