Liverpool Hope University recently celebrated 175 years since the founding of its first college in 1844. The University is distinctive in that it is the only university foundation in Europe (and the USA) where Catholic and Anglican colleges have come together to form an integrated, ecumenical, Christian foundation. When the three colleges (St Katharine’s 1844, Notre Dame College 1856 and Christ’s College 1964) came together, the name ‘Hope’ was adopted from Hope Street that links both cathedrals - a living parable of what can happen when Christians unite and work together for the common good. Liverpool Hope University was born in July 2005, when the Privy Council bestowed the right to use the University title. Research Degree Awarding Powers were granted by the Privy Council in 2009. 

The University is deeply committed to a culture of research and scholarship, and to preparing its graduates to serve the common good. Liverpool Hope University welcomes all who seek a sound higher education. The educational mission central to Hope is focused on the development of the whole person within the context of its wider community, and the University values opportunities to bring people together as part of a city that is steeped with passion and pride for support and unity.

Hope Park is the University's main teaching campus and is situated in Childwall, a leafy suburb of Liverpool. The campus is a mini educational village that has everything needed to live, study, socialise and relax. With its beautiful green spaces and state-of-the-art facilities, the recently refurbished Creative Campus features a number of amazing spaces alongside beautiful grade II listing buildings, all just up the road from Liverpool city centre. The academic profile of Liverpool Hope University is divided into ten schools and departments, each of which comprises a number of subject areas with strong teaching and research reputations. Several of its courses feature in the UK Top 10 for course satisfaction, including; Fine Art, Geography Theology and Religious Studies and its Computer Science course is ranked 9th in the UK for the subject overall.

With a new Vice-Chancellor and exciting strategic plan being devised, Liverpool Hope will focus on ensuring its professional degrees and qualifications will bring a bigger impact in the local community and be renowned as the place to go in the North West. With a solid financial footing, the University will continue to ensure its financial sustainability, whilst also expanding its investment portfolio.

The members of University Council are holders of public office. Working with the Vice Chancellor & Rector as Chief Executive, they share ultimate and collective responsibility for all the business transacted at Liverpool Hope University and for acting as ambassadors for its work in the outside world. All persons appointed to Council are expected to have a commitment to the institution’s mission and values and to observe the highest standards of corporate governance in exercising their responsibilities. University Council has adopted the Seven Principles of Public Life espoused by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Nolan Committee).

University Council responsibilities:

Fundamentally, Council has ultimate responsibility for the Mission, Vision, Values, Ethics, Culture and Corporate Strategy of the University which will be shaped and delivered by the Vice-Chancellor.

University Council is the foremost governance body of the University and has responsibility for determining the ‘educational character’ of the University. This is a general way of saying that the Board has oversight of the academic mission and policy of the University in the widest sense; the shape of the institution and its academic delivery, the partnerships which support or jointly deliver its programme, and the ultimate basis for its existence as an educational entity.

The Board’s other key responsibilities, which cannot be delegated, include:

• The effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the institution and the safeguarding of its assets;
• Approving the financial strategy, annual budget and estimates of income and expenditure;
• Employment policy, pay and conditions of service;
• Major capital expenditure
• Appointment, removal and remuneration of external auditors
• Appointment or removal of members of University Council and The Vice Chancellor
• Major changes to accounting practices
• Internal controls
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance
• Policy for Directors’ & Officers’ insurance and indemnity
• Pensions policy, major changes to pension provision and pensions funding
• Ensuring that the property and income of the University are applied only in support of purposes which are charitable in law.
• Ensuring that the Students’ Union operates in a fair and democratic manner and is accountable for its finances, in accordance with the Education Act 1994 Part II: Student Unions.
• Ensuring that a written statement of policy on health and safety is in place, and that arrangements for the implementation of that policy are satisfactory and effective.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation

The duties of Council Members:

To be effective, governors need a good working knowledge of Liverpool Hope University, of its history and traditions, its ecumenical nature and of its place within the higher education system and the wider community. Governors also need to know what is expected of them, both individually and collectively, particularly where the expectation has a legal basis to it, and Governors could be held accountable for their acts and / or omissions.

The members of the Board of Governors are holders of public office and are expected to observe the Nolan Principles of Public Life.

Working with the Vice-Chancellor as Chief Executive, they share ultimate and collective responsibility for all the business transacted by the University and for acting as ambassadors for its work in the outside world. All persons appointed to the Board are expected to have a commitment to our values and to observe the highest standards of corporate governance in exercising their responsibilities.

Committees of the Board:

In order for the Board to discharge its duties and to operate effectively, the Board delegates some of these duties to ‘Board sub-committees’. These committees are made up of members of the Board and are delegated to act on behalf of the Board. Their purpose and ‘terms of reference’ are all agreed by the Board and they report back to the Board on all activities within their remit.

Council Member (Finance)

Liverpool Hope seeks a new Council Member who will bring strong financial acumen to provide scrutiny, advice and act as a sounding board to the rest of the Council regarding various financial matters. They will provide guidance and oversight as the University looks towards ensuring its long-term sustainability and resilience.

Candidates can come from a range of sectors and their financial expertise may come from having operated as a CFO / Finance Director or as a CEO or COO, for example, who held responsibility for an organisation's finances of a comparable scale. Individuals could also bring strategic financial experience from their non-executive career, for example, sitting on or chairing a Finance Committee. As the University is looking to expand its investment portfolio, investment experience would be beneficial. Individuals don't need to be a qualified accountant and Board experience isn't a requirement for this role. The successful individual will sit on the finance Sub-Committee. A strong understanding of and a personal commitment to the economic and social regeneration of the Liverpool region would be advantageous.

Council Member (Audit)

Liverpool Hope seeks a new Council Member who will bring an eye for detail, an ability to see the bigger picture and a strong interest in audit. They will bring scrutiny, advice and act as a sounding board to the rest of the Council around auditing controls. They will provide guidance and oversight as the University looks towards ensuring its long-term sustainability and resilience.
The successful candidate could come from a range of roles and sectors. Though an auditing background would be welcome, the University is also open to those that who bring experience from outside of finance and audit. As the Chair of the Audit Committee is stepping down at the end of the year, the University is looking for a new Member of the Audit Committee who may become Chair of the Committee if the fit is right. Previous Board or chairing experience isn't a requirement for this role. A strong understanding of and a personal commitment to the economic and social regeneration of the Liverpool region would be advantageous.

In addition, both individuals will bring a clear understanding of the differences between an executive role and a non-executive position. They will have a strong personal commitment to higher education and the mission, values and aims of the University along with a commitment to the culture of the University, its ecumenical Christian nature and its staff and students. They will have a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to their duties as a Council Member.

To find out more about the Council Members, please see here. 

There are four Council meetings commencing at 4pm and usually lasting around two hours and three to four Sub-Committee meetings per year. Meetings are usually held at Hope Park Campus in Childwall, though some events may take place at the University’s Creative Campus in the City Centre. Members of Council receive invitations to a range of academic events. The presence of independent governors at events attended by other members of our community is a valued part of their role and is something that is strongly encouraged. The role is for a three year-term, which can be renewed. Reasonable, pre-agreed expenses can be reimbursed.

Location:Individuals will be able to attend meetings in person and ideally be local to understand the University's community.