| | | | | | | | | | The Kreston UK Charity Survey conducted in 2023 highlighted a couple of familiar themes for the sector: - 64% of survey respondents said that recruitment (including Trustees) had become more challenging since the pandemic of 2020
- 72% of survey respondents said that a lack of diversity amongst Trustees was a concern for them
The difficulty in recruiting Trustees could be seen as being at odds with a significant and well-documented withdrawal of experienced workers from the labour market over the past few years. A recent report prepared for the UK government estimated that over 550,000 people below retirement age had withdrawn from the labour market since the start of the Covid pandemic in early 2020. | | The large bulk of these people are over 50 years of age and were reported as having no stated intention of returning to paid work.
With so many experienced people giving up paid work, why do charities still find it so hard to recruit suitable candidates as Trustees, and how should they go about Trustee recruitment to attract strong candidates to open roles? | | | | Charities may find it challenging to recruit trustees for various reasons, with the specific difficulties varying according to the charity concerned and the specific role. Common factors that contribute to the challenges charities face in recruiting trustees include:
- Time Commitment: Volunteering as a Trustee often requires a significant time commitment. Many people, especially those with busy professional or personal schedules, may be reluctant to take on additional responsibilities. Charities can go some way towards diluting these concerns by having well-defined roles and meeting schedules so that time commitments can be planned well in advance
- Skillset and Expertise: Charities often seek Trustees with specific skills, expertise, or professional backgrounds. Finding individuals who possess the right combination of skills and are willing to volunteer their time can be challenging
- Risk and Liability Concerns: Trustees have legal and financial responsibilities, and some individuals may be hesitant to take on a role that exposes them to potential risks and liabilities, even if these are generally well-managed
- Lack of Diversity: Charities may struggle to attract a diverse range of Trustees, both in terms of demographics and skills. There are multiple academic studies which link the diversity of charitable boards with effectiveness of charitable outcomes, showing that a lack of diversity can hinder the organisation's ability to represent and serve its community effectively
- Awareness and Visibility: Potential trustees may not be aware of opportunities to serve as Trustees. This may be particularly the case where Trustee posts are not advertised, but are shortlisted from individuals already known to the existing board. An effective recruitment campaign needs to be able to reach a wide range of potential applicants and charities need effective communication strategies to raise awareness about the need for Trustees and to showcase the impact Trustees can have
- Perceived Bureaucracy: Some individuals may perceive charity governance as bureaucratic or overly complex. This perception can discourage potential trustees from getting involved
- Succession Planning: Charities may not have robust succession planning in place, making it difficult to identify and recruit suitable trustees when vacancies arise. As part of the Chair’s management of the board there should be a clear picture of each current Trustee’s personal plan in terms of how long they intend to remain in post as part of long term planning. Fixed term appointments and/or maximum service periods can help in succession planning as well as helping to bring new perspectives to the board over time
| | | | | | | | James Cowper Kreston is a leading firm of accountants and business advisers, with offices across the South of England. We deliver focused, innovative advice to a diverse range of businesses and individuals helping our clients to maximise their potential.
If you would like to discuss either of these topics further, then please contact a member of our Charities & Education team at James Cowper Kreston.
Kind regards Mike Bath | Partner T: +44(0)7557 340691 | E: mbath@jamescowper.co.uk | | | | The information in this newsletter must not be relied on as giving sufficient advice in any specific case. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
