Step on Board is a professional coaching programme that will develop your employees into the future leaders of your business.

What is the Step on Board programme?

Step on Board is a board placement programme, supporting employees to volunteer as non-executive directors and trustees of charities and voluntary organisations. The programme consists of four stages, all of which can be tailored to fit in with your learning and development schedule. The first stage is:

1. Introductory workshop

This workshop provides expert training, advice and support for employees looking to become trustees. They will find out:

• How charities operate.
• What it takes to become a successful trustee.
• How to find the right trustee position for them.

1. Finding the right role

This is split into two sections. Diagnostic session Your employee will attend a face-to-face session so we can learn more about their interests, strengths and experience. Then we can advise them on how to secure the best role for them. Matching service Over a six-month period, Step on Board takes the results of the diagnostic session and aims to match the right individual to the right trustee role, providing guidance and support throughout your process.

How does Step on Board help my company?

The Step on Board programme is tailored to your business, making it easy to fit into your training schedule. Step on Board will help:

• Develop your employees’ skills.
• Increase staff satisfaction and engagement.
• Enhance brand recognition and reputation.

How does Step on Board help my employees?

Aside from increasing staff engagement, boosting job satisfaction and offering professional development, the Step on Board programme lets your employees:

• Share their experience and expertise.
• Broaden their interests and further their board aspirations.
• Acquire and develop leadership skills, including negotiation and strategic development.

Which firms have worked with Step on Board?

Step on Board has placed employees from Barclays, BlackRock, British Land, Credit Suisse, EY, Google and law firm Mishcon de Reya on charity boards. The 200th trustee placed through the programme, Hina Patel, is a strategic project manager from investment firm BlackRock who joined the board of children’s charity, Starlight. Hina was introduced to Step on Board through a Women’s Network Initiative at BlackRock, focused on getting more women on to boards. Hina said: “I wanted to join a charity board to broaden my skills and experience and interact with people from different backgrounds. I work in strategic projects at BlackRock with a variety of different functional teams. I thought my experience would be useful to a charity, particularly as many organisations want to become more business-like and accountable. I was keen to do something different and make a positive contribution to society.” Since starting in June, Hina is already making a positive contribution at Starlight. She’s also bringing new skills from her trusteeship to her role at BlackRock. Find out more about Step on Board today.