Lay Trustee (SU320X1)

Who are we and what do we do?

Here at the University of Nottingham Students’ Union, we are a connected student community. A brilliant, diverse, ambitious community, 38,000 strong. We are proudly independent from the university and right at the heart of student life. We’re a diverse community from first- year undergraduates to research students, elected student Officers and staff, to volunteers, pioneers, and so much more.

Together, we are getting involved, making change and supporting each other, making student life at the University of Nottingham the very best it can be. At the University of Nottingham Students’ Union (UoNSU), our students lie at the heart of what we do. Their Union not only represents and supports students throughout their time at University, but helps them to enjoy themselves as well as build skills and experience by offering a huge range of events, sports clubs, societies and activities. There’s also Student Advice to help students with concerns about academic, legal and financial issues, and welfare support, lots of student organised events, a theatre company and even radio and TV stations.

Elected Student Officers act as figureheads for the varied areas of student life, from education and welfare to sports and activities. In our retail outlets, and across the Union we employ over two hundred and fifty five staff, at least half of which are students.

Our annual financial turnover, for the charity and trading company combined is in excess of £11m annually.

What is a Trustee?

As a charitable organisation, UoNSU has a Board of Trustees who oversee the overall running of the Students’ Union. Our Trustees oversee governance, legal, compliance and financial stability and Trustees need to ensure the organisation is doing a great job for our students both now and in the future.

UoNSU’s Trustee Board comprises of seventeen Trustees all with a diverse range of skills and experience. You will join elected officers, external professionals and other student trustees who all share a passion and commitment to improving student life in Nottingham.

This is an unpaid and voluntary role.

What does the role entail?

Trustees are responsible for making significant decisions affecting the Students’ Union and take on a legal duty to be responsible for the charity. While Trustees do not get involved in the day- to- day running of the Students’ Union, they do oversee and make decisions on legal, financial, or reputational issues affecting UoNSU.

Trustees meet and contribute to wide- ranging discussions, giving their perspective, bringing their experience and expertise to help make student life in Nottingham the best it can be. Some examples of Trustee decisions have included:

The creation and ultimate approval of UoNSU’s long term strategyOverseeing and approving the Students’ Union financial planOverseeing the Students’ Union organisational re­design programmeThe decision to become an accredited Living Wage Foundation employer, considering the democratic, financial, and legal issuesOverseeing the Students’ Union through the Covid- 19 pandemic

Trustees also scrutinise decisions made by staff in the Students’ Union, and provide supportive advice so that the Union is championing students’ interests and supporting students to have a great experience.

What is the time commitment required?

The UoNSU Trustee Board meets routinely four (4) times a year. Each meeting usually lasts for around three (3) hours with a similar amount of pre- reading and preparation time. Papers are distributed one week in advance of the meeting. Trustees also sit on one of four sub- committees which have a greater focus on areas like our businesses, the student experience,

finance, and our people. These take place three (3) times per year. In total the commitment is approximately one day per month in term time.

What benefits are there to being a Trustee?

Being a Trustee at UoNSU is a rewarding experience. There are always a broad range of issues and topics Trustees need to consider, some really unusual and some really challenging, but it never ceases to surprise us just how amazing our students are. You’ll work with a passionate, dynamic and varied group of people who all believe we can make student life in Nottingham better.

What skills or experience do you need?

The Lay Trustees have a very important role to play with regard to continuity, advice and guidance to new Trustees, particularly elected Officers and student trustees who will change every year or two. The external nature of Lay Trustees helps ensure we consider fresh perspectives, improves healthy challenge and combined with their greater professional knowledge and experience, helps improve oversight of the strategy and the running of the organisation.

Following a review of the Trustees, and with some members’ terms coming to a planned end, we would particularly welcome people and culture specialists as we require a people focussed Trustee who has knowledge of employment law and best practice including employee relations, recruitment and retention, and performance and reward – full details are outlined in the recruitment information pack. Applicants must be able to serve a three year term as a Lay Trustee and have the potential to serve a second term.

How to apply

Please ensure you have read the full recruitment pack before applying.

If you are interested in joining a student- led charity, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply please submit a copy of your CV and a cover letter of no more than 2 A4 pages that explains your motivation for applying and your suitability for the position of Lay Trustee.

Completed applications should be emailed to os-suhr@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk

If you would like an informal chat with Jess and/or Richard before applying, then please feel free to email them at Jessica.nuttall1@nottingham.ac.uk or Richard.evans3@nottingham.ac.uk

NB: Neither a Student nor a person who has been a Student within the preceding three years may be appointed as a Lay Trustee.

Valuing diversity

As an organisation responsible for representing the interests of a diverse body of students, we fully encourage applicants from all demographics and backgrounds so that our Board is as wide- ranging as the students we represent.

If there are any barriers that are preventing you from applying, please do let us know and we’ll do what we can to make sure the process is as accessible as possible.

Closing Date: 05 Apr 2024
Category: Other Recruitment Opportunities