Governance Officer

During your programme

These web pages aim to provide a handy access point for information that you will need during your apprenticeship programme.

On this page:

View Learner Handbook

Your Governance Officer team

Hannah Kowszun

Hannah Kowszun
Tutor

Email
Richard Norris

Richard Norris
Skills Coach & Progress Advisor

Email

Explaining the roles

There are three key roles in the team which will support your apprenticeship. Some members of staff cover more than one of these.

Your tutor will lead you through your workshops or seminars and deliver a large proportion of the knowledge elements of your apprenticeship with you.

Your coach will meet with you each month to help develop and evidence your skills and behaviours within the workplace. Your line manager will attend part of this session. They will help you gather evidence to demonstrate your overall competency.

Your learner progress adviser will help provide additional support where needed and monitor your progress. You will meet with them, and your line manager, every three months.

Your e-portfolio: OneFile

We use OneFile as our e-portfolio system. This is where your assignments will be set, you will submit your work and you will log your off-the-job training.

Your regular reviews will be stored on here as will some resources for your course. You will complete a learning journal, be able to monitor your progress towards your Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours and refer to your workplace development plan.

Our training video covers all the key features of OneFile you need to know. Visit the Support and FAQs page if you have questions or issues.

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours

During your Governance Officer apprenticeship you will learn to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and behaviours.

  • K1: The role of the company secretary or governance professional.
  • K2: Regulatory and legislative frameworks and requirements such as company law, charity law, and data protection.
  • K3: Organisational structures, governance roles and decision-making frameworks.
  • K4: The application of governance codes, constitutional requirements, and an organisation’s governance policies and processes.
  • K5: How the role of company secretary or governance officer fits into the organisation’s governance function, and how it adds value to it.
  • K6: The roles of the key stakeholders in their organisation and how they interact with their own role.
  • K7: Governance and compliance record-keeping requirements.
  • K8: Governance practices and associated administration for meetings.
  • K9: Financial accounting concepts and working knowledge of financial statements and reports.
  • K10: Governance reporting and disclosure obligations of the organisation such as legal and regulatory filings and announcements, and annual reports.
  • K11: Technology and software used in the performance of governance activities.
  • K12: The risks associated with data processing.
  • K13: Continuous development of organisational systems, processes, and procedures to ensure that regulatory, governance, and risk management requirements are met.
  • K14: Organisational changes and developments.
  • K15: The importance of horizon scanning for future changes to regulation and developments in governance practices that affect the organisation.
  • K16: Frameworks used to assess, capture, mitigate and report on risk, such as its link to climate change and sustainability for that organisation.
  • K17: The context and concepts for governance today.
  • K18: The purpose and application of measures requiring the disclosure and verification of individuals’ and entities’ identity and connected relationships.
  • K19: Project management principles and techniques.

  • S1: Interpret regulation, legislation and governance practices and advise and train stakeholders on its practical application.
  • S2: Establish, maintain, and influence relationships with key stakeholders and team members.
  • S3: Use IT systems to manage, share and store information in accordance with regulatory requirements and organisational policies and procedures.
  • S4: Communicate complex information through a variety of media to enable key stakeholders to understand what is required.
  • S5: Review instructions, following them to a conclusion through the execution of tasks.
  • S6: Identify and use precedents adapted for specific circumstances such as resolutions, announcements, reports.
  • S7: Produce work which is factually accurate and well presented for submission to the members of a decision-making governing body and for publication by the organisation.
  • S8: Develop and maintain structure charts for the organisation.
  • S9: Plan and prioritise their workload to meet deadlines.
  • S10: Maintain and organise forward looking plans and calendars, keeping relevant stakeholders informed of upcoming events such as meetings, reporting timetables, compliance deadlines.
  • S11: Gather, analyse, use, and share data to inform the decision-making process and make judgements on actions to take.
  • S12: Identify problems and present potential solutions to stakeholders.
  • S13: Respond to stakeholder questions and requests, knowing when to consult with others or escalate on matters of a more complex or sensitive nature.
  • S14: Identify and implement improvements to support the governance of the organisation.

  • B1: Operates professionally with integrity and confidentiality.
  • B2: Works collaboratively and shares knowledge with colleagues and stakeholders across the organisation.
  • B3: Has accountability and ownership of their tasks and workload.
  • B4: Seeks learning opportunities and continuous professional development.
  • B5: Works flexibly and adapts to circumstances.

