According to NCVO research, nearly 80% of charities in England and Wales have at least one vacant trustee position — with more than half reporting two or more vacancies, and over a third having struggled to fill those seats for more than a year – a figure that should set alarm bells ringing.

If four in five businesses were struggling to fill key board positions, it would be front-page news. Yet across the charity sector, trustee vacancies have become so commonplace that many organisations have simply learned to operate around them.

Kirsty McEwen is a renowned Charity lawyer at leading law firm, Higgs LLP and is raising the alarm to make business leaders sit up and listen. She said, “trustees are responsible for setting strategy, overseeing finances, managing risk and ensuring organisations remain sustainable. When those seats remain empty, charities lose access to the expertise and challenge they need to make effective decisions and deliver maximum impact.” She added, “the consequences extend far beyond the sector itself. Charities contribute billions to the UK economy and provide essential support to communities across the country. A governance crisis within the sector quickly becomes a wider economic and social issue.” 



Is the solution hiding in plain sight in Britain’s boardrooms?

“Business leaders make decisions involving financial oversight, risk management, digital transformation, people leadership and long-term strategy. These are exactly the skills many charities are desperately trying to recruit. Yet too few professionals see trusteeship as a viable opportunity,” Kirsty said. She continued, “there remains a perception that becoming a trustee is something people do towards the end of their careers, once they have more time available. In reality, charities increasingly need current business expertise to survive along with fresh perspectives and commercially minded leaders who can help them navigate an increasingly challenging operating environment.”

Speaking to charities and their trustees daily, Kirsty sees first-hand the struggles that charities are facing because of these skills gaps, yet she clarifies, “what many professionals also fail to recognise is that trusteeship is not simply about giving something back. It can be one of the most valuable leadership development opportunities available. “Trustees are exposed to complex stakeholder relationships, difficult strategic decisions, regulatory scrutiny and resource-constrained environments. These are experiences that strengthen leadership capability and build governance expertise in ways that many executive roles simply cannot.”

At a time when businesses are placing greater emphasis on purpose-led leadership, ESG commitments and social impact, trusteeship offers an opportunity to develop professionally while making a meaningful difference. “I see a real opportunity for business leaders to weave trusteeship into their long terms business plans and operations.” Kirsty pointed out. Too many business leaders don't realise that their skills are needed, while too many charities struggle to connect with the professionals who could make a significant contribution.

To help resolve the problem, “we need greater collaboration between the business and charity sector” Kirsty added. Businesses should be encouraging senior employees to consider trustee positions as part of their leadership development journey. Charities should continue challenging outdated perceptions about who can become a trustee and what the role involves. Finally, “the trustee shortage is often presented as a problem for charities to solve. I believe that misses the point. This is very much a shared opportunity!”

The skills charities need already exist in abundance across the private sector. If more business leaders stepped forward, we could strengthen governance, improve resilience and increase the impact of organisations supporting some of the most important causes in our communities. The question is no longer whether businesses can help. The question is how we make it easier for them to do so.

Kirsty McEwen, Partner and Head of Charity and Not for Profit at Higgs LLP

https://www.higgsllp.co.uk/our-people/kirsty-mcewen