Board Members
We are looking for new board members to broaden and strengthen the skills and experience of our existing board
Reporting to: Chair of the Board
Salary: Voluntary (expenses covered)
Based: UK-wide
Start date: Autumn 2024
For a full role description, click here
We are the first port of call for social entrepreneurs and our mission is to make social enterprise accessible, achievable and aspirational.
We are part of the Firstport Group, which supports social entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and purpose-led businesses in Scotland. Our vision is a society in which doing business is synonymous with doing good. We think social enterprises can play a leading role in a transition towards a Wellbeing Economy – an economy that is fairer, more sustainable and designed to serve people and planet.
We are looking for new board members to broaden and strengthen the skills and experience of our existing board.
As a board member, you will oversee our governance and financial arrangements, ensuring that we operate in line with best practice and our charitable objectives. You will play an important role in our future direction and will provide support and motivation to the board and the Chief Executive.
We welcome applications from anyone who meets the role’s description and person specification, however, several board members reach the end of their current term this year. Therefore, we particularly want to reach individuals who can demonstrate specialist knowledge, skills, and lived or learned experience in one or more of the following:
- Key public policy areas affecting Scotland
- Scottish Government, Local Authority or other public sector knowledge, including relationships with civil servants and government officials
- Business development, corporate partnerships and diversification of income streams
- Impact measurement and evaluation frameworks
As accredited Investors in Diversity, we are committed to making our Board balanced and diverse, reflecting the people and communities we work with.
In addition to seeking the skills and experience we need to run a robust and high-performing board, we have set diversity requirements for board membership:
- We seek to achieve a gender-balanced board. Acknowledging our current board make-up and those ending their term this year, for this current recruitment round, we particularly welcome applications from women and those who identify outside the gender binary.
- 25% of board members have lived experience running a social enterprise or purpose-led business.
- 25% of board members come from a diverse community or bring a diverse perspective. Acknowledging our current board make-up and those ending their term this year, for this current recruitment round, we particularly welcome applications from young people, members of the LGBTQI+ community and people living in a rural/remote community.
For a full role description, click here
Deadline: We are recruiting for board members on a rolling basis until the end of September 2024.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to email their CV and covering letter to elaine@firstport.org.uk at any point between 5 June and 30 September. Please also complete our Equal Opportunities monitoring form by following this link.
We are running a rolling recruitment process and expect to run two rounds of interviews:
Round 1: Early August, with board appointments taking place at the end of the month.
Round 2: Mid-October, with board appointments taking place after the Firstport AGM in November.
Interested candidates are invited to apply at any point within the recruitment window, and if applicable, specify which round of interviews they would prefer to be considered for.
To request an informal, confidential conversation with Gael Drummond, Firstport Group’s Chief Executive, please email info@firstport.org.uk
Alternative arrangements and adjustments
If you need adjustments to our recruitment process, please contact Elaine Ogg on 0131 564 0331 or by email elaine@firstport.org.uk who will be happy to help.
The selection process takes place in two stages:
Stage 1
A selection panel will assess applications received against the person specification, skills and attributes described in the role description. The selection panel will shortlist the applicants who most closely meet the requirements of the post and will invite them for an interview.
Stage 2
Interviews will take place in early August and mid-October and will be conducted online.