Information for Board of Trustees applicants

June 2026

A message from the Chair

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Trustee of the National Centre for Universities and Business.

The UK stands at an important moment. Advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, clean energy and other emerging technologies are reshaping economies at pace. At the same time, universities face significant changes and challenges, businesses are navigating increasing global competition, and policymakers are seeking new ways to drive growth and prosperity.

Success in this environment will depend on one thing above all else: collaboration.

For more than a decade, NCUB has brought together leaders from business, higher education and government to strengthen the partnerships that drive innovation, develop talent and support economic growth. As an independent charity, we provide evidence, insight and convening power to help ensure that the UK’s world-class research, skills and entrepreneurial strengths translate into real-world impact.

What makes NCUB distinctive is our ability to bring together different perspectives to address shared challenges. We work across institutional, sectoral and policy boundaries to help identify practical solutions to some of the most important questions facing the UK.

We have ambitious agenda for the organisation. We want to strengthen the UK’s competitiveness as a destination for research and innovation, deepen collaboration between universities and businesses, and help ensure the country is prepared for a rapidly changing future.

The Board of Trustees plays a vital role in supporting that ambition. As a Trustee, you will help shape the strategic direction of the organisation, provide oversight and challenge, and ensure NCUB remains focused on delivering impact for its members, partners and the wider UK economy.

As we continue to evolve and grow, we are seeking individuals who share our belief in the power of collaboration and who can bring their insight, experience and judgement to the governance of the organisation.

I hope you will consider applying to join us.

Paul Walker Chair, National Centre for Universities and Business Chair, RELX

Who We Are

The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) is an independent charity dedicated to strengthening collaboration between universities, businesses and government.

We believe that the UK’s prosperity hinges on our ability to turn knowledge into progress. This means not only generating great ideas, but ensuring they are effectively applied through strong, productive collaboration between academic and business institutions.

NCUB exists to strengthen those connections. As a trusted network of senior leaders from business, higher education and the wider innovation ecosystem, we bring together organisations that recognise that many of the UK’s most important opportunities and challenges cannot be addressed by any one institution, sector or policy intervention alone.

Founded in 2013, with roots stretching back to the Council for Industry and Higher Education established in 1986, NCUB provides independent insight, convenes influential leaders and champions practical collaboration. We work across institutional and sectoral boundaries to help shape the conditions for innovation, investment, skills development and long-term growth.

Today, NCUB plays a distinctive role in helping the UK become more competitive, more collaborative and better prepared for the future.

Our Approach

Our role is to bring together different perspectives, challenge assumptions and help identify practical solutions to complex problems.

We are not a lobbying organisation representing a single constituency, nor are we a think tank observing events from the sidelines. We work at the point where the interests of universities, businesses and government intersect, recognising that many of the UK’s most important opportunities and challenges cannot be addressed by any one part of the system alone.

Many of the questions facing the UK today, from research and innovation investment to skills, productivity, technological change, industrial competitiveness and the future sustainability of higher education, are shaped by wider global trends and do not have simple answers. We seek to approach these challenges from a whole-system perspective, helping leaders navigate complexity rather than advocate predetermined positions.

Our work is grounded in evidence and informed by close partnership with leading researchers, policymakers and practitioners. We are equally comfortable examining the detail of specific policies, funding mechanisms and delivery challenges as we are engaging with the bigger strategic questions about the future of the UK. This ability to connect implementation with long-term ambition is one of our greatest strengths.

Much of our influence comes not from being the loudest voice in the debate, but from being a trusted one. We place a high value on intellectual rigour, independence and integrity, ensuring that our analysis and recommendations are credible, balanced and focused on long-term impact.

Above all, we are a collaborative organisation. We believe that bringing together diverse expertise, experiences and viewpoints leads to better decisions, stronger partnerships and more effective solutions. Our role is to create the conditions for those conversations to happen and to help translate them into meaningful action.

