Chair Positions at HHV TRUST & Trade Co.
Do you want to play an important role in the future of Herne Hill Velodrome?
Herne Hill Velodrome is recruiting new Chairs for its Charitable Trust and its Trading Company, two exciting, impactful and critical positions that will play an influential role in the future of a valued and much-loved part of the UK’s cycling infrastructure. Herne Hill Velodrome has been transformed over the last twenty years since its near-closure in the mid-2000s and today it has a strong community, a well-invested facility and financial reserves that point to a very bright future.
Working alongside Herne Hill Velodrome’s management in one of these roles you will help to take the Velodrome forward in the next chapter of its history. Applications are welcomed from all interested candidates, with a deadline for submission of 5pm on 30 November. Appointments are expected to be made in early January 2026. Herne Hill Velodrome actively encourages applications from those with an enthusiasm for what we do, as well as those from diverse backgrounds.
If you would like to apply please send your CV and a brief statement of interest to our Chair, Tim McInnes, at tmcinnes@hhvt.org. If you would like to discuss this position or have any questions about the role please feel free to contact Tim.
What is Herne Hill Velodrome?
Herne Hill Velodrome is a multi-use cycling centre in South-East London with a 450-metre outdoor banked track, a multi-use games area and both mountain biking and cyclocross facilities. It was opened in 1891, it played host to the London Olympics in 1948 and it is proud to have helped launch the careers of many successful British and International cyclists and sportspeople. Each year it welcomes over 50,000 riders, friends and family of all ages and backgrounds and it works with schools, community organisations and cycling clubs from across London and the South-East.
Since 2017 Herne Hill Velodrome has been operated by Herne Hill Velodrome Trust (the Trust), a registered Charity (Charity No. 1140128) set up in the early 2010s to secure the future of the Velodrome and fund the redevelopment of the site. This redevelopment included the resurfacing of the track, the installation of track lighting and the construction of a new pavilion, designed by the same architects that designed the London 2012 Velodrome in Stratford. Today the Trust is responsible for all activities that take place across the Velodrome’s ca.9 acre site alongside fundraising, ensuring the future viability of the organisation, supporting the work of the Velodrome’s Friends’ organisation – the Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome – and ensuring the delivery of the Trust’s wider charitable objects.
Herne Hill Velodrome operates a wholly owned subsidiary called Herne Hill Velodrome Trading Limited (the TradeCo) which is accountable for the day-to-day operations of the Velodrome. The TradeCo employs all staff that work at the Velodrome and it runs all cycling activities that take place across the site. In 2024 the TradeCo generated revenues of over £600,000. The TradeCo Managing Director is Iain Cook.
The Trust and TradeCo each have a Board of Directors, led by a Chair. The Trust’s Board has nine Trustees and the TradeCo’s Board has seven Directors. Two of the Trustees that sit on the Board of the Trust also sit on the Board of the TradeCo. The Trust’s current Chair is Tim McInnes and the TradeCo’s current Chair is Paul Merrey.
What roles are Herne Hill Velodrome recruiting for?
Tim McInnes and Paul Merry have decided to step down from their positions as Chairs of the Trust and TradeCo in the first half of 2026 and the current recruitment process is seeking two candidates to fill these roles. It is expected that appointments will be made in early 2026 to allow for a six-month handover process.
The Role of the Chair of Herne Hill Velodrome Trust Limited
As the Trust Chair you will guide and inspire the Board of Trustees, ensuring the organisation:
Meets all legal and regulatory requirements;
Upholds strong standards of governance and accountability; and
Follows a clear, long-term strategy delivered through the Trust, TradeCo and, where appropriate, the Friends of Herne Hill Velodrome.
You will chair four Trust meetings each year — including the Annual General Meeting — and lead a half-day strategy session that brings together Trustees of the Trust and Directors of TradeCo, TradeCo staff, and other key partners to shape the organisation’s future direction.
You will also be expected to lead engagement with key stakeholders including but not limited to British Cycling, the Dulwich Estate, local councillors, significant funding bodies and local residents.
It is desirable for you, as the Trust Chair, to also be a Director on the Board of the TradeCo.
