Modern Electric Tramways Charity Board opportunity

As Seaton Tramway develops over the coming years, we are looking to strengthen our Charity Board in terms of numbers, knowledge, understanding and representation.  As part of this process, the current directors wish to offer exciting opportunities to join the board. In taking up this role, you would take on the duties and responsibilities of a charity trustee / director.

The Tramway is led by Jenny Nunn, our CEO with support from her management team and four current directors.  We welcome applications from people from groups that are under-represented in the heritage railway sector, including young people, people with disabilities, people from diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds and people from the LGBTQ+ community.

What is a Director?

We use the term Director; some other charities use the word trustee. They are the same thing. Directors sit on our charity board. At our board meetings we make decisions on a wide range of things, ensuring that we run a modern, safe and successful charity. Meetings includes everything from the finances of the charity to making sure we operate safely. From environmental sustainability to the community and education work we do. From marketing & special events to how we can work as inclusively as possible. Above all the board, with support from our Chief Executive Officer, sets the direction of travel for the charity and how we will grow strategically. In short, our Directors lead the charity and decide how it is run.

What Are We Looking for in a new Director?

In order to be a successful charity we need to strengthen our board. This in terms of the number of Directors we have; their backgrounds; their skill sets; their experiences and the way in which they think. This will make us a better business and a better charity.

Because of our charitable status, our board members do not receive any fee or wage for their contribution, though reasonable out of pocket expenses are paid – this includes things like childcare costs and other additional costs you might face by being one of our trustees.

We are particularly keen on finding Directors with some of the following skills & experience but would also welcome applicants with a more general skill set.

• Knowledge of finance and Management Accounting.

• Digital Marketing and other digital / information technology skills.

• Fundraising experience.

• Experience of rail transport operations / engineering functions.

• Experience of visitor attraction / retail / hospitality operations.

However, this isn’t an exclusive list, so don’t be put off if you don’t see yourself fitting into any of these. You also don’t need to have been a director or trustee before or have any detailed understanding of what it means to be one. We welcome applications from both experienced people and people who might be thinking for the first time about an

opportunity like this. We will, of course provide an induction and we really don’t expect anyone to know everything from day one.

Your commitment

• To attend three in-person Board Meetings per year at Seaton, usually in March, September, and November.

• To attend additional online meetings - around 8 each year.

• To read, assess and comment on the Monthly Report as compiled by the CEO.

• To undertake occasional project work, as agreed with the Chair and fellow Directors.

• From time to time, represent the tramway on selected representative bodies or at meetings.

• To undertake training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in accordance with the role.

• To play an active role in working with other Directors and the Management Team in determining the future strategic direction of the tramway.

• To act in accordance with the Charity Commission rules requirements of being a charity trustee / director.

• To abide by our Code of Conduct for Directors and other relevant policies.

• To maintain strict confidentiality.

• To sit on the board for a minimum term of three years.

Where necessary, the current board will make reasonable adjustments to when, how and where we meet to ensure that this is not a barrier to new Directors.

This link will help you to understand the duties and liabilities of a charity director/trustee: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved

Our commitment.

• To provide an exciting opportunity for you to shape the future strategic direction of the tramway.

• To provide an inclusive working environment where everyone is welcome, regardless of background, interests, previous experience or ability.

• To give you the opportunity to develop new skills and experience.

• To give you the opportunity to grow your confidence in leadership and decision making.

• To provide you with all the information, reports and data required to allow you to meet the responsibilities of the role, to the best of your abilities.

• To provide you with a full induction on the role, duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of being a charity director.

• To welcome you into an existing group of dedicated, passionate people on a board where everyone’s views are important and there is a strong shared sense of purpose.

• To provide training and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in accordance with the role.

The Process

• If you’d like to talk to someone about becoming one of our trustees, you can have a chat with Mark Horner who is one of our current trustees. You can email Mark at [email protected] to set up a phone call or an online chat.

• You should write a short letter of application (no more than one side of A4) and send this with your CV to Bruce Warnes, who is our current chair ([email protected]) for consideration.

• If you’d prefer, you can make an application by video, please submit this by email to Bruce Warnes ([email protected]).

• The closing date for applications is 15th September with interviews to be held on 28th and 29th September. We can do this face to face in Seaton or online if you’d prefer.

• We will then arrange interviews for all potential applicants. Interviews will be conducted by Jenny Nunn (CEO) and one of the four current directors.

• It is important to note that this will be a competitive recruitment process which will follow our normal recruitment and selection policies.

• We are a Disability Confident organisation and will make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment and working practices where necessary. We will follow our policy and principles of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion throughout the selection process.