What We Do

NCUB works at the intersection of research, innovation, skills and economic growth, helping universities, businesses and policymakers navigate the opportunities and challenges shaping the UK’s future.

We do this in three ways:

WE INFORM

We generate independent insight
and analysis on the issues
shaping the UK’s research,
innovation and skills landscape.
Through research, data and
evidence, we help decision
makers understand what drives
successful collaboration and
where barriers to progress remain.

WE INFLUENCE

We convene senior leaders from business, higher education and government to address strategic challenges and develop practical solutions. By bringing together diverse perspectives, we help shape policy and strengthen the conditions for collaboration.

WE INSPIRE

We champion the value of
university-business collaboration
by showcasing its impact in
practice and creating new
opportunities for organisations
to connect. Through initiatives
such as konfer, we help make
collaboration more visible,
accessible and effective.

Through this work, NCUB supports a more competitive, collaborative and future-ready UK.

Recent Impact

NCUB’s role is to bring together evidence, influence and convening power to strengthen collaboration between universities, businesses and government. Recent examples of our work include:

Shaping conversations across all parts of the UK on business R&D and growth

In 2025, NCUB convened the Business-led R&D Taskforce, bringing together senior leaders from business, higher education and government to explore how the UK can strengthen private investment in research and innovation. The Taskforce’s recommendations received significant attention across government, Parliament and national media, helping to shape wider discussions on competitiveness, innovation and growth. Follow-on work is now underway with partners including the Medical Research Council and Academy of Medical Sciences to explore practical delivery opportunities in life sciences.

Providing evidence to inform policy and investment decisions

NCUB published a series of major reports examining universitybusiness collaboration, SME innovation, advanced technology adoption and the impact of public investment in research and development. Our analysis has informed discussions across government departments, contributed to parliamentary inquiries and been used by organisations across the landscape to support policy development and investment decisions.

Supporting collaboration across the UK

Through konfer, NCUB’s national collaboration platform, more than 130 universities and hundreds of businesses are able to discover expertise, opportunities and potential partners across the UK research base. The platform currently hosts hundreds of live collaboration opportunities and has generated numerous examples of successful partnerships between universities and businesses.

Bringing leaders together around shared challenges

NCUB regularly convenes senior leaders from business, universities and government to address issues such as industrial competitiveness, skills, innovation and economic growth. During the past year, this included evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees, engagement with ministers and senior officials, and bringing a stronger business voice into national discussions about the future of higher education, including through prominent open letters on university sustainability and competitiveness.

Strengthening the national debate

NCUB’s analysis and commentary are increasingly referenced across policy, parliamentary and media discussions. In 2025/26, NCUB was featured in more than 800 media articles and reached an estimated audience of 2.4 billion people, helping to raise the profile of issues relating to research, innovation, skills and collaboration.

The Role of Our Board

NCUB is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Members of the Board serve as both charity trustees and non-executive directors of the company, with responsibilities under both charity and company law.

The Board provides strategic oversight and stewardship of the organisation. It approves NCUB’s strategy, monitors progress and organisational performance, oversees financial stewardship and risk, and ensures the organisation remains focused on delivering impact for its members, funders and the wider UK economy.

Trustees work closely with the Chief Executive and Executive Team, providing support, challenge and guidance while maintaining clear accountability for governance and organisational performance. Given the fast-moving nature of the research, innovation and skills landscape, Board discussions also play an important role in helping NCUB identify emerging opportunities and challenges, test strategic priorities, and ensure the organisation remains focused on the issues where it can make the greatest contribution.

Reflecting NCUB’s unique role, the Board brings together senior leaders from both business and higher education. This balance of perspectives helps ensure that NCUB remains a trusted and independent voice capable of bridging the interests of universities, businesses and policymakers. The Board is also attended by an observer from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), reflecting NCUB’s close partnership with the UK’s research and innovation ecosystem.

Why we are recruiting

NCUB is entering an important new phase of its development.

