June 2016 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. We are seeking two new independent directors. 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 and contact details of two referees. Please also include a letter outlining what you might contribute to the Board. The closing date is 8 July at 5pm. The next stage in the process will be for the Board’s Search & Nominations committee to agree a shortleet, and invite these applicants to interview on 26 August 2016. At the interview, you will be asked to give a short (five minute) presentation on a topic to be confirmed. Aside from the interview, there will be an opportunity for you to meet with current Board members and the Principal, and to ask any questions you may have. Thereafter, the committee will make recommendations for appointment to the Board. 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) 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, Kilchoan, Kinlochleven, Mallaig, Portree, Strontian 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 Scottish Government’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. 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 (Scotland) 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, in another of the College’s learning centres. 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 three main standing committees which meet prior to each full Board meeting: Education Committee The Committee has overall responsibility for the definition and on-going review of the educational philosophy, policy and academic standards of the College in respect of learning and teaching. It provides a forum for the debate of College-wide academic issues, with specific regard to implementing the College’s strategy for learning ‘Excellence for All’. 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 two new independent members. The posts are not remunerated but out-of-pocket expenses will be paid. The maximum term of office is eight years. The annual commitment is around 15 days. The Board and its main standing committees meet quarterly. Most meetings are held in the late afternoon (from 4pm), 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 two of the main committees as well as the Board, and thus will attend about 12 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. 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. 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 individuals who would be willing to become fully involved in the activities of the Board, including its standing committees.