Category
4 articles
Board packs have become assurance dossiers rather than decision tools. This opinionated guide distinguishes assurance papers from decision papers, argues for exception reporting and one-page decision covers, and sets out a three-hour pack test for company secretaries ahead of the 2026 year-end cycle.
When a critical UK vendor goes dark, the board's first three hours set the tone for customer continuity, regulatory exposure and reputational trust. This time-boxed drill gives directors a practical 180-minute protocol for verifying facts, protecting operations and recording decisions.
Most UK boards can produce a succession plan; far fewer can show that it has ever been tested. This article sets out a practical three-hour session that pressure-tests chief executive and finance director cover, maps the internal bench and gives non-executives a rehearsal rather than a document.
An unexpected email from a regulator can test a board's escalation procedures within minutes. This scenario-led playbook explains how UK directors should triage the request, preserve evidence, protect legal privilege and agree internal communication lines during the first three hours.