Trustee Role Description

About the Taylor Bennett Foundation

The Taylor Bennett Foundation is a charity that exists to encourage black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) graduates to pursue a career in communications. We do this through our award-winning flagship PR training programme (which runs several times a year, sponsored by corporate partners), our Summer Stars internship programme and our mentoring programmes.

Established by communications executive search firm Taylor Bennett in partnership with the University of East London and founding agency Brunswick in 2008, the Foundation seeks to address the need for greater diversity in the public relations industry. We became a registered charity in 2013.

With the support of leading agencies and in-house communications teams, we run professional development programmes that provide participants with the knowledge, skillset and network required to equip them for a successful career in communications.

The role of the board of trustees

The Charities Act 1993 defines charity trustees as the people responsible under the charity’s governing document for controlling the administration and management of the charity, regardless of what they are called.  For the Foundation, the charity trustees are the board of directors and we discharge the operational running of the Foundation to our Chief Executive and her/his team.

The board is made up of:

Up to ten trustees, including a Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer.  Three of our trustees are nominated by Taylor Bennett, Brunswick and our alumni (one from each).  The remainder are appointed through open competition, and according to the skillset needed by the board.

The duties of a trustee board member are to:

• Ensure that TBF complies with its governing document (Articles of Association), charity and company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Ensure that TBF pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document
• Ensure that TBF applies its resources effectively and does not spend money on activities that are not directly relevant to its objectives
• Contribute actively to the board of trustees role in giving clear strategic direction to TBF, setting overall policies, defining goals and setting targets, and evaluating performance
• Ensuring the financial stability of TBF
• Introducing TBF to new networks, funding sources, partners, and supporters Raising the profile of TBF
• Safeguarding and enhancing the reputation of TBF
• Appointment and support of the CEO and her/his team

Time commitment

Trustees hold six meetings a year, including one annual strategy session. Trustees are expected to attend all meetings.  

In these unprecedented times, we have held more frequent, shorter and virtual meetings, to ensure we have been supporting the staff through the pandemic and challenging economic climate.

We ask each trustee to lead on a particular area of TBF work, to support trainees through the provision of masterclasses, to provide support to TBF staff as requested and to seek opportunities to promote the Foundation to help it raise funds, develop corporate partnerships and increase awareness of its work.

Person Specification

Each trustee must have

• A commitment to the mission of the Foundation
• Appetite to devote the necessary time and effort
• Integrity, honesty and a willingness to abide by Nolan’s Principles of Public Life
• A capacity to contribute to the strategic vision of TBF
• Sound, independent judgement
• An ability to think creatively
• A willingness to speak their mind, in a respectful and constructive manner
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good of the Foundation

The board of trustees collectively needs skills and experience in:

• PR and communications
• HR, recruitment, talent retention and organisational development
• Project management
• Financial management, income generation and enterprise
• Public policy and public affairs
• Third and public sector
• Digital strategy and engagement
• Volunteering management
• Social investment and impact

The Foundation is committed to promoting diversity and strives to engender expression and meritocracy. For more information visit: https://www.taylorbennettfoundation.org/