- The Chair role is non-remunerated, though reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
- The Foundation is committed to attracting a diverse field of candidates and welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, including those with lived experience relevant to its mission.
Background to the Role
Location: The City & Guilds Foundation team are based in London.
The Trustee Board
The City and Guilds London Institute – known as the City and Guilds Foundation throughout the rest of this website – is incorporated by Royal Charter and registered as a charity in England & Wales and Scotland. The Trustee Board is its governing body, and as such collectively responsible for its affairs. Its terms of reference are contained in the Foundation’s constitution supplemented by the law relating to Royal Charter bodies and registered charities.
Being a Trustee requires a significant commitment but also provides the opportunity to participate in very rewarding work. As a Trustee you will be able to use your skills and experience to shape the Foundation’s work at the highest level and therefore to have a direct impact on its ability to deliver its purpose, knowing that you are making a real difference to people who benefit from what the Foundation does.
Duties
As charity trustees, the Board’s duties are:
- to ensure that the Foundation is carrying out its purpose for the public benefit
- to comply with its constitution and the law
- to act in the Foundation’s best interests
- to manage the Foundation’s resources responsibly
- to act with reasonable care and skill
- to ensure that the Foundation is accountable
- to reduce the risk of liability.
Advice and Support
The Trustee Board is advised and supported by:
- Council
- three committees
- senior management
- the Secretary to the Foundation (on corporate governance matters).
Board Composition and Evaluation
The Trustee Board:
- is currently composed of seven trustees. The number of trustees at any given time and their skills and experience are informed by a Skills Matrix
- undertakes periodic Board effectiveness reviews.
Time commitment
- The Trustee Board normally meets four times a year
- Trustees are also members of Council, which normally meets twice a year (in March and October)
- Trustees are expected to attend the Yearly Meeting (the Foundation’s equivalent of an AGM)
- Trustees may also be members of one or more Committees, each of which normally meets between twice and four times a year
- Ad hoc meetings with other Trustees and/or management may also be necessary
- Trustees will also spend time on preparing for meetings, and informal pre- and post-meeting discussions may also be required.
Meetings may be online or hybrid or in person. Meetings of the Trustee Board may be in person over two days with an overnight stay.
Remuneration
The Trustees:
- are not entitled to remuneration for acting as such, although their reasonable and properly documented expenses are reimbursed in line with the Trustee Expenses Policy
- may receive other personal benefits but only if they are permitted by the Foundation’s constitution or by law.
Appointment and Retirement
- Trustees are appointed by Council following a selection process overseen by the Remuneration and Nominations Committee which culminates in recommendations to Council by the Trustee Board
- New Trustees receive an induction covering your eligibility declarations and the Foundation’s strategy, activities, corporate governance, compliance and key policies (including the Trustee Conflicts of Interest Policy and the Delegation of Authority Policy). Trustees are offered training throughout their terms of office
- One in four of the Trustees (or the nearest whole number) retire from office each year on a first in first out basis. They may be re-appointed but do not normally serve for more than six years.
What You’ll be Doing
The key tasks of the Trustee Board are:
- establishing and maintaining the Foundation’s vision, mission, values and goals
- deciding its strategy and ensuring that its organisational capability is appropriate for implementing the chosen strategies
- delegating to management, monitoring the implementation of policies, strategies and business plans and ensuring that internal controls are effective
- being responsible to relevant stakeholders. This includes compliance with the requirements of regulators such as the Charity Commission of England & Wales.
You will be expected:
- to contribute in an informed and active way to all aspects of the work of the Trustee Board’s work
- to use your specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the Trustee Board reach sound decisions. In addition to scrutinising Board papers this may involve leading discussions, focusing on key issues and providing advice and guidance to the Trustee Board and management on new initiatives or other issues where you have special expertise.
Standards
Trustees are expected to conduct themselves:
- as befits the governing body of a Royal Charter body and a registered charity
- in accordance with acceptable standards of behaviour in public life, embracing selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership (the Nolan Principles).
What We’re Looking For
We can’t live without…
- commitment to the Foundation’s purpose and the positive impact it can make to individuals, businesses and economies
- understanding and acceptance of the duties, responsibilities and liabilities of charity trustees, in particular the contents of the Charity Commission’s guidance “The Essential Trustee”[1] and “Decision-making for charity trustees”[2]
- ability to challenge constructively the Foundation’s performance, strategy, and objectives
- ability to use your previous experience in a relevant manner, while being able to separate yourself from prior allegiances and interests, so that conflicts can be managed openly and transparency guaranteed
- ability to absorb and distil complex information and bring a pragmatic approach to its application
- highly effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to converse beyond your area of expertise, to discuss complex problems and to contribute to solutions, even if they are not completely aligned with your own views
- ability to commit the necessary time to being a Trustee
- integrity and good humour.
Experience of serving on the governing bodies of charities or other not-for-profit organisations is advantageous.
You must also:
- be eligible to act as a charity trustee and therefore be able to sign the Charity Commission Trustee Eligibility Declaration[1] and the Automatic Disqualification Declaration[2]
- have no interests which are likely to be regularly in competition with those of the Foundation.
[1] The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do – GOV.UK
[2] Decision-making for charity trustees – GOV.UK