About GO-OP Learn:

GO-OP Learn is a Charitable Community Benefit Society whose charitable mission is to
facilitate the provision of:

• education, skills, and training;
• communications and community organising;
• data analysis, integrated system modelling and simulation;

in the field of sustainable transport, logistics and lifestyles; in order to empower
disadvantaged individuals and help communities to reduce their social and
environmental impacts, managed in accordance with co-operative principles.
GO-OP Learn will be a training institute aiming to offer apprenticeships in Train
Driving, Transport Planning and Community Energy. We will also offer Transport
Planning services as a consultancy to local councils and other groups looking to set up
cooperatively run public transport. We also hope to run short courses on cooperative
entrepreneurialism and provide specialist support for the incubation of new co-ops.

Purpose of the Role:

The board of directors is crucial in driving GO-OP Learn forward and making this
ambitious, yet forward-thinking and positive enterprise happen. As a Director you will
be involved in overseeing and decision making for GO-OP Learn’s strategy. If you have
a specialism, such as finance, fundraising, marketing, or sector experience you will be
encouraged to lead on these areas and provide guidance to the board and team.

Main Responsibilities

• Keep on top of new information and the running of the organisation to be able
  to contribute effectively to decision making
• Contribute to and attend the AGM
• Ensure that the group is working towards its charitable objectives and mission statement
• Take an equal share of responsibility for: setting long term strategy, monitoring
  financial performance, ensuring good governance, risk management and any
  other key areas of oversight
• Be an example for others to look to in organisational values and culture
  including cooperative ethics and values
• Ensure that member participation is monitored and members are given a voice
  and taken into consideration at all possible opportunities.
• Maintain good relationships with paid staff (as we hire them) to ensure they are
  supported and achieving their targets.

Person Specification:

• Enthusiastic, committed to our mission,
• Able to  attend regular board meetings
• Understand or willing to learn about co-operative principles and well suited to
  working within them
• Directors must be a member of GO-OP Learn; or a nominee of an organisation that is
  a member of GO-OP Learn. We can discuss the most appropriate route
  to membership for you when you get in touch
• Over 18
• Not on the list of persons barred from directing a company (if you have been
  through a bankruptcy, business failure or you are under a debt management
  order, this does not automatically rule you out – but please tell us all about it
  early on).
• You must be able to listen well and engage effectively with discussion

We are particularly looking for people with skills and knowledge in any of the
following specialisms:

• Train and transport sector (including transport planning)
• Logistics and project management
• Green technology
• Marketing and customer service
• Fundraising and community shares
• Training
• Community engagement

What you’ll get out of it:

• Be part of the group responsible for setting up a new training and transport
  planning organisation with a specific focus on cooperatives.
• Gain and develop new skills, and knowledge – we are keen to support directors
  in gaining qualifications, as resources permit
• Attend events, networking meetings and other experiential opportunities
• Make a significant change in your community
• Build your qualifications for serving on boards of other social enterprises
• As GO-OP Learn secures trading opportunities, we expect to introduce an
  attendance allowance so that board members can devote more of their working
  lives to it. However, this is likely to be modest and will not be available for
  some time.

To Apply:
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer Director for GO-OP, please contact:
Alex Lawrie t: 0300 456 2265 e: info@go-op.coop