- Calling all governance gurus! Nominations now open for the 2021 Awards of The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland – Bailiwick of Guernsey Branch
01 June 2021
The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland – Bailiwick of Guernsey Branch is seeking nominations for this year’s Guernsey Branch Awards. Run each year, the Awards recognise the most talented governance experts and corporate service providers that Guernsey has to offer. Read more
- IOM student excellence recognised by global governance body The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland
24 May 2021
The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland – Isle of Man Branch is delighted to announce the names of those students who have achieved the highest marks at branch level in the Institute’s November 2020 examinations. Students were recognised for their success in the autumn exam sessions for the Institute’s Chartered Governance Qualifying Programme (CGQP) and its International Finance and Administration (IFA) qualifications. Read more
- New model terms of reference for academy trust Remuneration and Audit & Risk committees published today by The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland
18 May 2021
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. Read more
- Mindful Exclusion: new report reveals the blind spots that are impeding directors and executives in their roles
13 May 2021
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. Read more
- Kids Company and good governance: mapping what we know
13 April 2021
The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland has today published a research paper which reviews the degree to which Keeping Kids Company (Kids Company) adhered to good governance practice or not before its demise. The review is based on the information that is currently publicly available and aims to provide trustees, governance professionals and others working within the charity sector with an overview of lessons to be learned. Read more
- Two-thirds of companies in favour of more transparent ESG reporting and disclosures
25 March 2021
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. Read more
- ‘Audit reform welcome, but core concerns need addressing alongside legislation,’ says ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute
18 March 2021
ICSA: 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. Read more
- Review shows charity trustees want clearer, simpler guidance about reporting
09 March 2021
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. Read more
- Chancellor “missed a big opportunity” to reform employee share plans in Budget, ProShare claims
03 March 2021
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. Research has shown that companies with higher levels of employee share ownership outperform those without, and that share plans are an effective way for low-income earners to save and build financial resilience. Read more
- Winners of 2020 ProShare Awards announced
01 March 2021
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. Read more
- New guidance about company AGMs and the impact of Covid-19 issued for 2021
24 February 2021
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. Read more
- Bouncing back after lockdown – tips on how to thrive in extraordinary times
16 February 2021
The Isle of Man Branch of ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has today announced details of a webinar that is running on 24 February 2021 to helps its members and other interested parties learn more about how they can thrive in extraordinary times. Attendees will hear tips from Justin Tipper, a leading local management and leadership trainer, coach and therapist, who will explain how people can use the experience of COVID to build their pools of perseverance, calmness and self-reliance. Read more
- ‘Kids Company verdict carries important lessons for all those involved in charity governance,’ says ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute
12 February 2021
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has today welcomed the benevolent approach to charity trustees that today’s Kids Company verdict has upheld, whilst recognising that the 221-page verdict contains important lessons for all those involved in the governance of charities. Overall, the judgement underscores the importance of good governance: of effective oversight, training, assurance and risk management, all of which is best supported by a governance professional. Read more
- ESG, remote working risk management, climate change and diversity top the 2021 governance agenda, poll finds
12 February 2021
Governance professionals in 2021 will be focusing their attention primarily on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters, remote working risk, climate change and diversity this year, according to a poll by ICSA: The Chartered Governance and governance recruitment specialist The Core Partnership. Of these, ESG is seen as the top priority, with the majority of respondents stating that it would be the biggest area of governance focus for 2021. Read more
- New guidance for charities about virtual and hybrid AGMs published today
11 February 2021
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute and leading charity lawyers VWV have today published a practical ‘how to’ guide for charities approaching their first virtual or hybrid annual general meeting (AGM) as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures. The guidance is predominantly for charitable companies limited by guarantee (CLGs) and charitable incorporate organisations (CIOs) and relates to the flexibilities extended to charities by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (CIGA) until 30 March 2021. Read more
- Promoting and supporting the vital role of the governance professional in academy trusts is at the top of the DfE’s priorities, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System says
25 January 2021
Baroness Berridge, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System, has acknowledged the vital role that governance professionals play in academy trusts and confirmed that more widely promoting and supporting the role of the governance professional in trusts is at the top of the DfE’s priorities for this year. Read more
- Board evaluation review published today shows there’s room for improvement
20 January 2021
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has today released the findings of its review into the effectiveness of independent board evaluation in the UK listed sector. The review, which was carried out at the request of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), assessed the quality of evaluations and has identified a number of ways in which board evaluation might be improved. Read more
- “Academy trust CEOs serving as trustees is a nuanced issue, with no one-size-fits-all solution”, says ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute
19 January 2021
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has today released a statement outlining its views about the situation of having chief executives, and other staff, as trustees of charitable companies such as academy trusts. The Institute believes that the situation is nuanced and a default of only one option will not always represent good governance practice. Read more
- New Chair of ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute’s Guernsey Branch named as Teresa Le Couteur
18 January 2021
