31 July 2018

FRC: Revised guidance on the strategic report

The FRC has published its revised Guidance on the Strategic Report, which encourages companies to consider wider stakeholders and broader matters that impact performance over the longer term.

The 2018 Guidance has been enhanced to recognise the increasing importance of non-financial reporting while maintaining the key principles of existing guidance. The FRC believes that the integration of non-financial information into the strategic report is a key part of telling a company’s story. 

The revised guidance places a greater focus on the directors’ duty to promote the success of the company under section 172 of the Companies Act 2006. This is complemented by new legislation that introduces a specific reporting requirement on how directors have had regard to broader matters when performing their duty, including considering the interests of employees, suppliers, customers and other stakeholders as well as impacts on the community and environment. The new legislation is applicable to large companies for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2019.    

Paul George, Executive Director Corporate Governance and Reporting said;

“The revised guidance underpinned by legislation will improve the effectiveness of section 172 and stimulate Board discussions on how companies are considering various factors to ensure their business is sustainable over the long-term including the impacts on the company’s key stakeholders. The revisions to the Guidance on the Strategic Report complement the recent changes to the FRC’s Corporate Governance Code and as a package will contribute to enhancing trust and transparency in business.”

Full press release

Guidance on the strategic report

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