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bridging the board diversity gap

now is the time to come together to make a change

"Ensuring governing body diversity is a critical issue for our universities. The Governance Apprenticeship Programme is a really positive step towards addressing this pressing challenge.” – Dr Paul Greatrix, Registrar, University of Nottingham

The challenge

The current trajectory to creating representative boards is too long

Whilst many organisations have taken positive steps towards this goal, it is clear that there is still much work to be done if governing bodies are to be representative and reflective of the communities they serve.

29.1%

of Universities have no BAME board members

64.9%

of Universities have no disabled board members

2.6%

of Trustees in the Higher Education sector are Black

17%

of trustees in the Arts sector are Black, Asian or Ethnically Diverse

8%

of trustees in the Arts sector identify as LGBTQ

53%

of trustees in the Arts sector are 50 years old or older

6.6%

to 10 % of trustees in the Charities sector are BAME

38%

to 41% of trustees in the Charities sector are female

Be part of the change

Creating diverse and inclusive boards is a highly complex challenge with no single solution. We feel that such a complicated challenge requires a collective approach and now is the time for us, our partner organisations, and potential candidates, to come together to make a change.

“Taking on non-profit board roles is a daunting prospect and it is difficult to know how to start this journey. Perrett Laver’s GAP initiative sounds like an exciting opportunity to develop my expertise and understanding of what it means to be a Trustee” - potential board apprentice

The GAP initiative

What is the GAP initiative?

Through the development of the Governance Apprenticeship Programme (GAP), which brings together the resources of Perrett Laver together with our sector partners, we believe that collectively we can begin to bridge to gap to board diversity and shorten the timeline to creating truly representative boards.

GAP for apprentices

We believe that the right combination of perspectives, skills, experience and diversity on boards will lead to stronger Boards. Become an apprentice and be part of the change.

GAP for partners

In order to attract the diverse talent we know is out there, mission-driven sectors require a different approach to engage the next generation. Host an apprentice and be part of the change.