ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has today published new guidance about company AGMs and the impact of Covid-19, which reflects the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on companies’ ability to hold physical general meetings. Prepared in association with the City of London Law Society Company Law Committee and Martin Moore QC, with the support of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Financial Reporting Council, the guidance offers advice on how listed companies might hold meetings during the 2021 AGM season.

The winners of the 2020 ProShare Awards were announced by celebrity host Alan ‘voice of the balls’ Dedicoat at an online awards ceremony on 25 February, with household names such as Ocado, Rolls-Royce and Sky recognised for their creativity and innovation in employee share ownership.

Responding to today's Budget, ProShare – the body representing employee share ownership (ESO) in the UK – said that the absence of reforms to all-employee share plans was "disappointing". By choosing not to introduce changes to the way the Share Incentive Plan (SIP) and Save As You Earn (SAYE) plans operate the Chancellor had "missed a big opportunity" to drive up employee share ownership in the UK.

ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has today published the findings of a survey of charity trustees in the UK and Republic of Ireland which shows that there is a considerable desire for there to be clearer and simpler guidance about reporting. The survey also reflects some level of concern that reporting requirements are too long and complicated for a non-financial trustee.

The Chartered Governance Institute has today welcomed the Government’s proposals to reform the UK audit market and strengthen the country’s corporate governance regime, but stressed that the proposed legislation around audit has to be evaluated on how well it addresses core concerns on the role of audit, the degree of professional scepticism exercised by auditors and the lack of trust in the ability of auditors outside the Big Four.

According to a poll by ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute and governance recruitment specialist The Core Partnership, 73% of companies think that there should be more transparent reporting and disclosures about environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. Just 16% of organisations polled are against this and an additional 11% are unsure.

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A new report out today from The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland and the Centre for Synchronous Leadership (CSL) has highlighted the dangers of business leaders having blind spots and puts forward a convincing case for businesses to get on the front foot with emerging trends and issues. It provides a deep understanding of the systemic issues that are causing business leaders to be insular, or ‘Bubble Bound’ to coin a phrase used in the report, and uses quantitative data to show the benefit of being more open to difference.

The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland has today published new guidance for academy trusts, proposing model terms of reference for Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) Remuneration and Audit and Risk committees. The guidance will be useful to any trusts seeking to strengthen their governance arrangements and comply with the requirements of the Department for Education and the Education and Skills Funding Agency.