FAQs
What is the Change Programme?
The Change Programme is an initiative aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the Students’ Association. It is designed to guide the organisation through a period of transformation and adaptation in response to evolving student demographics, changing expectations, and global events like the pandemic. The programme will involve strategic changes, structural improvements, and operational enhancements to ensure that the Association remains resilient, efficient, and effective in fulfilling our mission.
What is the Change Committee?
The Change Committee is a subcommittee of, and created by, the Board of Trustees. Its primary purpose is to take decisive action in addressing the challenges that Students’ Association is currently facing, particularly in the areas of governance, financial stability, operational efficiency, and strategic planning. This committee has the authority to make decisions and implement changes swiftly.
Who is the Change Director?
Antony Blackshaw. As the Change Director Antony is playing a central role in the Change Programme. He is responsible for orchestrating the development of a comprehensive Review Report and the implementation of a Change Plan in collaboration with the Change Committee. Antony works closely with stakeholders within the Association, including elected Sabbatical Officers, senior management, and staff, to address the challenges and guide the organisation through its transformation. The role of the Change Director is temporary and is accountable to the Change Committee. Antony brings over thirty-five years of student organisation experience to the project, twenty-five of those in a Chief Executive, Interim Chief Executive and Change Director roles. Antony has completed thirteen Interim senior roles in UK students’ associations and unions; five of them in Scotland, seven in England and one in Northern Ireland. This experience means Antony brings an unparalleled understanding of issues affecting students’ organisations from a real-world perspective, enabling him to find solutions to issues where others struggle.
What is the Change Plan?
The Change Plan will be a comprehensive strategy that serves as the cornerstone of the Association’s transformation efforts. It will outline a structured and purposeful roadmap to address the challenges and opportunities identified within a fresh Business Health and Review Report. The plan will focus on: building a sustainable organisational and financial structures, as well as updating strategic and operational plans, which will guide the Students’ Association post the Change Programme.
Meet the Team
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Antony Blackshaw, Change Director
Antony is delighted to have been appointed as the Change Director for this exciting project. He has been working in Students’ Unions all his working life, starting as a sabbatical officer back in the 1980s. After 25 years in Chief Executive and Interim Chief Executive roles across Scotland and the rest of the UK, he hopes to bring his experience and wide sector knowledge to the project, along with other experienced team members who will bring specialist skills and knowledge in Commercial and Membership Services.
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Natalie Bates, Change Consultant (Democracy & Representation)
Natalie has worked within Student Voice in the higher education sector in England and Scotland since 2016 in both Students' Union's and Universities. She’s worked with some fantastic students throughout her career, and brings her experience and passion for supporting and empowering student leaders and volunteers to the project.
Since joining us she’s met with staff and representatives from the Union and University to get a picture of current activities, and most excitingly start conversations about where we could go. She’s also been reading papers and processes, including core documentation, and has started researching some initial areas of consideration. Her current project is analysing the results of the recent Union survey and is very much looking forward to seeing how it shapes our next steps.
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Graeme Wood, Change Consultant (Commercial Development)
Graeme has worked with Students’ Unions since 1999. His previous roles include Head of Commercial Services at Sheffield University Student Union, Deputy Chief Executive at Leeds University Union and Non-Executive Director at NUS Trading. He specialises in Commercial Services, his areas of work include but are not limited to Strategy Development, Training, Compliance, and Project Management.
So far Graeme has worked with members of the Senior Management Team on Commercial Development, such as; reviewing, supporting and developing commercial systems, business planning and reporting processes.