The UK Sailing Academy (UKSA) provides life changing opportunities, from developing essential life skills in children and young people, through launching careers in water-sports and yachting, to providing the advanced professional training required in the maritime industry.

UKSA is a youth, education and maritime training charity based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, founded in 1987 by Noel and Sylvia Lister specifically to educate and enrich the lives of young people. This ethos continues to be the bedrock of UKSA‘s commitment to offer life changing experiences as well as training, leading to genuine job opportunities and career enhancement. UKSA is proud to have had HRH Princess Anne as its Patron for over 25 years, who takes a very active interest in the organisation, as well as lending support to its capital appeals.

The UKSA is also a key player in the maritime training sector. It is the largest RYA-accredited Training Centre in the world, as well as the world’s biggest single-site provider of MCA (Maritime Coastguard Agency) Professional Yacht and Deck Training. It offers courses at all levels up to Captain for Superyachts. The UKSA prides itself in providing pathways, progression and bursaries to help those who would not otherwise have the opportunity to earn maritime professional qualifications.

Facts and Figures

UKSA's turnover is approximately £6m a year. Before the global pandemic in 2019/20, UKSA welcomed 10,507 individuals annually, an increase of 20% from 2018/19, with Schools and Groups in particular seeing a 24% increase year on year. In 2022/23, UKSA anticipates that it will be back to more normal operating levels, and hopes to exceed the volumes and impact that it has previously achieved.

The UKSA has invested in its future with a £4.4m capital project due for completion in July 2022 which will enhance onsite facilities and student accommodation on the Cowes site. This follows the successful completion of its Superyacht Training Centre in 2019.

The UKSA is a Registered Charity (Charity No 299248) limited by Guarantee which means that it is also a Registered Limited Company (Company number 02251024). The UKSA operates a blended funding model with its income coming from a mixture of Grants and Donations; partner and bursary funding, and revenue from training courses. As a not for profit, any surpluses are reinvested to develop the services the charity provides for its beneficiaries. All its beneficiaries receive the same professional, inspirational experience and service, regardless of their funding source. Please see the “UKSA Funding Model” document for more detail.

Find out more about UKSA and its strategy by clicking here and watching the video provided here.

The Chair will head a Board of nine Trustees which collectively ensure that the UKSA always acts in the best interest of its beneficiaries and meets its strategic objectives. The existing Trustees have a broad range of expertise in areas including the maritime sector, business, education, property and safeguarding, risk and safety.

In addition to contributing as a Trustee, the Chair’s role is to:

• Oversee the development of an appropriate strategy for the UKSA with the Chief Executive, testing proposals with the Trustees to ensure they will deliver tangible improvement and align with the objectives of the charity
• Provide support and challenge to the Chief Executive and Executive Team, working as an effective sounding board
• Agree and set the KPIs for the Chief Executive. Appraise the performance of the Chief Executive, hold regular performance reviews and recommend revisions to remuneration
• Provide leadership to the Trustee Board, enabling the Trustees to fulfil their responsibilities for governance and strategic direction
• Act as an ambassador and advocate for the UKSA, representing its interests, building strong partnerships with stakeholders and major donors
• Ensure there is a constructive and effective relationship between the Trustee Board and UKSA Executives and staff and with wider stakeholders
• Ensure the proper running of Trustee and governance meetings. Ensure that appropriate information is made available in a timely fashion, that contributions are encouraged from all participants and that clear decisions and actions arise from these meetings
• Ensure that the subcommittees are effective in using delegated authority and provide relevant advice to the Trustees and Executive Team
• Work closely with the Vice-Chair and sub-committee Chairs
• Ensure that proper governance processes are in place to enable the UKSA to meet its objectives and statutory requirements

UKSA is seeking to appoint a new Chair who will have senior leadership experience and the gravitas to lead the charity.

The successful candidate will have prior board or committee chair experience, and be able to manage different board dynamics. They will have a broad understanding of corporate or charity governance, and the gravitas to bring people together, driving one strategy. Applicants will have previous experience serving as a senior executive director in a commercial environment and a good understanding of finance and strategic risk management. Connections in the maritime or education / youth sector are welcome but not essential.

Above all, candidates will have an interest and empathy for the work of the UKSA, its values and its ethos. More information about the UKSA Trustee code and the UKSA Equal opportunities, inclusion and diversity policy can be found here.

This role is unremunerated. However, reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed.

The Chair will serve an initial three-year term, with annual appraisal, and be eligible for re-appointment for up to two further additional terms. Under exceptional circumstances, this will be extended on an annual basis. It is envisaged that the successful candidate will be appointed a Trustee at the June 24th Trustee Meeting, as Chair designate, and take over as Chair at the Annual Retirement Meeting in September 2022.

The total time commitment for the Chair role is around three days per month including a weekly call with the CEO, quarterly Board Meetings, one or two annual strategy days, and ad hoc review of sub-committee output and liaison with sub-committee chairs. Quarterly Board meetings are generally held in Cowes, while some sub-committee meetings maybe held virtually. To attend Board meetings, it is possible to travel to Cowes on a day return trip, although UKSA encourages candidates to stay overnight and spend some informal time with other Trustees and the Executive team. Accommodation for overnight stays is generally provided. Candidates should be UK-based.

UKSA welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. 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.