We are delighted to announce that we’ve recruited our first Boardroom Apprentice! We’re proud to be one of just 38 organisations across the UK who will host a Boardroom Apprentice, supporting aspiring board members to learn, develop and gain experience. The scheme aims to widen diversity on charity and third-sector boards. Boardroom Apprentices will be supported to bring fresh, diverse perspectives to boardrooms across the country.

At Theatre Royal Wakefield, we’re excited to have welcomed Chris Hyland onboard as our first Boardroom Apprentice. Chris recently attended his first committee meeting at the Theatre and a Boardroom Apprentice Learning Day.

Chris shared: I’m very grateful to have been accepted onto the first cohort of the UK Boardroom Apprentice and to have Theatre Royal Wakefield as my host board. For a couple of years, I’ve aspired to one day become a charity trustee. Helping others gets me out of bed in the morning! I’ve had such a warm welcome from the Theatre’s trustees and staff, and am excited to understand how its board maximises the good it does in and beyond Wakefield. UK charity boards are less diverse than they could be, so I will also take every opportunity to raise awareness of routes into trusteeship for all who wish to serve. – Chris Hyland, Boardroom Apprentice

Chris is a Technology enthusiast, Economics graduate and filmmaker, who is currently a few months into the second year of the Civil Service Digital, Data, Technology and Cyber Fast Stream. Whilst at University, Chris led a social supermarket and surplus food redistribution network in Nottingham, helping to feed up to 800 people a week during the first COVID-19 lockdown.

We look forward to supporting Chris in his learning and development and benefiting from his creative and original contributions.