Board Recruitment

DGC is a rural College which operates across two campuses in the South West of Scotland with the main site in Dumfries on the Crichton Campus and the second serving the west of the region in Stranraer. 

As one of the highest-performing colleges in Scotland, our strategy – Mission 2030, is our commitment to ensuring that our College continues to remain at the forefront of education and skills in a rapidly changing world, supporting opportunities for all and providing the skills for our regional economy to grow.

We recognise the importance of the contribution we play in allowing the strengths and opportunities within our region to flourish and together, with partners, our mission is to build opportunity and growth for our region, community and beyond.

Our Vision is to unleash potential, change lives and shape futures. 

Our key priorities are:

• Future skills – Our Students
• Our Future Workforce – Our People
• Future Education – Our learning
• Future Growth – Our Partners

We foster a culture of continuous learning and professional development, embracing digital skills for productivity and agility, and promoting data literacy for informed decision-making.

Our core values which drive our actions within the college are:

• Here for you
• Act with courage
• Deliver our promises
• Uniting to succeed

Please take the time to read through this website and find out more about the role and our College. I hope this provides you with all the information you require and look forward to receiving your application.

We are one of the main employers and providers of learning and training across the South of Scotland, with programmes ranging from senior-phase school partnerships to higher education at degree level.  The area we serve covers 2,400 square miles with all the opportunities and challenges that brings. We are the largest provider on the multi-institutional Crichton Campus and have strong partnerships with the University of the West of Scotland, the University of Glasgow, the Open University and Scotland’s Rural College. This unique partnership extends beyond collaborative curriculum planning and effective articulation agreements; the college also hosts a number of shared services in our modern Dumfries building, including the Campus library.

The college has focussed its curriculum provision on Health and Social Care, Enterprise, Renewables, and Digital whilst maintaining a broad regional curriculum to promote access and pathways to study or employment.  We are proud of our achievements and are one of Scotland’s top colleges for student satisfaction and student attainment.

In 2024/25:

• We delivered to 1100 full time and 3100 part time students who studied at SCQF levels 1 to 11. 
• Our student satisfaction identifies that 97% of students indicated that they were satisfied with their college experience. 
• Our students rated us 4.6 out of 5 in their early impressions survey.
• In our recent student leaver destinations (2021/22) 96% of our students go into positive destinations, 31% into employment and 65% into further study, and 66% of students from SIMD10 deprived areas gained their qualification. 
• In the latest published student attainment figures our full time student success is 71% and our part time student success is 90%.

We have 6 Curriculum Areas within the College –

• Engineering and Renewable Transport
• Business, Enterprise, Digital Technology and Creative Industries
• Digital Health, Social Care, Sport and Fitness
• Lifestyle: Hair, Beauty and Hospitality
• Sustainable Construction
• Childhood Education, Supported Learning and Employability

We are a multi-award winning successful college that delivers professional, technical and vocational education and training across a wide range of employment sectors from introductory through to advanced level study, including Modern and Foundation Apprenticeships.  We also provide many commercial industry-based training courses for businesses in Dumfries and Galloway and beyond.

We have developed in collaboration with the University of the West of Scotland unique degree provision in several key sectoral areas including business, cyber security and creative industries.  These degrees enable young people within the region to develop their skills and to continue to study either in person or online across Dumfries and Galloway.

An enhanced learner experience is achieved through shared services with the Universities of Glasgow and the University of the West of Scotland in the form of some shared building space, access to a gym and a library service available to all students from each institution.

The College’s campus in Stranraer has some 250 students who study a number of subject areas – early years, engineering, construction, Project Search and hair and beauty.  It has some key partners based on the site – Skills Development Scotland careers service and Better Lives Partnership who work with young people with disabilities.

The College’s approach to learning is a reflection of the rural locality, the local economy and the changing patterns of lifestyles. As a major employer and a dynamic rural learning institution, we have strongly embraced digital curriculum delivery and offer several qualifications entirely online or via hybrid study.

We are moving into an exciting stage of our development, building on the successes of the past and driving forward to continue being an outstanding regional college.

We are optimistic about our future and feel that through

• our strong partnership working with our learners, schools, employers and the wider community;
• our continued investments in staff, facilities and infrastructure,
• our investment in digital technology to improve access to learning and services and further enhance our commercial options;
• and the commitment and dedication of our staff, we will continue to be an ‘outstanding College’ and a sector leader.

