Trustee Vacancies

The Taylor Bennett Foundation is a charity that exists to encourage ethnically diverse young people to pursue a career in communications. We do this through our award-winning flagship PR training programme, our Summer Stars internship programme and our mentoring programmes.

The public relations and communications industry is woefully lacking in diversity. To address this, TBF is expanding its work through some new and exciting partnerships and initiatives. 

We are looking to appoint two new trustees, one with experience working in finance with forecasts and budgets to take the role of treasurer and one with experience of working in a high growth industry, or knowledge of how to grow an organisation at pace. 

These are full board positions, with full trustee responsibilities. We are keen to hear ideas and strategies on how we can build our networks and execute our exciting growth plans.

The Foundation and its board is committed to promoting diversity, equality and systemic change in the industry.

For more information visit: https://www.taylorbennettfoundation.org/

For an informal conversation please contact Bryony@pinchpointcommunications.co.uk who will arrange a time for you to speak with our chair, Sarah Pinch, CEO, Melissa Lawrence or our outgoing treasurer, Hannah Davis.

Applications should include a brief covering letter and a CV (no more than four pages of A4 in total). These should be sent to: TBF@taylorbennett.com.

Closing date for applications: 9^th September 2022

Interviews: Week commencing 19^th September 2022

Appointments to take effect from October 2022

About the Taylor Bennett Foundation & Trustee Roles 

The Taylor Bennett Foundation is a charity that exists to encourage ethnically diverse young people to pursue a career in communications. We do this through our award-winning flagship PR training programme (which runs several times a year, sponsored by corporate partners), our Summer Stars internship programme and our mentoring programmes.

Established by communications executive search firm Taylor Bennett in partnership with the University of East London and founding agency Brunswick in 2008, the Foundation seeks to address the need for greater diversity in the public relations industry. We became a registered charity in 2013.

With the support of leading agencies and in-house communications teams, we run professional development programmes that provide participants with the knowledge, skillset and network required to equip them for a successful career in communications.

The role of the board of trustees

The Charities Act 1993 defines charity trustees as the people responsible under the charity’s governing document for controlling the administration and management of the charity, regardless of what they are called.  For the Foundation, the charity trustees are the board of directors and we discharge the operational running of the Foundation to our Chief Executive and her/his team.

The board is made up of:

Up to ten trustees, including a Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer.  Three of our trustees are nominated positions, one each from Taylor Bennett, Brunswick and our alumni.  The remainder are appointed through open competition, and according to the skillset needed by the board.

The duties of a trustee board member are to:

• Ensure that TBF complies with its governing document (Articles of Association), charity and company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Ensure that TBF pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document
• Ensure that TBF applies its resources effectively and does not spend money on activities that are not directly relevant to its objectives
• Contribute actively to the board of trustees role in giving clear strategic direction to TBF, setting overall policies, defining goals and setting targets, and evaluating performance
• Ensuring the financial stability of TBF
• Introducing TBF to new networks, funding sources, partners, and supporters
• Raising the profile of TBF
• Safeguarding and enhancing the reputation of TBF
• Appointment and support of the CEO and her/his team

Principal focus of the Treasurer role:

The Treasurer oversees the financial affairs of the organisation, monitoring its financial viability, and seeing that proper financial records and procedures are maintained. The Treasurer will assist other trustees to perform their financial duties, by interpreting and explaining accounting requirements, ensuring that the board receives reports containing the information trustees need in an 'easy to understand' format, and helping trustees guide any other professional advisers they have appointed. The books and records are maintained by a dedicated book-keeper and the Foundation pay RSM to prepare the accounts; the treasurer’s responsibility is the oversight.

Main responsibilities:

• Ensure that appropriate financial reporting is prepared
• Oversight of management accounts including end of month financial position
• Oversight of the preparation of annual budgets and accounts
• Responsibility for monitoring cash flow
• Oversight of supply of appropriate and timely corporate information to Companies’ House and the Charities’ Commission
• Being assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs
• Ensuring that the organisation has an appropriate reserves and surplus policy
• Advising on the financial implications of the organisation's strategic plan
• Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities
• Contributing to the fundraising strategy of the organisation

Additional focus for a trustee from a growth background:

We want to help more young people and change more lives.  We have ambitious plans to expand our programmes, increase our impact and raise more money.

We are therefore interested in recruiting a trustee who has:

• Experience of raising finance
• Knowledge of how to raise finance from diverse sources, including trusts and grant making organisations
• Knowledge and experience of writing proposals
• Good links within the financial sector, especially in innovative organisations

Time commitment

Trustees hold six meetings a year, and an annual strategy session. Trustees are expected to attend all meetings. 

Following the pandemic we have held more virtual meetings but are moving back to hybrid (in person and virtual) meetings.

We ask each trustee to lead on a particular area of TBF work, to support trainees through the provision of masterclasses, to provide support to TBF staff as requested and to seek opportunities to promote the Foundation to help it raise funds, develop corporate partnerships and increase awareness of its work.

We have also held separate meetings of our standing committees and sub groups of the board, as needed.

Trustee Specification

Each trustee must have

• A commitment to the mission of the Foundation
• Appetite to devote the necessary time and effort
• Integrity, honesty and a willingness to abide by Nolan’s Principles of Public Life
• A capacity to contribute to the strategic vision of TBF
• Sound, independent judgement
• An ability to think creatively
• A willingness to speak their mind, in a respectful and constructive manner
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good of the Foundation

The board of trustees collectively needs skills and experience in:

• PR and communications
• HR, recruitment, talent retention and organisational development
• Project management
• Financial management, income generation and enterprise
• Public policy and public affairs
• Third and public sector
• Digital strategy and engagement
• Volunteering management
• Social investment and impact

The Foundation is committed to promoting diversity and strives to engender expression and meritocracy.

For more information visit: https://www.taylorbennettfoundation.org/