October/November 2017

Dear Enquirer

Re: Board of Management

I am pleased to provide you with some further information on the opportunity available to join the Board of West Highland College UHI. The further information includes some general information on West Highland College UHI, and a role description for the post of independent director.

If you wish your interest in Board membership to be taken forward I would be much obliged if you could forward to me a copy of your complete Curriculum Vitae, including the names of two referees. Please also include a letter outlining what you might contribute to the Board.

The next stage in the process will be for the Board’s Search & Nominations committee to agree a short list, and invite these applicants to interview in the week beginning 27 November 2017 (likely to be 29 November). The venue for this will be the Fort William campus. Aside from the interview, this will be an opportunity for you to meet with one or two current Board members and senior staff (including the Principal), and to ask any questions you may have.

Thereafter, a recommendation for appointment will be made, subject to final ratification by the Board of Management. The Board next meets on 12 December 2017 in Fort William, and the successful candidate will be invited to attend.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Claire Wylie

College Secretary

West Highland College UHI – Auchtertyre Colaiste na Gàidhealtachd an Iar OGE - Uachdar Thìre Direct Dial: 01397 874525 | www.whc.uhi.ac.uk | Taigh Darach, Lochalsh Business Park, Auchtertyre, Kyle of Lochalsh, IV40 8EG

Registered Office: West Highland College UHI, Carmichael Way, Fort William, PH33 6FF | Tel: 01397 874000 West Highland College UHI is a company limited by guarantee (SC153921) with charitable status (SC024193)

Board of Management Vacancy Dreuchd Bhàn air a’ Bhòrd-stiùiridh

West Highland College UHI is a growing, dynamic and successful provider of higher and further education in the West Highlands and is currently recruiting for an additional Board of Management member.

We are seeking an individual to help guide the strategic direction of the College and foster an environment which enables the potential of learners to be maximised. You will bring your expertise and skills used in business and in the community to support the management and staff as they continue the development and work of the College. Individuals with strong business and financial skills would be especially welcome at this time.

Time commitment is c. 15-18 days annually. Most Board meetings take place in the late afternoon. Board members are not remunerated but out of pocket expenses will be paid. Closing Date Interviews 9 November 2017 27 or 29 November 2017 at 9am (TBC) in Fort William

How to Apply Application pack available at: www.whc.uhi.ac.uk/staff/vacancies For further information, contact Secretary to the Board Email: [email protected] Tel: 01397 874525

In line with our Equality and Diversity policy, West Highland College UHI is committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated on the basis of their merits and abilities, and that unfair and unlawful discrimination is eliminated. We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community. Applications from women are especially encouraged since they are currently under-represented on the College Board.

West Highland College UHI is a company limited by guarantee (SC153921) with charitable status (SC024193)

The College and its Board of Management

The College

West Highland College UHI was created by the merger of Lochaber and Skye & Wester Ross Colleges in 2010 and is part of the network of colleges assigned to the University of the Highlands and Islands. It serves a diverse geographic area, from Ullapool to Appin, with its learning centres in Auchtertyre, Broadford, Fort William, Gairloch, , , , Portree, and Ullapool.

The College is an independent company limited by guarantee, led by a Board comprised of 14 directors, 10 of whom are independent of the College. Independent members share expertise and skills gained from working in the public, private and/or third sectors with colleagues on the Board to drive forward ambitious and exciting future plans.

The College has an annual turnover of circa £4 million with income from commercial activity as well as government funding. We deliver a very wide range of provision in further education and, as part of UHI, 4 year honours degree programmes in Adventure Tourism Management and postgraduate degree in Ecotourism, all designed to deliver the skills and educational needs of local and national employers. We engage closely with schools and businesses in the area in order to offer relevant education and training, focussed strongly around the ’s strategy of Developing the Young Workforce. A core aim is to make further and higher education much more accessible to all who live and work in the area. Our vision of ‘Excellence for All’ underpins all the work of the Board and the staff of the College.