To read more about how we intend to achieve our ambitions, please view the annual accounts, Self Evaluation and Action Plan, Mission 2030 and Education Scotland Report using the links below:

To read more about how we intend to achieve our ambitions, please view the annual accounts, Self Evaluation and Action Plan, Mission 2030 and Education Scotland Report using the links below:

Mission 2030

DGC Financial Statements

Education Scotland Inspection Report

Self Evaluation and Action Plan (SEAP)

Role

Our Board of Management, as the College’s governing body, is responsible for the development and achievement of the strategic aims and objectives of the College. The Board is collectively responsible for overseeing the College’s activities, determining its future direction and fostering an environment in which the College’s 5-year mission is achieved and the potential of all learners is maximised. The Board must ensure compliance with the relevant legislation and other regulatory requirements, including the use of significant public funds, and, subject to these, take all final decisions on matters of fundamental concern to the College and be accountable for them.

Board Membership

When all positions of our board are filled, we are a board of 20 people comprising of:

• The Chair, who is appointed by the Scottish Ministers to lead the Board
• The Principal, who is appointed to lead and manage the College and is answerable to the Board
• Our students, staff and trade unions nominate 2 members each (1 from teaching and 1 from support) who bring their expertise and knowledge of the College’s day-to-day workings
• 12 Non-Executive members are selected by the existing Board members and ratified by the Scottish Government.  They are independent of the College bringing a range of professional skills and experience from a variety of sectors.

Committees

Committees are essential to the operation of the Board and the governance of the College. A significant amount of our Board’s work is undertaken at a committee level, with members usually serving on 2 each.

The Board has 6 Committees:

• Finance and General Purposes
• Learning and Teaching
• Audit
• Remuneration
• Board Development
• Grievance/Appeals

Meetings

Meetings of the Board are held quarterly as do 3 of the committees; others may meet upto 2 times a year or as required. Committee meetings are scheduled in the late afternoon to early evening and last approximately 2 hours via Microsoft Teams. The Board  is a face-to-face meeting however access via Microsoft Teams can be accessed if required and is usually held in the afternoon. Board papers, minutes and reports are regularly published on the College’s Board Website.

You would also be expected to participate in an annual Board development/strategy day.

Support, Training and Development

As a member of the Board, you will receive support and governance advice from the Governance Professional. All members receive an induction upon joining the Board to support them in their new role and training and development opportunities are offered throughout the year.

The College Development Network’s Governance Development Programme provides Board members with access to key training courses and resources that they need to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. CDN provide a mix of online courses, self-directed learning modules and workshops throughout the year.

The induction aims to:

• assist new Members to familiarise themselves with their roles and responsibilities.
• enable new Members to understand what is expected of them; and,
• provide new Members with key information regarding the operation of the College and its Regional Board, and the College’s operating environment.

The Board itself undertakes an annual self-evaluation of its effectiveness which includes a one-to-one annual review with the Chair to discuss your contribution to the Board and identify training and development needs. An external effectiveness review occurs every 3-5 years.

Our Roles

We are seeking to fill 4 non-executive member vacancies to our Regional Board.  Non-executive members are independent of the College and are a public appointment made in line with ministerial guidance, which ensures that our recruitment processes are open, fair and transparent.

We are looking for individuals who share our commitment to providing the best possible learning experience, who have a key interest and passion for the Dumfries and Galloway region and have a strong professional background and experience in:

• Finance
• Human Resources
• Education
• Local Business / Commercial

A Guide for Board Members in the College Sector has been published and can be accessed here.

Key duties of the Regional Board are to:

• Provide leadership, direction, and support to the organisation, setting its strategy and priorities.
• Promote commitment to the values and ethos of the organisation including equality and diversity.
• Ensure satisfactory delivery of the organisation’s performance and financial objectives, high quality learning and outcomes, and a good learning experience.
• Be accountable to and maintain the trust of key stakeholders.
• Comply with relevant legal and financial requirements including the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
• Ensure identification and control of the main risks to delivery of the organisation’s responsibilities and business objectives.
• Ensure staff have the appropriate skills, knowledge, culture and working environment.
• Adhere to the sector’s Code of Good Governance (here), the College’s relevant Financial Memorandum and Code of Conduct

• The Scottish public has high expectations of those who serve on the boards of public bodies. The Ethical Standards in Public Life (Scotland) Act 2000 provided for a new Code of Conduct. As a member of the Board, it is your responsibility to make sure that your actions comply with this Code of Conduct. The general principles upon which the Code of Conduct is based are attached at Annex A. Members must register and declare all interests as required by the Standards Commission for Scotland and these are published on the College website and in the annual accounts.

Valuing Diversity

The Board encourages applications from groups currently under-represented on the boards of Scotland’s public bodies, including women, disabled people, those of different cultural and social backgrounds and people under the age of 50.