Skills and Experiences
As a successful candidate it is desirable for you to have many of the following characteristics when applying for this role. These are not however all necessary and it is expected that you may need to develop into one or more of these areas.
Leadership: Experience of building and leading a team at a senior level within a private or third sector environment. Direct experience working on a Board or on a Board-equivalent management structure would be considered beneficial.
Governance: Understanding of good governance principles relevant to the Charity sector and experience of implementing effective governance structures in a small organisation with inter alia critical health and safety and safeguarding obligations.
Strategy Development: Experience developing a strategy, ideally in an organisation with commercial and social goals, and overseeing its implementation. Experience of delivering a strategy through partners would be considered beneficial.
Fundraising: Experience of successfully fundraising across different levels of income generation, covering both grass roots to large corporate partnerships as well as business-as-usual fundraising to larger structured fundraising campaigns.
Relationship Building: Experience of building and maintaining relationships at a senior level, including negotiating successful outcomes for an organisation where stakeholders’ interests may not always be aligned.
Cycling Knowledge: A knowledge of cyclesport and a commitment to the benefits of healthy lifestyles would be considered beneficial, however experience of track cycling and / or of cycling at Herne Hill Velodrome is not required.
The Role of the Chair of Herne Hill Velodrome Trading Limited
As the TradeCo Chair you will guide and inspire the Board of Directors, ensuring the organisation:
Meets all legal and regulatory requirements;
Upholds strong standards of governance and accountability; and
Has a clear plan to deliver key elements of the organisation’s wider strategy.
You will chair eight TradeCo meetings each year and you are also expected to attend all meetings of the Trust.
You will also be expected to work closely with TradeCo management providing challenge, support and advice where this is required by the Managing Director and their wider team.
It is desirable for you, as the TradeCo Chair, to also be a Trustee on the Board of the Trust.
Skills and Experiences
Leadership: Experience of building and leading a team at a senior level within a private or third sector environment. Direct experience working on a Board or on a Board-equivalent management structure would be considered beneficial.
Governance: Understanding of good governance in a commercial environment and experience of implementing effective governance structures in a small organisation with inter alia critical health and safety and safeguarding obligations.
Strategy Execution: Experience developing and implementing a clear strategic plan, ideally in an organisation with commercial and social goals. Experience of delivering a strategy through partners would be considered beneficial.
Operations: Experience of leading the operational function of a business, overseeing the running of processes and systems to ensure both smooth and efficient day-to-day activities and the optimisation of customer / user experience.
Cycling Knowledge: A knowledge of cyclesport and a commitment to the benefits of healthy lifestyles would be considered beneficial, however experience of track cycling and / or of cycling at Herne Hill Velodrome is not required.
What is the time commitment and remuneration for these roles?
Both of these roles are expected to require a time commitment of between one and two days per month, typically spread unevenly throughout the year. More time may be required if the role requires it, however this is likely to only be in exceptional circumstances.
All Directors of the Trust and TradeCo are encouraged to attend Herne Hill Velodrome on a regular basis and you would be expected to make time available to volunteer at special events. A good understanding of the community surrounding Herne Hill Velodrome is considered critical to being successful in these roles.
Both the Trust Chair and the TradeCo Chair are unremunerated however modest expenses will be reimbursed.
How long are these appointments for?
The Trust Chair and the TradeCo Chair appointments will be for three years, in line with the Trust’s and TradeCo’s standard term of appointment. Subject to agreement, all Trustees and Directors are able to stand for up to two further three-year terms.
What is the application process for these roles?
If you are interested in one of these roles you should submit a CV and brief supporting statement of no more than two pages to tmcinnes@hhvt.org by 5pm on 30 November 2025, and in your application you should state clearly which role you are applying for. Interviews are expected to be held in mid-December. If you have any questions about this role or the application process more widely please do not hesitate to contact tmcinnes@hhvt.org.
The Trust and the TradeCo are both committed to building diverse and representative Boards that reflect the variety we see in the community we serve. We therefore actively encourage applications from those with an interest and enthusiasm for what we do, as well as from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences.