Borough Market is London’s oldest food Market. It was established on the south bank of the Thames around 1,000 years ago and has occupied its present site for over 250 years. The Market has a historic charitable objective, with a recently updated purpose statement: “For community, the love of food and a better tomorrow.”

The Borough Market Trust, the non-profit entity which oversees the market, is currently in the process of finalising its 2030 Strategy, which charts its strategic direction over the next seven years. As well as helping to deliver the ongoing day-to-day operation of the Market, the new strategy aims to concisely define Borough Market’s place in the world and outline the Trust’s intention to contribute positively towards it. As a foundation for this strategy, it has used three key pillars. Along with commitments to sustainability and equity, diversity & inclusion (EDI), these pillars create a strategic framework which brings consistency to the Market's thinking, planning and implementation.

1. FOOD: High-quality food, in particular, is central to everything it does. The produce and catered food sold by the Market’s traders are the most visible manifestations of its approach, but far from the only ones; it also needs to consider how food informs the work of the Trust as a whole, including its tenants, staff and third parties. As well as selling food, the Market is also a repository of specialist food knowledge and skills.
2. PLACE: As guardians of this historic estate, the Trust has a duty to conserve its heritage while making it fit for a modern operation. This means developing the maintenance, management, layout and function of the physical site, while building digital capabilities to complement it online.
3. VOICE: As a charity, the market use its voice to engage directly with local communities, amplify traders’ expertise, influence discussions about food, promote its values, and share what it learns along the way.

You can find out more about the history of Borough Market here, and its food policy here.

Borough Market was formally registered as a charity in 1999. Its main charitable purpose is “the provision of a market as a public amenity for the benefit of the public”. In delivering its charitable objectives and strategy, the Trustees of Borough Market manage the Trust’s investments efficiently and to bring about the regeneration and refurbishment of the Market and its estate.  They act as a ‘critical friend’, providing vital checks and balances.

The Board's responsibilities include to

• Ensure that Borough Market is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
• Ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document, and applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects
• Contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
• Safeguard the good name and values of the organisation
• Appoint the CEO and monitor their performance

To complement and add to the range of skills on the Board, Borough Market is looking for two new Trustees who will bring a background in property / asset management or high-quality food retail, ideally with an understanding of the challenges faced by SMEs. Candidates will live or work within 5km of the Market, or have some connection to its local community in Southwark.

Property / asset management: The Market oversees c. £100m of assets, both within its grounds and in the local area. Candidates will be able to advise as it looks to ensure that the ancient site is fit-for-purpose in the modern age.

Food retail: Given the Market's commitment to maintaining the best possible food offering, candidates will bring a strong understanding of food retail with a focus on quality and sustainability. An appreciation of how small businesses, from sole traders up, operate would also be useful.

Borough Market looking for people who can demonstrate real enthusiasm and love of the Market, and a desire to make a difference and give back to the community. and be committed to supporting the Market in its ambition to be the best in the world. Preference will be given to candidates who live within the local area.

Borough Market is keen to increases the balance and diversity of its Board to reflect its strategy, activities and the community in which the Market operates.

You can find out more about the Board here.

This role is unremunerated, but reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. Trustees attend all full Board meetings, which are usually held quarterly during the evening at the Borough Market offices; these normally last from 6pm to 9pm, and include a dinner featuring produce from the Market. Trustees join one Committee, with meetings typically held quarterly, either virtually or face to face. As part of the new strategy, there may also be the option for Trustees to join further steering groups which will meet four times per year and some working groups which will be six to eight times per year. There can also be away days or joint training and development sessions.

The appointment is for a four-year term, which can be renewed twice at the discretion of the Board.

Borough Market has a professional indemnity insurance, which covers members of the Board in the discharge of their duties as Trustees.