The Corporation

College governing bodies are called “Corporations” and carry ultimate legal responsibility for college activities. “Governors” or “Members” are the people who make up the Corporation. Governance is the process by which the Corporation exercises its powers and delivers its responsibilities.

Heart of Worcestershire College Corporation is a group of eighteen Governors who provide strategic direction, challenge and support to senior leaders. The Corporation has responsibilities towards College stakeholders who include students, staff, employers and the local community as well as towards the auditors, inspectors and regulators of the Government Departments and Agencies who provide the majority of College funding. The Principal has complementary responsibilities for the day to day management of the College and its staff.

Governors set the framework of policies and strategies for College managers to operate under and then monitor those activities. They act to ensure that the College is equipped to serve the needs of the community effectively both now and for future generations of students. They are similar to the non-executive directors of a business enterprise or the trustees of a registered charity. The Corporation seeks to be open and accountable.

External Governance Review- Summary Statement 

It is a Department for Education requirement that all Further Education Colleges commission an external review of governance at least every three years.

Heart of Worcestershire College commissioned Stone King LLP to undertake such a review which was carried out during the period January to June 2023. Key actions from the review process, which are subject to monitoring by the Governance and Search Committee, included improving the College’s governance structure and to adopt changes to its procedures. The Corporation has accepted all recommendations. The governance structure changes to move to a more Committee based system, were implemented immediately ready for the start of the 2023-24 year. All other recommendations including the adoption of a code of Governance, enhancing process to appoint, train and review Governor performance, improving the quality of information provided to the Board, and to implement a wider Governor engagement programme, formed part of an action plan for completion by the end of the Academic Year 2023-24.

The Corporation in consultation with the Principal and Clerk continue to monitor and review governance procedures on a regular and consistent basis.

For more information about the Corporation and its work please contact Donna Gibson, Clerk to the Corporation, Telephone: 01905 743482, Email: dgibson@howcollege.ac.uk