Here in Scotland we take great pride in the work we do with Scottish Governing Bodies (SGBs) of Sport to improve governance. SGBs have access to a range of services, which together, aim to support better governed, more efficient and effective organisations. These include expert training and advice in the areas of finance, legal, HR, equality, safeguarding, membership data management, an extensive training and development programme, and a comprehensive development audit.
In line with developments at a UK level, sportscotland has developed a (draft) SGB Governance Framework. This sets out twelve core principles which will ensure consistency with our Investment Principles encouraging SGBs to improve their governance.
The overarching aim of the governance framework is: “to enhance governance in Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport (SGBs) ensuring they are well led; robust and legally compliant”. The Governance Framework, the development audit and work on achieving against the Equality Standard for Sport, all highlight to SGBs, the importance of having a diverse board. The evidence is clear that a diverse board is good for business and that means a diverse board is good for Scottish sport.
sportscotland is committed to the Equality Standard for Sport, a process managed by all the home country sports councils, which supports governing bodies to develop an understanding for equality, and to promote positive change in their organisation. SGBs are working hard on their progress toward achieving a level of
the Standard.
We continue to monitor the progress of gender balance on boards via the Sydney Scoreboard, a fantastic resource which highlights global statistics on the number of women on boards and the number of women in Chair and CEO roles. A Women in Sport working group has been set up with a remit to look at the efforts in Scotland around women in sport and make recommendations for action to Cabinet Secretary for Commonwealth Games, Sport, Equalities and Pensioners’ Rights, Shona Robison.
Through our partnerships with governing bodies of sport, and our commitment to good governance, we can promote the benefits of balanced boards to SGBs, helping them with practical tools to diversify their board and help build a world class sporting system for Scotland.
