Scott Bader is an employee-owned global manufacturer of advanced composites, structural adhesives and functional polymers. Established in 1921, it has a century of expertise in manufacturing high-quality, innovative products for a variety of markets around the world. Scott Bader now employs over 800 colleagues across seven manufacturing and 18 offices worldwide.

Scott Bader is committed to expanding its global reach, with recent ventures including North America, India, Japan and Australia, while continuing to build on its reputation for innovation, outstanding quality and technical expertise.

Scott Bader is different from most other companies. Its business is based on the simple principle of maintaining a balance between its social purpose and business needs. In 1951 it became the first UK company to hold a Common Ownership Certificate when the Bader family handed over their shares to the Scott Bader Commonwealth Ltd – in simple terms, this means that Scott Bader colleagues own and are responsible for the success and overall well being of the company. 

This rare ownership structure brings great benefits:

• The business is totally independent and cannot be taken over or sold, creating more sustainable business relationships
• Colleagues have an instrumental role in running the business, a role which is much greater than their everyday tasks and empowers them to learn and grow
• Its charitable status brings a responsibility to the wider community, to make a positive difference in everything it does. Every year, a minimum of 5% of Scott Bader’s operating profit is given to the Commonwealth to be donated to charitable activities and projects around the world. Please click here to learn more about its social impact

With a global footprint spanning 17 countries and a clear 2036 vision on becoming fully sustainable, the new appointment of an External Guardian Trustee has come at an exciting time for Scott Bader. Its charity, Scott Bader Commonwealth Ltd (SBCW) has nine Directors who are its Trustees. Three of these are internal appointments, five are external appointments and there is one company member.The five external appointees are known as the Guardian Trustees, and this role specification is regarding the Guardian Trustee appointment.

The role of the External Guardian Trustee is to ensure that:

• The SBCW's strategic business and organisational development is aligned with the founding purpose and charitable objects of the Commonwealth, which can be found here
• The Commonwealth and Guiding Principles are lived out in the working community that is the Scott Bader Group. This duty includes ensuring that company practice progressively moves closer to its stated ethical principles and that it continues to give to charity the same as or more than it pays to itself, in terms of profit distribution; and
• The Commonwealth’s founding intention of being an example to the world of a different way of doing business is acted upon, evaluated, researched and promoted

The successful candidate will have strong business acumen and alignment to the company values, which can be found here. Experience with charity strategy, communications or finance would be preferred. However, applicants from outside of these specialisms, who are able to bring particular strengths to this role and whose skills and knowledge are otherwise aligned, are also welcome. For example, Scott Bader would be open to those with a background in human resources, legal, operations, sales or marketing.

Regardless of functional expertise, the External Guardian Trustee should possess strong personal ethics and integrity that match Scott Bader's Guiding Principles. The successful candidate will be collaborative in approach and not afraid to promote or champion alternative and innovative ideas. Applicants should also have an interest in sustainability and making a positive difference in society. 

Andy Bell, Chair
Paul Smith
Hansi Manning
Robert Gibson
Jessica Clark
David Harris
David Black
Agne Bengtsson

More information can be found here

Guardian Trustees will serve for a renewable term of three years. Commonwealth Membership is awarded on appointment. Duties are expected to take about 12-20 days per year, including attending five Commonwealth Board meetings, the AGM and some Global Members' Board and Group Board meetings as observers. The potential upper bound of 20 days increased is due to a possible requirement to join and contribute to sub-committee activity.

Candidates from the UK are preferred for the purpose of attendance of some in-person meetings. However, Scott Bader is a global company and welcomes exceptional candidates from other countries. Expenses are reimbursed, but the role of Guardian Trustee is voluntary.