Guidance on board effectiveness

In the 2024 revision of the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Guidance on Audit Committees, Guidance on Board Effectiveness, and Guidance on Risk Management Internal Controls and Related Financial Business have been combined in the 2024 Code Guidance.

FRC Guidance on board effectiveness
Fully-revised guidance published by the FRC on 16 July 2018  'to stimulate boards’ thinking on how they can carry out their role and encourage them to focus on continually improving their effectiveness.'

The FRC published proposals for a revised Corporate Governance Code on 5 December 2017 which included Revised Guidance on Board Effectiveness.

The previous version of the guidance was published 3 March 2011. The first version, entitled Good practice suggestions from the Higgs report was published by the FRC in 2006.

ICAEW representations

• ICAEW REP 37/10 Review of the Higgs Guidance
• ICAEW REP 96/10 Review of the Higgs Guidance: Second stage of consultation

Report on board effectiveness: Highlighting best practice, encouraging progress
In September 2011 the Association of British Insurers (ABI) published its report on board effectiveness as announced in the press release UK boardrooms given clear guidance on executive pay and effective performance. The report focuses on the three key issues of boardroom diversity, succession planning and board evaluation and aims to 'help companies to better understand the views of institutional investors on effective boardroom performance'. An update was published in December 2012.

Board effectiveness: Guidance notes (ICSA)
A series of new and updated guidance notes from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. Many are freely available but some are restricted to ICSA members only.

• Board effectiveness
• Higgs report (The Independent Review of Non-Executive Directors)