24 October 2019 Dear Enquirer Re: Chair of the College Board Of

24 October 2019

Dear Enquirer

Re: Chair of the College 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 as its new Chair. The role will fall vacant when the current Chair, John C Hutchison, steps down at the end of his term of office.

If you wish to be considered for the role, 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, as a member and as Chair.

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. Interviews will be held on 19 November 2019 at 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 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.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on the role of the Chair, and more information about the Board and the College, Duncan Ferguson would be happy to speak to you. Duncan is one of the Board’s Vice Chairs. Please contact him by email in the first instance: [email protected] (from Monday 28 October).

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

Yours sincerely,

Claire Wylie,

Secretary to the Board

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) Chair of the Board of Management Cathraiche a’ Bhùird Stiùiridh

West Highland College UHI is seeking a new Chair for its Board of Management.

West Highland College UHI is a growing, dynamic and successful provider of higher and further education in the West Highlands, supported by a Board that collectively helps guide the strategic direction of the College and fosters an environment which maximises the potential of learners.

As Chair of the Board, you will bring your expertise and skills used locally in business or in the community to play a key role in ensuring that the governing body works effectively. You will have particular responsibility for providing strategic leadership to the Board and for ensuring it successfully discharges its overall responsibility for the activities of the College. You will also play a leading role in the College’s relationship with the University of the Highlands and Islands and other key stakeholders.

The commitment is an average of 2-3 days a month. Expenses and a small honorarium is paid to the Chair, but the chief rewards are the ability to ‘make a difference’ for students, employers and local communities, and the personal satisfaction that will be gained from a leading role at a highly regarded College.

Closing date: Friday 8 November 2019

For further information please contact the secretary to the Board: Email: [email protected] Tel: 01397 874525 (Monday to Thursday)

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.

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 Chair of the Board of Management: Vacancy

Cathraiche a’ Bhùird Stiùiridh: Àite Ban

West Highland College UHI is a College created by the merger of Lochaber and Skye & Wester Ross Colleges in 2010 and is a growing, dynamic and successful provider of higher and further education in the West Highlands. It serves a diverse geographic area, from Ullapool to Ardnamurchan, with its learning centres in Auchtertyre, Broadford, Fort William, Gairloch, Kilchoan, Kinlochleven, Mallaig, Portree, Strontian and Ullapool.

It has an annual turnover of circa £4.5 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, a flagship suite of degree programmes in adventure and marine tourism, with a further range of outdoor sports and education courses. In addition, the college offers hosted higher education and degree study in over 20 different subject areas, 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 focussed and relevant education and training and aim to make further and higher education much more accessible to all who live and work in the area. West Highland College UHI is currently one of the highest performing colleges in Scotland, having rapidly built capacity for learning of the highest quality.

The College’s Board of Management, its governing body, plays a crucial role in shaping its strategic direction. Currently it has a mix of new and longer term members who bring an array of skills to bear on the Board’s business and share their knowledge and expertise in support of the College’s vision of ‘Excellence for All’. It collectively helps guide the strategic direction of the College and fosters an environment which maximises the potential of learners.

We are looking for someone to act as Chair to the Board, who will bring the expertise and skills used in the community or in public or private sector business to play a key role in ensuring the Board works effectively. S/he will have particular responsibility for providing strategic leadership to the Board and for ensuring it successfully discharges its overall responsibility for the activities of the College. The new Chair would find himself or herself well supported by a highly professional senior management team, and a collegiate Board, working with a College in good order and well regarded locally and within the UHI partnership. Previous Board experience would be assumed but there is no expectation that any candidate will previously have been a Chair.

The term of appointment will be four years, with a possibility of a further four years. The post is not remunerated but out-of-pocket expenses will be paid, plus a non-quantifiable, taxable honorarium of £200 per annum. The annual commitment of Board members is around 15/18 days but it is expected that the Board Chair will need to devote a minimum of two to three days per month to Board business. The post will be supported by one or two Vice Chairs. All 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 formally register any interests which may have a bearing on their work for the Board. They will complete a form as an application to be a director of the Company.

If you would like to be considered for this post, please provide your CV and a covering letter outlining what you might bring to the Board. Please send this to Claire Wylie, College Secretary to the Board: [email protected] or 01397 874525 (note part-time hours and may not always be available by phone).

