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Governors for Colleges

Transforming leadership and inspiring change through expert board recruitment for colleges, sixth forms and specialist providers.

We recruit governors for colleges, sixth forms and specialist providers who bring strategic insight, sound judgement and a commitment to education.

Board recruitment for colleges and sixth forms

Effective governance starts with the right people. We help colleges, sixth forms and specialist providers build strong boards by recruiting skilled, committed governors who want to make a difference for your institution and your students.

Whether you’re planning succession, addressing skills gaps or improving board diversity, we’ll connect you with people who bring fresh insight, challenge constructively and support long-term improvement.

We work closely with principals, governance leads, clerks and HR teams to design recruitment campaigns that:

Bring strategic and financial oversight
Strengthen accountability and support for senior leaders
Reflect the communities you serve
Reach beyond the usual networks

We take the time to understand your board’s strengths, challenges and priorities, then run a targeted search to find governors who’ll add real value.

621 governors recruited

50 chairs recruited

We've worked with 130 colleges across England

100% of clients felt supported throughout the process

Your strategic partner in further education board recruitment

We take a strategic, search-led approach to recruiting governors for colleges. With a strong track record across the education sector, we find high-quality candidates from local, national and international networks who bring strategic insight, challenge, and a clear commitment to governance.

Our search targets people locally, nationally and internationally and engages them with a clear and honest view of the role’s purpose and impact. We build interest and confidence in the role by giving candidates a clear picture of its purpose, expectations and impact, so they join your board ready to contribute from day one.

We ensure each candidate in your shortlist reflects your values, meets your needs and fits your culture.

We offer a complete college board recruitment service, tailored to your needs:

Board needs analysis and skills audits
Clear, inclusive governor role descriptions
Targeted outreach across diverse professional and community networks
Candidate screening and interview coordination
Advice on succession planning, structure and board development

Whether you’re looking for a new Chair of Governors, finance committee members or industry specialists, we’ll find people who strengthen your board.

A tailored, transparent process

Our approach is structured, collaborative and shaped around your board’s priorities. We tailor every campaign to ensure you meet the right people with the right skills.

Our further education board recruitment service includes:

A discovery session to understand your board’s needs
Tailored role descriptions and inclusive candidate packs
Targeted outreach across diverse networks
Candidate screening and interview coordination
Advice on board structure, diversity and succession
Personal support through selection and onboarding

We design each stage to attract candidates who not only meet your criteria but are ready to lead, support and challenge effectively from the start.

“Peridot took our objective of broadening our skills and diversity and spent time understanding where the opportunities were. The result was a shortlist of candidates from which it was difficult to choose. The outcome was that we appointed twice as many governors as originally planned. The Board is all the richer for a diverse set of skills and lived experiences. Thank you so much.”

Chelmsford College

Proven experience in recruiting governors for colleges

We’ve supported general FE colleges, sixth forms, specialist providers and adult learning institutions across the UK to strengthen their boards.

Our experience includes:

Recruiting at every level — from Chairs and Vice-Chairs to committee members and first-time governors
Sourcing candidates with specialist skills in finance, estates, legal, audit, HR, safeguarding and SEND
Embedding safer recruitment practices aligned with KCSIE
Supporting colleges to improve board diversity across age, gender, ethnicity, background and lived experience
Developing succession plans to support long-term board leadership

Chair recruitment

Hugh Baird College | Chair of Governors

MidKent College | Chair of Governors

Sandwell College | Chair of Governors

Huddersfield New College | Chair of Governors

Wiltshire College & University Centre | Chair of Governors

Weymouth & Kingston Maurward College | Chair of Governors

Committee Chair recruitment

Capel Manor College | Chair of Finance & Resources Committee

Hull College | Chair of Audit Committee

Preston College | Chair of Resources Committee

York College & University Centre | Chair of Finance & Resources Committee

Moulton College | Chair of Finance & Resources Committee

Craven College | Chair of Audit Committee

Morley College London | Chair of Curriculum & Quality Committee

Vice-Chair recruitment

Chelmsford College | Vice Chair of Governors

Brooklands College | Vice Chair of Governors

Kendal College | Vice Chair of Governors

Wirral Metropolitan College | Vice Chair of Governors

Governor recruitment

Sandwell College | Governors (Finance, Business & Curriculum)

Leicester College | Governors (HR & Curriculum)

Weston College | Governors (HR, Finance & Audit)

Chichester College | Governors (Finance & Audit)

Northampton College | Governors (Finance, Audit & Curriculum)

Craven College | Governors (Finance/Audit & Safeguarding/SEND)

Lakes College West Cumbria | Governors (HR, Legal, Apprenticeships & Cyber)

Derwentside College | Governors (Curriculum, Audit & Local Strategy)

“Peridot provided invaluable support to Northampton College in the recruitment of new governors and co-optees to support the College’s strategic oversight. From the very outset, Sarah and the team were highly professional, skilled in confirming the College’s skills requirements and gave high-quality guidance on the process. They provided a very high standard of candidates which led to the recruitment of excellent new Governors. They are already making a difference to our college. I would have no hesitation in recommending Peridot or using them again.”

Northampton College

We're proud to support

How we engage prospective governors

Nearly 45% of the governors we’ve placed had never considered joining a college board. They had the right skills but didn’t yet see how to apply them in an educational context.

We change that by giving candidates a clear and honest view of the role, what it involves, why it matters, and where they can make an impact. This helps us attract a more diverse range of people and build their confidence early on, so they apply with the right motivations.

Our engagement focuses on:

The strategic role of governance in colleges
The commitment and responsibility required
The professional and personal value of board-level volunteering
How their skills can support students and strengthen leadership

Our approach is built on real relationships, so every college governor we recruit joins with clarity, commitment and a genuine connection to your college’s purpose.