We work with the Trustees and senior managers of a number of charities on strategic planning leadership development and board effectiveness. Our consultants are all experienced Trustees.

The Board of a leading housing trust required an independent Board review. This needed to be simple, practical and comprehensive in pulling together a myriad of governance codes and policies.

The review process needed to meet regulatory and company needs, be completed quickly, take up a minimum of Board members time (no more than an hour per person) and provide a development platform for the future.

Echelon worked closely with the Trust to design a suite of 8 ‘technical’ Board competencies and Board member attributes. These provided the basis for:

• An individual review of Board performance with Board directors resulting in a report the ‘2006 Board and Sub Committee Review’

• A review of the chair

• Individual Board member reviews

• A Board development plan

• Individual Board member development plans

• A Board succession plan

• Board assurance tools

The Board now has a clear framework of Board competencies with which to recruit, assess, review the Board, its sub-committees and individual Board members.