The Boardroom Blog

10 ways to put business models on the board agenda

Monday, March 15, 2010 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Governance | Tags: business models, Board, New Business Models, listed, The Economist, Strategy | Total Views: 10549

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We commissioned The Economist Intelligence Unit to survey UK executives on how assumptions on business models have changed, and how companies are planning to adapt over the next 18 months.

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Tool: Assess your company’s risk maturity level

Thursday, September 23, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Risk | Tags: business, recession, governance, survey, report, risk, business models, data, Simon Lowe, risk management, questionnaire, Business Risk Services, tools, Strategy | Total Views: 8268

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Our recent business risk report shows widespread complacency in company risk management processes. Check the risk maturity of your organisation with our quick online assessment tool.

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Eight key changes in UK Corporate Governance Code

Thursday, February 17, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Governance, Research | Tags: governance, FRC, FTSE 350, Board, non-executive director, women, gender, remuneration, UK Corporate Governance Code, diversity, NED, bonuses, chairman, Turnbull | Total Views: 7584

In the fast-changing landscape of UK corporate governance, what are the key recent changes that UK boards need to be aware of?

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What to put on the board’s anti-corruption agenda

Monday, June 21, 2010 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Corruption, Governance, Research, Thought Leadership | Total Views: 6943

Since the draft Bribery Bill was first published in 2008, it is not just the law that has changed but also attitudes to its enforcement.

There has been an unprecedented level of engagement ahead of the enactment of new legislation by the lead law enforcement agency.

However, despite this increased enforcement activity, our Anti-corruption survey suggests many businesses and their boards seem not to be taking corruption risk or the new Act seriously.

We consider the following steps to be key in establishing the right environment for UK companies….

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Non-Exec experience rises on FTSE 350 Boards

Thursday, November 26, 2009 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Governance, Non-executive director | Tags: governance, FT, risk, FRC, Simon Lowe, FTSE 350, non-executive director, listed, NEDs, Business Risk Services | Total Views: 6849

FTSE 350 non-executive directors (NEDs) now have greater levels of direct sector experience and are more numerous than in 2003, a new study undertaken by business and financial advisers Grant Thornton for the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has revealed.

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Grant Thornton QCA shortlist announced

Monday, January 04, 2010 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Governance, Non-executive director | Tags: Grant Thornton, awards, Quoted Company Awards, shortlist, QCA | Total Views: 6703

As the proud headline sponsor of the Quoted Company Awards awards since 2005, Grant Thornton is pleased to announce that the 2010 awards have been re-titled as the Grant Thornton Quoted Company Awards.

The ceremony will be held in London on 29 January and here are details of the shortlist…

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Risk management: learning from recession mistakes

Wednesday, September 22, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Risk | Tags: business, recession, governance, survey, report, risk, strategy, business models, data, Simon Lowe, risk management, questionnaire, Business Risk Services, tools | Total Views: 6498

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Why did so many risk processes fail to protect companies from the worst of the global downturn? And how can senior managers approach risk management afresh to help protect their business in future? Our latest research report has the answers. Plus, check out our tool to assess your own company’s risk maturity.

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We are Auditor of the Year for the second year running!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Governance | Tags: Grant Thornton, survey, FD, finance director, ICAEW, Michael Izza, Phil Crooks, FD Excellance Awards, Audit, Awards | Total Views: 6326

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On Tuesday night, Grant Thornton was announced as the winner of the Auditor of the Year (Large Six) category at The FDs’ Excellence Awards for the second year running.

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What makes a good non-executive director?

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
| Tags: FT, Corporate Governance, Michelle Edkins, David Jackson, BP, Financial Times, Barclays Global Investors, non-executive directors, Lesley Stephenson, Lucy Kellaway | Total Views: 5177

This was the question posed at a recent event run by the Financial Times Non-Executive Directors’ Club in association with their partners, Grant Thornton.

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New guidance on what makes an effective board

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: FRC, Governance | Tags: governance, FRC, Board, women, gender, UK Corporate Governance Code, diversity, succession planning, NED, guidance, chairman, Higgs, composition | Total Views: 4847

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The long-awaited replacement of the Higgs Guidance was released this month. So what do you need to know?

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84% of Private Equity backers of UK ICT firms plan to make new technology aquisitions in 2010

Friday, February 26, 2010 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
| Tags: Grant Thornton, technology, Wendy Hart, investors, Simon Davies, Himanshu Raja, cloud computing, Ash Hussain, Martin Rowland, Axial Systems, Corporate Finance, ICT, Niki Dixon, SaaS, LDC, BT Design, Software as a Service, private equity,, Information and Communication Technologies, | Total Views: 4708

UK firms specialised in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) continue to attract private equity investors, according to our recent ‘Where is the Smart Money Going in ICT?’ report. The survey of the 40 leading private equity investors backing UK ICT firms recorded 84% as saying that their firm planned to undertake an acquisition in the UK ICT sector over the next 12 months.

