Cottsway - Non-Executive Directors

Non-Executive Director Recruitment April 2022

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Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment

A message from our chair of the Board Thank you for your interest in the role of Non-Executive Director.

This information has been prepared to provide further detail about Cottsway, our mission & values, and the importance of these board roles.

This is an exciting time to join Cottsway, during a time of change within the organisation and across the sector.

In 2021 we launched our Corporate Plan and we are making good progress towards meeting our objectives and are now looking towards to the next stage of our development.

Cottsway is a registered housing provider working in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. We own over 5,100 homes for rent and low-cost home ownership, have a turnover of around £34 million, with an asset base worth £350 million.

Our ‘purpose’ is to serve those in need of housing for whom the market is not providing a solution, in a manageable, cost effective area.

We are looking for two Non-Executive Directors to join a well-established Board made up of Non-Executive and Executive members. We are looking for new members to share responsibility for the decisions and direction we take at Cottsway, holding themselves and us to the highest standards to support our business to successfully achieve its strategic objectives.

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We are looking for exceptional and passionate individuals who can bring a track record of strategic leadership to help shape our business and ensure we continue to meet our social and corporate ambitions.

You will notice we are driven by our values: • We are open and transparent about how we do business.

• We are here for the long term.

• We see Cottsway as a partnership between customers and staff and key stakeholders.

• We will do all we can to provide our customers with decent homes from which they can enhance their lives.

• We are part of, and value, the communities in which we work.

These values were developed by our employees and Board members and set out what is important to us, and when we recruit, we look for people who share our values.

Your sincerely Andrew

Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment

About Cottsway Cottsway Housing Association was formed in 2001 and provides over 5,100 homes for rent and shared ownership for over 11,000 customers.

Our homes are based in West Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire, and range from flats and bungalows to family homes.

Cottsway Housing Association operates in a market with high long-term demand for housing. We are in a strong, robust financial position and committed to working in partnership to do more to help people in housing need, while adding social value to the communities that we serve. To support this commitment, we reinvest in housing to provide great homes and services for those who can’t afford to buy or rent on the open market. We are driven by the belief that it’s possible to provide quality solutions at an affordable price, regardless of the challenges.

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Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment

Job Description Overview

As a Non-Executive Director (NED), you will be expected to bring an external, independent perspective to the Board, assist with strategy, help develop the business and ensure that the risks are suitably managed, whilst maintaining the integrity of the Board. You will be expected to challenge and advise, in line with Cottsway’s values, and act only in the interests of the Association as a whole.

Board role and remit

• To attend and engage at Board meetings (operational and strategic) as well as relevant sub committees to define and ensure compliance with the Cottsway’s vision, values and objectives.

• Take appropriate time, interest and advice to ensure you understand the relevant regulatory and legislative frameworks as it applies to the Association and the Board and act in accordance with such frameworks.

• Set the strategic direction by establishing robust frameworks, policies and systems, risk management and mitigation and business assurance and control.

• To actively contribute and share your experience to ensure the Board make responsible decisions to guide and govern Cottsway to meet its vision, values and objectives.

• Establish ambitious, but sound frameworks, policies and plans to achieve the Association’s objectives.

• To prepare for and attend meetings, training sessions and other events whilst maintaining respect for the confidentiality of all information.

• To satisfy itself and the regulator that Cottsway’s affairs are conducted lawfully and in accordance with requirements, and generally accepted standards of performance and propriety.

• Help to determine appropriate levels of remuneration of executive directors and senior management and to advise on reward mechanisms. Take part in recruitment and selection of the CEO and fellow NEDs. • Uphold the National Housing Federation code of governance and the Association’s code of conduct.

• Identify opportunities for the Association to develop and grow in accordance with its strategic vision.

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Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment

About you You will:

• bring an active interest in the housing sector and bring an external, independent perspective and advise the Board accordingly.

• review the performance of Cottsway against the objectives and values of the Association.

• participate in strategy meetings and working sessions with staff from across Cottsway, representing our core vision and values at all times.

• provide access to useful contacts and networks to help develop new business in line with strategy.

• provide constructive challenge, always driving the Association to meet the strategic objectives.

• work as part of a broader team of executive and Non-Executive directors, acting and thinking corporately with a collaborative style that engages all levels of the organisation and supports in the achievement of our mission.

• be a strong leader, with credibility and enthusiasm, a decisive and effective decision maker who leads by example.

• be trustworthy and demonstrate integrity and confidentiality in everything you do.

• be a strategic thinker, bringing this to life through clear and enthusiastic communication (both written and verbal).

Your experience At Cottsway we are open to a range of skills and experience; the most important thing, is for us to find an individual(s) that bring something new to our existing Board and bring skills, experience and a keen interest to add value to the Association.

Experience of delivering innovation and change in a regulated industry would be ideal.

A willingness to add value and learn about the Association’s needs, both now and in the future is essential.

A background in financial services and treasury would be advantageous, as would a experience or exposure to housing practices.

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Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment

Time commitment The current Board meets approximately 12 times a year (Board and Committee meetings), and holds additional strategy meetings, including with senior staff/ shareholders.

A Non-Executive Director is expected to be available for adhoc advice to the Board and senior team on an as-needs basis.

The total time commitment per month is 1-2 days.

The appointment will initially be for three years, with the option of renewing at the end of this period up to a further 3 years.

Conflicts of interest and commercial confidentiality Our appointments are made on the basis of trust, a key component of which is to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest between this appointment and posts held elsewhere.

All material provided to the Board by the company should be treated as commercially sensitive, and not disclosed to third parties without the written permission from the Chair of the Board and should remain confidential for a period of at least 3 years following termination of the contract.

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Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment

Fees, expenses and remuneration Salary of £5,680 per annum.

Travel and subsistence expenses, for example attending Board meetings, will be reimbursable in line with Cottsway’s policy at cost, on submission of evidence in the form of receipts.

Cottsway’s office is based in Witney, Oxfordshire and we operate across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

Non-Executive Directors would ideally be based within our operating location, or be willing to travel accordingly.

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Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment

How to apply All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter as two separate documents.

The cover letter should be no more than two pages long, explaining why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First NameYour LastName-Document Name-Date (mmyyyy) eg, Pat-Jones-CV-042022Cottsway or Pat-Jones-CoverLetter042022-Cottsway.

Please note that all our clients recruiting in the UK are legally obliged to confirm that the appointee is eligible to work in the UK, as per government regulations.

For further information visit the Home Office website.

Timeline

Equality statement

Equality and diversity are at the core of Cottsway’s values. Staff and Board members are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

Get in touch

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email board-cottsway@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.

Next steps

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application within two weeks of applying. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

Applications will be reviewed and candidates considered on an ongoing basis so early application is encouraged.

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Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment

About Oxford HR Oxford HR is working on behalf of Cottsway to help with its NED Board member recruitment.

Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and environment / climate sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of NGOs, social sector, corporate, public sector, and start ups from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.

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Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment

OXFORD

LONDON

AMSTERDAM

NAIROBI

46 Woodstock Road

5 Tanner Street

Korte Schimmelstraat 12

Workify Africa

Oxford

Bermondsey

1053 SZ

ABC Place

OX2 6HT

London

Amsterdam

Waiyaki way

SE1 3LE

Nairobi

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The Netherlands

Kenya

+44 (0) 1865 985 457

+44 (0)20 7939 7451

+31 (0) 683 334 473

+254 (0) 797 233 217

www.oxfordhr.co.uk | Company No. 6456325

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Cottsway - Non-Executive Director Recruitment