Mark Tobin

Four new trustees appointed to AFG Board

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Following a recent search focused campaign we are really pleased to have helped search for and select four new trustees for Alternative Futures Group. By building on our understanding of the North West charity’s growth and future plans, combined with a detailed brief on where the current board could be supplemented we undertook a search for three new trustees. While looking for very specific backgrounds and experience in areas of senior strategic finance, business development and a generalist with senior strategic management experience we were pleased AFG chose to appoint a fourth new Trustee with well rounded experience. Proventure has now assited on the recruitment of 7 of the 10 Board members at AFG.

We used search to gain recommedations and referalls to approach only the most suited to the role briefs, deciding against the extra cost of advertising the roles. While this can take a little while longer the quality of potential candidates is raised by a search approach. Learn more about AFG and its new Trustee Board members.

Chief Officer Access and Care Delivery – Leeds City Council

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Leeds County Council Logo

We are delighted to have supported Leeds City Council in appointing their new Chief Officer responsible for adult social services Access and Care Delivery in the city. As Leeds has adapated to the changes in adult social care, the Care Act and better integration with its health partners in the city, they chose to combine to previous roles for this new Chief Officer post. Completing a capable team the new CO will report to the incoming Director of Adult Social Services, Cath Roff joining in March/April.

AFG wins Charity of the Year

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We are very pleased to announce that Alternative Futures Group as won Charity Times’ – Charity of the Year for 2014 in the over £30 million category, beating some well known and long established charities such as The Stroke Association, Guide Dogs for the Blind and The Citizens Advice Bureau.

This news confirms the organisation’s commitment to both its service users and own staff in times of increased focus on quality and the reduction of costs. We have worked with AFG for 3 years in sourcing Trustees to join their Board and so regularly see and hear of their innovation, high standards and drive in adaping to this changing environment. We wish them continued success.

To read more about the award and and AFG please view this link

New commercial appointments at Trafford Council

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We are pleased to announce that we have helped appoint to both the Commercial Director and Contracts Director posts at Trafford Council. This progressive, efficient and well run council look to further their potential for both saving money and creating new sources of income and both Directors will add to this commercial drive.

Chief Executive Officer – NUS – circa £100k

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After many years of working closely with the National Union of Students and many of its member students’ unions we are pleased to launch the recruitment campaign for their new Chief Executive. Working alongside elected officers this key executive senior management role will provide the leadership of an organisation which supports the voice of students whilst delivering a wide range of activities and services to its membership. If you wish to learn more about the role please visit nuspeople.co.uk and then if you wish to discuss the role please contact mark.tobin@proventureconsulting.co.uk or 07717 725 844

Leeds City Council – Director Adult Social Services and Chief Officer Access and Care Delivery

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Leeds County Council Logo

We are pleased to launch the campaign to find the new Director of Adult Social Services and a Chief Officer – Access and Care Delivery for Leeds City Council. Information about both roles can be found on the Leeds CC Welcome page including the opportunity to download the relevent Job Description and Person Specification. Any queries please do get in touch with mark.tobin@proventureconsulting.co.uk

Three Trustee roles – Alternative Futures Group – Merseyside

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We are searching for three new Trustees to join a very capable Board of Trustees at this successful and expanding mental health charity operating in the North West of England. The roles require specific experience to add to the skills already retained on the Board (senior finance, business development and entrepreneurialism, generalist). More information on AFG and the roles can be found in the AFG Trustee Pack August 2014 Any queries please do get in touch with Stephen Cooley on 07747 698 829 or stephen.cooley@proventureconsulting.co.uk

Proventure moves office

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After 9 years in our original office just off Deansgate in Manchester city centre, we have just moved to our new office. It’s not far from the old one, just the other side of Deansgate near Parsonage Gardens and just East down river from the Lowry hotel.

Here is a map to find us and we look forward to welcoming you soon. We are on the corner of Blackfriars Street and Parsonage.

The postal address is: Blackfriars House, Parsonage, Manchester, M3 2JA and our contact number remains the same – 0161 835 3377.

Proventure Christmas charity campaign raises money for Foodbank

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At Christmas 2013 we once again chose to support an individual foodbank with money contributed by Proventure and our colleagues, associates, clients and friends. This email initiative is instant, direct and green, but most importantly supports those needing a little help when life has been tough. Instead of posting Christmas cards, we send a Christmas message by email and for each and every one we donate £1. Then for each and every reply we donate a further £1.

Once again this has raised over £500 for the York foodbank. Why York? Steve and Mark live in the area, and we have previously supported Manchester based small charities so like to even things up on both sides of the Pennines!

To find out more about the work of foodbanks visit their website or view the Foodbank Proventure letter to learn a little more about their services.

Thank you all once again for your interest in our Christmas charity and hope you are making a difference in 2014.

How to Get it Wrong

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There are a number of ways that you can score negative points before your first meeting. Here are some examples of CVs and other documents that didn’t shine:

  • Documents that are written in capital letters.
  • Documents that cannot be printed (check before you send it)
  • Documents that do not have the applicant’s name and page number on each page.
  • Documents that haven’t been spell-checked.
  • We are mostly looking for evidence of success. If you don’t tell us that a particular programme, procedural or cultural change was a success and how they helped the company, then we will have to take a guess, and we might guess incorrectly.
  • Try not to use the words “Responsible for” so much. It’s good to know what your responsibilities are, but only up to a point, after that we want to know how your actions helped the company.
  • If you have figures, or a before and after, put them in.
  • Try not to leave gaps, if you get an interview, you will almost certainly be asked about them.
  • This isn’t the place for being self deprecating or engaging in humour. “Well I was quite good at this role” will not gain you points, but then neither will “I want to take over the world”!
  • Falling foul of the points above might not stop you from getting an interview, but they are likely to colour the interviewer’s perception of you.