Non-Executive Directors

Contact: Fern Urquhart, Director of Knowledge West

Studies have shown that companies benefit significantly from having independent, Non-Executive Directors on their boards. Their breadth of view, especially in the areas of strategy, independent thinking and knowledge, complement the daily business focus of executive directors. The combination of these in the boardroom gives an organisation the best opportunity to succeed in today's business world.

In 2003 the Lambert Review into university-business interactions highlighted the lack of academic Non-Executive Directors in UK businesses. One of the recommendations was that companies could consider recruiting academics as an additional Non-Executive Director on their boards. In this way the business has the benefit of an independent, analytical mind while the universities have the benefit of their senior staff developing a better understanding of, and exposure to, business. This would in turn heighten their ability to perform in senior roles within the university.

Knowledge West focuses on working with external organisations, who could benefit from university expertise, by supporting pilot projects across the partnership where collaboration makes sense. The Lambert Review identified a clear opportunity that Knowledge West could support. In 2006, under the direction of Fern Urquhart, Knowledge West launched the Non-Executive Director Development programme as led by the University of Bristol through Paul Harrod, Enterprise Manager within Research and Enterprise Development.

Click here to download a recent article on this programme.