Association of Chairs

Boardroom Advisors

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Boardroom Advisors is a UK network, established in 2016, that places part-time and fractional board members with SMEs and scale-ups: non-executive directors, chairs, board advisors, mentors and fractional executives across finance, sales, marketing, HR, IT and operations. It works through a regional director model, with more than 200 experienced advisors in the UK and offices in Ireland, Spain and Portugal, and engagements starting from as little as one day per quarter.

Chapter Zero

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Chapter Zero is a not-for-profit forum for non-executive directors and chairs on climate governance, founded in 2019 and based in Canterbury, Kent. Members are non-executive directors (NEDs), senior independent directors and chairs on listed, private, government and non-profit boards, with an associate tier for people who do not hold a current NED role. It runs roundtables, workshops, webinars and conferences, online or in person, and publishes briefings, a monthly bulletin, a Knowledge Hub and toolkits including a Transition Planning Toolkit and a Board Toolkit. In return for free membership, members are asked to take part in events and an annual survey. Membership is free. Chapter Zero Limited is a company limited by guarantee, funded by philanthropic organisations including the Children's Investment Fund Foundation and the IKEA Foundation. It was developed with support from the Hughes Hall Centre for Climate Engagement at the University of Cambridge, and belongs to Chapter Zero Alliance, a network of 34 chapters in more than 70 countries. It states it has more than 3,700 members, and that 73% of companies in the FTSE 350 share index have at least one member on their board.

Connectd

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Connectd is a London-based platform, launched in 2020, that matches startups with non-executive directors, board advisors and fractional executives. Startups describe what they need and are matched with experts from its network, with matches reviewed within 48 hours. Roles can be pro bono or paid, and many start pro bono before moving to paid, equity or blended terms. For executives building a portfolio career, its Transition to Portfolio offer includes self-paced academies for fractional executive and board advisor roles. Each has five modules, 180 minutes of one-to-one mentoring and a guaranteed pro bono placement, lasting three months on the fractional route and six months on the board advisor route. It suggests members have around 10 years in a senior leadership role, and most train alongside a full-time job. Startups can use the platform free for the first six months. Fees for executives are not published. Connectd states that each academy pathway carries 30 continuing professional development (CPD) points, but does not name an accrediting body. It was founded by Roei Samuel, is operated by LinkExec Ltd, and lists offices in London, Manchester, Poland and Mumbai. Its website says it was ranked sixth in LinkedIn's Top UK startups list for 2024.

Criticaleye

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Criticaleye is a London-based peer-to-peer community for board-level leaders, whose UK company, Criticaleye (Europe) Ltd, was incorporated in 2002. Its members are chief executives, chief financial officers, chief people officers, chairs and non-executive directors (NEDs). Executive Membership gives a senior executive access to the peer network, board mentors and a personal relationship manager. Corporate Membership covers five or more executives from one organisation for at least two years. NED Membership is for chairs, NEDs and senior independent directors, with confidential roundtables and events on governance, risk oversight and boardroom dynamics. The Chair Ready Programme is a 12-month pathway for experienced NEDs and first-time chairs, run through virtual masterclasses and roundtables, and ends with certification. Other formats include pop-up boards, retreats and forums. Membership prices are not published. The website lists more than 110 board mentors, all of whom have led organisations and now work at board level. A second company, Criticaleye (Asia) Ltd, runs an office in Hong Kong and an Asia leaders membership. The chief executive is Matthew Blagg. Logos on the website include Drax Group, Legal & General, NatWest Group, NATS and Rolls-Royce, though it does not say which are members.