Nadine Campbell, Chair of the Chartered Institute, shares her journey from fundraiser to the boardroom and explains why she’s excited about us joining up to the pilot of the Boardroom Apprentice UK pilot programme.
If you asked me five years ago what my boardroom journey looked like, I would never have thought someone like me could have a place at the boardroom table. I am extremely proud of my working class roots, but let’s face it, traditionally boards are made up of a certain type of individual, mainly an older white middle class men. So why would I think having a place next to them would be for me?
I’m sure loads of other fundraisers have felt and feel the same, wondering if they would ever fit and be able to contribute as a trustee. Wouldn’t it be good if there was an opportunity to get a taster to observe an organisation’s board, see how it works, get a taste for the discussions and decisions? Well, that’s where the Boardroom Apprentice programme comes in and I’m really proud and appreciative of the opportunity it gave me.
Boardroom Apprentice has been running in Northern Ireland for 6 years and is a 12-month programme of unique board learning and development. It also includes a placement programme which enables those who would like to serve on a public or third sector board to learn and gain experience in a safe way before they take that step. It seeks to enable a wider diversity of individuals to play their part in our boardrooms. The overarching aim of Boardroom Apprentice is ‘to move the board member role from aspiration to reality.
This year, the programme is broadening out from Northern Ireland and running a UK pilot, which I am really excited that the Chartered Institute will be part of as a Host Board. That means someone can apply to be on our board, as an observer for a year, to learn all about what it means to be a trustee.
In 2017 I came across a post on Twitter about the programme. I completed the application, which was simple, all values based, with no mention of education, experience or who you know. I was able to choose three organisations that I was passionate about, a few weeks passed, and I was successful in obtaining a place on my first choice – which was The Rainbow Project, Northern Ireland’s leading LGBTQIA charity. As a proud ally, I knew this was an organisation I could help and support. After serving as an observer on the board for 12 months, I was appointed as a Trustee in 2018 and have gone on to become Treasurer of the charity. Subsequently, I joined the Chartered Institute as a Trustee in 2020 and the rest is HERstory.
For me, sitting in board meetings, being involved in the decision-making process and knowing your contribution is helping to help shape our sector is priceless. Being on the Boardroom Apprentice programme means you will have the opportunity to meet the other apprentices, share your own experience and have that peer-to-peer support. Making those connections was undoubtedly one of the huge bonuses. The training you will receive, from all thing’s governance, finance, knowing yourself and how to communicate to your fellow board members. There’s not one single element of the programme that doesn’t outshine the others. Collectively, it gives you a solid foundation on understanding how a board works and what is expected of you and your fellow board members.
One of the core pillars of our new strategy for 2023-25 is for the Chartered Institute to advocate and advance equality, diversity, and inclusion across our sector. Part of this is walking the walk, not just talking the talk, and it’s important that we are being active participants in the types of change that we and our members want to see.
So, us being a place where someone who may not have otherwise thought about being a trustee can experience the boardroom and gain insight and experience is really important. And not just for the individual – the whole of that board, and the organisation benefits too: a fresh perspective and voice, bringing new ideas to the table, while opening up the boardroom to people from different backgrounds or levels of formal education are all really positive developments which I think every charity would value.
To find out more and to apply to be a Boardroom Apprentice see all the information here Boardroom Apprentice | How to apply
I look forward to welcoming you to our board and hope many others find an organisation where they can start their boardroom journey!