We will be shortly launching our 2026–29 strategy, Unlocking the UK’s Collaborative Potential, which sets out an ambitious agenda to help the UK compete in an increasingly complex and fastmoving world. Supported by long-term public investment and a diverse membership base, we are working to strengthen the UK’s competitiveness, deepen collaboration between universities and businesses, and help ensure the country is prepared for a rapidly changing future.

Delivering this ambition will require NCUB to continue evolving as an organisation and to remain focused on the issues where it can make the greatest contribution.

As part of this next stage of development, we are seeking to appoint new Trustees to our Board. We want to ensure that the Board continues to bring together a diverse mix of perspectives, experiences and expertise from across business, higher education and the wider innovation ecosystem.

We are seeking individuals who have operated at the highest levels of business, higher education, government or the wider innovation ecosystem and who can bring perspective, judgement and experience to Board discussions on some of the most important issues shaping the UK’s future.

We recognise that the quality of Board discussions and decision-making is strengthened by diversity of thought, experience and background. We are therefore committed to building a Board that reflects a broad range of perspectives and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who can contribute to NCUB’s mission.

Through these appointments, we aim to strengthen the Board’s collective capability and ensure NCUB remains well positioned to deliver impact for its members, partners and the wider UK.

The Experience and Perspectives We Value

We are looking for individuals who can bring senior-level experience, sound judgement and a broad perspective to Board discussions.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

Significant senior leadership experience in business, higher education, government or the wider innovation ecosystem. This may include current or former Chief Executives, Chairs, Vice-Chancellors or individuals who have held equivalent senior leadership positions.

The ability to engage constructively with perspectives from different sectors and disciplines, recognising the important and complementary roles played by universities, businesses and policymakers.

• A strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges shaping the UK’s future prosperity, including areas such as research and innovation, industrial competitiveness, skills, higher education, technology or economic growth.

Experience of operating at Board level, including contributing to strategic decision-making, organisational oversight and effective governance

Strong judgement, intellectual curiosity and the confidence to provide both support and constructive challenge.

The ability to build trusted relationships and contribute positively to discussions with senior leaders and policymakers from a range of backgrounds.

A willingness to use their experience, expertise and networks in support of NCUB’s mission and long-term success.

A commitment to the highest standards of integrity, objectivity and independence of thought.

Further desirable attributes are:

Experience of charity governance or public bodies, including an understanding of trustee responsibilities and public accountability.

Experience of working across organisational, sectoral or disciplinary boundaries to address complex strategic challenges.

Familiarity with government policy, public funding or the UK’s research and innovation landscape

Commitment and Terms

Trustees are appointed for an initial term of three years and may be reappointed for a second term.

The Board meets four times each year for two hours. Meetings are typically held during working hours and are supported by papers circulated in advance.

Trustees may also be invited to contribute to one or more of the Board’s committees, including those responsible for finance, remuneration and nominations. These committees provide more detailed oversight of key aspects of NCUB’s governance and support the work of the Board.

Beyond formal meetings, Trustees may choose to contribute to taskforces, projects and other activities where their expertise, insight and networks can add value.

Application Process

To apply, please submit a CV and a brief covering letter outlining your interest in the role and the contribution you believe you could make to NCUB.

Applications should be sent to: pa@ncub.co.uk

The closing date for applications is 31st July 2026

Following an initial review, shortlisted candidates will be invited to meet with the Chair and selected members of the Board.

If you would like an informal conversation about the role before applying, please contact our CEO Joe Marshall - joe.marshall@ncub.co.uk

We are keen to improve the diversity of our Board and would very much welcome applications from women and people with diverse backgrounds, including disabled candidates, Black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) candidates, LGBTQ+ as well as non-binary candidates.

National Centre for Universities and Business

For further information

The National Centre for Universities and Business

The Clarence Centre

6 St George’s Circus

London SE1 6FE

United Kingdom

020 7383 7667

ncub.co.uk

@NCUBtweets

Registered Charity No. 1066956