GTA University Centre offers free training and development to two aspiring directors in charitable sector through the Guernsey Community Foundation

Two aspiring directors in the charitable sector will benefit from expert training and development, thanks to an initiative from the GTA University Centre and the Guernsey Community Foundation.

The GTA recognises the increasingly important role of the charitable sector and the need to upskill directors who are typically volunteers. The GTA will give two directors in the charitable sector a place on its Institute of Directors (IoD) Introductory Certificate in Board Readiness programme, which is designed to prepare them for life in the boardroom.

The Community Foundation will facilitate the selection of suitable candidates from the charitable sector to receive these free places.

‘We recognise there is an ongoing need to support the development of local directors in the boardroom, across all industry sectors. In particular, we are keen to support organisations working in the charitable sector, who contribute enormously to the island, by providing access to quality training,’ said GTA programme manager, Paula Williams, who worked with the IoD to establish the course.

Sadie Siviter de Paucar, from the Guernsey Community Foundation, added: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for two people from within the charitable sector to receive top level training from experts in their field. Quite often a charity will have board members who have not had a vast amount of experience. So this offer from GTA University Centre is one that will really help the sector.’

The programme, comprises two full days and two half-days. A two-day workshop brings to life key issues that boardrooms face today and provides the necessary skills, knowledge and support to be a success. This is followed up by two half-day director mindset workshops, delivered by Chris Atkinson, an executive coach, through the GTA’s new Coaching Centre. Mr Atkinson, who has a passion for executive team development and coaching business leaders, was formerly a vice president of Microsoft. He moved to Guernsey with his wife and four daughters in 2013 after retiring from Microsoft.