So you want to be a Non-Executive Director?

Competition for Non-Executive Director roles is fierce so how do you differentiate yourself from the opposition?

There has never been a better time to become a Non-Executive Director. With a growing emphasis on Corporate Governance in boardrooms around the world there is a growing demand for skilled directors who are qualified to be effective board members in organisations of all sizes in the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Yet competition for NED roles is stiff with many more applicants than there are available positions – so how do you stand out from the crowd and get yourself on NED interview short-lists?

Fortunately, there are a number of courses you can attend which will give you the information you need to make successful NED applications. Varying in length from half a day to six months, with costs varying from a few hundred pounds to a few thousand and with venues across the country, there are plenty of courses to choose from.

For what to look for when choosing a course refer to this post here from NEDworks.

The following table lists courses available in the UK – if you are a course provider and your course is not listed here, please contact debbie.wright@nedworks.net and she will add it to the list.

Course Title	Provider	Venue(s)	Duration	Cost	Discounts
Non-Executive Directors Programme	BVCA	London	2 days	£3,790 (ex VAT)	BVCA members £1,895 (ex VAT)
Becoming an effective Non-Executive Director	Cass Business School	London	1 day	£975
Being an Effective Non-Executive Director	Civil Service College	London	½ day	£550 (ex VAT)
The Non-Executive Directors’ Seminar	Cranfield University	Cranfield	2 days	£1,875 (ex VAT)
How to become a Non-Executive Director	Excellencia	Birmingham Bristol London Manchester Oxford	1 day	£330 (ex VAT)	NEDworks Tier1 members £280 (ex VAT)
Non-Executive Director Diploma	Financial Times	London	6 months	£5,900 (inc VAT)
So You Want To Be a Non-Executive Director?	Financial Times	London	½ day	£474 (inc VAT)	FT NED club members £414 (inc VAT)
Effective Non-Executive Director Programme	Financial Times	London	2 days	£1,800 (inc VAT)	FT NED Club members £1,500 (inc VAT)
Non-Exec Workshop	First Flight	London	1 day	£500 (ex VAT)
Non-Executive Directors’ Programme	ICSA	London	1 day	£500 (ex VAT)	ICSA members£400 (ex VAT) ICSA students£300 (ex VAT)
Role of the Non-Executive Director	Institute of Directors	London	1 day	£955 (ex VAT)	IoD Members £795 (ex VAT)
Essential Training Course for Non-Executive Directors	NEDA	London	1 day	£450 (inc VAT)
NHS trust and foundation trust non-executive directors programme	NHS Cass Business School Monitor	London	3 days	£2,400	Preferred rate £2,160

Having invested the time and money in attending one of the above courses you will then need to ensure that you make the most of your background, skills and experience by preparing your Non-Executive Director CV and accompanying letter of application.