Job Description

About Bootstrap Company - ‘Where Community Works’

Bootstrap’s core business is providing workspace to a diverse mix of tenants, supporting them to start up and grow. From bakers and brewers in the Bootyard to film studios and charities across the 3 buildings we operate in; Bootstrap boasts an eclectic mix of tenants here on Ashwin Street, Dalston.

Bootstrap was established in 1978 to support people to set-up their own businesses and improve employability skills. Bootstrap’s work in 2016 still echoes these original aims through our Enterprise Bootcamp programme, tenant networking and training events as well as a diverse programme across our community event spaces.

We owe huge gratitude to the parting Chief Executive for her crucial role in developing the Charity to this exciting point where we scale up its activities. We look to have the new Chief Executive in place by March 2017 (or earlier) with the current Chief Executive helping the new leader to settle-in.

Workspace sector context

Bootstrap Company, having been in operation and providing services to the local economy and community for almost 40 years, finds itself at critical point in its evolution. The workspace sector is experiencing very high levels of growth and several factors that influence Bootstrap’s model of operation are happening:

• Rental levels for commercial space continue to increase, making it harder for start-up and growing businesses to access workspace and operate a sustainable business model. Rental increases show no signs of slowing in the foreseeable future

• The opportunity to operate co-working type spaces has been realised. Consequently, whilst not flooded, Bootstrap is operating in a more competitive market. Nevertheless few workspace operators offer genuine social outcomes in the same manner as Bootstrap

• Due to the economic realities, the divide between those that have and those that have not continues to widen. Hence the need for Bootstrap to offer support in this area is greater than ever

Bootstrap context

Bootstrap is in a position where it sees the opportunity, and pressure, from the growth of the workspace sector currently being experienced across London. These can be summarised as:

• Increases in rent for a building we let from the council and from private landlords. We have undergone a rent review in 2016 and will do so again in 2017

• Given Bootstrap’s offer “to provide affordable space” these rent increases reduce our flexibility. The changes have impacted our business model but not damaged our focus on positive social impact

• With the sector growth and Bootstrap Company’s recognised brand, the charity has been introduced to opportunities to grow across London

• Several opportunities for expansion have been considered and the opportunities themselves have helped form ideas as to the options for the long-term sustainability and growth of the organisation

Bootstrap future

Within this context, Bootstrap Company will respond in a proactive and considered manner to ‘sure up’ our market position and to continue to deliver on our charitable objects. The Board and senior staff are considering strategic options and setting an ambitious agenda for the charity and its position to shape the sector in London and beyond. Such a transition will require a very specific skillset of a new Chief Executive, working closely with the Board.

A successful Chief Executive will need to be able demonstrate a skill set including:

• A focus on growth and leadership – experience of scaling up businesses

• A natural understanding of the capacity a needed to achieve our aspirations, and the ability to manage associated risks

• Goal and solution orientation – able to develop and operationalise a strategy

• The ability to access capital, close deals and strengthen our position

• To identify beneficial partnerships and understand sector consolidation

• An overall strategic understanding of the shared workspace industry

Job Description

Job title: Chief Executive

Reporting: Chair and Board of Trustees

Contract: Permanent

Salary: Competitive for the sector – apply with your salary expectation

Goals and Aspirations

There is a desire in the board to respond to current opportunities (growth of collaborative working) and constraints (rising rents) by expanding the operations of Bootstrap Company. Any expansion must enhance the mission and charitable objects of the Bootstrap Company. The board is currently actively exploring and planning options and models for growth.

Job Summary

Our Chief Executive must be a strong leader able to scale up and expand her/his leadership across London’s expanding shared workspace sector. Chief Executive must work closely with, but independently from, the current small Trustee Board and garner trusted and professional relationships across all our stakeholders.

The Trustee Board in co-operation with the Chief Executive determines the strategy of the Bootstrap Company.

Principal tasks and responsibilities

Strategy & leadership

• Always seek opportunities to increase the positive social impact of Bootstrap Company

• With the approval of the board, develop strategic and operational plans and lead their implementation

• Be an inspirational leader who thrives on and drives innovation

• Grow and maintain good relationships with key stakeholders (local authority, landlords, tenants, neighbours, capital providers)

• Promote Bootstrap Company, develop partnerships, new business and funding opportunities as agreed in the strategy

• Raise the public profile of Bootstrap Company and capture the social workspace market leader position

• Foster an environment of continuous improvement where all staff are content and actively contribute to core objectives

Robust governance

• Foster good working relationships and ensure systems and structures are in place to support the Board by providing them with timely, relevant and transparent information

• Ensure that Board operates within statutory and corporate approved frameworks and requirements

• Advise the Board in all aspects of leading the Charity, including HR, funding, social impact, communications and management of property assets

• Supporting the Chair in further developing the Board and its role

• Participate in regular supervisions and annual appraisal with the Chair of the Board

• Manage effective risk management framework to support robust financial and strategic management

Managerial

• Take responsibility for achieving, monitoring and reporting against targets, taking appropriate action as required

• Lead the implementation of goals, objectives and financial plans to meet short and long term business plans

• Ensure that all policies are up to date, relevant and fair and that the organisation is managed in line with best practice

• Ensure that staff structure and accountabilities develop in line with the business

• Empower the team to take responsibility, identify efficiencies and growth within their sub-areas

• Set accurate and proportional budgets, and monitor and maintain these as required by the business, funders and the Board

• Maintain the right balance to achieve an appropriate revenue, social impact, and productive collaboration amongst tenants

• Set out an attractive offer to current and future tenants keeping occupation at, or above, 97%

• Ensure that all legislative responsibilities for property management are fulfilled, and set and follow associated standards for tenant service and property management and maintenance

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Experience in scaling up activities of businesses and / or charities

• Experience in delivery growth in the property management sector, ideally with an understanding of collaborative or co-working environments

• Very strong financial acumen and drive to execute plans

• Ability to motivate staff and bring tenants along to achieve our mission

• The ability to provide calm, consistent leadership in a growth-led, dynamic sector

• Experience reporting to and working with a board (or group oversight)

• Experience working with investors (for example: impact private equity, social-lenders)

• Strong knowledge and experience base to support the board to choose the right growth opportunities

• Operational or managerial exposure to daily facilities management to enable a judgement on where best to invest to improve the tenant environment and satisfaction

• Alignment with positive social output of Bootstrap Company and passion to grow that impact

This Job Description will form a part of the Contract of Employment. It reflects the position now only, and may be changed at management’s discretion in the future.