LET'S TELL YOU MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR...

WHO WE ARE

We are 60+ societies, we're a bite to eat in Liberty's, and a pint in Geordies. We are support from the Advice Hub, Therapets, and Class Reps & School Officers. We're Freshers Week, Beer Fest, and volunteering.

We are a lot of things, but our purpose is to put our students first. We aspire to be the best student union in Scotland so that our amazing students receive the experience they deserve. We want to have fun, are open to change and empower our students to make a difference.

We do this by representing, supporting, advising and promoting the interests, health and welfare of students at Heriot-Watt University. We are a charitable company limited by guarantee and run charitable and commercial services including an advice centre, bar, shop, club and café.

We have our strategy, aka our "Big Plan", which guides us as we shape our Union, its objectives and activities as we continually learn how best to deliver our services in a changing world. This is an exciting time of transformation and we are looking for a trustee with HR expertise to join our Board and help us on our journey.

We are a democratic organisation which means we have an elected student parliament, including four paid full-time student officers who are also trustees and directors. We have a career staff team of around 25 and a senior management team of four, led by the Chief Executive Officer. Our turnover is in the region of £3M with a block grant of around £845k and the remainder made up by trading income.

OUR TRUSTEE BOARD

We have an established and well-performing board which is made up of:

• One President and three Vice Presidents who are all full time elected officers;

• Two student trustees, normally one undergraduate and one postgraduate;

• Between three and six external trustees, one of whom must be an alumni; and

• One university nominated trustee.

Our external trustees come from different backgrounds and bring experience in a range of areas including finance; students and the university sector; human resources and project management. It is someone with HR experience that we are keen to see join the Board.

We are a registered charity in Scotland and our board's role is to ensure that the Union works effectively in how it achieves its aims. We're student-focused but if we spend all our money on Freshers Week and can't open our doors for the rest of the year, then we're not putting students first.

You can find more information about the role of charity trustees on the OSCR web site at

oscr.org.uk

WHO ARE WE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for an individual with HR/People experience, passionate about making a difference. We are keen to talk to individuals who have expertise in Human resource management, organisational design, reward and employment legislation.

You'll sit within our wider board of trustees, as well as being a subject matter expert in your area. If you bring your enthusiasm, we will provide the procedural support and development opportunity.

You will need to be able to make the time commitment, which isn’t huge but shouldn’t be underestimated.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications from students who work for the Student Union or hold a position on Student Parliament.

If you are appointed, we will ask you to confirm that you are legally able to hold the position of Trustee and Director.

TIME COMMITMENT

The Trustee Board meets about four times a year in the evening,

usually between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.

You are sent papers for the meeting one week in advance.

There is usually a planning meeting day around January

You are invited to attend the Union AGM which takes place around March.

Occasionally you will be asked to contribute to a specific discussion

or decision by email.

WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS AT A TRUSTEE BOARD MEETING?

The Trustee Board meeting usually follow the same format. You will receive reports on the Union’s financial performance and also reports from the Full Time Officers and Leadership Team.

There are also usually items of business on strategic projects ranging from strategy to operational issues. Occasionally there are parts of a Trustee Board meeting that take place in camera and are therefore confidential.

However most of the business of the meetings is made public through the minutes and can be viewed at hwunion.com/reference/trustee-board-minutes.

WHAT DO I GET FROM BEING A TRUSTEE?

Being a Trustee and Director is an excellent opportunity to develop a number of valuable skills that will be useful for your CV.

You will develop:

• Communication and team work

• Understanding and using financial statements

• Strategic thinking and developing strategic plans

• Understanding of legal and business matters

• Governance and compliance

• Problem solving

• Time management

• Decision making skills

• Meeting skills and confidentiality

As a member of the Board you will also join a group of experienced and influential people who have a broad range of skills and industry contacts.

JOB DURATION

The position is for a maximum of two, 4 year terms.

Edinburgh University Students' Association is looking to recruit a Student Opportunities Officer (Peer Learning and Support) to join our Student Opportunities team.

