Dear candidate
Thank you for your interest in the role of Company Secretary for the LSBU Group.
LSBU is a modern, dynamic university with a long history of leading the way in applied education and practice-led learning. With over 17,000 students and 2,000 staff from over 130 countries, we work together to foster the development of graduates, ready to address business and societal challenges. We are focused on turning passion into purpose.
The University created LSBU Group, a unique and growing partnership of secondary, further and higher education providers in south London. LSBU Group is made up of four organisations and was created in 2019 after London South Bank University oversaw the first merger of its kind between a university and college.
We are now seeking to appoint the Company Secretary for the LSBU Group. This role is key to the quality and performance of fundamental governance and compliance activities which provide the foundation for success in delivering the LSBU Group’s strategy.
Reporting to me, the Company Secretary will be the Board and executive leadership team’s primary expert advisor on corporate governance and related compliance matters, providing information, insight and analysis to inform Board-level decision making. The role provides governance and secretariat services to the Group’s governance committees and manages colleagues responsible for the delivery of services to the Board and its committees. The post-holder will also be responsible for monitoring developments in governance and committee management and will ensure that the Group complies with the requirements of the Office for Students, Ofsted and other regulators, and with governance best practice.
You will bring knowledge and understanding of the law and practice relating to company administration, governance and compliance requirements in higher education. You will have proven experience of managing institutional governance and committees at a senior level in a large and complex organisation. You will also demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity and an understanding of its practical application.
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, I encourage you to apply. You can find more information about the role and how to apply on this website. Our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley would be pleased to discuss the role with you in confidence – their details can also be found on this site.
I do hope you will express an interest in joining us at this exciting stage in our development.
LSBU – Turning Passion into Purpose
Founded in 1892 as the Borough Polytechnic Institute to “promote the industrial skill, general knowledge, health and wellbeing of young men and women belonging to the poorer classes”, the University’s mission has remained largely the same ever since: to provide professional opportunities to all who seek them. In 1970 the Institute merged with four other colleges to become South Bank Polytechnic. In 1992 after being awarded University status, the name changed again to South Bank University, before finally becoming London South Bank University in 2003. In 2019, Lambeth College joined the Group, which together with London South Bank Technical College, South Bank University Academy, South Bank University Sixth Form and South Bank Innovation, forms the LSBU Group. The Group has a diverse, multicultural population of around 17,000 London based university students, plus around 6,500 transnational students, 7,000 college students and 1,100 academy students. Over half of the university students identify as black and minority ethnic, more than half come from deprived neighbourhoods, over 60% are mature students and 9% are international.
Our vision is to transform lives, communities, businesses and society through applied education and insight. LSBU is for people who want to make an impact. The education we offer can be truly life changing for our students, and every day we come to work with a single goal: nurture their learning and growth. We’ve offered opportunities for all since 1892. We were pioneers at the time. Now it’s in our DNA, and the heart and soul of our university lies in the power of our diversity and the strength of our local communities.
Our ambition is to create educational pathways that empower people of all backgrounds and talents to realise their aspirations, add to the knowledge base, and contribute their skills and drive to wider society. To realise our ambition, we need people with energy, courage and imagination, who are enthused by our vision and recognise our values as theirs; people who bring ideas to enrich our approach to learning, research and innovation; collaborative people who love creating and spreading knowledge; brilliant people who seek growth and yearn to make a positive, personal difference.
At LSBU, you’ll get to contribute to a vibrant and dynamic culture, which is fuelled by purpose, built around people, and genuinely diverse. You’ll be trusted and recognised for your unique contribution.
The four pillars of the 2025 Group Strategy are Access to Opportunity, Student Success, Real World Impact and Fit for the Future. These pillars articulate what is at the heart of what the LSBU Group is trying to achieve. Success against the strategy will be judged against these four pillars. What joins these pillars is the overarching offer of delivering: Social mobility; A student experience designed around our students; Professional and technical education; Impact through insight; Strength from diversity; and Engagement with place.
LSBU Group:
The University
The University has eight schools of study each led by a dedicated Dean. These are:
You can read more about our schools here.
