The Civil Service Sports Council Ltd (CSSC) was founded in 1921 and is a not-for-profit membership organisation, with over 125,000 members and an annual turnover of nearly £10m. We provide sport and leisure opportunities for public servants throughout the UK, ranging from club-level sports and taster sessions to theatre trips and family fun days out.
Our mission is to provide great value sports and leisure experiences and a range of health and wellbeing benefits for public service employees, including civil servants, teachers, members of the armed forces, health and emergency workers and their families. We seek to get our members “Up, Out and Active”.
Most CSSC activities are run by a team of around 80+ head office staff, and around 1000+ highly motivated volunteers, all of whom are current members, passionate about the organisation. Income from membership fees is paid back out in grants to area associations across the UK, which then decide what activities and events they wish to run for local members. CSSC’s model is successful in fostering a sense of active community and shared interests among our members.
CSSC has an extensive and diverse property portfolio including sports grounds, fishing and sailing waters, commercial premises and housing. CSSC has two main trading subsidiaries (CSSC Properties and the Sports & Leisure Group) and receives a small grant from the Cabinet Office to host civil service workplace wellbeing events in partnership with Civil Service HR. However, we largely rely on membership fees to fund our commercial partnerships with organisations like English Heritage, Kew Gardens, ZSL London Zoo, National Trust Scotland and many others. As such the recruitment and retention of members is central to our continuing success.
Through 2023, CSSC undertook a business wide Governance Review which has seen significant changes to Board structure and process. Now, a two-year transitional period is underway to shift to a modern governance structure with a newly appointed Chair and a Board that has wider commercial and strategic experience in CSSC’s key areas of business. The objective is to bring about better member focused improvements and greater accountability at Board level.
This is an exciting time for CSSC, one of the most influential membership bodies in the UK. Our Board has ultimate oversight of the organisation from effective governance to the delivery of our diverse offers, activities and programmes, ensuring that the organisation’s strategy is ambitious, financially sustainable, environmentally responsible and our approach is inclusive to all.
We believe our Board will be more effective, and our organisation more welcoming, with greater diversity and therefore we welcome applications from those who bring difference. Our Board advises, challenges and mentors our executive team and Board Apprentices so we are looking for independent thinkers who can bring unique insights and life experience to how we work and engage with our members.

Iain Kirkpatrick Chair

Matt Bazeley Chief Executive

Why the Civil Service Sports Council is supporting Boardroom Apprentice

The recent governance review recommended a Board Apprentice Programme be introduced. Prospective Board members from within the public sector will have access to a new training programme to ensure they are Board ready and develop the skills, knowledge, understanding and have the support to operate at Board level. The recommendations were accepted by the membership during the Special General Meeting in October 2024.
The Board Apprentice scheme will help future board members gain practical experience and training in board operations and governance. Our goal is to attract candidates from across the Public Sector and we will provide the selected individual with a new training program to ensure they are ready for board roles and have the skills, knowledge, and understanding needed to succeed.
In addition to formal training, delegates will observe Board/Committee meetings, shadow and be mentored by a current or past Board member.
The Board Apprentice scheme forms part of our wider succession plan which outlines our process for replacing board members and ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of CSSC.

Location of Board and Committee Meetings

Meetings are generally held at our Head Office in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire in person and / or hybrid meetings i.e. a virtual option will always be available to ensure inclusivity and so Board members are able to connect online via MS Teams.

Frequency and timing of board/committee meetings

Board and Committee meetings are held quarterly. Meeting times are selected to allow for travel in one day where possible, to reduce the time of members away from their day jobs, and to reduce the cost of expenses. For example, lunch will be served at 12 noon, with the meeting from 12.30 pm to 4.00 pm.

Date of Board Meetings (January – December 2025)

  • 11 Feb 25 09:00-12:00 – in person – High Wycombe – Board Meeting
  • 11 & 12 March 25 – in person – Birmingham – Strategy workshop
  • 7 May 25 –  10:30 -13:30 – in person – High Wycombe – Board Meeting
  • 11 Jun 25 – 18:00 – 19:30 – virtual – AGM
  • 6 Aug 25 – 10:00-16:00 – in person- Kew Gardens – Board Meeting
  • 4 Nov 25 – 10:30 – 13:30 – in person – High Wycombe

Committee of the Boards and meeting dates (January - December 2025)

To be confirmed.

Security checks

Yes. The Boardroom apprentice should not hold any other Board/Committee position within the organisation at Area, Regional, Club, associate, subsidiary or any other affiliate.

Payment of travel expenses

Yes