North West in need of more non-exec directors, says research

The North West is among the regions most in need of an influx of non-executive directors (NEDs), according to research by business network In Touch.

London and The South East have the highest demand for experienced leaders, followed closely by the North West and West Midlands.

And the research found that healthcare, charity/not-for-profit, education, management, and sport, leisure and travel are the sectors most in need of executives and business leaders to fill a growing number of non-executive director positions

NED roles are available across a number of specialisms with findings showing that average non-executive director salaries can reach upwards of £15,000.

The latest list from Manchester-based In Touch illustrates the available positions and salaries for non-executives in the UK, with boards requiring expertise across a broad range of specialisms including marketing, finance, and governance.

“Our analysis shows there has been an explosion of NED vacancies, particularly in healthcare, but many professionals may not see themselves as a suitable fit for such roles,” said Oliver Tarpey of In Touch.

“Across all sectors, large organisations can truly benefit from the vast array of specialities and experience that NEDs can bring.

“Professionals need to be proactive by gaining access to training and support to ensure their skills are deemed valuable to boards.

“This is particularly true in the fields of health, charity, education, management and sport, and we know there are tens of thousands of people – experienced leaders and ambitious executives – who could contribute a wealth of knowledge to developing these sectors further by becoming a non-executive director.

“Business leaders with experience across any sector can become NEDs, and whether it’s for personal development, a sense of giving back, or simply supplementing their earnings, there are good reasons to explore the extensive opportunities that are currently available.”

Of the five sectors where NEDs were most in demand, In Touch revealed the average salaries for 2019 were:

• 1 Healthcare and pharma, £12,224
• 2 Charity/not-for-profit, £13,802
• 3 Education, £6,913
• 4 General management, £13,758
• 5 Sport, leisure and travel, £4,953

A recent In Touch survey showed that the main time commitment for a NED in the UK is between 11 and 15 days per annum (25% of respondents), meaning many executives can hold multiple NED roles.