Jobs

Title: The Piece Hall Trust Trustee/Non-Executive Director

Location: Halifax

Appointment term: Three years, renewable

Time commitment: Approx. 6 days per year

Salary: Unremunerated. Reasonable expenses may be claimed.

The Piece Hall Trust (TPHT) is looking for people from a wide diversity of backgrounds with a passion for heritage, culture, retail and tourism who can steward the running and governance of the organisation and play a key part in forming the charity’s strategy over the next 10 years.

TPHT is an independent charity formed in 2015, which is responsible for operating and managing the iconic Piece Hall in Halifax West Yorkshire. The Piece Hall is a Grade 1 listed Georgian cloth hall, and the only remaining one of its type in the world. Historic England have listed the Piece Hall in the Top 10 of 100 most important buildings for trade and commerce and ‘the most important renewal project of its time.’ After a significant three-year major transformation project led by Calderdale MBC and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, whose ambition for The Piece Hall was to be the regeneration tool for the town, the building was re-opened in 2017 attracting over 23,000 visitors. Designed with a new courtyard piazza – The Piece Hall can hold its own with other iconic architectural destinations across the world.

TPHT has had a very successful start and in 3 years, The Piece Hall has rapidly become an important heritage, cultural and leisure destination. Attracting over 6m visitors to date, the TPHT’s activities have generated £26m to the local economy and created £7m of media coverage in 2019 alone. The Piece Hall has played host to a variety of high profile events including Tour de Yorkshire and major international artists including Elbow and Father John Misty and has fast built a reputation for delivering a variety of interesting and headline-making cultural events.

Incredibly proud of its achievements, TPHT has bold and ambitious plans to build on its success over the next decade.

In line with many other organisations, particularly in the hospitality, cultural and events sectors, the 2020 coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the ability of The Piece Hall to generate income and grow in line with its plans. The Piece Hall was shut for over three months between March and July 2020 and was only able to survive and re-open in June 2020 as a result of the strategies and actions taken by the Trust’s Executive Team supported by the Board.

The organisation is recruiting several non-executive directors to replace board members coming to the end of their terms. We are particularly keen to hear from those with experience in: tourism, placemaking, heritage, arts and culture, events and retail. We actively encourage applications from suitable candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Key responsibilities include:

• Stewarding the strategy and providing governance to the Executive Team
• Offering expertise, guidance, support and an objective perspective on key matters of strategy, governance, commercial and financial affairs, and risk management;
• Ensuring the Board and Executive Team demonstrate the highest standards of integrity at all times;
• Encouraging and facilitating an open, accountable, transparent and trustworthy culture with staff and all external partners and stakeholders;
• Conforming to all statutory duties and regulations including accounts, taxation, health and safety, employment and the environment.
• Suitable candidates may come from a private or public sector background but will have a strong knowledge of not-for-profit governance board-level responsibilities and be accustomed to the principles of public sector propriety, regularity and accountability.
• Experience of successfully setting strategy and managing risk is vital, and a passion for their respective sector and a desire to see the Piece Hall thrive is essential.

If you would like to apply for a Trustee role, please read the Recruitment Pack and complete the application form along with a covering letter and CV/statement of relevant experience, and send to Caroline Bate, People & Governance Lead, caroline.bate@thepiecehall.co.uk or post to:

Caroline Bate

The Piece Hall Trust

Blackledge

Halifax

HX1 1RE

Closing date for applications: 14 February 2021

Selection Panel: Early March 2021

Appointments confirmed: March 2021

The information in the equal opportunities form will be treated as confidential and will only be used for statistical purposes. It will not be used as part of the application.