Round Table Discussion: Does Your Business Need a Board?

Should your business have its own board? It’s a question most entrepreneurs will ask while growing their business.

Providing additional experience, skills and guidance, the benefits of having a board seem clear but, if you have no requirements or contractual commitment to have one, what does creating a board actually achieve for your company?

To understand whether creating a board is right for you, we’ve invited experienced business leader Craig Huntingdon to explore the topic in more detail. We’ll focus on the benefits of having a board, the practicalities of setting one up and once your board is up and running, how to ensure it remains engaged and productive. Entrepreneurs with experience in the area are also invited to come along and share their advice to those considering creating a board too.

Our round tables are shaped by your views and experience, so while we hope to cover the topics above, we may discuss other subjects related to the creation, development and benefits of boards during the session.

Aout our Host -Aged 24, Craig Huntingdon led a £1.1m MBO to acquire his first business, a wallpaper manufacturer before being appointed Trading Director at ALDI, a position he held for over 10 years. Here, he oversaw the repositioning from 'Dirty Discounter' to 'Household Hero' followed by exponential UK growth beyond £2bn, one of the most talked-about success stories in recent times.

With a keen interest in disruptive business models, Craig then self-funded the launch of a dental group having identified that market requirements were not being met. Following a successful pilot, seven practices across the UK and Dubai were opened within two years, via an innovative franchise model and represented some of the fastest growing in the sector. This was recognised with Craig named Runner Up in the Entrepreneurs’ Forum - Emerging Talent category in 2013.

Craig has since invested in several businesses across the retail, technology, healthcare, hospitality and recruitment sectors working hands-on with Boards, management and leadership teams to build value and drive growth. More recently Craig has taken on some selected business support and advisory roles which he finds incredibly rewarding. He was named Mentor of the Year 2022 at the Entrepreneurs’ Forum North East Entrepreneurial Awards.

The small print - Due to limited capacity Round Table Discussions are exclusively for entrepreneurial members of the Forum.