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The CIPD is among a group of associations to back a new campaign by the charity Getting on Board to increase the number of professionals participating in board-level volunteering.

Sarah Hodgkinson, chief executive of Getting on Board, which matches people with voluntary board placements, said the skill sets of HR professionals were "much in demand" on third sector boards and it was a good form of career development. "As charities and schools are smaller than the organisations that many HR professionals work for, the learning loop is significantly smaller - meaning you learn very quickly from your successes and your mistakes," she said.

Hodgkinson, a CIPD member who has worked in HR in the NHS and across the voluntary sector, added that board-level volunteering was "a great way to increase the number of HR professionals on boards of companies as well as of non-profit organisations."

Jill Millns, a former vice president of HR for Shell Global Lubricants who is a trustee of the disability charity the Papworth Trust, said board volunteering gave HR at middle management level a way to broaden their experience if internal openings were not available. It provided the "opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction of an organisation and have governance oversight" before doing it in a day job, she said.

Millns said charities faced the same challenges as other sectors, such as the need to engage employees at all levels and equip people with the right skills. "HR can bring very good best practice from outside of the third sector into their organisations," she added.

Anna Wallace, CIPD public affairs officer, urged HR managers to use such opportunities to develop skills among employees as well as for their own career development. "Board level volunteering is a great, cost effective way for businesses to grow their internal talent," she added.

People Management, Lucy Phillips 9th November 2009.