Erin Fuller – Trustee for Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation
Erin Fuller
I’m passionate about the charity sector and its evolution. I’m also passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion so becoming a trustee is the perfect way for me to combine both of these things. As a woman of colour under 30, it was hard not to notice that boards aren’t always diverse in all senses of the word. I hope that by becoming a trustee I can help to challenge the stereotypes of who a trustee should be and hopefully inspire more people from all backgrounds to take up space in boardrooms and beyond.
There are also practical skills and opportunities I knew I would gain. I’ve built my networks, raised my profile through speaking about Trusteeships on panels and in webinars, and supported other charities in conversations about board diversity. Crucially, I’m able to evidence experience in a leadership position which is valuable but often harder to demonstrate for younger people.
Why did you choose your charity?
I joined the board of Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation in 2021 when I moved on from my permanent role at another grant maker. Having completed the Beyond Suffrage trustee training for young women of colour I knew I wanted a trusteeship that kept me connected to grant making in an organisation that is committed to growing and learning with the sector. I’m also a proud northerner and my trusteeship gives me chance to represent a northern institution, and Yorkshire itself.
What piece of advice would you give to an aspiring trustee?
My advice is: go for it! I love being a Trustee and it’s been enriching in so many ways – I get to understand how boards work and what different types of people, skills, professions and backgrounds can add to a board.
Being a Trustee has shown me that it’s not rocket science, or something reserved for a certain few – it is doable and when it feels challenging, there are so many resources and networks to support you through, including your other board members, and it is made better by having a diverse mix of people round the table.
2025 Budget
We wrote to 400 leaders to ask them for a reaction to last week’s Budget. Here’s what they said.
Funding Crises and the Search for Financially Resilient Leaders
Councils in England are under systemic strain. The Bennett School of Public Policy estimates a collective funding gap of £9.3 billion over the next few years, with most authorities forecast to operate in deficit. Meanwhile, Grant Thornton warns that up to 40% of councils could face financial failure within five years without new income or deeper cuts.
Statutory Officers Under Pressure: Leading in a Fluctuating Political Environment
Statutory officers have always been central to the integrity and stability of local government. Today, their roles are under unprecedented strain. Political volatility, heightened scrutiny, constrained resources, and rising public expectations have created a more complex and demanding environment than ever before.
ACCREDITATIONS
ESPO is a public sector owned professional buying organisation (PBO), specialising in providing a wide range of goods and services to the public sector for over 40 years. Starfish Search has been awarded a place on ESPO’s Strategic HR Services framework (3S). Services we offer under the framework include: Lot 1, Executive and Managerial Interim Recruitment Lot 2, Executive and Managerial Permanent Recruitment.
Starfish are proud to be certified Disability Confident Committed. This scheme provides employers with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to attract, recruit, retain and develop disabled people in the workplace.
Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2020/21, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.04bn - supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers. Starfish Search has been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s Executive and Non-Executive recruitment. Services we offer under the framework include: Lot 3 - Non-Executive and Public Appointments.
Bloom, launched in 2012 is the UK’s leading marketplace for professional services. They provide an end-to-end solution for the procurement, contract management and payment of all professional services, via the compliant NEPRO³ framework. Their public sector clients have access to 20 professional services categories and over 4500 accredited suppliers. Bloom provides swift routes to market via either direct award or mini competition. Starfish is an accredited supplier to BLOOM; our services can be accessed via this framework - Executive and Non-Executive Search and Interim Management.
Join the starfish team
We hire people who bring insight, integrity and ambition to their work. If you’re ready to contribute to shaping the future of leadership and you want to explore our current opportunities please click the link below.
find out more