Time Commitment

It is difficult to be precise about the time commitment required and you will therefore need to be able to demonstrate an adequate degree of flexibility to attend to Board business.  As a general indication, in an academic year, there are usually four Board Meetings, which have a duration of approximately 3 hours.  There are a number of Standing Committees, some of which have up to four meetings per annum, lasting between 2-3 hours.  Every Board Member is encouraged to become a member of one to two Standing Committees and attend and participate in other scheduled events as required eg strategic planning day, Graduation. 

Committee meeting papers are uploaded to our Admin Control site a week in advance of the meeting and preparation for the meetings needs to be undertaken.

Whilst the majority of Board meetings will take place in the local area, you may occasionally be required to attend meetings and represent the board in other venues across Scotland from time to time. 

Length of term of appointment

The length of term will be for a period of up to four years, to be advised at the time of appointment.  Appointment may be renewed subject to evidence of effective performance and to continuing to satisfy the requirements of the person specification.  Any re-appointment will be for a period of up to 4 years.  It is a requirement that there is an annual one to one assessment undertaken with the Chair of the Board of Management and Board Members are encouraged to identify areas where they would like to achieve greater personal development.  Appointments are conditional upon final approval by the Scottish Government.

Remuneration

Board members do not receive remuneration for their roles. However, reasonable travel and subsistence expenses incurred as a result of carrying out the duties of the appointment will be reimbursed.

Public Service Role

In carrying out this public service role, you will be expected to uphold the highest ethical standards of integrity and probity and adhere to the 9 principles of public life set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (based on the Nolan Principles) (see Annex A).  At all times you will act in good faith and in the best interests of the learners. You are referred to the Standards Commissions Members’ Model Code of Conduct which can be found here .

This Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of those involved in public life in Scotland and you should review this prior to submitting your application. 

Disqualification  – The Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 identifies criteria that disqualify individuals from serving on the board of a Scottish college – see Annex B.

Trustee Role

As Dumfries and Galloway College is a registered charity, you will need to be aware of your role as a Charity Trustee.  You are referred to the Office of Scottish Charity Regulator’s guidance for charity trustees which can be found at OSCR | FAQs.    OSCR will publish a list of our trustees on the Scottish Charity Register.                  

The College maintains and publicly discloses a Register of Interests of members of the Board of Management.

Person Specification

The Regional Board is mindful of the mix of skills and specific attributes that may be required of an individual filling a vacancy to ensure an effective, representative and widely experienced board.

Applicants will be taken forward for interview based on their application matching the detail provided in the Job Description. We would therefore ask applicants to provide clear evidence to show how your experience, skills and knowledge match those requirements as well as why you are interested in the role.

To apply please email your CV and supporting statement together with the following completed forms to Lorraine Grierson, griersonl@dumgal.ac.uk

Closing date for receipt of applications is 12.00 noon on Wednesday 24^th September. 

Late applications will not be considered.

The Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form is not seen by the selection panel and will not be used to assess your suitability for appointment.

The remaining parts of your application are made available to those involved in the review/short-list and selection for interview stages.

• Equalities Monitoring Form
• Please sign and submit the declaration at Annex B

Additional information concerning your application is available here:

• Immigration  Asylum Seekers
• Disclosure of Criminal Offences

The College is committed to equal opportunities in recruitment therefore no applicant will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of any protected characteristic or be disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Please help us to monitor the effectiveness of our policy by completing all parts of the Equal Opportunities Form. This section will not be circulated to those involved in the recruitment process and will not be used to assess your suitability for appointment but will be used as part of our monitoring records.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to meet a selection panel of existing Board members and an independent member. candidates recommended by the panel and selected by the Board, will be submitted to the Scottish Government for approval and formal appointment.

Interview Timeline: 

The Minister will aim to make a decision within a month of receiving the recommendation from the Chair although the time-scale may be longer. Candidates will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

We will be conducting interviews via an online panel, with clear joining instructions and guidance provided in advance. Nevertheless, it should be noted that applicants can claim for reasonable expenses incurred in attending for interview, including dependent carer expenses. If invited for interview, you can request a claim form from Lorraine Grierson, Governance Professional.

Formal appointment to the Board is subject to ratification by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, on behalf of Scottish Ministers.  This appointment is also subject to Disclosure Scotland vetting.

The selection panel must provide sufficient information and evidence to the Scottish Ministers to enable them to feel confident that the person they are appointing to the Board of the public body is suitable to take up the appointment.  In the context of public appointments this is an individual who is suitable for appointment because they meet the requirements of the role and because their past or present activities and/or behaviours do not render them unsuitable for a given appointment.  This is an on-going process with various checks built into the stages of the appointment round, designed to gather the appropriate information and evidence required. 

