As a procurement professional, your expertise is urgently needed on school and trust boards. Your skills can help children get the best possible start in life, through effective spending.
Schools and academy trusts manage multi-million-pound budgets to ensure every child reaches their potential. In 2024-25, schools received £7,690 per pupil for 5-16-year-olds. To make the most of this funding, they need procurement experts like you on their boards. Your skills will help support schools to make informed decisions and navigate procurement rules, ensuring that every penny of public money is used to benefit the students in their care.
That’s why the Department for Education (DfE) has teamed up with CIPS, the Government Commercial Function, and Governors for Schools to connect skilled professionals with governance opportunities. Governors for Schools is a leading charity that places over 2,000 volunteers on school boards across England and Wales every year. We’ll match you with a school or trust where your expertise can make a real difference, while supporting you every step of the way.
In return, you’ll gain invaluable leadership experience, enhance your strategic and financial planning skills, and ensure children across England and Wales get the best possible start in life.
Having procurement and commercial expertise on a board can unlock tremendous value. At Nexus Multi Academy Trust, procurement has been a catalyst for change, from achieving the globally recognised Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Procurement Excellence Award to embedding innovations like biophilic design in our estate. These initiatives have not only delivered savings and helped us to unlock resources but also have created educational environments that are fit for purpose, inclusive, and tailored to the needs of our students and communities.
For individuals with procurement or commercial skills, volunteering as a school governor or academy trustee is deeply rewarding. It offers a chance to leverage your expertise to deliver great governance to projects that directly impact young people’s futures. It’s a role that challenges you professionally while providing the satisfaction of knowing your contributions help deliver the very best for children and families. Procurement, when aligned with the needs of education, is far more than a function, it can be a game-changer.
Gillian Askew FCIPS, Academy Trustee at Nexus Multi Academy Trust
School governors and academy trustees are skilled volunteers with three main responsibilities:
By developing a strong and supportive relationship with the leadership team, governance volunteers challenge existing processes to drive school improvement.
Volunteering as a school governor or academy trustee takes about 7 hours per month. Some employers offer volunteering time and additional support so you can integrate school governance into your schedule easily. Although taking on the role requires drive and commitment, you’ll enjoy many professional and personal rewards, including career development opportunities and the chance to support young people’s futures.
Apply now
School governors offer strategic guidance to schools. They sit at board-level, ask questions and provide challenge to the senior leadership. Find out more about the role and how to apply on our ‘become a school governor’ page.
Read Gillian Askew’s article detailing why school governance is a great way to support education and how the role can be incredibly rewarding for those with a procurance background. Gillian shares her experience as someone with over 26 years in her career.
View this episode of the Go4Growth podcast where host Gill, an academy trustee of a multi-academy trust, joins Lana, the Head of Business Transformation at Nexus, to discuss the transformative role of procurement in education.
Unsure whether you want to take on the role? Want to find out more about why you should consider volunteering your time?
From career advancement, to the self-fulfilment gained from helping the next generation thrive, there are many benefits of becoming a school governor. This blog, created as part of our ‘School Governors:’ blog series explains them in more detail.
We’re proud to have been finding school governors, and helping schools build exceptional boards for 25 years.
In this time, we’ve developed a process that ensures you’re placed into a school that’s right for you. This page explores the application process, and how our dedicated recruitment teams work to find you a school in your local community.
If you’re ready to start your governance journey, please complete our short application form to kickstart the process.
Need someone with procurement expertise on your board? Find out more about how to find a school governor and register your vacancy below.