Board Effectiveness Reviews matter.
We created SamyScott to focus on how reviews can provide precious insights and genuine value in the charity and cultural sectors.
With time and resources often in short supply in these sectors, we have used our experience to devise reviews which are constructive, provide frank and direct feedback, get to the heart of any issues fast, and result in pragmatic and practical recommendations and reports.
We know that skillfully conducted reviews can make a valuable contribution to a board’s understanding of how it can best fulfil its purpose.
Our clients are happy to give you chapter and verse on how we have helped them.
“I’ve seen plenty of pedestrian board reviews over the years — this was not one of them.”
Chair, national museum
“SamyScott bought a fresh and new approach to our board review. Intelligent questions were asked which pinned down some really important issues.”
Chair, international cancer charity
Why bother to review?
We believe that there are two key reasons for undertaking an Effectiveness Review – best practice, and the current funding environment.
The governance spotlight has been trained on the corporate sector for many years. Now it is being shone on organisations which are not required by any code to conduct Board Reviews, but which are increasingly being judged by standards of best practice.
Governance frameworks are designed to ensure that boards are operating efficiently and effectively, with appropriate checks and balances. With skill and experience, these frameworks can also facilitate broader discussion, especially around elements which impact funding. Tough competition for every pound of backing often demands new and different responses from organisations, and our review can provide a catalyst for chairs, boards and executives to take a deeper look at where energy and time is spent and whether it is making a difference.
Our method places great emphasis on in-depth, one-to-one conversations, using them to understand the nuances of chemistry, performance and collaboration.
When to review?
Why SamyScott?
As former partners of Brunswick Group, a team who each have over twenty-five years of experience in working with boards and executive management, often at critical moments or times of high pressure. We can be trusted to deal with situations and individuals sensitively, in a constructive manner, and with absolute discretion.
We also understand the practical demands of day-to-day operations and how prioritisation of issues, skills mix, group dynamics, accountability and transparency all play their part in determining whether a board is functioning at its optimum level.
As Trustees of charities ourselves, we have both been at the coal face.
About us
As a partner of Brunswick Group, Catherine’s role was to ask, listen and assimilate. She designed and implemented the Group’s worldwide relationship review practice, which was recognised by the Group and clients as fundamental to ensuring operational excellence. She is a Trustee Emeritus of one of the UK’s leading heritage charities and is a published author – including the RIBA best-seller ‘Dulwich. Mid-Century Oasis’.
In addition to Anita’s role within Brunswick Group’s relationship review practice she was a partner running corporate accounts and supporting Boards with their reputation, governance, issues management and stakeholder engagement.
Anita is a longstanding Trustee of a major London Theatre and is also a recorded jazz singer.
Recent testimonials
“SamyScott conducted a professional, energetic and rigorous Board Review. More than that, they brought to bear a sensitivity born out of years of working with Boards. Anita and Catherine cut to the chase and teased out valuable insights, underpinned by an affinity with the arts sector. Their Report was focused, constructive and challenging. I’ve seen plenty of pedestrian board reviews over the years – this was not one of them.”
Chair, national museum
“Catherine and Anita at SamyScott bought a fresh and new approach to our Board Reviews. They were a delight to work with – we always knew how the review was progressing as their communication outside of the process itself was excellent. Everything ran smoothly and was thorough and robust, with everyone feeling that they could be open and honest. Intelligent and probing questions were asked that pinned down some really important issues and challenged us at the same time. The Review resulted in an insightful and balanced view of the Board’s effectiveness, with some interesting and practical findings for us to discuss further.”
Chair, international cancer charity
We would love to hear from you and discuss your project
