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About the role

Trustee x2 (Digital Technology/Product/Content) & (Investment & Commercial Partnerships)

Location: London Office

Helping people, organisations and economies develop their skills for growth

For over 140 years we have worked with people, organisations and economies to help them identify and develop the skills they need to thrive. We understand the life changing link between skills development, social mobility, prosperity and success.

We partner with our customers to deliver work-based learning programmes that build competency, to support better prospects for people, organisations and wider society. We create flexible learning pathways that support lifelong employability, because we believe that people deserve the opportunity to (re)train and (re)learn again and again – gaining new skills at every stage of life, regardless of where they start

The City and Guilds Community of brands includes Gen2, ILM, Intertrain, Kineo and the Oxford Group and Trade Skills 4U.


Our Values

Our values Inspire, Improve, Achieve and Trust are core to everything we do, and makes us who we are. They underpin the way we work, from how we treat our people right through to how we design our products. Living these values in everything you do at City & Guilds will not only make this a great place to work, but ensure you thrive and are successful in your role.


Job Summary

As the governing body of The City and Guilds London Institute, our Trustee Board is ultimately responsible for everything that City & Guilds does. Trustees must be fully committed to the purpose of City & Guilds and the positive impact it can make to individuals, businesses and economies.

Trustees share this responsibility both individually and collectively and are expected to contribute in an informed and active way to all aspects of the Board’s work.  

City & Guilds is a registered charity and Board members are therefore charity Trustees. The Board’s primary responsibility is ensuring that City & Guilds meets its charitable objectives and that it remains financially robust. 

Appointments as Trustee are typically for an initial three-year term, with the possibility of two further terms each typically of three years.


What you'll be doing

Trustees are expected to devote such time as is necessary for the proper performance of their role. For this role, the appointed candidate should expect to spend the equivalent of two/three days a month on City & Guilds’ work after the induction phase. This is based on preparation for, attendance at and dealing with post-meeting actions from the meetings below (which may be in-person or online):

  • Scheduled Board meetings (8 in each year, including 2 residential with overnight stay); 
  • Scheduled Committee meetings (if appointed to the Committee concerned). There are currently four Committees and each of them meets typically four times per year: Remuneration & Nominations, Audit & Risk, Investment, and Foundation;
  • Attendance at the Yearly Meeting (City & Guilds equivalent of the AGM) and two Council Meetings per year; and
  • Other adhoc meetings;

Each Trustee should use their skills, knowledge and/or experience to help and support the Board, CEO and the executive team to reach sound strategic corporate decisions. This involves  participating in discussions, focusing on key issues affecting City & Guilds, and providing advice and guidance to the CEO and executive leadership team.

Trustees: 

  • Are expected to conduct themselves as befits charity trustees;
  •  Must not have been disqualified from acting as charity trustees (and must be able to sign the Charity Commission’s eligibility declaration);
  • Must also consider and declare any existing or potential conflicts of interests;

Trustees are required to act reasonably and prudently in all matters relating to the charity and must always take decisions in the best interests of City & Guilds and its beneficiaries. 

As charity trustees, Board members are not entitled to remuneration although City & Guilds will reimburse all reasonable and properly documented expenses.


How will success be measured?

The Board undertakes an evaluation exercise each year. 

Being a Trustee requires a significant commitment but also creates the opportunity of participating in very rewarding work.

As a Trustee you will have the opportunity to shape the work of City & Guilds at the highest level and have a direct impact on our ability to deliver our purpose. This includes the opportunity for personal development to build on your existing skills and experience.

All of our current Trustees say they get enormous job satisfaction from using their skills and experience to support the work of the charity, knowing that they are making a real difference for people affected by City & Guilds.

Standards

  • Members of the Board of Trustees are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with acceptable standards of behaviour in public life, embracing selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership (the Nolan Principles).
  • Candidates should not have been disqualified from acting as trustees from a previous organisation and will be asked to confirm in writing that this is the case.
  • Candidates will be asked to consider and declare any existing or potential conflicts of interests.
  • Since City & Guilds is a charity it is critical that the Board of Trustees exercises efficient and effective use of the resources of City & Guilds for the furtherance of its purpose. The Board must also maintain the long-term viability of City & Guilds, safeguarding its assets, and ensuring that a proper mechanism exists to ensure financial control and for the prevention of fraud.

