Thinking of becoming a governor? Here is why you should

Recently, I was invited into Loughborough College to meet with their Director of Governance, Ian Jones and he shared with me a brilliant project he had been working on, centred around the five pillars of governance responsibility, accountability, transparency, fairness, and independence.

Specifically, I was able to see how each of those aspects play a part in governance and how they interlink with the impact you can have as a part of a corporation in further education. For me, this was truly a lightbulb moment. As part of the AoC Executive Recruitment Team, we try to understand what entices, excites, and motivates each individual person, and match that with their next step.

As a governor you have a profound responsibility, but with that comes great reward and satisfaction personally, professionally and most importantly on students’ lives and the community that you live in.

You will enable excellence, champion the stakeholder voice, impact key functions, leading and shaping culture, building relationships, drive improvement and change - you will be at the heart of it all!

But don’t to take my word for it.

Philippa Polland, Finance Governor, DN Colleges Group said:

"I am on the verge of retirement and not sure whether I am ready to fully jump in and leave the world of work completely. Being a further education governor is the perfect bridge as it is using my qualifications and skills, so I am still activating my brain, and yet it is not a full-time commitment. Also, I am giving something back to the community which I now have the time to do.

"As an FE governor I feel my opinions and insight count which is incredibly satisfying, as I think the potential hard stop of retirement when the world of work has defined us for so many years can be a bit of a shock to the system!"

Jeff Greenidge Director for Diversity and Governance, AoC said:

"Serving as Chair of Bridgend College has been an immensely rewarding experience, personally and professionally, especially as the college embodies inclusivity, a drive for excellence, and community engagement. The motto be all that you can be is something I personally hold very dear.

"One of the most fulfilling aspects was witnessing the college’s strong, supportive culture being recognised by Welsh education inspector, Estyn.

"Knowing that our governance approach actively fostered diversity and inclusion as a means of getting better more informed decisions was a source of great personal satisfaction.

"Bringing my experience as a teacher, coach, and leadership mentor, I took pride in shaping a strategic vision that strengthened leadership and management practices across the college. Seeing this translate into positive outcomes for students, staff, and the wider community reaffirmed my belief in the power of effective governance.

"Reflecting on my time as Chair, I take great pride in the impact we made together and remain committed to championing inclusive and transformative education."

So, why wait? Step into the role of a governor and be the catalyst for change in further education. Your expertise, passion, and commitment can drive excellence, foster inclusivity, and make a lasting impact on students and the community. Join us in shaping the future—become a governor today and lead the way in transformative education.