Trustee development and support
How do you develop high performing boards? Trustee development along with understanding modern leadership is key to delivering good governance.
Boards don’t succeed just because of the people on them. They need development, nurturing, strong leadership and generative thinking. From recruitment to board reviews and development, we're passionate about creating modern boards.
Learn more about Board SearchTrustee development - sharing best practice
At Peridot Partners we believe your board is key to the success of your organisation.
Good governance, modern leadership and creating an environment where your board feels safe to explore and have conversations that will move your organisation forward, are all essential.
Building accountability, understanding your strengths and weaknesses and working together for the same vision is key to making sure your organisation remains relevant in a world, where the only constant is change.
Good boards understand the difference between strategic and operational responsibilities and they empower the executive team and the CEO to drive forward positive change and transformational growth.
You need to ensure that your board reflects our diverse society, really thinking carefully about how you recruit, retain and support a diverse board.
Below you’ll hear from incredible leaders, who are creating progressive, modern boards.
They’re sharing their experiences of creating whole new boards, of being minority ethnic Chairs, how to manage founding chief executives and why you really need to recruit young trustees.
As you listen to their stories, we hope you feel as inspired as we do.
How to build better trustee boards - a blog series:
Trustees in Conversation
Trustees Podcast Episode #1:
Penny Wilson, CEO of Getting on Board
This #TrusteesWeek, we spoke with Getting on Board‘s CEO, Penny Wilson, about what is stopping the charity sector moving forward with trustee diversity.
According to Getting on Board’s charity sector research, two-thirds of trustees are over 50, only 36% are women, only 8% are people of colour (against 14% of the population), 75% have an income above the national median, and we are doing poorly on representation from other protected characteristics like disability.
So how can we ensure the charity sector improves these statistics?
Penny and Grant Taylor discuss:
- Why does trustee diversity matter?
- Why charities need to acknowledge the scale of the problem;
- Unintentional behaviours that hinder trustee diversity;
- What practical barriers are put up around diverse trustee recruitment?
- What types of fear are holding charities back with diverse recruitment?
- Using trustee terms proactively;
- Tapping into more diverse board talent;
- Getting diversity right at the top.
Trustees Podcast Episode #2:
Iana Vidal, former Chair of Girls Friendly Society
Our guest is Iana Vidal, former Chair of Trustees for the Girls Friendly Society. A governance geek, she brought in new induction processes and board systems to a historic charity, making sure it remains relevant in the 21st Century.
In this #TrusteesWeek episode we discuss:
- Being an ethnic minority female Chair in the Third Sector
- What good governance looks like
- How to work with your CEO or Executive Director
- Managing a board of trustees
- Setting the strategic direction of the charity
- Challenges in chairing
- Investing in your board
- Diversity and inclusion in recruitment
Trustees Podcast Episode #3
Adrian Sladdin, Chair of the Jane Goodall Institute UK
Our guest is Adrian Sladdin, the Chair of the Jane Goodall Institute UK, a charity which is part of a huge a global movement. In 2018, JGI UK recruited eight new trustees.
In this #TrusteesWeek episode we talk about:
- Building a new board from scratch
- Working with a recruitment partner for skills-based recruitment
- How to ensure charity is going in the right direction
- Being part of an international movement
- Celebrity support
Trustees Podcast Episode #4:
Mike Wojcik, Chair of the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust
Our guest is Mike Wojcik, Chair of the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM). Peridot have worked with YGAM over several years, undertaking a board review to support better governance and helping to recruit skilled Trustees for both the main board and a new trading company, YGAM Innovation.
In this #TrusteesWeek episode Mike and Bill Yuksel talk about:
- Being the Chair of a founder-led charity
- Responsibilities of a trustee board
- Working with young trustees
- Supporting and empowering young trustees
- Managing your day job and governance responsibilities
#TrusteesWeek Podcast Episode #5:
Mita Desai and Kira Lewis, The Young Trustees Movement
Our guests are Mita Desai, the Young Trustees Movement Programme Manager at The Social Change Agency and Kira Lewis, a War Studies student at King’s College London and trustee of two charities.
In this #TrusteesWeek episode we talk about:
- How the Young Trustees Movement came about
- The value young trustees bring to boards
- Barriers to boards recruiting young trustees
- Imposter syndrome as an ethnic minority female chairperson
- How charities can better support young trustees
- Creating a network and resources for progressive charities who value young trustees
