Introduction
Companies House (CH) is an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). Headed by the Non-Executive Chair, the Board current comprises a mix of Executive and Non-Executive Directors. The Board is advisory rather than fiduciary and its principal roles are to ensure challenge of the executive team on behalf of ministers and DBT, to set the organisation’s strategic direction and to oversee its operational effectiveness.
All Non-Executive Directors contribute substantially to decisions covering the strategy for the organisation and the overall direction of the business, adding value by offering wise counsel, advice and challenge, based on their own experiences and successful track records of achievement within competitive environments.
Companies House is undergoing an exciting and extensive transformation following the introduction and Royal Assent of The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill. The enhanced powers that this Bill has introduced allow Companies House to play a far greater role in disrupting economic crime and preventing abuse of the register. In tandem with supporting economic growth and business in the UK, Companies House is becoming a key part of the UK’s efforts to combat economic crime and data fraud.
We are seeking two Non-Executive Directors to join Companies House during this exciting period, to provide constructive challenge and strategic leadership that helps ensure the successful implementation of these important reforms.
Role description
We are looking to recruit two Non-Executive Directors. The Non-Executive Directors will have the following responsibilities:
- Provide advice, guidance and challenge to the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Directors to support sound strategic and collective decision making at Companies House.
- Support the delivery of the strategic priorities and contribute to developing and deciding long-term strategies, using personal and professional skills, experience and judgment to scrutinise the short and long-term performance of the organisation.
Role 1: Digital and technology
In light of the substantial digital modernisation and reform programme that Companies House is delivering, we are particularly looking to bring in one NED with a background in leading, developing and implementing holistic digital and technology enabled change in an organisation.
Role 2: Data and AI
In light of the substantial data assets that Companies House manages and the reform programme being delivered, we are looking to bring in one NED with a background in improving data quality and exploiting data assets and infrastructure, including through the use of technologies such as AI.
Organisation description
Companies House (CH) is an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) which plays a critical role in supporting the economy and ensuring that the UK is the best place to start and grow a business. The Companies Register has around 5 million companies incorporated and its data continues to be a rich source to support business decisions – accessed over 14 billion times in 2022-23.
Following the introduction and Royal Assent of The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, Companies House is undergoing an exciting and extensive transformation. The enhanced powers that this Act has introduced allow Companies House to play a far greater role in disrupting economic crime and preventing abuse of the register.
The core powers came into force on 4 March 2024, with Companies House putting them into immediate effect to start cleaning up the register. But this is just the first step in a major implementation programme. Over the coming years new capabilities and requirements will be introduced and new partnerships developed, alongside a wholesale transformation of Companies House to address both challenges of infrastructural legacy, as well as exploit the full value of our data, our ability to integrate with other government bodies, and harness technology to better perform core objectives.
With these opportunities in mind we are looking for two new non-executive directors to join the Board and to bring expertise and experience in digital and data-led transformation.
Headed by the Non-Executive Chair, the Board current comprises a mix of Executive and Non-Executive Directors. The Board is advisory rather than fiduciary and its principal roles are to ensure challenge of the executive team on behalf of ministers and DBT, to set the organisation’s strategic direction and to oversee its operational effectiveness. Alongside Board meetings, we have taken steps to encourage engagement between the executives and NED’s in-between board meetings on specific areas of business, to provide more challenge, assurance and support. A move welcomed by the executives.
Board composition
The current main board members of Companies House are as follows:
- John Clarke (Chair)
- Louise Smyth (Chief Executive)
- Martin Swain
- Sarah Whitehead
- Rohan Gye
- Charlie Boundy
- Aimee Symonds
- Michelle Wall
- Jill Callan
- Martin Spencer (Non-Executive Board Member)
- Carol Shutkever (Non-Executive Board Member)
- Emir Feisal (Non-Executive Board Member)
- Tim Burt (Non-Executive Board Member)
- Eoin Parker (DBT representative)