FRC (Furniture Resource Centre) Group is one of the longest-established and highest-performing social businesses in the UK. From humble beginnings in 1988, it has grown its turnover, financial stability, employee numbers and level of impact year on year – it has doubled in size over the past five years and is continuing on this path. It’s little wonder that the Group received the 'Social Enterprise of the Year Award' in 2020.

FRC Group has nearly 30 years of experience of providing furniture, both new and pre-loved, to people in Furniture Poverty. The mission to reduce and ultimately End Furniture Poverty is at the heart of everything it does. The organisation's work also helps create sustainable employment and better futures for people. And at every step of the way, it ensures that it is minimising its environmental impact and maximising the social value which it creates as a group of not-for-profit organisations:

• FRC Living – which provides new, contract quality furniture to social landlords, housing associations and local authority welfare provision programmes
• Buckingham Interiors – which offers a bespoke interior design service for care and extra care home settings
• End Furniture Poverty – which campaigns for an end to the poverty crisis we see in the UK and assists in directly assisting those in need of furniture

Combined, they created £3.1m in social value, as well as making over 22,000 deliveries and more than 56,000 collections last year alone.

Looking ahead, FRC Group has ambitions to continue its growth trajectory and further its impact in a sustainable, focussed way. The recent closure of Bulky Bob’s, the Group's store which collected pre-loved furniture, refurbished and cleaned it, before ensuring that it made its way to those most in need, is a chance for the business to reimagine how it engages directly with the communities it serves while ensuring that its future activities remain financially-viable and impactful.

The new Chair will work with the rest of the Board to drive clarity and work towards a unified vision as FRC Group looks to replicate its recent growth in the years ahead. By fostering an atmosphere of thorough and considered discussion, they will ensure that the Board and executive team align on strategic issues, and that the Group's ambitions are monitored and met.

The Chair is responsible for:

• Leading the Board of Trustees, ensuring that it fulfils its collective responsibility for the governance of FRC Group, and delivery of its objectives and values
• Establishing an effective, supportive, and stimulating working relationship between the Board and the Chief Executive, as well as other employees, recognising the proper separation between governance and executive management
• Acting as an ambassador of the Group, as appropriate

FRC Group is looking for a new Chair with senior leadership experience who can guide the Group through an ongoing period of rapid growth and increased impact. Genuine interest in positive social change is a must.

Candidates will have led, or been part of, the senior leadership team of an organisation with a similar or larger turnover (c. £15m annual revenues) than FRC Group. Given the 20% increase in income over the past year alone, experience of managing growth and its implications for an organisation would be welcome. The new Chair will be able to steer the Group as it develops its operational plan to accommodate growth, ensuring that the organisation remains self-sufficient and has surplus to be re-invested.

While prior Chair experience is not needed, those who don't bring this must have participated in board or committee meetings and therefore have an appreciation of the role and how to carry it out effectively.

Above all, the successful candidate will have had exposure to, or a genuine interest in, positive social change. This may have been gained through previous involvement with charities, social enterprises or other non-profits, through lived experience of social deprivation, or through a personal passion for delivering social value, particularly for the communities which the Group serves in the North West of England.

Nigel Wilson, Outgoing Chair
Erik Bichard
Dr John Hines
Esther Leach
Jeremy Nicholls
Jeff Vernon

You can find out more about the Board here.

This role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed twice at the discretion of the Board. A summary of the overall time commitment is below:

• At least one Board meeting per quarter in person – ½ day per quarter
• Sub-committee membership – each Board member sit on two Sub-committees, which each meet up to two times per quarter
• Supporting the CEO – at least one day per month (can be broken down across the month)
• Strategy day – one day per year

This organisation is based in Liverpool and meetings will take place in person. Candidates will therefore be based in the North West of England, within a driving distance of Liverpool.