Chief Executive - Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust
Sherrington Associates are the retained executive search partner for Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust (SPPH) in their search for a new Chief Executive.
The SPPH is a Grade-2* listed, Victorian era building boasting a large collection of exotic plants from across the globe. SPPH has a rich history in the city of Liverpool dating back to 1896 when it first opened to the general public. Gifted to the city by local benefactor Henry Yates Thompson, it became widely known as Sefton Park’s ‘Great Conservatory.’ After falling into dereliction after the Second World War, SPPH was restored and reopened in 2001, following a passionate campaign by local people, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Liverpool City Council and the Trust.
The Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust is a registered charity established in 1996. The Trust is governed by a Board of Trustees, who oversee the development and management of SPPH as a heritage visitor attraction and community hub. The Trust’s objectives centre around the preservation of SPPH for the benefit of local people, and the nation at large, with the aim of improving quality of life. The building and grounds are owned and maintained by Liverpool City Council.
The Trust employs a team of staff and is supported in its work by a wealth of volunteers. By generating revenue from heritage grants, private hire, events and donations, we are able to keep SPPH open for everyone to enjoy, fund our programme of free community events and invest in the development of our team.
The Trust is now looking to appoint a Chief Executive to lead SPPH and its team, delivering on the organisation’s ambition for the venue to be a vehicle for delivering further social impact, contributing to an increased quality of life for the diverse communities local to SPPH.
Chief Executive
Since the departure of the previous SPPH Director, late 2022, the Board has taken the opportunity to revaluate the opportunities and priorities of SPPH. The decision was taken to recruit a new role of Chief Executive, reflecting the increased status the role will take moving forward, both with the strategic direction of the organisation and building external relationships within the city region and beyond to enable us to maximise the social value generated while remaining financially sustainable.
Since the pandemic, SPPH has established a food and beverage offering (café, kiosk and bar) which, alongside its private hire bookings (predominantly weddings), has injected a renewed life into the space unlocking huge potential. The picturesque nature of the venue has also led to increased prominence on social media, particularly Instagram and this has raised awareness of the venue both regionally and nationally. The organisation is in a positive financial position and enjoys self-sufficient revenues due to its consistent commercial activity.
Locally there is an immensely strong sense of pride in SPPH and its regeneration story, yet certain demographics are underrepresented in visitor numbers. Looking forward, the Board wishes to engage a broader and more diverse range of communities across the Liverpool City Region so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of SPPH. Equally, the Board have identified an opportunity to further develop the profile of SPPH on the national stage, supporting social value generation locally by creating successful national collaborations that bring in additional opportunities and revenues.
To help co-create these strategies, and subsequently lead on the execution of these initiatives, the Trust requires an experienced Chief Executive who understands the importance of social value and who can leverage the role of SPPH in delivering for the benefit of local communities.
To apply for this exciting opportunity, or to request a Recruitment Pack, please email your CV and Cover Letter to Joe Onions quoting Job Reference RM342:
joe.onions@sherringtonassociates.co.uk
