Non-Executive Director Roles: Retail Strategy & Commercial Finance

Thank you for your interest in joining the Board of St Helena Hospice Trading Ltd, the wholly owned trading subsidiary of St Helena Hospice. As we continue to diversify our income to support specialist palliative and bereavement care across North East Essex, our trading company plays a vital role in generating sustainable revenue through retail and enterprise.

We are now seeking two new Non-Executive Directors to strengthen our Board:

• A commercial retail leader with experience in high street, online, or multi-site operations
• A finance professional with senior-level experience in financial strategy, risk, and performance

You will join a dynamic, commercially focused Board committed to growing our trading activity with purpose and impact. Your expertise will help us sharpen our business model, enhance profitability, and ensure our trading arm continues to thrive in a competitive landscape.

About St Helena Hospice Trading Ltd

St Helena Hospice Trading Ltd is the commercial subsidiary of St Helena Hospice. It operates a network of retail shops and other income-generating ventures, with all profits reinvested into the charity’s mission: helping local people face incurable illness and bereavement with dignity and compassion.

Our trading activity is a key pillar of the hospice’s financial resilience. We are ambitious about expanding our retail footprint, improving operational efficiency, and exploring new commercial opportunities.

Non-Executive Director Roles

We are recruiting two Non-Executive Directors with the following profiles:

Retail Strategy NED

Essential Experience:

• Senior leadership in for-profit retail (e.g. high street, e-commerce, multi-site operations)
• Strategic insight into consumer behaviour, merchandising, and customer experience
• Commercial acumen in driving revenue growth and operational efficiency
• Understanding of retail trends, sustainability, and digital transformation

Desirable:

• Experience in charity retail or social enterprise

Commercial Finance NED

Essential Experience:

• Former Finance Director, CFO, or equivalent in a commercial organisation
• Expertise in financial strategy, risk management, and performance analysis
• Ability to challenge and support executive decisions with financial rigour
• Experience with investment appraisal, budgeting, and governance frameworks
• Able to provide data driven insights to improve growth and profitability

Time Commitment & Terms

• Voluntary role (reasonable expenses reimbursed)
• Term: 3 years (renewable once)
• Time commitment: approx. 6 to 8 days per annum
• Board meetings: quarterly, in person
• Quarterly Committee meetings relating to your area of expertise – in person or hybrid
• Occasional ad hoc meetings or support for strategic initiatives

What We’re Looking For

All candidates should bring:

• Strategic vision and independent judgement
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to St Helena’s mission and values
• Willingness to contribute time and expertise collaboratively
• Be comfortable using Microsoft Teams (used for meetings and papers)

For further information

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact:

Kate Heslegrave

Interim Co-CEO

kheslegrave@sthelena.org.uk

Diversity & Inclusion

St Helena Hospice Trading Ltd is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences. We are a Disability Confident Employer and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

How to apply

Please submit:

• CV (max 2 A4 pages)
  

Supporting statement (max 2 A4 pages) outlining:

• Your suitability for either the Retail Strategy or Commercial Finance NED role
• Your motivation for joining St Helena Hospice Trading Ltd

Email your application to:
sedwards@sthelena.org.uk

Subject line: “NED – Trading Company”