We are not a training company which offers board training. We are governance specialist who work with boards and executive teams on a daily basis. We understand the current realities of boards working in the not- for-profit sectors and the challenges they face in the future.  

 

We have a strong record of speaking and listening to boards and senior executive teams and adding value to the governance of organisations across the country. Whilst there are universal topics which most boards are interested in, or should know about, (some of which we have listed below), we have found that the most effective sessions are those that have been put together with our clients and therefore address the specific needs of their organisations. 

Evaluating the effectiveness of governance arrangements in any organisation is an essential part of good governance. Annual board effectiveness reviews are required by most governance codes. The Charity Code of Governance, for example, specificlly requires boards to complete an external review of their performance once every three years. In the social housing sectore, triannual external governance reviews are widely recommended as good practice.  

 

This is where we can help. Andrew and Jana have a substabtial combined experience of completing governance reviews, which they have built as consulants with their own clients and also working as part of the Affordable Housing Consultancy team in Savills.  

 

Governance reviews can consist of various components - board member skills evaluation, board and committee meetings observations, board effectiveness self-assessment, individual board members appraisals, interviews with board and committee members, review of compliance with the adopted code of governance, review of board papers and terms of reference, are only some of them. Although there are elements of each governance review, which must be present to satisfy the criterias of the governance codes and good practice, we work with our clients to put together a process which will help to address the issues faced by their orgaisation and to support the delivery of their strategic goals from a governance perspective. We have an open and supportive line of communication throughout the process and we ensure that our findings and recommendations are clear and specific and that these enable our clients to recognise what they do well and what could be done even better in a realistic time scale. Once we have completed the evaluation - we are there to support our clients with implementation of recomendations to the extent they may need it.