The Investor Association (IA), the trade body that represents UK investment managers, collectively manage over £7.7 trillion on behalf of clients. They have just come out with a report addressing areas of priorities for shareholders in 2020. 

The 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals that despite a strong global economy and near full employment, a majority globally believe that capitalism in its current form is now doing more harm than good in the world. People have increased fears about the future and their role in it. It is a wake-up call for institutions to embrace a new way of effectively building trust by balancing competence with ethical behaviour and build inclusive stakeholder governance. 

The Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) released a report today on how digitisation, also called the Fourth Industrial Revolution, will impact business and society and in particularly what that means in terms of the future of work. It covers nine key drivers for change and aims to help organisations make sense and prepare for those challenges ahead.

Boards are charged with safeguarding the long-term health of the business, and delivering value to its stakeholders, and it is increasingly clear that the risks and opportunities posed by the climate change can no longer be ignored. Boards that start to act now, will be ahead of the curve and in a much better position to compete for customers and investment as society becomes ever more climate conscious.

There has been little attention on board diversity in companies below the FTSE 350. Which is why it is significant that this new report published by ‘Company Matters’ is directing the spotlight on diversity in AIM and FTSE Small Cap companies. It is timely and a good start to map out the landscape.

The Risk Coalition, a newly created association of the UK’s leading professional membership bodies, has recently published its ‘Raising the Bar’ principles-based guidance for board risk committees and risk functions in the UK financial services sector