Director Prospectus – All Aboard!

Director Prospectus – All Aboard!

Introduction

Station South is seeking one or more directors to join their Board, to bring new thinking, views and experience into the organisation and to support us to grow and thrive into the future.

Station South is a destination cycle café, bar, bike workshop and urban garden, offering a valued community asset for local residents, cyclists using the Fallowfield loop and visitors from further afield. A place to meet, eat, drink and dance. A year-round venue for everyone to enjoy activities, entertainment, learn new skills or simply relax with friends and family. 

We have a small team of directors on the Board, and we are now looking to add 1 or more new directors to the existing board, to supplement the existing skills in the team and to support us in building a resilient organisation into the future.

We are particularly interested in receiving applications from people with the following skills and experience:

• Finance and audit 
• Legal, compliance and risk 
• Bid writing and fundraising, particularly in the arts and culture sector 
• Heritage and/or active travel 

We’re looking for people who will take a proactive part in board discussions, engage in healthy debate, respect others’ viewpoints and then gather around to support a consensus view. If you think you’ve got the skills, experience and personal qualitities to support us in taking our next vital step, we’d love to hear from you.

Background

Station South is a Community Interest Company formed in 2017 by three local residents keen to prevent the building falling into disrepair.

After getting the transformed building open in March 2022, Station South has been growing and developing quickly. We are now looking to recruit new directors to support the organisation to build a sustainable business model, building on the successes to date and ensuring that the venue is protected into the future.

See more background on Station South at https://stationsouth.co.uk/.

What does being a director involve?

Directors of the Community Interest Company (CIC) have a shared responsibility for governing the organisation effectively. Being a director is about helping to make sure that the organisation is managed and run responsibly both in line with its legal obligations and in step with the vision, mission and values of the organisation. 

In line with the Charity Code of Governance, the director role is primarily focused on strategy, oversight and supportive challenge, providing strong leadership for the organisation and being positive ambassadors to drive its future direction.

This includes:

• Preparing for, attending and making active contributions to monthly in-person Board meetings (meetings take place in the evening, outside of normal working hours); 

• Drawing on personal expertise and working collaboratively in order to make good decisions that are in the best long-term interests of the CIC;

• Making use of existing networks and building on them in order to support the development of the organisation;

• Giving feedback on the organisation’s financial plans and strategic objectives;

• Reviewing risks to the organisation and the contingencies designed to mitigate these risks, while also safeguarding the organisation’s creative freedom;

• Contributing to reviews of systems, policies and procedures designed to allow the organisation to work as well as possible and embrace best practice;

• Representing Station South at events and meetings with stakeholders; 

• Giving support to Station South’s Managing Director, Abigail Pound;

• Embodying and promoting principles of inclusion and non-discrimination; and

• Supporting and nurturing high-quality relationships with the wider team that delivers the organisation’s work.

Some directors may also get involved in volunteering for Station South supporting events and activities but being on the Board is first and foremost about being responsible for the good governance of the organisation.

All directors will be requires to sign a Code of Conduct. This role is not remunerated.

What aptitudes and representation are we seeking in our directors?

We are looking for people who can commit the time to support us, and who have the energy and enthusiasm to help us grasp opportunities, connect us with new partners and help shape new futures. We need strategic thinkers – able to see the ‘big picture’, but equally happy to drill down into the detail when it’s needed. 

We need people who will work well as part of our team; people who communicate effectively, listen well, will respect others’ input, and who are able to compromise and get behind a joint decision. 

We are committed to seeking broad perspectives on our board, and would encourage applications from people of different ages and backgrounds. We are hoping to appoint candidates from the Levenshulme and surrounding communities but will be open to applications from further afield.

Application requirements

If you have any questions, or would like an informal conversation to discuss the role in the first instance, please contact Florence at board@stationsouth.co.uk. 

If you are interested in being considered as a director of Station South, please apply with the following:

• Your CV including contact details

• A supporting statement (no more than one side of A4) setting out:

  • Why you would like to be a director

  • What you will bring to Station South, particularly given the context and our requirements set out above

  • What you would hope to get from the role

• A disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest that you may have

• Contact details for two referees who would be able to confirm your suitability for the role.

Your application should be emailed by to: Florence Morton, board@stationsouth.co.uk.

There will be an interview process at the end of the application period. All candidates will be contacted whether they are invited for interview or not.