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Non-executive director X 2

Employer
Academy Ambassador
Location
Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Salary
unpaid/ voluntary
Closing date
21 Feb 2019

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The Enquire Learning Trust

The Enquire Learning Trust, which operates 29 academies across three geographical hubs in the north of England, seeks two trustees with demonstrable skills in the areas of finance and HR to join its board. Board meetings are held at Appleton Court, Wakefield.

About the trust

The trust works collaboratively with academies in the surrounding areas with the aim of sharing best practice and ideas through school-to-school activities. Through doing so the trust places emphasis on building relationships with the communities its academies serve.

The trust aims to continue its growth through successful transitions of academies into the trust. The trust focuses on improving learning outcomes for all children attending its academies; three of the trust’s academies have resource bases attached to them.

Plans for the future

The key challenges for the board over the next 12-24 months are:

  1. Financial – the trust wishes to develop its finance policy in order to ensure financial sustainability and overcome the potential challenges of limits to funding.
  2. Information and Data Security – ensuring GDPR compliance and responding to the Information Commissioner’s Office Audit Action Plan.
  3. Performance – the trust aims to progress its recruitment, retention and development of leaders, whilst continually improving the quality of its workforce.

 

 

Trust ethos & values

The trust places children at the forefront of its operations. Value is placed on learning within a vibrant community and culture, fostering extraordinary learning experiences within its schools.

Further details of the trust’s ethos and values can be found on the trust’s website:

https://enquirelearningtrust.org/about/values-and-ambitions.

Role summary Number of positions advertised:

2

Roles 1-2 – Trustee/Non-Executive Director

Trustees – or non-executive directors - are both charity trustees and company directors of the academy trust; the role is to hold to account the executive and senior leadership team. The board of trustees manages the business of the academy trust and may exercise all the powers of the trust. The trustees ensure compliance with the trust’s charitable objects and with company and charity law.

Non-executive directors will be responsible for maintaining stability and the management of a dynamic structure. The role also includes contributing to financial planning for sustainability and potential growth, and holding the CEO/CFO to account.

Person specification

The competencies required for this role include:

Essential (due to multiple roles, candidates may be accepted who possess one or more of the skills below)

 

  • CFO/ Finance
  • Risk
  • HR
  • Corporate Governance
  • CEO/ General Management
  • Restructuring

Desirable

 

  • Change Management
  • Growth Management
  • Real estate/ Property
  • Entrepreneur/ Founder
  • Succession Planning

 

 

 

 

Role 1 - Trustee/ Non-Executive Director (Finance focus): The appointee will possess demonstrable experience within a financial management role, specifically with responsibility for leading on the management of significant budgets across multiple sites and reporting at board level in relation to this. This is a key role in contributing to the development of the trust’s finance policy over the next 12-24 months.

Further expertise in risk management and compliance-related skills are desirable, along with evidence of past experience in a charity or non-profit environment. Willingness to work constructively and effectively with all accordance to the ‘Nolan Principles: Standard of Public Life’ is essential.

Role 2 - Trustee/ Non-Executive Director (HR focus): The appointee will have existing experience of operating in a role with a clear focus on corporate governance, with specific reference to, knowledge of and a track-record in HR compliance and change management. These areas are required in order to ensure adherence to policies, procedures and practices. Relevant qualifications are advantageous.

Time commitment

Eight hours per month (minimum).

Location of board meetings and trust website

Board meetings are held at 18 Appleton Court, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF2 7AR.

www.enquirelearningtrust.org

Governance structure

https://enquirelearningtrust.org/key-information

Background on academy trusts

Academy schools, which are charities run independently of local authority control, now account for 74% of secondary schools and 31% of primaries – and their number is growing all the time.

Many of these schools are grouped together as multi-academy trusts (MATs). There are currently 832 multi academy trusts of 3+ schools. If the schools are to fulfil their potential, the trusts need non-executives (known in charity law as trustees) to bring a wide range of skills and experience to help guide strategy, ensure their ambitions can be soundly financed and keep their schools up to the mark delivering for their pupils.

“Academy boards must be ambitious for all children and young people and infused with a passion for education and a commitment to continuous school improvement that enables the best possible outcomes. Governance must be grounded in reality as defined by both high-quality objective data and a full understanding of the views and needs of pupils/students, staff, parents, carers and local communities. It should be driven by inquisitive, independent minds and through conversations focused on the key strategic issues which are conducted with humility, good judgement, resilience and determination.” 
Source: Governance Handbook, Department for Education (2017)

Trusteeship is a voluntary, unpaid role for people who have the energy and skills to make a real contribution to shaping the future of our schools. You do not need to have any specialist knowledge of education. 

Applications

Academy Ambassadors is a non-profit programme which recruits senior business leaders and professionals as volunteer non-executive directors onto the boards of multi-academy trusts. If you are interested in applying for the role please send your CV and a short expression of interest detailing which role you are applying for to academyambassadors@newschoolsnetwork.org.

Please note: candidates should live within reasonable travelling distance of the trust and/or have a link with the region. For more information, please call 0207 952 8556 or visit www.academyambassadors.org.

Key dates

We strongly recommend applying as early as you can to have the best possible chance of being considered as we may change the closing date if we have received sufficient applications. Applicants should be aware of the following key dates in the recruitment process –

Deadline for applications: Friday, 1st March 2019

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