The Innovation Unit is a dynamic, not for profit social enterprise. They design and deliver innovation programmes that develop new ideas, working with local places, systems and partners to help adopt and adapt to different contexts and needs. Their vision is to see a world in which all people belong and contribute to thriving societies. Their goal is to deliver long-term impact for people, address persistent inequalities, and transform the systems surrounding them.
Their expert Board and staff team share a core set of beliefs about enabling change that is owned and driven by the people it affects. Their areas of impact are mental health innovation, tackling health inequalities, justice and reducing violence, children and families, and place-based transformation.
The Context
As the Innovation Unit looked ahead to growing and scaling their work, amplifying their voice, and continuing to embed themselves in the systems they wanted to help change, they were looking to add new skills to their Board. In particular, they were looking for experience in financial strategy, philanthropy and investment, thought leaders in their areas of work, and experts in equity, diversity and inclusion.
The Brief
Following a competitive tender process, Peridot Partners was selected to work with the Chair to support the recruitment of these new board directors during a crucial time in the development of the Innovation Unit.
Working closely with the Chair, Board Members and members of the senior leadership team, Peridot designed a diverse search map, reaching into a plethora of areas across the different sectors to seek the right individuals who possessed these various skills. We also ensured this included people who came from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds themselves. Our search was complemented by a targeted social media and advertising strategy, connecting suitable candidates to the opportunity.
We ensured we engaged people who shared the Innovation Unit’s core values and could approach this role with creativity, energy and ambition.
As the Board was relatively small and highly collaborative in nature, with a positive and generative relationship with the staff team, we also ensured candidates would bring a collaborative approach and could contribute meaningfully to an ethos of shared endeavour.
The Outcome
This opportunity attracted a diverse range of applications, giving the Board a great deal of choice to ensure they were selecting the right people with the required experience and values.
Three people were appointed to join their Board, including:
- An accomplished global majority leader and advocate for social justice and equality with extensive experience in convening and co-designing with communities to support empowerment and opportunities for better living. Awarded an MBE in the King’s 2023 New Year’s honours list for services to charity and young people.
- A leader of networks and coalitions, experienced in policy and influencing and expert in involving people with lived experience to shape and drive policy change.
- A global majority leader in a leading health foundation reducing health inequalities, with 20 years of community-focused work, leading voluntary organisations both as CEO and trustee. Former advisor in government convening leading innovators from business, government and the social sector to unlock social action.
“As Chair of the Innovation Unit, I was very impressed with the work Peridot did with us to recruit three new members to our Board. They invested time in understanding our organisation and our ambition for this recruitment process. They then produced a long list of applicants—excellent in number, quality and, particularly significant, diversity. This enabled us to make three outstanding appointments.
Throughout the process there were regular updates on the process. Philippa was very accessible to discuss any emerging issues from first to last contact. I highly recommend Peridot as a recruitment partner.”
Paul Roberts, Chair, Innovation Unit
Philippa Fabry is the Director of our Not for Profit Practice. She has been recruiting transformational leaders to third sector organisations for over 17 years, which has focused on arts and culture, social justice, start up, social enterprises and social care. To learn more about how we can help you make the swap from the commercial sector to focus on purpose-driven work, you can email Philippa or connect with her on Linkedin.