Closing date: Friday 8 November 2019

Interview date: Tuesday 19 November 2019

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

Role and duties of Chair

Role of the Chair

The Chair of the Board of Management has a particular responsibility for providing effective strategic leadership to the Board and for ensuring it discharges successfully its overall responsibility for the activities of the College as a whole. He or she has a key role to play in ensuring that the Board works effectively. That role will include:

• providing leadership to the Board, welding together the individual Board members into a cohesive team, to enable it to carry out its responsibilities effectively;

• ensuring that the Board remains focused on the bigger strategic picture, retaining only oversight of operational matters that are properly the preserve of management;

• enabling all Board members to make a full contribution to the affairs of the Board and ensure that it acts as a team; this includes a role in ensuring that all members, when appointed, are fully briefed on the terms of their appointment and on their duties and responsibilities;

• appraising the performance of Board members on an annual basis and discussing and resolving any issues arising from that appraisal;

• ensuring that key and appropriate issues are discussed by the Board in a timely manner;

• ensuring that the Board has adequate support and is provided with all the necessary information on which to base decisions;

• ensuring that in reaching decisions the Board takes proper account of statutory and other requirements and constraints; the recommendations of college management should be accepted only when the Chair is satisfied that the Board has fully considered all the issues, including any guidance issued by the senior management;

• obtaining professional advice for the Board, when necessary;

• representing the views of the College to the general public and playing an ambassadorial role on behalf of the College, especially with community leaders in the West Highlands and elsewhere;

• encouraging and embodying high standards of propriety.

Chair Duties

• Provide effective leadership of the Board and ensure that the Board fulfils its duties, roles and responsibilities

• Ensure members work together effectively and efficiently and have confidence in the procedures laid down for the conduct of business.

• Ensure members have a proper knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

• Develop an effective and mutually supportive working relationship with the Principal, College Secretary and senior staff; and with the Performance Review and Remuneration Committee, agreeing annual targets and undertaking performance assessment of the Principal.

• Ensure that the Board observes the principles of public life, and that members comply with the Code of Conduct and other governance standards.

• Chair Board meetings and approve minutes of meetings prior to circulation, and ensure committees report to the Board on a timely and efficient basis.

• Exercise the right of a second or casting vote in situations where there is an equal division of votes.

• Monitor the training needs of the Board, Principal and College Secretary.

• Member of the UHI Further Education Regional Board and other duties associated with UHI.

• Participation at Chairs’ Forum and conferences arranged by Colleges Scotland.

• Attendance at meetings called by SFC and/ or Scottish Government Ministers as required.

• Attendance at stakeholder or community meetings as appropriate.

• Undertake duties that are delegated to the Chair by the College Scheme of Delegation, as required.

• Undertake all duties and responsibilities that fall within the range expected of a board member (see Board member role description).

Board of Management – Independent Director Role Description

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 • ensuring all its business is conducted in accordance with the Code of Good Governance published by Scotland’s Colleges • 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.

Chair of the Board of Management: Person Specification

Specific experience and knowledge Measured by:

An ability to work strategically and collaboratively Essential Application at a senior level with an understanding of corporate governance

An ability to lead change successfully and Essential Application positively influence individuals and organisations

A clear understanding of the regional and Essential Application/Meeting operating context of the College, including education direction, economic priorities and improving public services

Significant experience or knowledge of the region Essential Application and its needs, particularly with regard to:

(a) further, higher or senior secondary education or the college student experience OR (b) industry, commerce, finance, the community, public service or trade unions Interest in post-16 education and/or vocational Essential Application training

Experience in strategic planning Desirable Application

Understanding of risk management Desirable Application Personal C haracteristics Measured by: Resident in the West Highlands Essential Application

High level verbal communication skills Essential Meeting

Evidence of sound independent judgement Essential Application/Meeting

Ability to co-operate constructively Essential Application/Meeting

Time to commit to Board and sub-committee Essential Meeting meetings, training and some College and external events

Be not debarred from board membership by Essential Application virtue of any provision of the Companies Act, or prohibited by law from being a director or a charity trustee, or is sequestrated. Demonstrably strong connections within the Desirable Application/Meeting West Highlands and elsewhere

Good organisational skills Desirable Application