Dudley College of Technology is a statutory Corporation whose members are also known as Governors.
The Corporation provides strategic leadership to the College and sets the mission and the framework of policies within which the College operates. While day to day management is the responsibility of the Chief Executive & Principal and the senior leadership team, the Corporation has the key role of monitoring, challenging and supporting them.
The Corporation has twelve external Governors who are unpaid volunteers and are drawn from business, professional, public sector and community backgrounds. They bring a range of skills and experience to the Boardroom. The Corporation also includes the Chief Executive & Principal, two staff Governors and two student Governors.
The Corporation meets eight times a year (including development events). It also has a number of committees whose membership consists mainly of Governors but also includes co-opted members. These committees carry out detailed work and make recommendations to the Corporation in the key areas of standards, audit, finance and estates.
Catering for over 12,500 learners of various types each year drawn from all parts of the community, Dudley College of Technology plays an important part in the life of the community. With an annual turnover of £46.5 million, it is also one of the area’s largest employers and is an important part of the local economy.
The Corporation is comprised of people from all walks of life, who give freely of their time to undertake an important role in overseeing the work of the College. They bring to the Boardroom their skills, experience and knowledge of the community. In return, they find that being a Governor is a rewarding role, which brings them into contact with others who have an interest in the many different aspects of education and training.
The College keeps a database of people who have expressed an interest in supporting it by helping on a College committee or by becoming a Governor. If you would like to be included on this database, or if you have any other queries, please contact the Director of Corporate Governance, Gill Darwood, on 01384 363 170 or e-mail at gill.darwood@dudleycol.ac.uk
The following questions are typically asked by people who are interested in the role and the answers provide clarification of the position:
No. There are particular rules about the skills or qualifications needed to become college governors. On the contrary, they are lay people who collectively bring to the Corporation a wide range of interests and expertise. When new appointments are made, account is taken of the experience and skills already present. What is much more important is that Governors are enthusiastic people, capable of working as part of a team and who have an interest in helping the College to fulfil its mission.
There are 17 Governors, in the following categories:
- 12 “external” Governors
- 2 elected members of staff
- 2 elected students
- The Chief Executive & Principal of the College
Governors do not act as delegates. They do not represent any particular organisation or interest group although they may have affiliations with other organisations and may even be nominated by them. All governors are on the Corporation as individuals, representing the community at large.
The main business of the Corporation is to determine the character of the College and to ensure its overall well-being and financial solvency.
In brief, the Corporation is responsible for:
- the determination of the educational character and mission of the College and for oversight of its activities
- the quality strategy
- the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the College and the Corporation and for safeguarding their assets
- approving annual estimates of income and expenditure
- the appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal and determination of the pay and conditions of service of the holders of senior posts and the Clerk to the Corporation
- setting a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff.
The Corporation itself normally meets six times a year usually starting at 4.30 pm. These meetings last about two and a half to three hours. In addition the Corporation holds two development events a year usually in the afternoon.
There are also a number of Committees with particular responsibilities. Most Governors serve on one or two Committees. They each meet between three and four times a year. Almost all Committee meetings start at 5pm and they usually last for about two hours. The Committees are:
Audit, responsible for monitoring the work of the College’s internal and external auditors and for ensuring the effectiveness of the College’s systems of internal control.
Standards Committee which monitors the overall quality of performance.
Finance & Estates Committee which monitors all aspects of its finances, financial policies and controls, as well as its estates strategy and capital projects.
Remuneration, responsible for recommending to the Corporation the pay and conditions of senior staff and for their performance review.
Search, responsible for the appointment of new members, review of membership of the Corporation and monitoring the diversity and skills balance of the Board.
In addition, Governors play a part in the life of the College and are invited to awards evenings, presentations, art shows and other events. They are also encouraged to visit the College through a programme of ‘governor link’ activities where they have the opportunity to engage with staff and students.
Yes. New governors receive induction training to give them an insight into the work of the College and the Corporation. An experienced governor can act as a mentor to provide advice and to help them to settle into the role.
An annual programme of training is provided for all Governors and there are opportunities to attend regional and national conferences and seminars on issues of particular interest.
Yes. The Corporation has agreed a role description for Governors and a copy is available from the Director of Corporate Governance.
No. Governors at all colleges act in a voluntary capacity and expenses are not paid by the College for attendance at scheduled meetings. However, expenses relating to attendance at courses or conferences may be paid.
In terms of personal liability, college governors have a similar legal protection to that available to company directors, charitable trustees and school governors. That means that, if individuals have acted honestly and reasonably, they will not be held personally liable by a court.
Corporation Meeting Structure 2024-25
The Corporation will meet six times during the year, consisting of all members.
The Audit Committee will meet four times during the year and consists of five members.
The Finance and Estates Committee will meet three times during the year and consists of up to eight members.
The Remuneration Committee will meet twice during the year and consists of four members.
The Search Committee will meet as required during the year and consists of three to five members.
The Standards Committee will meet three times during the year and consists of up to eight members.
