Governors Nottingham College

Join the Board of one of the country's largest further education colleges. Nottingham College is looking to appoint a Governor with skills, expertise and networks in digital innovation.

• Location: Multiple campuses across Nottingham/shire
• Salary: Pro bono with reasonable out-of-pocket expenses covered

Who we are

Nottingham College is one of the largest colleges in the UK, with 34,000 students, 1,300 dedicated employees, and multiple campuses across Nottingham. We are committed to developing employment opportunities for our students through creative and inspirational teaching. Our curriculum is developed to ensure the qualifications we deliver align with our students' aspirations. We plan to heavily invest in our digital and IT infrastructure in the short-to-medium term and continue to review the quality of our estate.

The work of a Member of the Corporation Board (Governor) in setting the strategic direction of Nottingham College and providing leadership is central to the College's success. By becoming a Governor of Nottingham College, you will join a high-performing Board and a successful college. This is your opportunity to steer provision that directly benefits students, the local community and employers. Being a Governor at Nottingham College is a hugely rewarding opportunity to make a real difference to the communities we serve.

While the Board of Governors' role can be summarised as exercising oversight of the College and its business, this should not imply a passive or symbolic role. The Board is accountable for the College's financial solvency, sound management, and the quality of its services. The Board is also accountable for the proper use of public funds entrusted to it. Sound governance requires more than simply ensuring the books balance and that the CEO and principal are running the College within the parameters established by the Governors. Colleges must respond to changes in government policy and anticipate changing needs in their communities. The Corporation Board must actively review the College's role and plan and manage change to ensure its long-term health and success.

We benefit from an expert Board comprising 19 talented and committed members who collectively monitor the progress and development of the College and ensure we work towards our strategic goals. Our Governors come from various industries and backgrounds, including higher education, further education, legal services, private and commercial industry, SMEs, local government, and the College itself.

Appointed individuals will attend four full Board meetings, a strategy day, a Governor open day and join one of the following Board committees:

• Learning & Quality
• Audit
• Governance & Search
• Finance & Assets
• Remuneration
• Workforce & Development

Committee appointments will depend on the current committee composition and skill expertise.

For your time, energy, and expertise, we promise to provide the critical support and development you need to succeed in this non-executive role. We will invest in you as you invest in us. Through our partnerships with national membership and sector-based organisations, we look forward to helping you recognise the fundamental importance of the further education sector to our country's economic development and, more importantly, to the lives of the people who study with us, regardless of their age, background, or prior learning.

We unlock potential through learning.

Who we are looking for

We believe it's essential for you to understand our city, ideally through having lived or worked here. Nottingham is a complex city with areas of high deprivation and low aspiration. However, it also possesses a significant amount of untapped potential, and we consider it our duty to uncover talent and aspiration to enrich the lives of our local population.

To support our continued ambition, we are seeking to appoint a new Board Member (Governor) to our Corporation Board - our governing body. We are specifically looking for a talented leader and innovator who can add value to discussions at the Board and its committees by providing support and challenge to our leadership through the appraisal of reports, plans, and strategies. Based on our plans for investment and change, we particularly welcome interest from those with substantial leadership experience in digital technology, AI, and technology innovation.

Digital Technology, AI, and Innovation:

In 2023, we launched a three-year strategic plan outlining strategic priorities to advance the College's goal of becoming an outstanding provider of education, a strategic and collaborative partner, and a compassionate and nurturing employer. Underpinning this strategy is a commitment to investing in and developing our digital capacity and capabilities through technology, skills and innovation.

The technological advances of recent years not only present significant opportunities and challenges for us as an organisation in delivering teaching, learning, and college services but also demand that we, as an education provider, ensure our students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a world where jobs, careers, and ways of working and living will be underpinned by advanced digital technology and innovation.

This strategy aims to:

• Address the ever-changing skills demands placed on our staff, embrace technology in our daily work, understand the digital landscape of the employment sectors we serve, and deliver education and training that inspires and nurtures our students to achieve their full potential.
• Enhance our services and operations to capitalise on the benefits of digital innovation, improving our services and enhancing the student experience.
• Deliver the infrastructure required to evolve and advance our digital capacity, both in terms of IT service delivery, IT hardware and software, and in delivering digital systems and processes that enhance our learning and working environment for students and staff.

Our strategy is firmly rooted in our core values and principles. We aim to create dynamic and engaging learning environments that stretch students' thinking, nurture their curiosity, and equip them with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the digital age. We also aim to use this strategy to invest in the skills and capabilities of all our staff, recognising that through continued professional development, we can maintain our commitment to investing in and rewarding them. At the heart of this strategy are our students - meeting their needs through digital innovation and best practice, improving service, student achievement, student engagement, and ultimately their life chances.

Recognising the diversity of our city, we strongly encourage interest from candidates who will support our ambition to further diversify Nottingham College's leadership and governance. We acknowledge there is work to do and are working hard to ensure our decision-makers reflect the communities we serve.

Peridot Partners and Nottingham College 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.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Shaun Eden.