Lambeth College
The college offers a wide range of specialist courses to support students into employment and on to further education. Courses focus on real-world, practical learning, helping students to build a diverse skill set preparing them for life and future careers. Find out more here.
London South Bank Technical College
London South Bank Technical College is a college that does things differently, in a revolutionary new campus in Nine Elms, with tech-forward, industry-focused learning spaces that are sector leading. Find out more here.
South Bank University Academy
South Bank University Academy is a school which stays true to its values of social justice, kindness and empathy, and community: helping students become change makers, live a good life and improve the lives of others. Find out more here.
South Bank University Sixth Form
South Bank University Sixth Form is a new and innovative sixth form with strong employer links, cutting-edge facilities and a specialist technical curriculum in engineering, health, business and finance. The Sixth Form launches in September 2023.
South Bank Innovation
South Bank Innovation drives impact and knowledge exchange, through a team of 50+ experts passionate about enabling both our academic and student communities to engage with innovation and generate economic and societal benefits at the local, national and international levels. Find out more here.
Governance
You can read more about governance at the LSBU Group organisations below:
Governance at LSBU
Governance at South Bank Colleges
Governance at South Bank Academies
Facts and figures
You can read our latest reviews and financial statements here.
You can read our Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31st July 2022 here.
Further information
You can find out more about the University here.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Grade: 11 (£70,878 to £79,752)
Reporting to: Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Line management: Governance Officers, Governance Assistant
Purpose
This role is key to the quality and performance of fundamental governance and compliance activities which provide the foundation for success in delivering the London South Bank University (LSBU) Group’s strategy.
Within the LSBU Group, the role is the Board and executive leadership team’s primary expert advisor for corporate governance and related compliance matters, providing information, insight and analysis to inform Board-level decision making. The role is accountable for and oversees governance and secretariat services to the Group’s governance committees, including the Board of Governors at LSBU and the Boards of Trustees at South Bank Colleges (SBC) and South Bank Academies (SBA), and manages a team of staff responsible for the delivery of services to the Boards and their Committees.
The post-holder will collaborate closely with principal Group authorities, including the Chair of each Board, Board members, the Vice-Chancellor, and other senior leaders. The post-holder will keep abreast of developments in governance and committee management and ensure that the Group operates in compliance with the requirements of the Office for Students, Ofsted and other regulators, and with relevant legislation, the Committee of University Chairs’ and Corporate Governance codes, and best practice.
Key responsibilities
The post-holder’s key duties and responsibilities are to:
Group business administration
Strategic advice
External compliance
Communication
Membership
Management of the team
PERSON SPECIFICATION
All of the following criteria are considered essential unless otherwise noted.
Qualifications
Knowledge
Experience
Skills/aptitudes
Behavioural framework
Remuneration: The salary range is £70,878 to £79,752.
Hours of work and working pattern: Full time, London based with hybrid working.
Annual leave entitlement: 26.5 working days per annum, rising with length of service, plus public and bank holidays and days when the University is closed.
Pension scheme: The University offers automatic membership to a defined contribution (DC) scheme which is operated through Aviva. Details of the contribution rates and pay bands, together with details of the Scheme, can be found here.
Equal opportunities policy statement: The University is committed to equality of opportunity both as an employer and as an educational institution. The University will promote good relations among its staff and students and will create conditions that contribute to the full development and potential of all its members.
Pre employment checks: All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre employment checks including medical questionnaire, references and right to work in the UK.
International applicants: We welcome international applicants who have the right to work in the UK or who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route (SWR) or the Global Talent Route. Under the UK Governments Points based scheme, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by LSBU for an SWR application.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the University. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 24th November 2023.
Preliminary interviews will be held in late November/early December 2023.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to undertake psychometric assessments on 5th/6th December 2023.
Final interviews will be held on Monday 11th December 2023.
Applications should consist of:
To apply, please click the Apply Now button at the top of this page.
Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Sophie Rees on +44 (0)7719 313 982, sophie.rees@andersonquigley.com, or Elliott Rae on +44 (0)7584 078 534 or elliott.rae@andersonquigley.com.