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute is pleased to announce the election of Teresa Le Couteur, Group Company Secretary for Northern Trust Guernsey, as Chair of the Institute’s Guernsey Branch, effective 1 January 2021. Teresa’s was elected to the position by the Bailiwick’s membership and succeeds Paul Smith, who chaired the branch from May 2019 until December 2020, having been Vice Chair since Jan 2016. Read more
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) scoops award for governance
27 November 2020
The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation was honoured at ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute’s 2020 Awards, picking up the award for Governance Project of the Year. MOHRE’s governance maturity evaluation project, which has enhanced the maturity of the Ministry’s governance system, sealed the win for MOHRE at last night’s 2020 Awards. Read more
- Further Education specialist Fiona Chalk named Governance Champion of the Year
27 November 2020
Fiona Chalk, Governance Consultant & Trainer at Governance4FE has been named Governance Champion of the Year by ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute, the professional body for governance. Fiona, founder of Governance4FE, a community organisation that specialises solely in Further Education governance, received the award for the work that she has done to improve outcomes for students by increasing the effectiveness of those tasked with the oversight of governance in the further education and skills sector. Read more
- North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust scoops awards for good governance and diversity and inclusion
27 November 2020
Peterborough-based North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust had double cause for celebration last night when the Trust’s Deputy Company Secretary Paul Denton was named Governance Professional of the Year and the Trust picked up the award for Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year at ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute’s 2020 Awards. Read more
- Ireland’s Paul McCullagh named Company Secretary of the Year
27 November 2020
Paul McCullagh, Company Secretary at Dublin-based Barclays Europe has been named Company Secretary of the Year by ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute at the Institute’s 2020 Awards. Paul was recognised for his drive and commitment to ensure Barclays Europe is at the forefront of best practice corporate governance, something which has earned him the respect and confidence of the Board. Read more
- ‘Extension of AGM flexibility is welcome news for company secretaries,’ ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute advises
26 November 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has welcomed the extension of flexibilities around company meeting arrangements included in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (the Act), which the government has extended to 30 March 2021. Read more
- FRC review of governance reporting provides companies with a clear blueprint of what good reporting looks like
26 November 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute today welcomed the Financial Reporting Council’s 2020 review of governance reporting. Read more
- Serious corporate governance challenges ahead if COVID persists - Our Irish Region Autumn Survey shows need for ‘virtual AGM’ reforms, governance difficulties with virtual meetings and ‘the end of wet ink signing'
17 November 2020
The Irish Region of ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute (The Institute) has released the results of its Autumn Survey showing some serious challenges to corporate governance due to COVID lockdown requirements. The Institute recognises that the role of the Company Secretary and of governance professionals in Ireland has changed due to the restrictions brought about by working from home and the more limited service provided by the CRO (Companies Registration Office) as a result of COVID-19. Read more
- Governance superstars lauded at ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute’s Guernsey Branch Annual Dinner
16 November 2020
The Guernsey Branch of ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Guernsey Branch Awards, which recognise the achievements of Guernsey’s top governance professionals and corporate service providers. The academic achievements of the Institute’s members and students were also celebrated at the Guernsey Branch Annual Dinner and Awards, which took place at the Duke of Richmond Hotel on Friday, 13 November 2020. Read more
- IOM governance professionals seek to cement the island’s reputation as a premier offshore financial jurisdiction
11 November 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute is pleased to announce details of the newly elected branch council for its Isle of Man branch, which supports members and students of the Institute living and working on the island. The branch plays a crucial role in promoting good governance on the Isle of Man, something which enhances the island’s reputation as a good place to business. Read more
- How to read the riot act over Zoom
10 November 2020
With increasing numbers of countries re-entering lockdown as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has scheduled an event looking at how best to organise and hold meetings in a locked-down world. Read more
- The future office: less space but more creative, poll finds
09 November 2020
According to a poll out today by ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute and governance recruitment specialist The Core Partnership, 36% of respondents confirmed that their company would be downsizing their office space in the future, but there is plenty of sentiment that offices will continue to serve a useful purpose as creative hubs and meeting spaces. Read more
- IOM students celebrate exam success with ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute
29 October 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute is delighted to announce the names of those students who have achieved the highest marks in the Institute’s Isle of Man examinations since the June 2018 exam sitting. The students received their awards at a celebratory event at Tanners Loft on 22 October. Read more
- Charity SORP convenor launches probe of trustees’ understanding of the charity accounting framework
23 October 2020
The Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) convenor responsible for gathering the views of trustees on the charity accounting framework has today begun work with trustees to gain an insight into their understanding of the framework. Trustees in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are being asked to complete a questionnaire which will help to clarify their position. Read more
- Majority of organisations are ready for a no trade deal scenario, poll finds
22 October 2020
According to a poll by ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute and governance recruitment specialist The Core Partnership, the majority of companies are prepared for the UK to leave Europe with no trade deal in place. Some 71% of respondents, the majority of which hail from finance, commerce and industry, said that they are very prepared for a no trade deal scenario. Just 9% are not at all prepared and an additional 20% were unsure of how prepared their organisation was at the time the poll was carried out. Read more
- Student achievements to be celebrated in person by ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute’s IOM branch
