Governor – Digital/AI | Ada – National College for Digital Skills

Peridot Partners; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job summary

An advisory firm in education is seeking a forward-thinking individual to serve as a Governor specializing in artificial intelligence at a prestigious further education college. This position involves advising on digital transformation, supporting curriculum development to meet industry needs, and promoting the responsible use of AI across educational practices. Commitment of up to 10 hours per month. The role is based in Greater London with opportunities to impact the next generation of digital talent.

Qualifications

• Professional experience in artificial intelligence or digital innovation.
• Understanding of AI applications in education.
• Awareness of ethical and societal issues related to AI.

Responsibilities

• Advise on AI integration into the College’s strategic planning.
• Support curriculum development aligning with AI skills.
• Champion responsible adoption of AI tools in education.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Artificial intelligence expertise

Digital innovation

Job description

Governor – Digital/AI Ada – National College for Digital Skills

Bring your AI and digital expertise to the Board at Ada by becoming a Governor and working to support our mission ‘to educate and empower the next generation of diverse digital talent’.

• Location: Greater London and Manchester
• Closing date: Rolling applications

Founded in 2015, Ada is named after Ada Lovelace, a computing pioneer. She created a program for the ‘Analytical Engine’, a prototype computer which has been called the first computer programmer.

We operate from two campuses in London and Manchester. When we opened, we were the first new FE college in England since 1993. Since then, we have worked with over 1,300 young people.

Ada is a unique and supportive environment which bridges the gap between education and employment. Our industry‑leading sixth form college and apprenticeship programmes not only develop students’ tech talents but also offer opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds to connect with future employers.

We are a charity which relies on philanthropic support to transform the lives of diverse young people. We work with employer partners and industry experts to develop real‑world curricula, which, in return, leads to a pipeline of ambitious job‑ready employees.

Who we are

Ada is a specialist further education college, whose mission is, ‘To educate and empower the next generation of diverse digital talent.’ Every sixth form student takes Computer Science, and every diverse higher‑level and degree apprentice works in skills‑shortage disciplines within innovative, blue‑chip companies.

The UK has 800,000 unfilled IT jobs, and the digital skills gap is costing the UK economy an estimated £63 billion a year in lost GDP, but young people are not being adequately supported to bridge this gap, with over 50% of secondary schools in the UK not even offering Computer Science.

Ada seeks to fill this skills gap, but in a different way: one that ensures young people are being equipped with the skills industry actually needs and one that empowers young people who are currently under‑represented in UK tech. Ada’s core focus is on reaching individuals from low‑income households, young women and those from ethnic minority backgrounds to address the diversity challenges in tech‑focused roles.

The College focuses on achieving three aims:

• To be the centre of excellence for the teaching and learning of advanced digital skills.
• To offer students a viable, high‑quality alternative to university.
• To be a beacon of best practice for employment‑focused provision.

At present, Ada has 583 learners enrolled across the sixth form and apprenticeship programmes. Ada is the top‑performing college in England for computing BTECs and achieves the highest results in Greater London and Manchester for apprenticeship standards delivered.

32% of learners are female, 60% are from ethnic minority backgrounds, and 46% come from low‑income households.

Ada’s diversity metrics are significantly ahead of national averages for colleges and training providers, but the College wants to go further and to achieve in excess of 50% for each of these metrics by 2025. Ada also works with over 2,000 additional young people through outreach and short‑course activities.

About the role

The College is seeking a strategic and forward‑thinking individual to join our Governing Board as a Governor with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI). This role is critical in helping the college navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, ensuring our curriculum, infrastructure and strategic direction remain relevant and future‑focused.

Do you see technology fundamentally changing the economy and world around you and care passionately about building an organisation to educate and empower those currently least likely to benefit from these developments? Ada does and it has big plans.

Working closely with its many high‑profile partners, Ada seeks to harness tech as a positive tool for social mobility and improve the gender balance in tech‑focused roles.

Having relocated to two fantastic new campuses in London and Manchester, the College is looking to embark on an exciting period of growth in the coming years as it seeks to increase its impact and profile, and a passionate and committed Board of Governors is vital to help realise these ambitions. Being a Governor requires commitment but, in return, offers an amazing opportunity to contribute to the establishment of a new type of further education college, fit for the 21st century and beyond.

Time commitment: up to 10 hours per month.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an experienced and forward‑thinking professional to join our Governing Board as an External Member, bringing insight and strategic guidance on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation.

As the College continues its digital transformation, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape how emerging technologies enhance our teaching, learning, operations and community impact. We are looking for someone who can help the College navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI responsibly, ethically and effectively — ensuring we remain at the forefront of innovation in further education.

You will bring a strong understanding of artificial intelligence and its applications across education, industry or public services, coupled with the ability to think strategically and provide effective governance oversight.

Your expertise will support the Board in embedding AI within the College’s long‑term vision and strategic planning, ensuring alignment with our mission, values and commitment to inclusivity and excellence. You will help ensure that innovation is pursued responsibly — with attention to ethics, data governance and the broader societal implications of technology in education.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advise on the integration of AI into the College’s strategic planning and digital transformation.
• Support curriculum development to ensure alignment with emerging AI‑related skills and industry needs.
• Provide insight into the ethical, legal and societal implications of AI use in education.
• Champion innovation and the responsible adoption of AI tools in teaching, learning and operations.
• Identify funding and partnership opportunities related to AI and digital innovation.
• Provide oversight on data governance, privacy and risk management relating to AI technologies.

Person Specification:

• Professional experience or academic background in artificial intelligence, data science or digital innovation.
• Understanding of AI applications within education, industry or public services.
• Awareness of ethical, legal and societal issues related to AI.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to contribute to governance and oversight.
• Commitment to the values and mission of further education.

The College and Board are adept at remote working; however, the postholder will need to regularly visit the London campus and be at the Manchester campus periodically.

Learn more about Ada – National College for Digital Skills

Peridot Partners and Ada – National College for Digital Skills are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners.

To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.

Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.

Please ensure that your application is emailed to [e-mail], inserting “Application: Ada – National College for Digital Skills—Governor – Digital/AI” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2‑3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.

Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Peridot and Ada – National College for Digital Skills are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.

The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.