Case study: Board Recruitment | Beamish

Outcome

Over a six-week search period, Peridot Partners approached over 400 candidates, across the north-east region, nationally and internationally. Our focus was to find candidates with strong ties to the north-east across a diverse range of professional sectors – arts/museums/visitor attractions, commercial and public sectors, education and charity. Our search also engaged with diverse communities in the region, including with LGBTQ+, disability, carers, global majority communities.

We ran a comprehensive and engaging selection process which ensured we appointed the Chair first so they could be involved in the selection stages of board members.

The new Board is:

Chair: This candidate grew up in County Durham with a background in senior leadership, operations and policy. They are Co-Founder and Director of Symbio Impact Ltd, a sustainable financing and strategy consultancy, and a Senior Advisor at The HALO Trust, a leading international NGO (non-governmental organisation) and an Honorary Fellow at Manchester University.

A specialist in international development and foreign policy, they are an accomplished spokesperson, representing multiple organisations at the United Nations. They have led policy and influence for leading British NGOs and worked in the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. They are Vice-Chair of Welsh mental health charity Platfform and a Director of the Association of British Orchestras.

Candidate 1: A qualified accountant with 20 years’ experience at a senior level in further education, they’re also an experienced trustee and an advocate of lifelong learning and providing opportunities for all in our communities.

Candidate 2: Previously Chief Economist at the North East LEP and Principal Economist at the Department for Work and Pensions and the current Agent for the North East for The Bank of England, they have been a member of the Government Economic Service since 2008.

Candidate 3: Brings a passion for the heritage of the North East of England, a personal connection to Beamish Museum, and an effective track record as a senior leader in local government, NHS and the voluntary sector.

Candidate 4: An experienced and award-winning executive and non-executive director in large sector-leading organisations and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a member of the Institute of Directors.

Candidate 5: A heritage practitioner, curator and writer, they sit on the Collections Management Group for Queer Britain, founded the Queer Heritage and Collections Network, and was the first National Specialist for Inclusive Histories at the National Trust.

Candidate 6: An Occupational Psychologist and Head of People Strategy & Experience for Northumbrian Water Limited. An ambassador and advocate for the North East as a brilliant place to live, learn and work, they chaired the North East CIPD Branch for 10 years, is Chair of the North East Common Purpose Advisory Group, holds NED roles in education, is an Enterprise Advisor for the North East of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Mentor.

Candidate 7: The Director of Asset Management at Your Housing Group, a provider of 29,000 homes predominantly in the North West. With extensive knowledge and 25 years’ experience in construction and the social housing sector, 10 years at Director level, they are a well-recognised strategic leader in this field.

Candidate 8: The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economy and Partnerships, this candidate is also an active board member of six other boards with the North East at their core.

Candidate 9: A qualified Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, working in Blaydon and Wrekenton. At 26, this candidate brings a fresh perspective and age diversity and is the founder and Co-ordinator of a special project called North East Solidarity and Teaching (N.E.S.T) which supports refugees and asylum seekers of all ages with education.

Candidate 10: Having worked in Destination Management for almost 20 years, this candidate brings expertise in supporting the development and innovation of the North East visitor economy. They sit on the VisitEngland Research Advisory Group and represents Newcastle Gateshead Initiative on the North East Tourism Alliance, co-ordinating and overseeing the research carried out on behalf of the destination, as well as the activity and projects which support tourism businesses in the region.

We have since worked with Beamish to recruit a Director – People and Culture, and a Chief Operating Officer.