David Doughty’s obvious experience and credibility, the course material and structure and the quality of attendees meant that the course was worth every penny. I now have a full appreciation of the many balls to be juggled in order to become a successful Non-Executive Director
I had the pleasure of attending a recent 
Knowledgeable presenter Good solid coverage of core financial concepts - P&L, balance sheet, ratios
This course is a must for any aspiring NED and even established NED's as a refresher. The content and its delivery were well paced, informative and challenging in equal measures, led by a seasoned expert whose capabilities provide a wealth of knowledge to be drawn upon. Incredible value for money and should be part of a suite of courses leading to a more formal qualification for aspiring NEDs. 100% recommended, you will not be disappointed.
Philip had an excellent wealth of experience & practical knowledge of a wide number of industries and was really warm & welcoming- An asset to the course!
As an introduction to the world of NED's this course is well structured to give an honest and practical insight in to how to identify and prepare for a move in this direction. Money well spent!
I recently attended David's 
The course was a really thorough grounding in what it means to be a non-exec director and how you can apply your knowledge and skills to the role to good effect. The combination of useful information about corporate governance and directors' liabilities, a very experienced and insightful course lead in the form of David Doughty, and practical exercises about how to address particular situations that NEDs can expect to face made for a very interesting session, but also one which was directly applicable to my new role.
is an essential introduction for those who seriously wish to pursue Non Executive Director Roles. The course, led by David Doughty an experienced and knowledgeable NED, is focused on the key information required to achieve your first position. It includes a discussion of the Non Executive Director Role, duties and liabilities, the relevant skill set and valid approaches to securing a NED position. The day includes case study work as well as interactive discussions of the course material. I thoroughly recommend this course which is good value for money.
Well structured and informative course with plenty of time/room for group discussions. Ideal for anyone looking at NED roles.
Having attended this course in the last few months I can confirm its value. Having held NED roles in my favoured area of engineering and manufacturing David opens the mind to the potential of other sectors and using ones transferable skills. Have set a strategy for personnel growth as NED – if I could just stop getting interim assignments
The material, the course leader’s insights, and the opportunity to share thoughts and feelings with similarly inclined business people, made for a really valuable day. I came away with some clear actions.
A great introduction to the world of NEDs; well-structured and expertly delivered.
I found the day stimulating and informative. It confirmed many of the areas I was aware of working with a Board as a Company Secretary and refreshed my knowledge on some of the legal aspects of the role
The course was well constructed and delivered by David who has extensive knowledge of a range of boards, their structure and governance. It was particularly helpful to me as I am new to applying for NED roles and the guidance made me totally rethink what is required from the application process – i.e. this is not an operational role! The delegate group was of a suitable size to allow for interaction and sharing of ideas and experience
Well worth the time! Duncan has packed a lot of information into the course, which reminded me of all the things I should be thinking about, and doing something about in my own business, and also sent me away with some action items. Highly recommended!
Helpful and fulsome in opening up the channel of Non-Executive Director as a career path. I know considerably more about what is required and expected now and, of real practical benefit, how to go about seeking and finding a rewarding role as an NED. Highly recommended.
I can thoroughly recommend this course and David. As well as meeting interesting colleagues, a great way to understand compliance, personal capabilities and skills needed to fulfil a NED role. A helpful and well structured intro into the NED world.
I did the course in Bristol, in January on a chilly day. I received a warm welcome however and David brought the subject matter to life, made it practical, and tailored it to our specific objectives. The course structure made sense, we had enjoyable discussions, and the other people on the course (as usual with such things) were a good resource too. I can recommend it fully to anyone considering it. You'll be in capable and experienced hands.
I found the course very helpful, as I wanted to understand in detail what a NED role entailed. I felt that I gained enough information not only to decide if this was the sort of role that I would be interested in, but also to be able to function in such a role. The guidance on seeking appointments was an added bonus. It was also an interesting day with a varied group of delegates and I would happily recommend it.
A well structured and presented introduction to the responsibilities, challenges and attributes required of being a NED. It was thought-provoking. I have referred back to my copious comments in the comprehensive slide hand outs many times already
David's 
Right from the start of the 
I had the pleasure of attending '
I attended this course shortly after starting my first Non-Executive Director role and found David’s expertise and insight to be invaluable. The course also covers practical things such as how to go about finding Non-Executive Director roles – and so last week (6 months after I attended the course) I started my second NED role, and have an interview for a third one next week. I can highly recommend attending this course for current or aspiring NEDs.
I found the 
An excellent course giving a clear picture of the role, the skills and characteristics required, the range of NED opportunities and the various routes to secure such positions. Particularly helpful focus on shaping your CV for this sector and the key skills required. As a bonus you also meet interesting people and useful contacts. A good career investment which will hopefully deliver quick, positive results.
