Paul Sherratt, director of operations at Unilever Port Sunlight Laboratory has recently been appointed as a non-executive board director at The Bluecoat, a leading contemporary arts organisation in Liverpool, through Arts & Business Board Bank.

Paul’s interest in art and culture emerged through his successful career as a furniture designer-maker whose work has previously exhibited at The Bluecoat. In his current role at Unilever, Paul, understands how beneficial board level governance experience is and how business expertise is sometimes lacking in cultural organisations.
This is where Arts & Business can help. Board Bank connects skilled professionals with cultural organisations and since 1998, has placed more than 5000 business people as non-executive board members and advisors with not-for-profit arts organisations.

Paul wanted to become a trustee of The Bluecoat not only to give something back to the local community and the organisation that he started life with, but to gain an understanding of the responsibilities of a board and the role as a trustee.

Paul said: “The board level experience I have gained by becoming a non-executive director of The Bluecoat is invaluable. A board is the last safety net to ensure the organisation is running effectively and as a board member of The Bluecoat I have learnt new skills, which I have implemented in my own work.”

In return for bringing their skills, business acumen and insight in areas such as finance, human resources, law and marketing, business people get the chance to help shape the cultural life of their community work working alongside committed, creative people, enabling them to broaden their own networks and governance experience.

Arts & Business can find the right board for you. Their cultural network spans hundreds of groups and centres across the UK, many of which are in need of vital professional expertise.

The fee to join Board Bank covers all the training and support you’ll need in arts governance, and an introduction to an organisation that’s right for you and/or your employees.

If you’d like to find out more about how you can get involved then contact Claire Barlow on 0161 2362058 or claire.barlow@artsandbusiness.org.uk

www.artsandbusiness.org.uk