Becoming a governor

Academy Ambassadors

Academy Ambassadors is a non-profit organisation set up to bring inspirational educationalists together with talented business leaders to build better multi-academy trust boards. Academy Ambassadors matches Academy Trusts looking to strengthen their boards with business leaders seeking to develop their board career. The service is completely free.

Since Academy Ambassadors was established in 2013 we have appointed over 90 non-executive directors to academy trust boards and recruited a further 200+ potential non-executives. AA recruits high-calibre business people as potential academy trust non-executive directors, by:

• Recruiting to a ‘pool’ of potential NEDs via personal referrals; our corporate partners; running business-breakfasts and events and leading ‘cold-call campaigns.’
• Advertising specific posts on web-based networks and headhunting via personal and business networks.

For more information on how Inspiring the Future can help, you can:

• visit the Academy Ambassadors website;
• email Shelley Whitehead, Academy Ambassadors Associate – South West;
• call 0207 952 8556, and ask to speak with Shelley Whitehead.

Exeter Church of England Diocesan Board of Education (EDBE)

Church of England schools and academies are community schools with a Christian foundation and ethos and have a very strong relationship with the parish church and local community.. The role of any governor is challenging yet many find the opportunity of serving their school and local community by sharing skills and experiences very rewarding. Like every other school, being a Governor in a church school is a commitment to the children, staff and parents to make the school and the learning the very best it can be.

They have vacancies in a number of schools and academies across the diocese so if you are interested or want to find out more information about how to become a governor, you can:

• read the Exeter Church of England Diocesan Board of Education governor recruitment flyer;
• visit the Exeter Church of England Diocesan Board of Education website
• Email Sarah Owen, Governance and Admissions Support Officer
• Call 01392 294 938, and ask to speak with Sarah Owen.

Inspiring Governance

Inspiring Governance  is the free online matchmaking service which connects skilled volunteers interested in serving as governors and trustees with schools in England. It also provides free, expert support for volunteers and governing bodies, as well as for employers wanting to run programmes for their staff serving as governors.  Funded by the Department for Education there is a Regional Manager for the South West who can help with local queries and who works to engage employers and recruit volunteers.

There are videos to showcase how its free online matchmaking service works to connect prospective governors with schools and colleges nationwide.

Volunteers sign up to become a governor or trustee, giving their location and listing the skills and experience they can bring to a board. Governing boards seeking new governors can view all the volunteers in their area or specify the skills they’re looking for, connect with volunteers directly and begin the process of recruiting.

For more information on how Inspiring Governance can help, you can:

• visit the Inspiring Governance website;
• email [email protected] or call the enquiry helpline on 020 7566 4880
• email Eileen Brocklehurst, Regional Manager
• Call 07715 201824, and ask to speak with Eileen Brocklehurst