If you have any queries about your application, please contact Lorraine Grierson

If you would like an informal confidential discussion about the role before submitting an application, please contact Caroline Stuart.

Scotland’s colleges play a crucial role in the delivery of education and training to young people and adults of all ages and are a key means of improving the economic and social wellbeing of the people of Scotland. Colleges offer a wide range of qualifications and courses at further and higher education levels across a diverse curriculum, including vocational education and training – to a very broad range of people and communities.

With enrolments of over 200,000 annually and a geographical coverage that extends from all the major towns and cities to remote rural areas, the sector is central to the Government’s economic growth, education, employability, and social inclusion agendas.

Further information on this regional structure and the sector in general can be found on the Colleges Scotland website at the following link: http://collegesscotland.ac.uk/

The Scottish Government’s reform of the College Sector involved an overhaul of college governance, with a range of measures aimed at improving the accountability of colleges, commensurate with the significant amount of public funding they receive. A key measure is the introduction of a more open and fair process for making Board appointments and the Ministerial appointment of Board Chairs which is now via a regulated public appointments process. Additionally, the Office of National Statistics reclassified the colleges in Scotland so that they are treated as part of central government for financial budgeting and reporting purposes. Funding is allocated to the College via the Scottish Funding Council.

For this appointment, the verifications in place for the fit and proper person tests are:

Verification of relevant information provided by the applicant:

• Evaluation of the evidence provided by you in relation to the skills, knowledge and experience required for the role will be tested in the application and further probed at interview should you be invited. 
• If applicants provide information in support of having the relevant competency which details roles or qualifications held which is material to the selection panel’s decision making, this information may be checked as part of the final assessment.

Ensuring that the individual’s conduct to date has been compatible with the public appointment in question:

• Confirmation that you understand the work of the body and the nature of the appointment and that you are not aware of having committed any offence or performed any act incompatible with the position that you are applying for forms part of the declaration statement of the application form.  By virtue of submitting the completed form you are declaring that the information provided is, to the best of your knowledge and belief, true and complete.
• If invited for interview, further assessment will be through seeking evidence on how you have practically demonstrated the principles of public life through your conduct in a given situation.

Confirmation that the individual has no inappropriate or unmanageable conflicts of interest incompatible with their appointment:

• At interview, assessment of any conflict will be carried out through questioning that you understand what is meant by a conflict; asking you to confirm that, to the best of your belief, you do not have any conflicts that are incompatible/unmanageable; or seeking additional information if you have declared a conflict.

Determining that the individual’s appointment is not barred by reference to the constitution of the body concerned by way of, for example, criminal offences or other relevant matters:

• Information on disqualifications is provided at Annex B and you are asked to review this prior to submitting your application.  Confirmation that you are not disqualified on any grounds from being appointed to this Board forms part of the declaration statement of the application form.  By virtue of submitting the completed form you are declaring that the information provided is, to the best of your knowledge and belief, true and complete.

Ensuring that the applicant agrees to be bound by the members’ code of conduct for the body concerned:

• You are referred to the Standards Commission Members’ Model Code of Conduct here.  This Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of those involved in public life in Scotland and you should review this prior to submitting your application.  Confirmation that you have read the members’ model code of conduct, that you understand this code and that you agree to be bound by it in the event that you are appointed forms part of the declaration statement of the application form.  By virtue of submitting the completed form you are declaring that the information provided is, to the best of your knowledge and belief, true and complete.

Establishing that the individual is able to meet the time commitment required:

• The publicity for the roles sets out the time commitment involved.  If invited for interview, this will be fully explored with you to ensure that you can offer the appropriate assurance that you can undertake the commitment required.

How we will handle your Application

• The table below shows an indicative timeline for the appointments process.

Equality and Diversity

Accessibility to public appointments is a fundamental requirement and the public appointments process promotes, demonstrates and upholds equality of opportunity and treatment to all applicants. We will give consideration to disability-related reasonable adjustments that an applicant might request to enable them to meet the person specification and participate fully in the selection process. 

Publicising Appointments

Should you be appointed, some of the information that you have provided may be made public in a press announcement of your appointment. We will liaise with you in advance of any such announcement. This applies particularly to any other public appointments you may hold, and of any significant political activity recently undertaken by you.  The press release may include:

• Your name;
• A brief summary of the skills, knowledge and experience you bring to the role;
• The period of appointment;
• Details of all other public appointments held.