A really useful day for anyone with serious intentions of becoming a NED. The event was well structured with a good balance between the theory of corporate governance and NED responsibilities as well as allowing plenty of time for sharing experiences through group interaction
This one day course is an excellent overview, providing real advice and very helpful information for those Directors who are interested in developing a non-exec portfolio
David is a solid expert. The overview of the role of a NED was very well presented. Highly recommended.
This course was excellent and greatly exceeded my expectations. The course format is interactive, with small-group teaching in a seminar/workshop format, led by an experienced Chartered Director who generously shared his personal experience
An invaluable course for anyone looking for NED roles. Expertly delivered, honest and action focussed. Extremely useful materials. Feel much better equipped for to pursue opportunities as a NED.
I attended the 19th July course in Bristol and found it to be very informative. Not only was there a wealth of technical information provided but there were numerous case studies - based on real incidents - which were really thought provoking.I would happily recommend this course to anybody who is considering taking up the challenge of being a Non-Executive Director
I can recommend this course, it is very informative and will confirm research, skill requirements, responsibilities and legal obligations for a successful NED (NXD) role. Good interaction, networking with delegates and time for Q&A.
Board Member – Museums Galleries Scotland
Can you help put museums and galleries at the heart of Scottish society?
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body for Scotland’s museums and galleries. We support more than 400 museums and galleries, through strategic investment, advice, advocacy, and skills development.
We are looking for a Director to our Board to support the governance and financial management of the organisation and promote our aims as set out in Going Further: The National Strategy for Scotland’s Museums and Galleries for the benefit of the museums sector and the people of Scotland. The Board meets four times a year in addition to an annual general meeting and the successful candidate will also sit on the Audit and Risk Committee of the Board.
We are interested in hearing from candidates with a recognised financial qualification (for example, ICAS, ACCA or CIMA), and an understanding of the issues around charity governance. Candidates who are part-qualified will also be considered but all candidates should have work experience in either a finance or an investment setting.
The successful candidate will have a passion for museums and the heritage sector, and will manifest our core values: collaboration, integrity, passion for the heritage sector, and courageousness.
The ability to set strategic direction will be important, as is your desire to act as an ambassador and advocate for MGS and the wider sector.
Your role on the Board will include:
- Attending and participating in approximately 4 board meetings and an AGM over 12 months
- Attending and participating in 4 Audit and Risk Committee meetings over 12 months
- Supporting the work of MGS, setting strategic direction, and acting as ambassador for our work
- Engaging with MGS staff on specific pieces of work on an ad hoc basis if appropriate
The Audit and Risk Committee is currently comprised of four members. The responsibilities of the Audit and Risk Committee include:
- Ensuring the organisation complies with all legal obligations and regulatory requirements
- Ensuring the organisation complies with all internal control systems in place and that these are fit for purpose
- Reviewing all material risks (financial and non-financial) and seek assurance
- Reviewing the annual budget and make recommendations to the Board for approval
- Monitoring the financial performance of the organisation via regular review of the Management Accounts and recommend adjustments as required
- Being a source of advice for other trustees on key financial matters
In addition to the above, the Audit and Risk Committee meets annually as the Remuneration Committee for MGS to determine the annual pay review and other decisions affecting staff remuneration.
We currently have a Board of 10. Directors are appointed for a fixed term of 3 years and are eligible for re-election for one subsequent fixed term of 3 years. These roles are unpaid voluntary positions. Reasonable expenses are paid.
Being a Board Member offers the opportunity to work at a strategic level to support the development of the Museums and Galleries sector in Scotland as well as gaining skills and experience in areas of non-executive governance and management. A full induction is provided along with other learning opportunities to ensure you are able to fulfil the duties and responsibilities of a Board Member of Museums and Galleries Scotland.
Museums Galleries Scotland encourages applications from suitably experienced candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity. We also welcome applications from young people or those interested in applying for their first position as a Board Member.
MGS currently has 30 staff. We have Investors in People accreditation and are a Living Wage Employer. For further information please see our website https://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/
Please apply by sending your CV and covering letter to:
If you would like further information please contact us at this email address or by telephone on 0131 550 4122.
Closing Date: March 12th
Candidates who are short listed will be invited to meet with the interview panel of the Board of Museums Galleries Scotland on March 29th online via Microsoft Teams.
All MGS staff are currently working from home and all meetings, including Board and Committee meetings are held online. We are developing a workplace adaptation plan and considering what any return to the office may look like going forward.
We continue to monitor the official guidance for employers around coronavirus and will put in place, and communicate to staff, appropriate and timely guidance and measures as the situation evolves.
Please note that details supplied may be held in electronic and paper files for administration purposes only during the recruitment process. We retain recruitment files for six months following the date of interview, after which they are shredded and disposed of.
You can view MGS’s privacy policy on our website at: https://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/privacy-policy/
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.