In February 2011, Lord Davies’ landmark review into Women on Boards was published, aimed at identifying the barriers preventing the greater presence of women in the boardroom, in addition to making recommendations to government and business on what actions could be taken to increase the proportion of women on corporate boards. Now, more than three years on, the third annual progress report on the matter has been published. Continue reading
New competition and consumer body acquires full powers this month
This is not the first occasion that London Registrars has reported on the formation of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s new principal consumer and competition body. Nonetheless, it is worth reminding the clients of business support agencies that this organisation gains its full powers in April 2014. Continue reading
Charity Commission identifies fraud and financial abuse as among biggest issues
Clients of firms such as company secretarial specialists, London Registrars, who demand the highest standards of company compliance, will be interested to read that in the period from April 2012 to April 2013, fraud and financial abuse were particularly frequent problems in the charities sector. Continue reading
Will the Co-op’s governance review be enough to save its reputation?
Many organisations across the capital taking advantage of business support solutions are likely to have followed with interest the recent scandal surrounding the Co-op and the drug use and incompetency of former bank boss Paul Flowers. In so doing, some will have wondered whether the Group’s appointment of a non-executive director to chair a Governance Review will do much to restore its reputation. Continue reading
Charities encouraged by regulator to offer trustee training and support
Charities making use of business consultancy services from an organisation like London Registrars may be interested to read of the encouragement that the Charity Commission has given them to provide their trustees with training and support to aid their development. Continue reading
New Auditor Regulatory Sanctions Procedure and Guidance published by FRC
Directors looking to ensure the highest standard of corporate governance are sure to take an interest in the recent publication of the Auditor Regulatory Sanctions Procedure and Guidance by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC). Continue reading
How a company may opt to issue a different class of shares
Among all of the matters that arise in company formations, directors may give little thought to the type of shares that their new company should issue and instead simply issue ordinary shares. Although this is a satisfactory initial situation for most companies, there are others, given appropriate advice, may wish to issue new shares that differ in class. Continue reading
Company websites to come under ICO scrutiny
Of all of the priorities that a director may have for corporate governance, ensuring that data protection laws are not breached by their company’s online privacy policy may not be the highest. However, that looks likely to change with the news that the Information Commissioners’ Office (ICO) is to begin examining company websites. Continue reading
Directors borrowing from their company subject to new rules
Companies wishing to ensure the highest standards of corporate governance are advised to pay close attention to new rules relating to company loans to directors. Previously, directors repaying such money within nine months of the end of their firm’s accounting period could avoid a tax charge. But in this year’s Budget came the announcement of new rules designed to combat what HMRC calls “bed and breakfasting” – the abuse of company loan rules. Continue reading
No change in HMRC owner-manager policy, despite win over dividends
Many a company secretary of an owner-manager taking their income mainly as dividends will have noticed the surprise outcome of a high profile case over whether tax and NI can be applied to dividends by HMRC in the same way as salary. The consultancy firm PA Holdings Ltd (PA) conceded defeat, leading to fears that directors/shareholders taking their income mainly by dividends could be subject to HMRC assault. Continue reading