There are a number of development plans in train and the next few years may see a significant expansion in the College estate and activities. It is thus an exciting time to join the Board and drive these developments forward.

In line with our Equality and Diversity policy, West Highland College UHI is committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated on the basis of their merits and abilities, and that unfair and unlawful discrimination is eliminated. We positively welcome applications from all sections of the community.

The Board

The Board of Management is the College’s governing body, and plays a central role in shaping the strategic direction of the College and helps support and challenge the management and staff to continue the development and work of the College.

As an assigned College of the University of the Highlands and Islands, the UHI is its Regional Strategic Body (under the terms of the Post 16 () Act 2015), and the Board is accountable to the RSB. The role of a director is a non-executive one and concerns oversight of the College at the strategic level in line with the corporate plan rather than be concerned with the day to day executive management. The role of the Board director encompasses his or her role as a charity trustee and director of the Company.

Most meetings are held in Fort William, but video-conferencing facilities are regularly used to enable Board members from across the West Highlands to attend meetings, normally from their nearest West Highland College learning centre. The Board meetings themselves are regularly held away from Fort William on a rotational basis, in another of the College’s learning centres (and in such places it may not be possible to VC in).

Papers are issued a week or so in advance of the meetings, and directors are expected to have familiarised themselves with the issues before the meeting. The Board meeting is also attended by several senior staff of the College, and the independent Board secretary.

The committees of the Board

The Board has two main standing committees which meet prior to each full Board meeting:

Audit Committee The Committee’s main responsibility is to review and monitor the governance and management of the College, risk management, the adequacy of financial management and internal control, the internal and external audit processes, the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the college’s activities and whistle-blowing (public interest disclosure) arrangements. Finance & General Purposes Committee The Committee has delegated responsibility within the Financial Memorandum between the College and the regional strategic body (UHI) for the direction and oversight of the College’s financial and corporate affairs. It has responsibility for the College’s existing buildings and estates and for the direction and oversight of all personal matters.

There are three further committees which meet annually or as necessary:

Estates Project Group This is sub-committee to the F&GP and concerns itself with detailed work on specific projects. Performance Review & Remuneration Committee The Committee considers the pay and conditions of service for the Principal and senior staff. Search & Nominations Committee This Committee makes recommendations to the Board on the appointment of new members.

Board of Management – Independent Director Role Description

The independent directors of the West Highland College UHI Board of Management are appointed by the Board itself.

An independent director is responsible for:

• contributing to the business of Board meetings, following established and agreed procedures and participating in one or more of the Board committees as member or convener • engaging effectively at board meetings and working collaboratively with other directors observing the Nine Principles of Public Life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership, public service and respect) in all Board business.

The independent directors shall contribute to the Board in:

• articulating the vision of the College as an academic partner and assigned college of UHI • maintaining and developing the ethos of the College • setting corporate objectives in line with College outcome agreement with UHI • monitoring the financial health and compliance of the College in line with the College Financial Memorandum agreed with UHI • monitoring the College’s achievement of its agreed outcome measures • approving the annual budget • approving the year end Annual Accounts and Financial Statements • the appointment and re-appointment and removal from office of Board members, the appointment of, performance appraisal of, and disciplinary action against, the Principal • approving all new and revised College policies

Performance of the Board and individual Board members

Each Director: • should discuss his or her contribution and development needs with the Chair of the Board at least annually • is expected to contribute to critical self-assessment of Board performance and processes and make an active contribution to the annual performance assessment of the governance of the College • shall ensure regular attendance at board meetings

Ambassadorial role

The Directors shall seek to promote the best interests of the College wherever possible, be its ambassador, and if called upon to do so, represent it at meetings, presentations and conferences.