21 October 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute is holding an a Networking and Social Evening for members and students on Thursday 22 October, which will recognise the exam successes of its students. Read more
- Governance Guernsey: Creating a sustainable future
13 October 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has today announced the full line-up of speakers for its 2020 Governance Guernsey conference, which is taking place on 21 October, one of the few live conferences taking place in the British Isles, thanks to strong management of COVID by Guernsey’s government. Read more
- ‘Effective school governance is more than minuting meetings,’ says ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute
09 October 2020
The Department for Education’s recognition of academy trust clerks as the board’s ‘governance professional’ is a start in terms of acknowledging the importance of the role, according to ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute. Recognising the broader responsibilities as “…about helping the board understand its role, functions and legal duties and supporting the chair to enable and facilitate strategic debate and decision making” in the DfE’s revised Governance Handbook, the Institute believes that this continued emphasis shows the important advisory and support role that governance professionals play in helping academy boards to achieve success. Read more
- Latest DfE report shows clerks are undervalued. More support needs to be given to this important role, ICSA states
07 October 2020
The clerking role is not given the weight it deserves because the term ‘clerk’ does not reflect the important governance work that they do, according to ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute. The term ‘governance professional’ better reflects the important advisory and supporting role that they play and the DfE should introduce the mandatory requirement in law for academy trusts above a certain threshold to employ a qualified governance professional. Furthermore, the DfE should provide guidance to ensure the remuneration of a governance professional reflects the level of responsibility required to support the board with its many legal, regulatory, educational and ethical requirements. Read more
- The virtuous circle of good charity governance
28 September 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has today published a white paper looking at ‘The virtuous circle of good charity governance’. Compiled by Louise Thomson, Head of Policy (Not for Profit) at the Institute, the paper considers what governance is and how it works in relation to the charity sector, including linking good governance to organisational performance. Read more
- ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute welcomes Companies House reform
25 September 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has today welcomed the Government’s response to last years’ consultation on Corporate Transparency and Register Reform, in which the Government looked at options to enhance the role of Companies House and increase the transparency of UK corporate entities. Read more
- ‘Extending AGM flexibility will help companies to prepare properly,’ ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute advises
24 September 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute is delighted that the government has extended the flexibilities around the arrangement of company meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic included in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 (the Act) to 30 December 2020. Read more
- ESG white paper and maturity matrix seek to improve understanding within the charity sector
16 September 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute has published an ESG white paper and maturity matrix to help charities focus on the important environmental, social and governance issues that the sector needs to consider. Read more
- Murray Tompsett joins ProShare
03 September 2020
ProShare and ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute are delighted to announce that Murray Tompsett has been appointed Head of ProShare, starting this October. Read more
- The race is underway to find Guernsey’s top governance professionals
27 August 2020
Nominations are now open for this year’s ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute’s Guernsey Branch Annual Awards, which celebrate the accomplishments of Guernsey-based members and students of the Institute in the field of governance. Read more
- Updated guidance about directors’ duties by The Chartered Governance Institute
25 August 2020
The Chartered Governance Institute has today published practical guidance for directors of companies about their general duties under the Companies Act 2006, which includes an additional section on the new section 172 reporting requirement. Read more
- New insolvency and general meetings guidance for Not for Profits and Social Enterprises
18 August 2020
London, 18 August 2020 – The Chartered Governance Institute and Bates Wells have today published guidance around the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 which could provide some help to charities, social enterprises and mutuals in financial difficulty. A separate piece of guidance about holding general meetings during the current pandemic has also been published. Read more
- 52% of employees will continue to work remotely in the short term, poll finds
29 July 2020
According to a poll out today from The Chartered Governance Institute and governance recruitment specialist The Core Partnership, 52% of respondents will continue to work remotely for the next few months. 19% will go back to the office on a part-time basis, 19% will go back full time and an additional 10% specified another option. Read more
- Governance expert Victoria Penrice named as new President of ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute
24 July 2020
ICSA: The Chartered Governance Institute is pleased to announce that Victoria Penrice, a chartered governance professional with over thirty years of governance expertise, has been selected to be its new President, effective 1 August 2020. Read more
- COVID-19 lockdown: what trustees need to know and do
20 July 2020
The Chartered Governance Institute has today published new guidance for charity trustees and senior management teams, which offers practical steps to help them thoroughly review what needs to be done to open up safely. Read more
- New guidance issued about shareholder meetings under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020
09 July 2020
The Chartered Governance Institute has today published guidance about ‘Shareholder meetings under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020’. The guidance has been drafted by a Working Party of the City of London Law Society Company Law Committee and the Institute, with the support of GC100, the Investment Association and the Quoted Companies Alliance. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Financial Reporting Council have both endorsed the guidance, which is an updated version of guidance about AGMs issued by the Institute in March 2020. Read more
- ‘Reporting that caters to a broader range of stakeholders will benefit the charity sector’, says The Chartered Governance Institute
08 July 2020
The Chartered Governance Institute has today welcomed its appointment as a SORP Engagement Partner Convenor of the SORP Committee, believing that efforts to help improve reporting will benefit the charity sector. Read more