Edinburgh University Students’ Association is an award-winning organisation, which exists to provide diverse services, representation, and welfare support to the community of over 49,500 students at the University of Edinburgh. By providing opportunities, helping to create change and offering support, we're here to help students get the most out of their time in Edinburgh. We have five venues around the University of Edinburgh campus – Teviot Row House, King’s Buildings House, Potterrow, the Pleasance and Edinburgh College of Art’s Wee Red Bar – which house our offices, cafés, bars, clubs, spaces for students to meet, study and socialise. These spaces transform into some of the most well loved Edinburgh Festival Fringe venues throughout the month of August each year.

We are a registered charity and all of the income we generate from our commercial activity goes back in to supporting our members. We’re also an organisation with a strategic commitment to support and empower all our staff, and have some exciting plans for the future. There's never been a better time to apply and join our organisation.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. Edinburgh University Students’ Association is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

Our Student Opportunities team of 10 supports a range of student community-building and student led activities, including 370 student societies, 50+ Peer Learning and Support groups, student community volunteering, and international/intercultural activities. We support 1000s of student volunteers who create activities, events and communities for all students at the University of Edinburgh, and work collaboratively with colleagues across the Association and in the University in order to do so.

The Role:

The Student Opportunities Officer (Peer Learning and Support) is responsible (as part of a team of 4) for supporting the development and expansion of peer-led activity across the University of Edinburgh, enabling all students to enhance their experience. This will include supporting and facilitating student-led peer-to-peer activity throughout the University, encouraging students to take a holistic and autonomous approach to their learning and development.

This is a collaborative role which sits within the wider Student Opportunities team (10 in total), with a specific remit of supporting the development of Peer Learning and Support. This involves contributing to the forming of a community of learners (both staff and students) locally and across the University.

The Student Opportunities team sits within the wider Membership, Engagement and People Development Directorate at the Students’ Association (which also includes The Advice Place, Student Voice, and People and Development teams), and works collaboratively with colleagues in relation to a number of events, initiatives and activities related to student support and development.

The Person:

A confident and experienced trainer with excellent communication, interpersonal, organisational and IT skills. The post holder will have a proven track record of providing both administrative and operational support for volunteers. A student focused individual with a consistently professional approach to their duties and keen attention to detail. A person with high expectations of themselves and others, who takes pride in their work and that of their team.

Plus, a generous benefits package:

• 35 days per year holiday entitlement
• Company pension with 14.5% employer contribution
• Enhanced company sick pay, leave and loan policies
• A comprehensive package of support via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to money saving discounts from hundreds of retailers via our Pluxee Discounts Hub
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Discounts on food and drink across our venues

The Court of Queen Margaret University is looking to appoint up to two new independent (Lay) members to start in October 2024.

Joining the Court of Queen Margaret University will give you the opportunity to contribute to a university with strong values; which is committed to creating a better society through education, research, and innovation; and which provides a supportive and creative learning environment in which students and staff thrive.

Lay Court members play an important role in ensuring that the necessary business of the Court is carried out efficiently, effectively, and in a manner appropriate to the proper conduct of public business. Lay Court members are expected to make contributions to debate and to make their knowledge and expertise available to the Court as opportunity arises.

Candidates will ideally have prior experience as a member of a board or committee, or experience of operating at a strategic level in a professional role. Consideration will also be given to individuals with relevant professional expertise who can demonstrate the capacity to develop as a skilled member of the Court once appointed. For this recruitment round, we are particularly interested to hear from individuals who can bring expertise and/or experience in the following areas: Health and Health Policy; Higher Education; and Human Resources.

We recognise the value that diversity of perspectives and lived experiences brings to Court, and therefore would welcome and encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, and to preserve gender balance on the Court in accordance with the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018, we would welcome and encourage applications from women.

For more information on this opportunity, visit qmu.ac.uk.

For more information: qmu.ac.uk/about-the-university/university-court

The One World Shop was established over 40 years ago and has played a lead role in the Fair Trade movement in Scotland, including helping Edinburgh and Glasgow become Fairtrade cities. As well as running a thriving city centre shop, we have an online shop and we support schools, faith groups and local businesses to learn about and sell fair trade products. We currently employ 7 paid staff and over 20 volunteers. Our aim is to reduce poverty in deprived areas of the world through trading fairly and we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting low-carbon living.

We are seeking to appoint several new voluntary Management Committee members; we are particularly looking at people with skills and experience in any of the following:

- Human Resources

- Property, leases, surveying

- Retail sales and management

- Business management

- Finance, funding, ethical investment

Board meetings are held every two months by Zoom