Trustees Unlimited

About recruiting trustees

Recruiting trustees so that you have a balanced yet dynamic board in a cost effective manner can be a challenging task. That is why NCVO, in partnership with Bates Wells & Braithwaite, and Russam GMS established  Trustees Unlimited.

What is Trustees Unlimited?

Trustees Unlimited was established to provide a solution to the problem many not for profit organisations face - trying to recruit high quality trustees in a rigorous and yet cost effective way.

A recent survey, conducted for Getting on Board, revealed that half of those asked did not know what a charity trustee is but more than one in ten said they would be interested in becoming one.

Since its launch, over 1,000 professionals looking for trustee roles have signed up to Trustees Unlimited; there has been significant demand for trustees from not for profit organisations of all sizes and several trustee placements have been made in large not for profit organisations, such as Christian Aid, through to smaller organisations such as London based, Community Options. 

A professional trustee recruitment service

Trustees Unlimited aims to offer a professional trustee recruitment service where trustees are selected from an extensive database of high calibre candidates and matched closely to clients’ briefs.

The database contains people from the private, public and third sectors and people with different functional backgrounds. All candidates are interviewed and have references taken before being presented on a shortlist to a client.

The key benefits of using Trustees Unlimited are:

• A wide gene pool (not voluntary sector specific)
• A rigorous vetting process
• A shortlist delivered just 10 days after taking the initial brief
• A ‘board ready’ trustee who can be inducted and developed through NCVO/BWB.

Basic version for smaller organisations (under £500k)

The basic service is a cost effective service that extends the Trustees Unlimited’s trustee recruitment offerings. It was set up in response to significant demand from organisations with a turnover of less than £500K who want to access the growing numbers of professional people wanting to serve as trustees who are registered with Trustees Unlimited.

This basic version of the Trustees Unlimited recruitment service is available for a one off fee of £750. It includes a briefing conversation with the selection committee of the recruiting organisation to ensure clarity on the type of trustee required and a search of suitable candidates from the Trustees Unlimited database of over one thousand people.

Quotes

'Leadership is a crucial area that all charities, regardless of their size, must get right if they want to ensure their long-term success so finding and recruiting the right trustees is a hugely important task. Trustees Unlimited has already successfully placed trustees in larger organisations and I’m delighted we are expanding the service so smaller charities can access high calibre candidates at affordable prices.'
Ben Kernighan, Deputy Chief Executive, NCVO.

'Trustees Unlimited is committed to good governance in the sector. We want to make it easier for every not for profit organisation in the UK to recruit high quality trustees and this new inclusive and accessible service will make that possible.' Ian Joseph, Head of the Not for Profit Practice at Russam GMS.

Contact

For more detailed information on the process and service offering and to make an enquiry:

• Visit the Trustees Unlimited website
• Contact Trustees Unlimited on 0845 3710899
• Email mailto:info@trustees-unlimited.co.uk

Alternatively, to register a formal enquiry and to have someone call you back, complete this form.

In the press

Charity trustees are the backbone of the sector

Additional support and information from NCVO

• If you are looking to post trustee vacancies for free then these can be placed on the NCVO Trustee Bank.
• If you are looking for paid employment in the voluntary sector look at NCVO CharityJobs.
• If you are looking for advice about becoming a trustee see NCVO’s governance advice, Want to be a Trustee.