The CHN started in 2005 when Dhruv Patel decided to set it up in his spare time whilst working as a technology sector analyst, then an executive developer, at Barclays Capital. He set it up with like-minded friends with the ethos “to emulate the success of networks like ‘The City Circle’ and ‘The City Women’s Club’ in taking over the reins where the “old boys network” was seen to be diminishing” (click here for source).
The Network grew mainly through word of mouth to October 2010, when Dhruv handed over to a new Chairman and Committee. One of the new Chairman and Committee’s aims is to make the CHN transparent, accountable and set governance standards that are the benchmark for Indian community organisations in the UK.
In 2011, the Committee achieved some of this, but in 2012 and beyond it aims to go further.
The philosophy
Hindu scriptures provide substantial self-help in recognising rajasic or tamsic traits, steering us towards sattvic thought and judgement (click here for an explanation). A tamsic seedling cannot grow into a sattvic flower.
At the CHN, we take governance very seriously. When we host a talk in the City, we do it in partnership with large multinationals and listed companies. We work with the organisations’ HR and Diversity teams to ensure the event meets their strict internal policies, as well as adheres to our Six Core Principles. Our members are professionals in the City who expect us to adhere to the highest standards.
The story so far: 2011
The CHN took the following steps to improve governance in 2011:
- January: Formalised and signed off the Constitution. Current version available here.
- January: Formalised and signed off Six Core Principles. Available here.
- March: We asked our members to complete an anonymous online survey to ask them what they considered the CHN had done well, and where we should do better. The results are here. From the areas of development identified in the survey (poor website, mentoring scheme and too few social events), we took specific measures to address each.
- October: The first Annual CHN Strategy Day. This was an opportunity for the 25 or so CHN volunteers and key stakeholders to discuss a long-term vision for the CHN and conduct an informal performance appraisal of our work. Representatives from 2011 corporate partners were invited. Each workstream lead presented on what had, and what hadn’t gone well in 2011, and presented a plan for 2012.
The story tomorrow: 2012
This is what we aim to do in 2012 (links to all documents available below):
- January: Launched a members’ survey, per March 2011, via email, LinkedIn and Facebook.
- Q1: Publish our accounts for the first time.
- Q1: Update Constitution.
- Q1: Terms of Reference for an Advisory Board drafted.
- Q2: Launch Advisory Board, with a remit of overseeing the Committee’s activities.
- Q4: Possible annual CHN AGM if there is sufficient member interest.
Documents
The CHN is in the process of becoming a company limited by guarantee, registration number [TBC]. Once this process is complete, the following documents will be available:
- Company registration details (coming soon)
- Updated Constitution (coming soon) (click here for the Jan 2011 version of the Constitution)
- Advisory Board Terms of Reference (coming soon)
- Published accounts (coming soon; but if you would like to see a draft, unaudited copy, please get in touch with us at the here. Please note that by requesting a copy, you agree to use it solely for personal consumption and not for circulation to any other persons without prior permission from the CHN)
- Members’ survey results – March 2011 (here)
- Members’ survey results - January 2012 (here)
