Join St Mary’s Students’ Union as a Finance or Commercial Trustee and use your expertise to help strengthen its future and impact for students.
St Mary’s Students’ Union (SMSU) is seeking two External Trustees, one with finance expertise and one with commercial experience, to support its continued development and long-term sustainability.
Representing around 5,000 students, SMSU provides student representation, independent advice, societies, events, campaigns and a range of commercial activities. Its Trustee Board provides strategic oversight, constructive challenge and continuity within a student-led organisation.
You will bring professional expertise, sound judgement and fresh ideas while supporting elected student officers and a small staff team. Previous trustee or students’ union experience is not essential, but you should share SMSU’s commitment to improving students’ lives and be comfortable contributing to a collaborative Board.
Who we are
St Mary’s Students’ Union is an independent, student-led charity representing around 5,000 students at St Mary’s University in Twickenham.
We exist to ensure that students are represented, supported and able to make the most of their university experience. Our work includes representing the student voice within the University, providing independent advice, supporting societies and student-led activity, delivering campaigns and events, and operating our venue, The 1850.
SMSU is led by elected student officers and supported by a small staff team. Our Trustee Board brings together officer, student and external trustees, combining direct student insight with professional expertise and organisational continuity.
We are a relatively small organisation, but our reach across the University community is significant. Our campus spaces are used extensively by students, staff and societies, while The 1850 provides a versatile venue for social events, private hire and conferences.
About the roles
External Trustees share responsibility for the effective governance and strategic direction of SMSU. They support and constructively challenge the Chief Executive and elected officers, oversee organisational performance and help ensure that the Union remains financially sustainable, well governed and focused on the needs of students.
The Finance Trustee will provide additional financial scrutiny and insight, helping the Board to understand SMSU’s financial position, identify emerging issues and make informed decisions about its resources and future sustainability.
The Commercial Trustee will contribute experience in developing income-generating activities, venues or related services. They will help SMSU consider how its commercial operations and spaces can be developed responsibly to generate value that supports its charitable purpose.
Both trustees will also:
- Contribute to the Board’s collective decision-making.
- Provide constructive challenge alongside practical support.
- Help strengthen organisational planning and development.
- Support continuity as elected student officers change.
- Act in the best interests of SMSU and its members.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking two people who can combine professional expertise with a collaborative, supportive and appropriately challenging approach.
For the Finance Trustee role, we are looking for a qualified finance professional with the ability to interpret financial information, recognise emerging issues and ask clear, constructive questions. You should be comfortable providing scrutiny within a small organisation and helping colleagues with different levels of financial experience participate confidently in decision-making.
For the Commercial Trustee role, we are looking for someone with senior experience in commercial development, venue or hospitality operations, income generation, business development or a related field. You will bring ideas about how SMSU can develop its commercial activity, make effective use of its spaces and strengthen its long-term sustainability.
Across both roles, we are looking for people who:
- Exercise sound judgement and contribute confidently to collective decisions.
- Can support, coach and encourage while also offering constructive challenge.
- Understand—or are willing to learn—the responsibilities of charity trusteeship.
- Are patient and adaptable when working with annually elected student leaders.
- Appreciate the opportunities and limitations of a small organisation.
- Have an interest in education, young people and improving students’ lives.
Previous trustee, students’ union or higher education experience is not essential. The roles could suit first-time trustees operating at an appropriately senior professional level.
Time commitment
The anticipated commitment averages just under one day per month. The Trustee Board meets approximately five times each year, with preparation and occasional engagement between meetings.
Meetings can be attended in person or remotely, although trustees are encouraged to attend in person where possible to build strong relationships with Board colleagues, elected officers and the staff team. Candidates should therefore be able to travel to St Mary’s University in Twickenham with reasonable ease.
Appointed Trustees will be invited to our December Board meeting on Tuesday 8th December 2026.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Conor Naughton | conor@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
Welcome from the Chief Executive Officer
Thank you for your interest in becoming an External Trustee of St Mary’s Students’ Union.
SMSU is an independent, student-led charity representing around 5,000 students at St Mary’s University in Twickenham. We exist to ensure that students are represented, supported and able to make the most of their university experience. Our work covers student voice and representation, independent advice, societies, events, campaigns and the operation of our venue, The 1850.
This is an exciting time to join us as we continue to develop the Union and strengthen our long-term sustainability. Our Trustee Board plays an essential role in this, providing strategic oversight, constructive challenge and support while ensuring that SMSU remains well governed and focused on the needs of our students.
We are looking to appoint two new External Trustees: one with a finance specialism and one with commercial expertise. These appointments will bring valuable experience to the Board as we continue to strengthen our financial oversight, develop our commercial activity and make the best possible use of our resources for students.
You do not need previous experience of working within a students’ union or higher education. We are looking for people who share our commitment to improving students’ lives and who can bring their professional expertise, sound judgement and fresh perspectives to our Board.
We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to creating an inclusive organisation and want our Board to reflect the diversity of the students and communities we serve.
I hope the information on this microsite gives you a clear sense of SMSU, our ambitions and the difference you could make as a Trustee.
Thank you for considering joining us and I look forward to hearing from you.
James Turnbull
Chief Executive Officer
St Mary’s Students’ Union
About us
St Mary’s Students’ Union is the independent representative body for students at St Mary’s University in Twickenham. We are led by students and exist to represent their interests, support their well-being and help them shape their university experience.
Our elected officers work with students and the University to ensure that student views influence decisions. Alongside this representative role, SMSU provides independent advice, supports societies and student-led activity, delivers campaigns and events, and creates opportunities for students to connect with one another and their wider community.
We are a close-knit organisation with a small staff team. This scale means trustees can develop a strong understanding of the organisation and see the direct effect of their contribution. It also requires Board members to bring proportionate expectations, practical thinking and an appreciation of the capacity available within a small team.
Our campus facilities include The 1850, a flexible venue with a capacity of up to 900 people. Its bar and adjoining spaces support student events and activities while also offering opportunities for private hire, conferences and other commercial use. Developing these activities thoughtfully will be important to strengthening SMSU’s sustainability and enabling further investment in services for students.
The Trustee Board provides strategic oversight and ensures that SMSU remains well governed, financially responsible and focused on its charitable purpose. Its membership combines elected officer trustees, student trustees and external trustees. This structure brings together current student experience, professional expertise and continuity.
This is an important period in SMSU’s development. The appointment of new Finance and Commercial Trustees will strengthen the Board’s specialist expertise, encourage ambitious but proportionate thinking and support the Union to make the best possible use of its finances, facilities and opportunities.
Accessibility information
St Mary’s Students’ Union is committed to creating an accessible, inclusive and supportive environment in which everyone can participate fully.
We are an equal opportunities organisation and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
We value the diversity of our staff, volunteers and elected representatives, and believe that different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives strengthen our organisation and our Board.
We particularly welcome applications from people whose backgrounds and experiences are currently underrepresented on our Board. We will work with applicants and trustees to understand their access needs and make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during their time on the Board.
We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.
We offer the following amenities:
- Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation
- Accessibility dogs are welcome
- Interviews can be held in meeting rooms that support hearing loops
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Conor Naughton | conor@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally a maximum of 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outline your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: St Mary’s Students’ Union — Trustee (Finance or Commercial)” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Conor Naughton | conor@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
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Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 16th November 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: Friday 20th November 2026
Interviews: Friday 27th November 2026
Please note: appointed candidates will be invited to a St Mary’s SU in-person board meeting on Tuesday 8th December 2026.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and St Mary’s Students’ Union are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
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