- 10 February 2026
Summary
Tom Llewelyn is Company Secretary and Head of Governance at The Cambridge Building Society. He recently completed The Chartered Governance Institute’s Qualifying Programme (QP). In this commentary blog piece, he shares his journey into the world of governance and why completing the QP was transformative for his career.
It was a genuinely proud moment when I received my Qualifying Programme results. My family were with me when I got the news; it’s a special memory. I know the hard work and commitment that goes into studying for the QP, and it really is a fantastic achievement. One year on from passing, my knowledge and confidence keep growing. This qualification has been invaluable and I’m so pleased to have it under my belt.
Like so many others, the pandemic changed the trajectory of my career. I hadn’t previously considered a career in governance. I had a background in risk management and regulatory change, but during those years I found myself leading the building society’s COVID-19 response - attending crisis meetings and giving updates to the board. I began working closely with executive directors, and my opinion was actively sought on situations affecting the organisation. It was exciting. I found the decision-making processes fascinating and valued being in the room where important conclusions were reached.
Despite the many challenges of that time, the need to adapt opened new professional opportunities for me.
These experiences eventually led to becoming the Company Secretary. Landing that promotion was my primary motivation for enrolling on the Qualifying Programme. Without a strong background in governance, I wanted (and needed) to learn everything I could about the intricacies of the field and strengthen my pathway toward a recognised company secretary qualification.
My Qualifying Programme experience
Completing the QP, in many ways, is just the beginning. Looking back to when I first started, I was holding down a demanding job while juggling caring for two young children and studying on top. It seemed a bit daunting at first, but it was achievable. Becoming qualified has given me the key governance skills and competencies I needed to succeed. Since qualifying, I've developed the self-confidence to strengthen governance procedures and frameworks, and have even restructured the organisation's delegated authorities and introduced a new internal board performance review. Colleagues have also commented that the programme has noticeably increased both my confidence and credibility.
Each module of the QP allowed me to apply newly acquired knowledge to my daily work. However, the module I found most useful was Interpreting Financial and Accounting Information. I don’t have an accounting background, so the course content was all new to me, and it made a huge difference. For the first time, I was able to get to grips with the ratios involved in the annual accounts to understand my company’s financial information.
Company Law was equally valuable. We outsource our legal services, and I manage that relationship, so equipping myself with a better understanding of corporate law has been extremely beneficial.
Much of the content includes real-world experiences, and the programme creates tangible value. I particularly enjoyed the Development of Strategy module and still remember the case study; it was about a chain of local supermarkets that needed a governance strategy devised. I even ended up receiving a distinction for that one.
I owe a large part of my success to programme tutors. Having a dedicated person on hand to explain key concepts and support me with exam technique was, without a doubt, an immeasurable tool.
Of course, even the best preparation can’t save you if you get the exam date wrong - which I did on one occasion, only realising half an hour before it was due to start! To make matters worse, my PC decided to restart an hour into the exam. Thankfully, I still managed to pass.
Other key benefits of the programme
Getting to know other students on the programme was another highlight; there was a sense of camaraderie, and I’ve stayed in touch with many of the people I met.
The digital badges that are issued to Graduates upon completion of the QP are also a great way to recognise your achievement. They can be added to your LinkedIn profile, email signature, personal website, or digital resume. I like the ability to verify my qualification, and it feels like it protects the chartered status.
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering a move into governance, I would absolutely recommend The Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland’s Qualifying Programme. It really pushes you to build knowledge in areas you may not have been exposed to before, and the progress you make is evident from daily application. The recognition of becoming Chartered lasts for the rest of your career, and for many aspiring professionals, it’s one of the best governance qualifications candidates can undertake to support long-term career development.
Interested in knowing more about routes into governance and the Qualifying Programme? Visit the Qualifications & Training webpage.
Digital Badges: The Institute is working with online badge provider Credly to provide CGIUKI Chartered members, Graduates and Affiliates with digital membership credentials that can be downloaded and added to emails, LinkedIn and a range of other online platforms to showcase your membership. Not received your digital badge yet? Our membership team will be in touch as they are being delivered throughout February.