Knowledge West Supports Budding Non-Executive Directors to Get on Track

Knowledge West with the University of Bristol has developed an on-going programme to support senior academics in becoming Non-Executive Directors. To lead this activity, Knowledge West has partnered with Alastair Singleton, a senior Director of Hanover Fox International - a leading executive search and selection company.

Initially, senior academics recommended by the Pro Vice Chancellor of each HEI are first invited to a brief meeting to explore the Non-Executive Director role and to review any open questions or concerns. While acting as a Non-Executive is perfectly compatible with a normal research and teaching programme, it could mean commitment of around a day a month with background reading/visiting and meeting preparation. This step is vital to provide the academics with an early feel for the demands on a Non-Executive Director and see if this can fit at this time.

This introduction is followed by a two-day residential training programme with contributions from outside experts to detail the fiduciary and legal responsibilities of board members; implications of the balance sheet and other financial papers; breakdown of key board committees and responsibilities and development of business strategy and personal styles in a boardroom situation. This residential training takes place in a country house hotel within a reasonable travelling distance of the partner HEIs.

As Fern Urquhart explains 'The residential programme offers quality time with Non-Executive Director and business experts; to network with similar minded people; to explore new interpersonal skills in an informal environment and understand the full benefits/implications of taking on a Non-Executive Director role'. A key focus is working in a different environment as Fern notes 'Taking up an opportunity on a non-academic board will be a significant culture change. We review this and look at skills to meet this change.'

Following the residential training, the project team and Alastair Singleton review the skills and interest of the Non-Executive Director cohort for matching with possible board opportunities over the next year. The project team then support on-going Non-Executive Director development, networking and recruitment - acting as mentors, champions and negotiators to establish the first year placement.

In 2006, Professor Geoff Smith (Head of School Music & Performing Arts, Bath Spa University) joined the Non-Executive Director cohort. Geoff explains 'For me, the impact and benefits were immediate and direct. Within three months I was pursuing my first opportunity. Without the Non-Executive Director programme, the opportunity wouldn't have been on my radar nor would I have felt prepared to pursue it.'

Within a year Geoff successfully attained the Non-Executive Director placement as Trustee to the Drake Music board but admits it was not plain sailing as 'I was lucky in finding an opportunity so soon after the programme that related so well to my own experience and interests. Nevertheless, I wasn't expecting the selection process to be quite so searching or extended. Without the Non-Executive Director programme, I'd have struggled to articulate what I might bring to the table, to pre-empt what the organisation might be looking for, to 'sell myself' appropriately and effectively.'

If you would like further information on this programme, please contact Fern Urquhart 0117 328 2542.

Background

Knowledge West focuses on working with external organisations, which 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 programme as led by the University of Bristol through Paul Harrod, Enterprise Manager within Research and Enterprise Development.