Occupation duties

During your Governance Officer apprenticeship you will need to evidence Duties 1-16 at least once.

Support the governing decision-making body of the organisation to ensure it is efficient and effective, and supported in its decision-making.

As required by the internal governance framework, legislation and regulation, document meetings, including decisions, and ensure the actions arising from decisions are taken.

Support the recruitment, development, and succession of the members of the governing decision-making body within the organisation.

Deliver the induction of new members of the governing decision-making body (e.g., directors, governors, trustees).

Review and contribute to the development of organisational governance controls and associated documents that set out how the organisation runs and co-ordinate compliance with them.

Monitor, analyse and apply relevant laws, regulations, and governance best practice to ensure compliance, and make recommendations on areas of change that should be applied.

Co-ordinate and maintain the governing decision-making body’s records of internal and external activities.

Periodically review operational processes to seek efficient ways of working to facilitate the governance of the organisation.

Work with stakeholders on projects to support the organisation’s governance framework.

Attend meetings and contribute to communications with external stakeholders such as regulators, shareholders, and members on matters relating to the governance of the organisation.

Manage external suppliers of governance-related products and/or services and support procurement processes to appoint or re-appoint them.

Analyse and interpret data and qualitative information, including financial information, to inform the governance of the organisation.

Promote awareness of the governance function to stakeholders, explaining what its role is and sharing information on governance matters.

Contribute to the identification of governance initiatives and execute them collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.

Contribute to the operation of the governance function to optimise how the function operates.

Work with internal and external auditors in the co-ordination of audits and in responding to audit questions and findings.

Off-the-job training

You will need to dedicate around 20% of your working hours to your learning and development, which equates to around one day a week.

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How can I evidence my learning?

Your coach and tutor will work with you to best gather evidence of your training. This can take various forms.

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Functional skills

Apprentices aged 16-18 at the start of the apprenticeship need a level 2 qualifications in both English and maths to complete the course. If you can provide evidence of GCSEs at A*-C or 4-9 (or equivalent eligible qualifications) you will be exempt. Otherwise, you will need to complete a functional skills qualification. Apprentices aged 19 and over without level 2 English and/or maths can choose to study functional skills level 2.

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Helpful tips, tricks & techniques

We’ve compiled resources to supercharge your apprenticeship journey. Delve into our “Helpful Tips, Tricks & Techniques” guide, covering everything from polished business documents to expert minute-taking. Level up your skills for ensure your success.

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Completing your apprenticeship

At the end of your programme, you will complete an apprenticeship assessment. This is when you demonstrate to a third party assessor that you have acquired the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship standard. This will only happen once yourself, your line manager and Skills Coach have agreed that you are ready.

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Safeguarding, Prevent, welfare and british values

Paula Wakelin
Paula WakelinSafeguarding & Prevent Officer

There is nothing more important than keeping you safe. If you feel you need to raise a concern about any Safeguarding matter, contact your organisation’s Safeguarding Team, or the JGA Safeguarding team at safeguarding@jga-group.co.uk.

We are committed to working together to create a fantastic learning and work experience and to ensure the highest levels of safety and wellbeing. Expand the toggles to learn more about key support topics.

We are strongly committed to practices that protect you from the risk of abuse, neglect or significant harm. Our staff recognise and accept their responsibility to develop an awareness of the risks and issues involved in safeguarding. All staff and learners should have zero tolerance for abuse, bullying, neglect and violence.

Prevent is about safeguarding people and communities from the threat of terrorism. At the heart of Prevent is safeguarding children and adults and providing early intervention to protect and divert people away from being drawn into terrorist activity.

We provide expert support to help you on your apprenticeship journey. This includes mental health and neurodiversity, careers guidance and academic and financial challenges.

We want to help you achieve your full potential. We offer careers consultancy to ensure you have impartial and constructive information and guidance to help you decide and then to action your career decisions.

We aim to create an equal, diverse, inclusive and respectful culture. All of us contribute towards this culture through our actions and words. JGA aims to address any barriers to equality in our systems, policies and decision making as well as in our behaviour and ways of working.

The Fundamental British Values underpin what it is to be a citizen in a modern and diverse United Kingdom, valuing our community and celebrating diversity.