Chair of Trustees

A unique opportunity to champion social mobility and join our Board of Trustees as Chair, as we continue our vital mission to transform social mobility across the UK.

Applications close: Tuesday 22nd April 2025
Location: Various locations with Board meetings in London E1 5JL
Time commitment: c.2 days per month

About upReach

upReach is an award-winning social mobility charity, driven by a vision of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential regardless of social background. Founded in 2012, we have grown from supporting 39 students to over 3,000, helping them access and sustain top graduate jobs every year.

We work in close partnership with leading employers and universities to support students from across the UK. Through 1-to-1 support and employability-boosting interventions, we empower students to discover a variety of career options, and develop the vital employability skills, networks and experiences needed to succeed in their chosen career and beyond.

About the role

Our current Chair will step down in early 2026 after six successful years. We are now looking for a passionate and experienced successor who can help us continue to scale our impact in the years ahead.

As Chair Designate, you’ll join the board in the summer of 2025 and have time to shadow the current Chair, ensuring a smooth transition into the organisation and board.

Under our 2024-27 strategy “Unlocking Potential,” we aim to sustainably scale our reach to 3,300 undergraduates annually while strengthening the evidence of our impact.

You’ll be joining a diverse Board of eleven trustees, including three Alumni Trustees who formerly participated in upReach programmes. The Board benefits from a good skills mix and positive relationships with the executive team.

This is an opportunity to join a thriving organisation at an exciting time, with the chance to shape its future direction and enhance its visibility.

Who we are looking for

We’re particularly interested in candidates who can mentor and champion our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

You are passionate about social mobility, demonstrated through either lived experience, personal background, or professional activities. You bring leadership experience at board level with experience in significant organisations.

You’re a collaborative leader who brings impartiality and objectivity to decision-making. You understand the balance between support and challenge, respecting the different roles of trustees and the executive team. Your commercial acumen and strong communication skills will help you be an effective ambassador for upReach’s work.

Experience in charity governance is beneficial, as is knowledge of either the education or employment sectors. Given the organisation’s digital transformation journey, familiarity with technology is also valuable.

Most importantly, you’ll be committed to our vision of a society where everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential, regardless of social background.

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close on Tuesday 22nd April 2025.