TrusteeWorks: expert inclusive board recruitment
Our specialist TrusteeWorks team focuses solely on board development and trustee recruitment for social purpose organisations.
Finding the right trustee can transform your charity’s future. Our TrusteeWorks Consultants search for people who believe in your cause and have the skills to help your organisation thrive.
Why TrusteeWorks?
- Our track record: Trustees are our sole focus and our consultants are experts in the charity sector, combining strong backgrounds in commercial recruitment with a deep understanding of charities' needs. Find out more about our team below.
- Our commitment to diversity: We understand that diversity is at the heart of good governance and help you bring a balance of perspectives and experience to your board.
- Our reach: Through networks built up over many years, the Reach platform, and unique partnerships with organisations like LinkedIn, we will promote your role to the widest possible pool of candidates.
- Our candidates: We invest time in getting to know our candidates, ensuring they are well-informed about your vacancy and meet your recruitment criteria.
- A process tailored to your needs - and your budget: We adapt our process to suit you and make your budget go further.
- Supporting the wider third sector: Our income helps support Reach Volunteering’s platform, making skilled volunteer recruitment accessible to social purpose organisations of all sizes.
If you have any questions so far or would like to find out more, our team would love to hear from you. Contact them on: [email protected]
How we deliver exceptional candidates
Our process is tried and tested and we flex and adapt it to ensure success for every client. Typically, your trustee recruitment will include:
- In-depth briefing and extensive research: After a detailed briefing call to help us understand your organisation, board dynamics and recruitment needs, we identify multiple probable sources of candidates and tailor the search accordingly.
- Engaging and inclusive recruitment materials: Expertly written to attract a diverse pool of candidates who share your vision.
- Direct search and outreach: Actively sourcing and engaging high-calibre candidates across both charity and commercial sectors using our extensive networks and professional search tools.
- Selection and shortlisting: We screen and brief all potential candidates to ensure they align with your needs before presenting a longlist for your review. Extra support offered with shortlisting and interview management.
Recent successful searches
Forward Education Trust, academy trust, Birmingham – five trustees with skills in risk & governance, business change, strategy, finance and cyber security.
University Hospitals Birmingham - chair with significant business experience and financial acumen.
The Way, youth charity, Wolverhampton - chair with education experience and a strong connection to the local area.
Crossroads Care, carers’ support charity, Oxfordshire - four trustees with skills in finance, business development, HR, business operations and with lived experience.
Gingerbread, national single parent family charity - treasurer with expertise in charity finance.
Autism West Midlands - chair with lived experience and knowledge of the social care sector.
STADA, national domestic abuse charity - three trustees with digital, EDI and financial expertise.
What our clients say
“I've learnt that sometimes it's also worth nudging people to see if they might be interested ... and we have benefited hugely from your TrusteeWorks service doing just that for us. Our exceptional chair-elect confirmed to me that she wasn't actively looking for a new trustee role - but was absolutely persuadable. Thank you TrusteeWorks!"
“We would highly recommend TrusteeWorks, they really understood what we were looking for and how crucial it is for us to recruit values driven people. They did a superb job in helping find a Finance Trustee/Treasurer.”
“I was very pleased with the amount of time Rachel invested in helping me to understand the process without pushing for a contract to proceed. When we did get going, Rachel explained well the parts that we needed to undertake and everything went according to the schedule we set. I am very pleased with the potential chairs that TrusteeWorks found for us. None of the best candidates would have applied just through an ad.”
Charities who've recruited through us
"TrusteeWorks were extraordinary value for money”
"Recruiting trustees with the right skills and diverse backgrounds to strengthen our board."
“Sarah’s guidance was invaluable”
Meet the team
Rachel Ord, Head of TrusteeWorks
Rachel joined TrusteeWorks in 2018 bringing with her extensive experience built during a 25 year recruitment career spanning finance, pharmaceuticals, media and retail. She has been committed to developing the TrusteeWorks service to meet the needs of its clients and has led a large number of successful campaigns.
"It’s very motivating to know that each organisation the TrusteeWorks team successfully supports to strengthen and widen the diversity of their Board will be a step closer to achieving their mission. And the fact that the income our team generates also supports hundreds of charities every year through Reach’s fantastic work, is incredibly rewarding."
Sarah Sibbald - Consultant
Prior to joining TrusteeWorks in 2023, Sarah spent 20 years working in multi-disciplined recruitment and resourcing. Her wide range of experience included work for charities, NGOs, membership organisations and social enterprises. Working closely with clients, she has delivered complex national and international executive search assignments and is now enjoying applying her expertise to trustee recruitment.
“Finding the right people who will support and allow charities to really deliver on their mission is something I find hugely rewarding, along with working with the really enthusiastic, dedicated and caring team here at Reach.”
Eleanor Urben - Consultant
Eleanor joined TrusteeWorks in 2017 after spending her early career in working in the charity sector providing front-line support for adults experiencing homelessness and mental health issues. Using this deep understanding of the sector, Eleanor has successfully recruited Chairs, Treasurers and Trustees across a wide range of causes.
“I enjoy working with such a diverse range of charities and get great satisfaction from knowing that the support I provide to charities to improve their governance will ultimately benefit their service users.”
Monica Van Niekerk - Consultant
Drawing on an academic background in occupational and organisational physiology and experience in a wide range of sectors including management consulting and education, Monica has a deep understanding of human behaviour and is adept at developing strong working relationships. As a TrusteeWorks consultant, she is keen to ensure that every client receives a tailored experience.
“Joining TrusteeWorks represented a meaningful expansion of both my professional journey and personal values and I’m delighted to be part of such a collaborative team and an organisation that truly embodies its values.”
Get in touch
To learn more or to arrange a time to discuss how we can meet your specific recruitment needs, please contact us at [email protected].