Building Better Trustee Boards - The Secrets of Recruitment, Cohesion & Long-Term Success

Introduction

With more than 168,000 registered charities in the UK, trusteeship is not just a governance issue, it is a legal and regulatory priority for the profession advising them. Every charity requires a minimum of three trustees and, with recommended board rotation every three years, the sector faces the ongoing recruitment of almost 500,000 trustees. For lawyers working in charity law, governance, or advisory roles, this creates a constant and expanding demand for robust, defensible trustee structures.

Effective trustee boards sit at the centre of charity compliance, risk management and operational integrity. Poor governance can expose organisations and their advisers to significant legal and reputational risk. Yet many charities still struggle to recruit appropriately skilled trustees, establish clear governance frameworks and maintain effective board dynamics that stand up to scrutiny.

Imagine being able to equip your clients with a reliable system for trustee recruitment and board development, one that strengthens compliance, reduces governance risk and supports long-term succession planning. Picture guiding charities to build cohesive, high-performing boards that not only meet regulatory expectations but actively enhance organisational impact, while ensuring trusteeship remains clear, structured and rewarding for those involved.

In this new virtual classroom seminar, designed specifically for professional advisers, trustees and charity leaders, you will discover:

• The legal and practical foundations of successful trustee recruitment
• How to transform diverse appointments into an effective, compliant governing body
• Approaches to future-proofing charities through structured board development and succession planning
• Practical strategies to improve trustee engagement, clarity of role and governance effectiveness

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive session will cover the following:

• What lays the foundation for successful trustee recruitment
• How to recognise capable candidates who may nevertheless be the wrong fit for your board
• Practical strategies for developing and nurturing future trustees from within
• The key principles of effective trustee induction and mentoring
• Understanding the responsibilities of trustees and the boundaries they must respect
• Why succession planning should be the Board’s second-highest priority and how to make it happen
• How to create a culture in which trusteeship is seen as an honour and a privilege, rather than a burden

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.