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What are Music Hubs?
Music Hubs are partnerships that support, deliver and enable access to music education for children and young people within a local area. These partnerships are co-ordinated by a Hub Lead Organisation and can include schools, local authorities, community groups, music organisations, industry and more.
Back to topHertfordshire Music Hub
Music Hubs play a critical role in fulfilling the vision and goals as set out in the 2022 National Plan for Music Education (NPME) The power of music to change lives.
Hertfordshire Music Hub acts as a gateway for music education provision that works in our local context, both in and out of school. We help drive the quality of service locally, with scope for improved partnership working, better value for money and local innovation.
The Hertfordshire Music Hub Board is concerned with the activity and development of the Hertfordshire Music Hub. The Hub Board scrutinises, challenges, and supports the Hertfordshire Local Plan for Music Education and advocates at local, regional, and national level for the benefits of a strong musical offer in our schools and in the wider community.
Back to topHub vision
Hertfordshire Music Hub Board believes all children and young people should have the opportunity to enjoy, achieve and celebrate through music.
Back to topHub purpose
Strong governance provided by support and challenge from a knowledgeable Board that represents the views of all stakeholders, particularly young people themselves.
Back to topHub values
Children first: we put children at the centre of our vision for Music in Hertfordshire, make them our priority, involve them in shaping our work. Listen to their voices. The Hertfordshire Music Hub Board (link to page about Hub Board) agrees to conduct business using The Seven Principles of Public Life (www.gov.uk) – these are: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership.
Back to topHertfordshire Music Service - Lead Organisation
Hertfordshire Music Service has been appointed by Arts Council England to lead the Hertfordshire Music Hub from September 2024, as part of an ambitious national programme to provide high-quality music education for all children and young people.
As the Lead Organisation, Hertfordshire Music Service will deliver the three aims set out in the National Plan for Music Education:
- To support schools and other education settings to deliver high-quality music education
- To support young people to further develop their musical interests and talent, including into employment
- To support all children and young people to engage with a range of musical opportunities in and out of school
The National Plan also outlines five strategic functions for Music Hubs: Partnerships, Schools, Progression and musical development, Inclusion, and Sustainability.
As the new Hub Lead Organisation for the Hertfordshire region, Hertfordshire Music Service will receive £2,222,372 from the Department for Education. Hertfordshire Music Service will receive £1,672,854 to coordinate music education in the local area, plus £549,518 to invest in new musical instruments, equipment and technology tailored to the needs of children and young people in Hertfordshire, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.
Hertfordshire Music Service’s appointment is part of a major investment in a new generation of the nationwide network of Music Hubs. This investment will help to deliver the Government’s National Plan for Music Education, and give all children and young people the opportunity to develop their musical interests as far as they wish, including helping them to begin careers in the music industry.
National Music Hubs
The new Music Hubs form an ambitious national programme providing high-quality music education for all children and young people through investment in musical activities, equipment and teacher training.
Building on the extensive work existing Music Education Hubs have undertaken since 2011, the new Hubs will be led by 43 Hub Lead Organisations from September 2024.
Arts Council England
View a map of the new music hubs
Download a list of Hub Lead organisations
Download a spreadsheet of the new Music Hub areas and funding allocations
Hertfordshire Music Service will continue to deliver high quality music education accessible to all children and young people in Hertfordshire through diverse partnerships between educational, creative and community organisations, in their local communities and throughout the country.
Back to topLead Schools for Hertfordshire Music Hub
The core purpose of a Lead School, as set out within the NPME, is to champion music education, developing and nurturing local school relationships and networks as part of and on behalf of the Hub. Lead Schools will supplement the role of the Hub Lead Organisation.
Lead Schools will act as an ambassador for music education and model behaviour and practice expected from schools in relation to music (as set out in the NPME). Lead Schools are a key partner within the Hub and help with engaging schools within the Hub area, demonstrating and advocating for the vital role schools will play in ensuring the success of the NPME.
Quotes about the announcement of new Music Hubs
Lisa Quinlan-Rahman
(Chief Executive Officer of Hertfordshire Music Service)
“We are extremely proud to be the lead partner for the Hertfordshire Music Education Hub. This enables us to deliver our vision of ensuring that all of Hertfordshire’s children and young people, regardless of background or circumstances, have the opportunity to discover or develop their unique musical voice and express themselves through the language of music.
Through our continued work with partners and the development of new partnerships, we aim to provide engaging life-long music education, committed to delivering high-quality music education and create positive outcomes for generations to come.
This reflects the dedication of the Hertfordshire Music Service in fostering musical growth and inclusively within the community.”
Caroline Clapper
(HCC Executive Member, Education, Libraries & Lifelong Learning)
“As the Executive Member, Education, Libraries & Lifelong Learning, I am absolutely thrilled that the Hertfordshire Music Service has been awarded the prestigious role of lead organisation for the Hertfordshire Music Education Hub.
This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to nurturing musical ability, fostering creativity, and providing equitable access to music education for young residents across Hertfordshire.
With this responsibility, we look forward to attaining the aspirations of, delivering a joyous musical journey to, and orchestrating a musical future for everyone in Hertfordshire.
