The Trust is seeking an experienced and passionate individual from across the charity and/or legal community/sector to join its Board of Trustees as Company & Charity Secretary.
This is a unique opportunity for someone to broaden their governance experience guiding and influencing the direction of the Trust during a period of transformation as it supports the creation of a new national hub for the UK’s unique Brewing and Pub Heritage.
As a Trustee, you will be involved with the overall governance and strategic direction of the NBHT, developing its aims, objectives and goals in accordance with its purpose and aligned to charity & company, legal and regulatory guidelines.
We want to expand the diversity of our board and encourage applications from adults of all ages and backgrounds.
This is an unpaid position, but expenses will be covered. We prefer to hold our meetings face-to-face; however, we do offer hybrid options and are flexible to accommodate the right candidate.
The appointment is initially for three years, with a commitment of c.20 days per year, including three Board meetings.
About Us
The National Brewery Heritage Trust (NBHT) is a registered charity and limited company that preserves, promotes and champions Britain’s Brewing and Pub Heritage.
With patronage from the Brewers Company, we currently support the preservation in Burton upon Trent of a treasure trove of around half a million items, known as the National Brewery Collection, covering centuries of British Brewing and Pub Heritage.
These include artefacts such as vehicles, brewing equipment, displays and models, beer and pub memorabilia, signage, artworks, packaging, advertising and point of sale materials as well as a vast collection of archive materials – including thousands of pub and brewery photographs, films, adverts, books, records, ledgers, journals and plans.
The NBHT is run by the Board of Trustees, supported by volunteers and a small number of fixed term contractors. For additional information see www.breweryheritage.com.
About the Company Secretary role
As a Board Member, you will play a crucial role in providing strategic direction, ensuring financial security, and ensuring the organisation fulfils its constitutional objectives.
As the Company & Charity Secretary you will serve as an individual member, not representing any particular organisation and be closely involved in monitoring compliance with the various legislative and regulatory requirements affecting the Trust and its activities, while assisting the Chair and Deputy Chair in ensuring that decisions are acted upon, and that all decisions made by the trustees are in accordance with the Trust’s articles of association, reflect the objects of the Charity, and continue to provide benefit.
About you
- Experience of or exposure to charity governance and management with a good understanding of the environment in which charities operate, and the legal responsibilities pertaining to charities under the current Charities Act.
- Understanding the importance of carrying out required legal duties, with the ability to make good independent judgements, and the willingness to devote the necessary time.
- Strategic outlook, ability to develop effective plans, coupled with the ability to think creatively and voice concerns and opinions.
- Good organisational and commercial acumen, and able to demonstrate balancing organisational requirements with regulatory compliance priorities.
- Experience working successfully as a member of virtual and/or disparate teams, leveraging current computer technologies.
General Responsibilities:
- Contributing to the board of trustees’ role of providing strategic direction and supporting the development of Trust policies, goals and targets, ensuring the Trust pursues its objectives as outlined in its governing instrument.
- Collaborate effectively with other Board members, regularly attending and taking a full part in meetings, and participating in working groups as necessary.
- Leading discussions and providing guidance in areas where you personally have specific skills, knowledge or expertise.
- Work in the interests of the organisation, avoiding personal gain, acting as an ambassador promoting the aims of the Trust as appropriate.
- Develop an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship, ensuring the organisation operates within the law and proper professional advice is sought when necessary.
Specific Responsibilities:
- Work alongside the Chair and Deputy Chair and other officers to facilitate the smooth operation of the Trust’s decision making and reporting machinery.
- Be responsible for the safekeeping of all the Trust’s policies, ensuring that the Board of Trustees are aware of the requirements to comply with the relevant codes such as the charity’s Code of Conduct for Charity Trustees and the Charities Governance Code.
- Maintain all relevant and regulatory registers, e.g. the register of trustees / directors and secretaries, the register of trustees’ and secretary’s interests etc.
- Ensure that formal documentation and statutory returns are filed with the appropriate bodies as required. (e.g. annual reports, changes to the charity’s details and/or trustees’ details).
- Ensure the timetable of board and executive meetings for the year ahead is agreed, working to set each meeting agenda.
- Checking that a quorum is present (and that it is present throughout the meeting if required) and ensure all minutes provide an accurate, impartial and balanced internal record of what happened at any given Board or Committee meeting.
If you are interested please email Trustee Chris Holden on chris.holden@breweryheritage.com your CV and a covering letter. The closing date is 25th October 2024.
