65 organisations from across the UK have been confirmed to join UK Boardroom Apprentice 2024 as Host Boards providing a safe seat at the table for aspiring board members to learn. These include charity organisations, public sector or government departmental boards.
The 12-month board learning, development and placement programme enables those who would like to serve on a public or third sector board to learn and gain the experience that they need to take that step. 372 Boardroom Apprentices have embarked on their personal journey to serve on a public or third sector board since its inception in 2017.
Boardroom Apprentice founder Eileen Mullan said: “Boardroom Apprentice was created to deliver diversity, create change, and realise aspirations.
“Our vision is simple – to bridge the gap between aspiration and reality. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to join a host board for a year to learn how they can bring fresh perspectives and diverse thinking to boardrooms across the UK.
“Over a twelve-month window, Boardroom Apprentices will get practical board experience, a suite of learning days and support to fully equip them to serve on a board in the public or third sector in the future.
Applicants of UK Boardroom Apprentice 2024 will have the opportunity to select from 33 new Host Boards and 32 that are returning for a second year.
Joining the programme for the first time is Honeycomb Group, a team of social-minded brands championing happy homes across the North Staffordshire region.
Andy Spencer, Chair of Honeycomb Group explained why they decided to get on board with the programme: “A key driver for us wanting to host a Boardroom Apprentice is that we are genuinely looking for diversity of thought in our Boardroom. Our business is diverse and our customer base has complex needs – so we need people with different life-experiences and views to come to the table to provide advice and scrutiny. We want new people to be part of shaping and delivering that chapter – people with a passion for changing places.”
One of the seven new Scottish Host Boards is The Royal Botanic Gardens, a leading botanic garden and global centre for biodiversity science, horticulture and education. Joanne Hannah, Director of Resources and Planning of the organisation explained:
“By becoming a Host Board, we will be able to expand our expertise, share our knowledge and learn new perspectives from the board members of the future. Our Boardroom Apprentice will be part of a Board that is inclusive, respectful and collaborative. They will have the opportunity to learn how to make a significant contribution to the strategic and cultural direction of our organisation.”
Open to those aged 18 or over from all backgrounds and all abilities, the programme seeks to enable a wider diversity of individuals to play their part within boardrooms, allowing those without board experience to enhance their knowledge and understanding through in-depth learning and support.
One of the returning boards is Theatre’s Trust, the national advice and advocacy body for the UK’s theatres.
Director of the organisation, Jon Morgan, said: “We have benefited enormously from having a Boardroom Apprentice taking part in our Board and Executive Committee meetings. They have brought a fresh perspective to our work and organisational practices, drawing on both personal background and career experience to ask interesting questions and challenging our thinking in ways that existing board members may not have done.”
Applications for next year’s UK Boardroom Apprentice programme close on Monday October 2, 2023.