With a budget of around £100m, 26,000 students and 1,700 members of staff, New City College (NCC) has become one of the largest further education college groups in England with a clearly defined regional prominence in London and Essex.

NCC began as a medium-sized college serving a single London borough. In 2016, the-then Tower Hamlets College was a £20m college with over 1,000 16-18 year old students and 2,000 adult learners. Although debt free, the College recognised then that a new response was required to the changing market. Tower Hamlets College therefore merged with Hackney Community College in August 2016, changed its name to New City College in February 2017, merged with Redbridge College in April 2017, and then with Epping Forest College in August 2018. In August 2019, both Havering College of Further & Higher Education and Havering Sixth Form College joined the group. Throughout, the NCC's strategy has been to build robust, resilient colleges rooted in East London and Essex communities. Through growing in this way, NCC has become a better and more robust organisation than it could have been as individual institutions.

NCC helps students to realise possibility. With opportunities for everyone, it encourages its students to look beyond today and to reach their full potential. Its strength comes from its community roots and its ability to nurture talent. With a wide choice of courses for local school leavers, SEND students, adults and those looking for higher education qualifications, it has the vitality to help students break boundaries and think big.

This is an exciting time to join NCC's board. The college group is led by a dynamic and robust executive team and is in a strong financial position. Over the next five years, further mergers and takeovers within London and Essex are a possibility, but the main focus will be on developing the curriculum and provision for students. There are also a number of exciting building projects on the horizon. The main challenges and opportunities for the group are in responding to a fast changing labour market and working closely with employers and local authorities.

The New City College Corporation is made up of independent members from the local and business communities, along with staff and student members from the College and the Group Principal & Chief Executive. The Corporation is also often referred to or described as the Board. With a role similar to that of a Non-Executive Director, Governors are responsible for helping to shape the strategic direction of the College, determining its educational character and ensuring its overall future financial health and well-being.

The Board:

• Determines and periodically reviews the educational character and mission of the institution and oversees its activities
• Approves the College's quality strategy
• Ensures the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the College, and safeguards its assets
• Approves annual estimates of income and expenditure
• Has responsibility for the appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal and determination of the pay and conditions of service of the holders of senior posts and the Director of Governance; and sets a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff

The Corporation is accountable to ESFA for the use of public funds and has ultimate responsibility for the College’s management and administration.

New City College Group seeks a new Governor with a senior-level further education background to join its Board. Candidates could have experience, for example as:

• A recently retired leader of a large further education college or college group
• A former HMI for the further education sector
• A senior leader within the further education sector who has experience operating at a strategic level within a large organisation

Candidates should have an in-depth understanding of further education and be able to provide curriculum oversight. Ideally, they would also be able to chair the Curriculum Committee. Previous Board experience is welcome, but is not essential.

Above all, the successful candidate will be committed to ensuring all young people and adults who attend NCC get the best possible experience that they can and that they leave equipped for the next stage of life, whether that be employment, training or continuing in education.

A list of current Governors can be found here.   

There are four Board meetings per year. Governors will also be expected to serve on a committee, each of which also meets four times per year. Additionally, there are two strategy days per year, plus ad hoc engagement. All Governors commit to attend training both online and in person to keep up to date about sector developments and to gain more detailed knowledge about the role. The appointment is for a four-year term, renewable once. The role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be reimbursed.

Meetings will be held in person at the Poplar Campus near Canary Wharf, Tower Hamlets. Candidates will be within commutable distance.

New City College Group welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As those from ethnic minority backgrounds are currently under-represented on the Committee, applications from those individuals would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.