Practicalities

Appointment Term: Appointments as Trustee are typically for an initial three-year term, with the possibility of two further terms each typically of three years subject to a satisfactory appraisal and Council approval.

Time Commitment: Trustees will be expected to devote such time as is necessary for the proper performance of their role. For this role, the appointed candidate should expect to spend the equivalent of two/three days a month on City & Guilds’ work after the induction phase. This is based on attendance at the below meetings:

  • Scheduled formal Board meetings (8 in each year, including 2 residential with overnight stay).
  • Scheduled Committee meetings: Nominations Committee (2 in each year); Audit and Risk Committee (4 in each year), Investment Committee (4 in each year) and the Remuneration Committee (4 in each year).
  • Attendance at the Yearly and bi-annual Council Meetings.
  • Other adhoc meetings Remuneration and Expenses: In common with other registered charities, there is no remuneration associated with membership of the Trustee Board, although City & Guilds will reimburse fully for all reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred in performing duties.

What we're looking for

We can’t live without…

  • Excellent communication skills with the capacity to carry colleagues with them in a collaborative manner.
  • Ability to consider and constructively challenge the performance, strategy, and objectives of City & Guilds.
  • Commitment to City & Guild’s evolving strategic plan, vision, and our purpose.
  • Unquestioned integrity, good humour, and intellectual versatility.

Digital/Technology /Product & Content Trustee:

  • Senior management/leadership level experience in commercial organisations of significant scale and complexity (at either Executive or Non-Executive Board level).
  • Experience as a COO/CDO/CPO/CTO or equivalent.
  • Track record of delivering transformational change to business processes and/or technologies for service improvement and customer satisfaction.
  • Strong track record of achievements in environments that are changing their industries through disruptive innovation strategies.
  • Experience of working with charities or other not-for-profit organisations is advantageous

Investment & Commercial Partnerships

  • Senior management/leadership level experience in a commercial financial services; investment banking organisations of significant scale and complexity (at either Executive or Non-Executive Board level).
  • Experience within the Investment Banking Function (M&A) and of different ownership models which support investment.
  • Strong track record of achievements in environments that are changing their business models through disruptive innovation strategies.
  • Experience of working with charities or other not-for-profit organisations is advantageous.

The way we prefer to work

Behave as one inclusive team

Contribute to a feeling of being one inclusive team. This means:

  • Treating everyone with equity and fairness
  • Being curious about other people and teams
  • Understanding how the organisation operates and your role in it
  • Being honest and respectful in communications
  • Creating a feeling of belonging
  • Driving inclusivity and diversity locally
  • Paying attention to your and others’ wellbeing

Collaborate

Collaborate with colleagues and externally with customers and partners to deliver great work. This means:

  • Treating everything as an opportunity for a win-win
  • Seeking input from others and using it
  • Expressing yourself clearly and consistently
  • Engaging people so that they get on board
  • Trusting and supporting people

Focus on the customer

Make sure that the needs and hopes of external and internal customers drive what we do. This means:

  • Being great at listening and understanding
  • Making things easy
  • Being responsive and proactive to what customers want
  • Making sure that things are high quality and always improving.

Do what you say you are going to do

Being consistent in delivering on promises. This means:

  • Starting with a positive intent
  • Setting clear expectations
  • Taking personal ownership to deliver on your own commitments and supporting others to do the same
  • Holding yourself and others to account for delivery against those expectations
  • Being conscientious and driven

Proactively find and take new opportunities

Taking the initiative in every situation. This means:

  • Continuously looking for opportunities to improve the organisation, yourself, and your areas of responsibility
  • Always stepping up to get involved
  • Being brave and bringing challenge to colleagues in order to make things better for our customers

Welcome feedback and continuously learn

Continuously develop your skills and how you work. This means:

  • Treating every day as an opportunity to learn
  • Being open to new perspectives, experiences, and feedback, recognising it helps you develop
  • Giving feedback openly and honestly
  • Being aware that your own ideas may not be perfect, and your perceptions can change
  • Be open about mistakes and use them to learn
  • be comfortable with ambiguity and not knowing everything


Apply Now

For any queries, please contact Mandeep Soor at Mandeep.Soor@cityandguilds.com