Our Services » Chair and Trustee Recruitment
If your Trustee Board is in need of renewal or you need to appoint a new Chair, where do you turn? Probably, initially, to your friends and contacts and those of your fellow Trustees.
Most Trustees are appointed through word of mouth recommendation. This rarely leads to the kind of diversity, independence, expertise and innovation that is the hallmark of the most effective Boards. Nearly half of all Trustees are over 60 years old (source: The Charity Commission – A Breath of Fresh Air) and most are Trustees for two or more organisations.
At Charity People we’re keen to be part of the solution. We work to encourage people into the sector as Trustees and also to encourage those already working within the sector to take that step too. We work with you to help you identify the right balance of skills and experience for your Board.
Our unique SMaRTprogramme, launched in 2011, brings in senior executives from some of the most prestigious UK companies, interested in acting as Trustees, expert volunteers and mentors in the sector. We provide a matching service for these organisations to ensure a strong fit between candidate and charity. This gives you free access to a source of highly talented, successful individuals keen to become Trustees.
However, even if we can’t provide you a Trustee for free using the SMaRTprogramme, we can still help you recruit using our specialist recruitment services. We can provide advice on Board makeup, develop a sourcing strategy and provide research and head hunting capabilities and selection support through assessment centres and structured interviews.
Our Chair and Trustee recruitment is led by David Lale, Charity People’s founder, who has over twenty years experience in recruiting staff into the sector.
For an initial conversation on how we might be able to help you, please call David on 0207 939 7421 or email him here.
“Legal and General have set a very good example for the corporate sector to follow. We are so grateful for Gary. He is a very good match for us and is already a making a considerable contribution to the work of our Trustee Board”.
Hearing Dogs for the Deaf
"Whilst Governance good practice says that trustees should be from a diverse background and bring a range of skills to the board, this isn't always easy to put into practice for a small charity. In particular, we were pleased to find a new trustee though the SMaRT program, where candidates are pre-selected and a 'matching' process carried out. At Age UK Islington we have been delighted with Hugh Cutler, from L&G, who brings a fresh pair of eyes to our work, up to date business acumen and a wider set of contacts. With the the economic tough times we are in, his contribution has been especially welcome and useful."
Kathrin Meyrick, Chair, Age UK Islington
"My role at Legal and General Investment Management is to lead the client relationship, sales and marketing functions for Europe and the Middle East. I decided to get involved in the SMaRT programme because it offered me an opportunity to work closely with a charity that I am passionate about. I am also interested in broadening my experience of working on governance boards and in working with people from diverse backgrounds. It’s really helped me in observing effective governance and understanding different perspectives, an alternative to the L&G way of doing things.
The SMaRT concept is an excellent idea – it’s a great way for a large corporate to get involved in the community in a way that has measurable and significant impact and at the same time growing relevant skills and knowledge in senior managers."
Hugh Cutler, Trustee, Age UK Islington