Governance and Charitable Status
Corporate governance arrangements at Arts University Plymouth set and monitor the organisation’s strategy and objectives. The governing body aim is to give assurance and improve performance within the organisation by strategically focussing on clear and robust systems and control processes.
Legal name: Arts University Plymouth
Correspondence Address: Arts University Plymouth, Tavistock Place, Plymouth, PL4 8AT
Constitutional Documents:
The governors are responsible for corporate governance which includes the leadership, direction and control of the organisation, with the aim of improving the efficiency and effectiveness within the organisation through the relationship with management and the organisation stakeholders and the pursuit of objectives in the interests of the organisation and its stakeholders.
The governing body discharges its responsibilities of the duty of care by ensuring that the public funds received are spent for the intended purposes and that value for money is obtained.
Risk management is an integral part of any decision made by the governing body. The Audit Committee monitors progress and advises the governing body regarding controls on risk management.
The Corporation has a structure of five Committees and one Working Group to undertake strategic business control and monitoring:
- Finance and Estates Committee
- Audit Committee
- Nominations and Governance Committee
- Employment Committee
- Remuneration Committee
- Capital Build Working Group
Within each Committee or Working Group specialist members (Independent Committee Members) join the governors to provide professional advice and guidance. The Corporation meeting schedule ensures that the Committees and Governing Body are able to deliver their responsibilities and business in a timely manner, and to meet external bodies’ requirements.
Governors are recruited taking into account, wherever possible, equality and diversity issues. In particular, the Nominations and Governance Committee consider an individual's skills and experience to make certain there is a fit with the mission, vision and objectives of the university. High standards of ethical, personal and corporate conduct are expected from members, in accordance with the Standards in Public Life, commonly referred to as the ‘Nolan’ principles. All governors are encouraged to participate in development and training programmes, briefings, seminars and workshops. Members regularly receive routine circulations of a range of printed information and briefing material.
Arts University Plymouth has a long history of art education in Plymouth and the south west of England. The university offers a unique continuum of creative learning from its Young Arts Club, through its sponsorship of the Plymouth School of Creative Arts – a free school for pupils from 5 to 16, and its on-campus pre-degree, degree, and masters level courses. The Governors of the university are committed to the university's mission and support its aim to be recognised as a provider of high-quality applied learning within the creative arts, focusing on developing intellectual, creative professional practice, as well as personal and employability skills.
We have already achieved great success as an academic community, and we aim to build on this to secure the university’s place as a leading provider of art education. The Board of Governors has supported and will continue to support an ambitious programme of growth and development, to enable the university to continue to offer the best possible experience for its students and in turn produce the best possible graduates for the creative and cultural industries which we serve.
As an outward looking and vibrant specialist university we aim to meet the demand for skills in the creative and cultural industries. By working with other educational establishments and organisations regionally, nationally, and internationally we are able to provide our students with a rich diversity of experiences. Through collaborative ventures with employers we can offer our students opportunities to enhance their understanding of the skill needs of the workplace which will help them in their future study and career paths.
Whether you are a young person just leaving school or an adult do visit the university, talk to staff and students and see the opportunities for you to enhance your skills and so build a foundation for employability, or higher education and beyond.
David Noyce
Chair of the Board of Governors
We’re looking to appoint a number of new Independent Governors to our Board.
These roles will help us to achieve our mission to provide high quality education for life in contemporary arts practice, to engage with our strategic decision making processes, and to act as an ambassador for the university at a local, national and increasingly international level.
If you think your skills and experience could contribute to the university's continuing success then we would love to hear from you. We are particularly interested in working with people with backgrounds in Further Education, HR/Employment, ICT/Cyber or Arts Practitioners, with a strong interest in the arts and creative industries.
To register your interest, please send a covering letter with a CV, or to arrange an informal conversation, please email the Clerk - Liz Wiltshire-Meads at lwmeads@pca.ac.uk
Arts University Plymouth Charitable Trust seeks new Trustees to join its small, but ambitious charity.
Due to a number of retirements we are seeking dynamic and skilled individuals who are passionate about supporting young people and the creative industries, to join our board of trustees. The trustees see this as an opportunity to reinvigorate the board in order to set an aspirational vision for its future.
The trustees have, to date, been responsible for the administration of gifted funds that enable them to offer bursaries and scholarships to students, and the wider community, in order to access and progress within the arts. The trustees would like to extend this work to support those most in need and to enable young people to have successful, sustainable careers within the creative industries. This will be made possible with a proactive approach to fundraising and project management.
In order to meet these ambitions, the charity is seeking expressions of interest from individuals who wish to have a positive influence in shaping opportunities for future, current and previous students. We are particularly interested to hear from individuals with skills in the following areas:
- Secretariat Services
- Fundraising and sponsorship
- Charity and arts management
- Youth Development
- Business and financial management
This opportunity is offered on a voluntary basis and trustees are asked to commit to attend four Trust meetings each year and to actively participate as a member of at least one of several sub-groups run by the Trust. In particular, the Trust is seeking a trustee to be officially designated as the “Secretary” to the Trust on the Charity Commissions’ register.
We celebrate equality, diversity and difference, and welcome candidates from all communities.
To register your interest, please send a covering letter explaining your interest in joining and the skills you bring, along with a copy of your CV to sarah.fysh@metoffice.gov.uk or ross.middleham@metoffice.gov.uk