Vacancies

Details

We are currently seeking a new independent member of the Board and director of the Company of West Highland College UHI. Membership is not remunerated but out-of-pocket expenses will be paid. The maximum term of office is eight years. The annual commitment is around 15-18 days. The Board and its main standing committees meet quarterly. Most meetings are held in the late afternoon (from 4/4.30pm), and there are occasional full or half day events for broader discussions on - for example - strategy, risk, self-evaluation and governance. Directors are usually asked to be a member of one of the two main committees as well as the Board, and thus will attend about eight committee/Board meetings per year.

Our key aim is to ensure that the College gains the maximum benefit from the skills and experience that each Board director brings with them. Board members have a scrutineering role. The senior staff expect, and welcome, support and challenge from the directors. In return, directors gain satisfaction from being directly involved in ensuring the best possible college opportunities for students and employers in the West Highlands.

Applications are sought from all sectors of the local community. We encourage applications from women since they are currently under-represented on the College Board. Induction, and on-going training, is available.

No previous board experience is expected, and West Highland College Board may prove a useful introduction to a board career. The College is seeking an individual who would be willing to become fully involved in the activities of the Board, including its standing committees. There are likely to be opportunities to take further responsibility in the foreseeable future.

Person specification

Specific experience and knowledge Appropriate business experience in public, private or voluntary sector, Essential Evidence of interest in further/higher education or vocational training, Essential appropriate to the needs of the local economy and employers Familiarity with the West Highlands and the communities served by the Essential College Financial and/or audit experience Desirable Project oversight Desirable Legal background Desirable Personal qualities High level verbal communication skills Evidence of sound independent judgement Ability to contribute constructively Time to commit to Board and sub-committee meetings, training and some College events Willingness to embrace the use of IT for communication

Please note the following additional requirements

• Board positions are subject to Enhanced Disclosure check with Disclosure Scotland upon appointment. • Members are also asked to sign up to a Code of Conduct, and to commit to the Nine Principles of Public Life in Scotland (Public Service, Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability & Stewardship, Openness, Honesty, Leadership, Respect). • They are required to formally register any interests which may have a bearing on their work for the Board. • They will complete an application form to be a director of the Company which will be lodged with Companies House.

The Articles of Association prevent the Board from recruiting anyone who cannot be a director by virtue of any provision of the Companies Act or becomes prohibited by law from being a director or a charity trustee, or if he/she has been sequestrated.

Sources of further information include:

West Highland College UHI website: www.whc.uhi.ac.uk/ WHC Board: www.whc.uhi.ac.uk/about-us/governance Board documents including the Code of Conduct: www.whc.uhi.ac.uk/about-us/foi/section- 12-classes-of-information/about-west-highland-college-uhi College Development Network, and further information and resources for Board members: www.collegedevelopmentnetwork.ac.uk/networks-projects/secretary-to-the-board/ Code of Good Governance: www.scottishcollegegovernance.ac.uk/code/cogg-home

Application

If you would like to be considered for the vacancy, please send a copy of your Curriculum Vitae, including the names and contact details of two referees. Please also include a letter outlining how you believe you meet the requirements of the post and what you might contribute to the Board.

Contact for this is Claire Wylie, College Secretary to the Board: [email protected] or 01397 874510 (please note the role is part-time, and she will respond as soon as possible). The Chair of the Board, John Hutchison, would be happy to speak informally to any potential applications (on 07768 537698).

Closing Date: 9 November 2017 (9am)

Interviews will be held in Fort William on 27 or 29 November 2017.

West Highland College UHI is a company limited by guarantee (SC153921) with charitable status (SC024193) Registered Office: West Highland College UHI, Carmichael Way, Fort William PH33 6FF WEST HIGHLAND COLLEGE UHI

EXTRACT FROM ARTICLES

Disqualification and removal of directors

A director shall automatically vacate office if:

he/she ceases to be a director by virtue of any provision of the Companies Act or becomes prohibited by law from being a director or a charity trustee;

he/she is sequestrated;