Fix it
New role available
Come and make a difference at Karbon Homes as a Board Trainee!
Are you inspired by the opportunity to make a positive difference to people and communities? If so, our Board Trainee role may be an exciting and rewarding opportunity.
At Karbon, we build, manage and look after homes for people across the North. And then we go further, we give them the strong foundations they need to get on with life.
Here is some key information you’ll want to know right away:
- You will join us for a two-year trainee programme
- We will pay you a fee while you undertake the programme of £2,000 per annum plus reasonable expenses
- The time commitment is up to 2 days a month
- We can’t guarantee that you’ll be offered a board or committee role with us at the end of your two-year programme – but we do commit to helping you gain the skills you need to put you in a strong position to apply for a role.
Closing date for applications: 5.00pm on Wednesday 22 April 2026.
Board Trainee
About the programme
We have joined up with the Housing Diversity Network (HDN) to deliver a two-year learning, development and mentoring programme, to support and nurture a more diverse cohort of future Board Members in the housing sector.
The programme supports our work to ensure our Board membership is reflective of the diversity of our community, and we believe that to be successful we need to work with a talented and diverse range of people. We are keen to provide Board experience for those individuals who may find there are barriers in the way of access to such opportunities.
In the Board Trainee Programme, you’ll spend up to two years gaining experience of what it is like to be a board member for a housing association. We will support you through the programme, offering opportunities to observe our Board and Committee meetings and providing a structured induction and development opportunities, as well as paying you an allowance for participation plus reasonable expenses.
About You
We believe diverse leadership is not just fair, it’s a competitive advantage. Bringing different backgrounds, perspectives and lived experiences into the boardroom improves decision making, drives innovation and delivers better outcomes for our customers. Housing is one of the defining issues of our time, so your voice will help shape real decisions affecting real people and communities.
You don’t need a CV full of board experience - we’re looking for curious, ambitious, emerging leaders who bring fresh thinking and a commitment to social purpose. You might be early in an executive role, working in the public, private or third sector or bringing lived experience that adds a new perspective.
We aren’t looking for the finished article – just potential, commitment and the confidence to challenge constructively matter more than prior board experience.
You’ll join a welcoming, forward thinking boardroom culture that invests in developing leadership skills that will set you apart. We provide induction, meeting preparation, flexible assessment options and reasonable adjustments so the programme is accessible to people with different commitments and needs.
Virtual open event - 13 April
We're holding a one-hour virtual open event for people who are interested in applying for role to find out more, hear from a current trainee and ask any questions you may have about the programme. It's taking place on Monday 13 April, 11am-12pm. To book onto the event, please email Governance&Risk@karbonhomes.co.uk
I'm ready to apply!
If this sounds like the role for you then please apply through the Karbon Homes website https://jobs.karbonhomes.co.uk/.
You will need to supply an up-to-date CV and complete a brief online application form. In the Supporting Statement section of the application form, you will need to provide an answer to these questions:
- Why are you interested in joining this programme?
- What do you think you can you bring to the role and to Karbon?
- How do you meet the person specification?
- What personal development do you hope to get out of being a Board Trainee?
We are committed to equality and diversity and are an inclusive employer. We welcome applications from people of all ages, disability/non-disability, ethnicities, genders, religions, sexualities, transgender status, and cultural backgrounds. To help ensure that our future board talent is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, we particularly welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, and candidates with experience of living in social housing.
Any candidate with a disability who meets the essential criteria for the post will be guaranteed an interview.
