"TrusteeWorks were extraordinary value for money”

Ardgowan Hospice serves a small community about half an hour outside Glasgow. Operating in an area of high deprivation where very few businesses are based presented a recruitment challenge when the Hospice’s Chair of Trustees stepped down.  

Graham Gardiner, CEO of Ardgowan, explains why he chose TrusteeWorks over other agencies to run the recruitment for the new Chair of Trustees: 

“This was my first experience of using an agency to recruit a Chair of Trustees and it was such a positive one.  

“There was no natural successor when our former Chair left, and we knew we needed to do something a bit different to bring the right strategic skillset to strengthen the board and help the organisation achieve its goals.  

“We looked at a number of local recruitment agencies, but I was concerned that their knowledge and experience of the voluntary sector was limited. I had used Reach Volunteering previously to recruit volunteers, although not for trustees. When I spoke to the Reach TrusteeWorks Team, I was immediately reassured. There was an instinctive understanding about our specific needs as well as our culture and the point we were at.    

“My only slight hesitation about using TrusteeWorks was that they were not based in Scotland and I wondered if they would be able to reach enough local candidates of the right professional calibre. However, we decided to go ahead and were ultimately really pleased with this decision.  

Connecting with local people

“The whole process was smooth and easy and there was a real calmness about working with people who do this every day. I found it helpful that they challenged me constructively on the role description and encouraged us to be bolder and highlight our vision for the hospice more clearly.  

“My fears about the team’s ability to reach local people were allayed when our Consultant attended an event and was approached by some senior NHS leaders who all knew that we were looking for a Chair of Trustees.  

“It was useful to be able to talk through the whole recruitment process with our consultant, Sarah. We knew that we wanted to have more than one selection panel so we could involve staff and volunteers, as well as the other trustees, and it was good to talk about the best way to achieve this. We also received valuable advice on timing the recruitment campaign.  

“The quality of the candidates found by TrusteeWorks was excellent and we are delighted with the appointment we made.  

“The successful candidate was the Chief Executive of a large Scottish institution.  Not only will his experience elevate the strategic positioning of the Board, but through his extensive networks and well-established reputation, the appointment will also raise the profile of the hospice.  

“It was an added bonus that by meeting five of the six shortlisted candidates before the interview, I was able to establish good relationships and build networks with them too. Although we could obviously only appoint one person, I am hopeful that some of the other candidates will also join us as trustees in the future. 

Be clear and confident

“If I were to give advice to others looking to recruit a Chair of Trustees it would be to be clear and sure about what you’re looking for.  We set up a sub-committee which had discussed in some detail what we felt we needed. From a personal perspective, I knew I wanted someone who would provide challenge, but also support and encouragement. Thinking all this through in advance enabled my meetings with TrusteeWorks to be more focussed. Sarah, our consultant, was very experienced and extremely organised and understood completely that we were ambitious and eager to reach a different audience for this vital role.   

“I am absolutely delighted with the appointment. I am confident that we have a Chair of Trustees who will help us achieve the exciting vision we have for the hospice. We will be embarking on a big capital build in the coming years and we now have someone with the drive, experience and influencing networks to help us succeed in this crucial next phase of our development.  

“Many charities question using a paid-for service for trustee recruitment but my experience was so positive. We had a clear picture of what we needed, felt well supported by the TrusteeWorks team throughout the whole process, and overall it was extraordinary value for money.”