This momentous occasion is a testament to the dedication and passion of the entire team at Hertfordshire Music Service. Let the music play on!”
Darren Henley
(Chief Executive of Arts Council England)
"Music education is enormously powerful – it can enrich young people's lives, help them connect with the people around them, and start them on the pathway to fruitful and fulfilling careers.
We are excited to announce this investment in a new generation of Music Hubs, which will support the brilliant work of our dedicated music teachers across the country, and help bring high-quality music education to even more children and young people in every part of England."
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Join us as a volunteer board member
Application deadline: 11.59pm on Tuesday 7 October 2025
Interview dates: from w/c 20 October 2025 onwards
General skills as a Board member
Essential
- Demonstrated experience of and passion for music and education.
- A strong commitment to supporting young people.
- Ability to maintain integrity in all responsibilities.
- Willingness to be active and dedicated to their duties as a Board and sub-committee member.
- Alignment with the Hub Lead Organisation’s values.
- Align with our values and have strong judgment, creativity, and teamwork skills.
Desirable
- Experience of music education.
Term and time commitment
Board members serve a term of three years and can be re-elected once (i.e., may serve a maximum of two terms, totalling six years).
- HMH Boardmeetings are four times a year, held on a Wednesday evening and are approximately two hours in length.
- All meetings are in a hybrid manner (in person and online), although it is requested that the first meeting of the academic year is in person where possible.
Finance specialist
Hertfordshire Music Hub (HMH) is seeking additional volunteer members with a background in strong financial management, to join the Hub Board.
Information about the role
The expectation is that the Board member becomes part of the newly formed specialised Finance sub-committee, so enhancing our diversly skilled team.
The Hub Board is well established and have had a specialised Inclusion sub-committee for many years and we are now seeking to create a second specialised Finance sub-committee to add further expertise to its already strong financial management and decision-making.
As per the Finance sub-committee terms of reference, all sub-committee members must also be Board members. We value diversity, promote equality, and challenge discrimination.
Specialist skills as a finance committee member
We welcome applications from individuals with:
- Experience in senior finance roles.
- A professionally recognised finance qualification.
- Great communication skills.
- The ability to convey complex financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
We are open to applications from anyone but in particular from applicants who feel they meet the above criteria, and can commit and positively contribute to the Hub’s Board and Finance sub-committee, and our collective purpose as outlined in our recruitment pack.
We are actively seeking to increase the diversity and representation of our Hub Board and sub-committees. We strongly encourage applicants who, for example, have protected characteristics or are from global majority backgrounds.
Finance committee meetings are additional to Board meetings, and will be four times a year, held on a Wednesday evening and are approximately 1.5 hours in length.
Inclusion specialist
Hertfordshire Music Hub (HMH) is seeking additional volunteer members with a background and/or strong interest in inclusion, to join the well-established Hub Board.
Information about the role
The expectation is that the Board member becomes part of the specialised Inclusion sub-committee, so enhancing our diversly skilled team.
The Hub Board is well established and has had a specialised Inclusion sub-committee for many years.
As per the Inclusion sub-committee terms of reference, all sub-committee members must also be Board members. We value diversity, promote equality, and challenge discrimination.
Specialist skills as an inclusion committee member
We welcome applications from individuals with a background and/or strong interest in inclusion, or relevant lived experience, or people who have overcome barriers to musical inclusion.
We are open to applications from anyone but in particular from applicants who feel they meet the above criteria, and can commit and positively contribute to the Hub’s Board and Inclusion sub-committee and our collective purpose as outlined in our recruitment pack.
We are actively seeking to increase the diversity and representation of our Hub Board and sub-committees. We strongly encourage applicants who, for example, have protected characteristics, or are from global majority backgrounds.
Inclusion committee meetings are additional to Board meetings, and will be three times a year, held on a Tuesday evening and are approximately 1.5 hours in length.
For further information please download the Hertfordshire Music Hub Board member recruitment pack 2025.
If you have difficulty accessing the recruitment pack, please email MusicHR@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
How to apply
We would like to hear about your motivation for applying and how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role of Board member, as set out in the brief, please submit:
- an up-to-date CV, and
- a supporting covering letter of no more than two sides of A4, or a video lasting no longer than two minutes
Optional information:
To allow the interview panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities, please feel free to include:
- any relevant training, qualifications or lived experience.
- examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the brief.
Applications should be emailed to MusicHR@hertfordshire.gov.uk with reference - Hertfordshire Music Hub Board member application.
- Applications will close at 11.59pm on Tuesday 7 October 2025.
- Interviews will take place from w/c Monday 20 October.
- Interviews will be held in person at Mid Herts Centre for Music and Arts, Hatfield (online via MS Teams is also an option) and will last for no longer than one hour.
- Successful candidates will be invited to join their first meeting as a Board member at the Hub Board meeting on Wednesday 3 December 2025 - 4.30pm - 6.30pm.
- Additional Inclusion and Finance committee meeting dates will be shared at the Hub Board meeting, an expectation will be for the successful candidates to attend either committee.
The Hertfordshire Music Hub Board recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage Board member applications from people of all backgrounds.
If you require any reasonable adaptations to the materials to support you during the application process or at the interview stage, please email us at MusicHR@hertfordshire.gov.uk.