Trustee and Changemaker (unremunerated)

WHO WE ARE

We're FIRST UK, a EdTech charity using robots, role models and competitions to make STEM more approachable and inclusive – empowering young people with the technical knowledge and soft skills to engineer better futures. 

It’s an exciting time to join us as we move from startup into scaling mode. We’re backed by some of the world’s leading tech-enabled businesses including Arm, Purposeful Ventures, Smiths Group, Bloomberg, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and many more.

In summer 2026 we’ll publish a new 5-year strategy articulating how we will build more than robots in schools and community groups nationwide, alongside growing our annual income to £2m by 2027.

It’s easy to see why competitions like this really do help students develop the skills they’re going to need for the rest of their lives. Honestly, I wish I had something like this when I was at school.

Spencer Kelly, BBC Broadcaster

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We're on the hunt for simply brilliant people to share their talent, expertise and time to take the UK’s most exciting tech-education charity to the next level. You will be pivotal in shaping and enacting our new 5 year strategy to make STEM less intimidating and more inclusive.

Beyond the statutory governance piece, we're really looking for changemakers from a diverse set of backgrounds who can use their lived experiences, knowledge and relationships to:

• Unlock doors to increase our reach and impact
• Make serendipitous connections which fuel partnerships and income
• Raise our profile, share of voice and influence
  

We are particularly interested in folk who can really attack growth - in both income generation/fundraising and participation/schools. Your tenacity, passion and relationships will help us achieve our mission better and sooner.

Download candidate pack

What you'll get

Sense of purpose. You’ll be stewarding a young organisation working at the intersection of education, technology and empowerment into a new era of targeted, sustainable growth.

Requirements

WHO MIGHT THIS ROLE SUIT

You’re a changemaker not a report reviewer. As a Trustee you want to drive real impact, and fast. You resonate with being:

• Passionate - about education, technology and the future of young people
• Informed - using your knowledge to make sound decisions that drive impact
• Networked - always looking to connect dots between opportunities and people
• Commercial - you want to run a charity like a high-growth tech start-up
• Critical - you see solutions, not problems
• Authentic - committed to non-tokenistic equity, diversity and inclusion
• Advocate - you open doors, raise profile and drive influence
• Commit - to us, our mission, our team, our beneficiaries, your fellow trustees

Download candidate pack

Benefits

CONDITIONS

The role is unremunerated - you are donating your time, expertise and passion to empower the next generation. Reasonable expense to travel to meetings and other Trustee obligations will be met.

WHAT’S THE COMMITMENT?

Trustees meet formally for 2.5 hours usually on the last Friday afternoon of each quarter after school hours. At least one of these meetings is face to face - and extended 1000 - 1600. Our 2026 impact sessions are:

• Fri 27 Mar - 1500 - 1730
• Fri 03 Jul - 1000 - 1600 (strategy deep dive in person)
• Fri 23 Sep - 1500 - 1730
• Fri 11 Dec - 1500 - 1730

We prefer sessions to be about co-creating solutions and opportunities whilst avoiding death by report, presentation or monologue.

You may be invited to sit on a sub-committee relevant to your skills, interests and charity needs. Sub-committees convene as required at least quarterly to address governance topics and ensure main Board sessions remain outcome focused.

It would be hoped that Trustees attended at least one competition and one fundraising activity per year.

I'M IN! WHAT'S NEXT?

• Browse our website and get familiar with our mission
• Answer 3 short screening questions, upload CV 
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an informal get to know chat with the CEO (rolling)
• If there's a mutual fit, potentialTrustees will be invited to meet the Board (rolling)

To apply you must live in, and have the right to work in the UK. In accordance with our Safer Recruitment Policy, all employees of the charity will be asked for two references which will be conducted by phone and are subject to Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks upon appointment. You can read our Safeguarding Policy here.