Outstanding in every area, Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) are looking for new members to join their Board and support them as they navigate their strategic development and delivery on their journey for even greater success.
Location: Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stafford
Time commitment: Approx. 10 hours per month
Closing date: 9 a.m. Wednesday 25th June
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) is Staffordshire’s leading General Further Education College, with pass rates and student achievement rates amongst the very best in the country.
We provide a wide range of academic, vocational and apprenticeship qualifications from entry to degree level, along with support services to help our students achieve their goals. The College has grown significantly over the past 10 years and is currently home to a population of over 8,000 students studying full-time, part-time, higher education and apprenticeship programmes with us.
Who we are
In 2019, NSCG became the first further education provider in England to achieve the top grade of Outstanding in every area of Ofsted’s reformed Education Inspection Framework.
When we were inspected again in October 2024, we were able to demonstrate the continued consistency of our provision by once again achieving the same result – Outstanding in every area!
The latest inspection report praised all areas of our provision, acknowledging the pace at which our students make progress in their learning as well as the high aspirations that our leaders have by commenting that “with clarity and passion, leaders set high expectations for staff and learners” whilst also highlighting the extensive investment we have made in state-of-the-art facilities across the college.
The philosophy underpinning everything we do, whether you are a student, a lecturer, a member of our support staff, a manager or a Governor, is to be ‘committed to excellence’.
Our continued aim is to be recognised nationally as an outstanding organisation where students and staff thrive, achieve and make a positive contribution to the cultural and economic prosperity of Staffordshire and beyond.
About the role
The NSCG Corporation is the College’s governing body and currently comprises 16 members. Our board members provide representation from local businesses, local councils and community groups as well from our staff team and our student body.
Through their role on our Corporation Board, our members represent the particular interests of the local community and public interest in general. They oversee the way the College is run, ensuring it meets the needs of the local community, school leavers and employers.
It ensures the highest professional and ethical standards as well as the effective use of resources. Governors are responsible for the financial solvency of the institution, the proper use of public funds, sound management and the quality of education, training and business service provided. Perhaps even more importantly, our Governors set the tone of our organisation, shape our culture and help define the values through which we work.
Who we are looking for
Successful candidates will be those who can offer their commitment to supporting the College’s ambition to build on our successes and drive forward our aspirations to be an even more effective and impactful organisation.
These roles offer a fantastic opportunity to join an ambitious and committed Corporation and become a member of one of the College’s committees allowing you to genuinely have an impact on the success of our College, the achievements of our students and the future prosperity of our local communities.
This passion and commitment should be underpinned by a track record of significant expertise and impactful leadership that would be relevant in relation to the following committees.
Audit Committee
Firstly, we will welcome candidates with expertise and experience gained in the areas highlighted below. Candidates will not only be motivated to join our Board but will also be able to commit the time to joining our Audit Committee.
- Qualified senior audit professionals
- Senior risk and compliance professionals
- Senior professionals with expertise in data protection and/or cyber security
- Qualified finance professionals
Education & Standards Committee
We also seek applications from strategic leaders from across the wider education sector. This experience could come from those working within the higher education sector, in local secondary schools, multi-academy trusts, independent training providers, specialist SEND providers, or the further education sector itself.
We will also welcome applications from candidates who are based within large employers but who have an understanding and appreciation of the impacts that our provision has on their workforce. We believe such candidates will offer valuable insights into the future development of our curriculum.
Successful candidates with this particular experience will be appointed to our full Board as well as our Education & Standards Committee, which currently has eight other members.
Finance & General Purposes Committee
Finally, we also seek to appoint a new member to our board who is an experienced, senior and strategically focused, qualified, finance professional. Whilst candidates may have professional expertise as a senior financial leader, they may also have additional experience of working in more board operational roles which encompass responsibilities linked to estates and resource functions.
The successful candidate will be appointed to our full Board as well as our Finance & General Purposes Committee, on which there are currently six other members.
Expectations and commitment
Successful candidates will be appointed on the basis of a four-year term of office.
Whilst previous governance experience is not essential, candidates will need to be able demonstrate an understanding of the principles of good governance and how these should be implemented to discharge fiduciary responsibilities in the context of a non-executive board.
You will be able to apply your specialist knowledge and expertise to contribute to strategic discussions and decision-making by working constructively as part of a non-executive team whilst demonstrating an understanding that Governors must act fairly and impartially, with a commitment to the principles of safeguarding, equality and diversity.
The appointed candidates will be expected to attend five meetings of the Board each year, and the frequency of our Committee meetings varies as below:
- Education & Standards Committee: four meetings per year
- Audit Committee: three meetings per year
- Finance & General Purposes Committee: three meetings per year
We try to always ensure that meetings are held in person as this allows governors to experience the vibrant College atmosphere whilst on site.