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Perception vs reality of corporate corruption risk (infographic)

Friday, September 17, 2010 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Corruption | Tags: emerging markets, risk,, survey,, business,, statistics,, corruption,, infographic,, chart,, perception, | Total Views: 4555

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Bribes, backhanders, suspiciously lavish corporate hospitality, corrupt officials or local operators on the make… corruption oils the wheels of industry in markets across the world. But the stakes of being associated with these got markedly higher this year with the new UK Bribery Act. Is your company aware of the risks?

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Webinar: Put your Budget questions to the experts

Friday, June 18, 2010 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Governance | Tags: Francesca Lagerberg, George Osborne, Budget, Stephen Gifford, webinar, Clive Fathers, Rebecca Pritchard, Emergency Budget, advice, analysis | Total Views: 4482

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We’re inviting you to a special live and interactive Budget webinar this Thursday at 4pm to find out what the new Government’s first Budget means for you. Register here or read on to find out more…

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FT Non-Executive Director Survey - Understanding the NED

Tuesday, April 06, 2010 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Non-executive director | Tags: survey, FT, non-executive director, recruitment, remuneration, NED | Total Views: 4202

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The Financial Times, in association with Grant Thornton, are undertaking a survey of existing and aspiring non-executive directors in the UK to learn more about this unique sector.

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Bribery Act debate: Facilitation payments & the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)

Monday, February 07, 2011 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Corruption | Tags: Bribery Act, OECD, gifts, FCPA, bribe, hospitality, facilitation payments, anti-bribery, government officials, anti-corruption culture | Total Views: 4186

Can British companies complying with the FCPA be in conflict with the UK Bribery Act?  David Lorello, partner, Steptoe & Johnson, Nicola Bonucci, OECD’s director for legal affairs and Sterl Greenhalgh, partner and head of Grant Thornton’s anti-corruption group, discuss how companies can reconcile possible conflict.

Download our guide ‘Navigating the Anti-Corruption Maze’ to assist you in understanding the risks and how to implement an appropriate system of adequate procedures in your business

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Six ways to improve your principal risk reporting

Wednesday, February 09, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: FRC, Governance, Risk | Tags: governance, risk, FRC, compliance, financial, annual report, disclosure, FRRP, business review, principal risks, reporting, directors' report | Total Views: 4166

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Many companies are not being clear enough when reporting the principal risks and uncertainties facing their business, said a concerned Financial Reporting Review Panel last week. What steps can businesses take to improve compliance?

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Social media risk management for board directors

Tuesday, November 01, 2011 | Posted by: Paul Mewett
Categories: Risk | Tags: report, risk, Board, advice, risk management, guide, Strategy, social media, Twitter, reputation, crisis, PR, Alan Joyce, Facebook, Qantas, monitoring, Internet Intelligence | Total Views: 4149

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Social media – what’s the worst that can happen? Quite a lot, as Qantas found out, when a social media crisis hit both its share price and its world-famous reputation for safety. Grant Thornton’s Internet Intelligence team reviews the story and suggests ways in which companies can implement a social media risk management strategy.

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Michelle Edkins, Barclays Global Investors on the Walker Review and changes to the Combined Code

Wednesday, December 09, 2009 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Governance, Non-executive director | Tags: governance, FT, Corporate Governance, Simon Lowe, FTSE 350, Corporate Governance Review, Michelle Edkins, Financial Times, Barclays Global Investors | Total Views: 4051

Interview with Michelle Edkins Managing Director, Head of Corporate Governance, Europe at Barclays Global Investors, at the launch event of the Financial Times Non-Executive Directors’ Club on 10 November 2009. 

Simon Lowe, partner and author of the FTSE 350 Corporate Governance Review, was able to capture some pearls of wisdom on film, by speaking to Michelle Edkins about investor engagement and why she advises against talking about ‘corporate governance’

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Ready to take AIM

Friday, August 27, 2010 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: LSE, AIM, Umerah Akram, David Grundy, Lloyds Banking Group, Gerry Beaney, Andrew Wright, Mike Stevenson, Cobbetts, Seminar | Total Views: 4010

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Grant Thornton Manchester is hosting a private dining experience to explore the opportunities, threats, challenges and debates surrounding AIM.

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UK boards need more women directors – but how?

Thursday, March 03, 2011 | Posted by: Ben Langford
Categories: Governance, Non-executive director | Tags: statistics, research, compliance, FTSE 350, Board, women, gender, diversity, female, review, rotation of directors, 30 percent club, quotas, Lord Davies, directors, representation, inclusion | Total Views: 3966

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Companies have a last chance to increase female representation on boards from 9% to 25%, with the threat of quotas if they fail to comply.

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