Time commitment: c. 8 days per year

Remuneration: £8,000 per year

Deadline: Monday, 19 February 2024

With over 68 million people relying on the essential services provided by the energy and utility industries in the UK, these sectors play a central role in ensuring the health, safety, and prosperity of individuals and businesses alike. The importance of these industries extends to the UK's ambitious goals of achieving net-zero carbon emissions and safeguarding the environment.

Energy & Utility Skills is dedicated to a clear purpose of delivering a safe, skilled, and sustainable workforce within the energy and utility industries. As an industry skills body, in delivering its vision of promoting skills for a greener world, Energy & Utility Skills actively engages with industry stakeholders, positioning itself at the forefront of the UK Government's planning for Green Jobs. Its services, focusing on technical and safety-related skills, include membership,  and it serves as an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation for end-point assessment and qualifications. It also holds the online register of training and skills across the energy and utilities industries. As the skills voice of the energy and utility sector, its services empower employers to address current workforce needs and anticipate emerging skills requirements.

Based in Solihull and powered by a dedicated team of over 75 professionals, Energy & Utility Skills operates as a company limited by guarantee, reinvesting profits to support its vision and purpose. With a substantial turnover of £9 million and consistent year-on-year growth, its recent financial performance in 2022/23 marked its most successful to date.  With ambitious growth plans, its strategic goals e encompass embedding its position as employer of choice, reinforcing its role as the Skills Voice of Industry, expanding into new energy and utility markets, and maintaining high levels of service excellence. As it navigates challenges and opportunities, this is an exciting time to join Energy & Utility Skills in shaping the future of the industry.

As a registered Director at Companies House, the Non-Executive Director (NED) shares the same legal responsibilities as any other Company Director. The NED will be expected to:

• Comply with fiduciary responsibilities as required under current Company Law
• Provide entrepreneurial leadership for the company
• Scrutinise the performance of the executive team in meeting agreed goals and objectives, offering appropriate challenge in performance reporting
• Ensure the accuracy of financial information and the robustness of financial controls and risk management systems
• Provide effective oversight of awarding body activities, ensuring regulatory compliance with Ofqual’s Conditions of Recognition
• Determine appropriate levels of executive remuneration and play a pivotal role in appointing or, if necessary, removing senior leaders
• Support the amplification of the organisation's profile and visibility, potentially identifying new opportunities
• Register and manage conflicts of interest between personal or third-party interests and those of Energy & Utility Skills
• Act in a bona fide manner on behalf of Energy & Utility Skills as a Board member, avoiding any collateral purposes

The Energy & Utility Skills Board is looking for a Non-Executive Director who will be able to offer:

• Independence of mind to influence within a commercial SME environment
• Impartiality to act in the best interests of the organisation
• Time and commitment to be part of the development of Energy & Utility Skills

Essential Criteria - In succeeding the Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee, Energy & Utility Skills is specifically looking for a Non-Executive Director who brings with them experience of and expertise in:

• Financial management
• An accounting qualification 
• Chairing or playing a key role in the Finance & Audit Committee in a similar-sized organisation
• Management of risk at a corporate level

Additional Key Criteria - The successful candidate should ideally possess:

• Experience at an executive or board level
• Demonstrable experience of operating at a strategic level
• The ability to assimilate, assess, and analyse information
• A broad understanding of an SME environment, combined with commercial acumen
• A passion for the skills industry and interest in the energy and utility industries

Fees for the appointment as Non-Executive Director of Energy & Utility Skills will be £8,000 per annum. These fees will be paid at the rate of 1/12th per month through the Company’s payroll and subject to income tax and national insurance tax deductions. Travel expenses directly incurred will be reimbursed.

Non-Executive Directors are appointed for one term of four years. This term may be renewed for one further term of four years. Non-Executive Directors will be expected to devote sufficient time as is necessary for the effective performance of their duties. This includes, but is not limited to, attendance at regular Board meetings.  

Overall, it is anticipated that the new NED will spend eight days per annum on board-related activities. This will include preparation and attendance at Board meetings, Board sub-committee meetings, annual Strategy meeting, annual Risk meeting, any Members meetings and any other ad hoc meetings as agreed by the Board from time to time.

Board meetings are held both in person in Solihull and virtually.

Energy & Utility Skills welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. As those from an ethnic minority background are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those candidates would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.