Governors usually dedicate an average of around 10 hours per month to their role, which includes meeting preparation, attendance and follow-up. However, we are privileged that our Governors also dedicate additional time to the College. They each spend time each term, visiting our sites, engaging with our staff and students, and use this as a chance to see our impacts first-hand. We hope to receive applications from individuals who would be open to offering a similar level of commitment to our organisation.
All of our Governors are supported throughout their terms of office. Induction, training and development opportunities are all available, as well as the invitation to attend a range of exciting events and ceremonies throughout the year. This type of engagement by the governing body with the wider College community is both encouraged and supported, and allows our governors to fully appreciate the vibrancy, inclusivity and success of the organisation.
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to join our Board, to better reflect our communities and welcome different thinking to ensure we include all voices of our society.
Peridot Partners and Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.
Thank you!
About Us
Bradford District and Craven Mind is a successful and independent local charity with a rich history spanning over 30 years of delivering person-focused mental health support.
The organisation helps build individual and community resilience, provides early intervention and advice, supports people in crisis and helps people to work towards recovery and sustained wellbeing through services for people of all ages.
We are recognised as a key provider in our local Health and Care system and an active member of the Integrated Care System. Our close relationships with all our stakeholders and our emphasis on developing and maintaining effective cross-sector partnerships and collaborations, allows us to deliver a wide range of innovative services and be recognised as a trusted partner.
We are affiliated to national Mind but rely on our own resources to provide support to local communities. Our services prioritise listening to and understanding the needs of local people and are delivered in partnership across Bradford District and Craven.
Background to the role
The new Chair of the Board of Trustees will be joining us at an exciting time as we move into year two of our strategy, respond to the changes in NHS priorities and funding and adapt to the new governments priorities and approach.
You can read about what we have been achieving through our Impact Reports and Annual Reports on our website.
It is clear however there is still much more to do. We launched our new strategy in August 2024 and during 2024-2028 we will focus on delivering our four key objectives to help drive our reach and impact.
Main Responsibilities
- Provide purposeful leadership - creating a strong and sustained connection to purpose, steering strategy development and leading the Board.
- Be a constructive partner to the CEO - building a trusting, cohesive relationship as the ‘top leadership team’, providing advice, challenge and support to architect and orchestrate the progression of the organisation and supporting infrastructure.
- Develop a highly effective Board – creating the environment for a high performing team, evaluating and facilitating improvement of individual and collective capability and performance, supporting trustees of all experience levels to contribute to the best of their abilities.
- Facilitate and sustain good governance - ensuring delivery of the organisation's purpose in line with its governing document, ensuring appropriate allocation of resources, decision-making, accountability and proactive risk management.
- Influence and collaborate with stakeholders - understanding the environment and systems that the organisation operates within and collaborating with others to collectively achieve the biggest positive impact.
- Engagement and Visibility – being visible and engage well across the workforce, attending key events and maintaining communication
Person Specification
- Personally motivated to make a positive difference to others
- A strategic thinker who can see the big picture and navigate complex and contentious issues
- Able to engage and collaborate effectively with people at all levels from different backgrounds and organisations
- Has the experience and/or personal qualities necessary to bring the best out of people through a ‘coaching style’ approach to leadership
- Progressive and innovative, capable of stimulating, challenging and influencing others to contemplate and consider different solutions
- Able to facilitate others and develop effective team working, with experience of planning, preparing and chairing meetings at senior levels
Diversity and inclusion
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential. Please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustments so that we can help with making the application process work for you.
How to apply
Eastside People is supporting BDC Mind in the recruitment of these roles.
Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter both in a Word doc. format, which should indicate why you are interested in applying for the particular role and how you meet the selection criteria.
The closing date for applications is Monday 14th July. Shortlisting interviews will take place shortly after and shortlisted candidates are expected to have an interview with the panel at Bradford District and Craven Mind during the week beginning 28th July.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
To make the best possible difference to the mental health and wellbeing of the greatest number of people.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) was set up in June 2005 in memory of legendary campaigner, Sheila McKechnie.Campaigning is vital to a healthy society. We help campaigners to thrive. In a free and hopeful society, people need to know they have the power to make a difference: that they are able to envisage change and can push for that change to happen. For nearly two decades, we have helped all sorts of individuals, causes and charities to find their power as changemakers – as campaigners. We support, connect and champion these campaigners, equipping them to go after the social change they seek.
The Chair will hold the Board and staff team to account for SMK’s mission and vision, provide inclusive leadership to the Board and ensure that Board members fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of SMK. The Chair will line manage and support the Chief Executive and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the Chief Executive and staff team to achieve agreed objectives. They may also be asked to act as an ambassador and a public face of SMK in partnership with the Chief Executive and the Board.
For further information, see our website and the recruitment pack.
