BOARD DEVELOPMENT

This is the only area of work for which a charge is made, though course costs reflect the fact that BIA:NW is a subsidised organisation. BIA:NW’s work in this area takes several forms:

Whole board work, Bespoke to the need of each organisation, and often funded by the Arts Council; this may involve devising and delivering training or away days or the production of a report.

Facilitation of board retreats

Course development and delivery:

• Making the Most of your Board – for chief executives
• Role of the Chair – specifically for the chairs of boards
• Observers course – for Arts Council officers.

The quality of the work carried out by BIA:NW can be judged by the evaluation forms that have been completed for both courses and whole board work. 

Making the Most of Your Board

Excellent 50% Very good 44% Good            3% Fair 3% Unsatisfactory 0% Poor 0%

Comments include:
A greater sense of empowerment and desire to be more proactive and organised.
Amongst the cream of the training days I have attended.
A great opportunity to step back from the hurly-burly and think about how we actually do things and how we might improve.
Excellent, thought provoking and very useful.  Will make a real difference to the way we work!
One of the most relevant and engaging courses I have attended for a long time.

The Role of the Chair
 

Excellent 57% Very good 43% Good 0% Fair 0% Unsatisfactory 0% Poor 0%

Comments include:
Very positive, lively and human. Experience [of trainer] showed.
Very effective, confidence building, motivating.
I was...very impressed with the way the whole day was structured and organised.
Good guidelines for best practice.

Course for Observers

Excellent 50% Very good 41% Good 9% Fair 0% Unsatisfactory 0% Poor 0%

Comments include:
Great. Clear, honest – quite marvellous
Excellent – very well planned and delivered.

Bespoke board development work: this is not always evaluated, according to the wishes of the commissioning organisation. However, whenever possible it is carried out. The same question is asked about the overall quality and effectiveness of the session.

Results for the last five sessions, involving 24 people:

Excellent 50% Very good 43% Good 7% Fair 0% Unsatisfactory 0% Poor 0%

Comments included:
A very worthwhile day with good open debate.
I have to admit I was a little sceptical of the need for this session, but I would now recommend it to any Board.
Taking the lid off!  Challengingly wonderful.
The whole session was extremely useful.
Could do with another day to review progress!  Perhaps next year!
She led us through the options and at last thanks to her skills we made a decision we’ve pondered for a couple of years!

Any organisation interested in this area of work should call BIA:NW to discuss their requirements.