Steady hands for the years that are not.

Governance, risk and regulatory work for boards that would rather find out now.

Governance

Board effectiveness reviews that name things plainly.

Risk

Registers that describe the business rather than the template.

Regulatory

Readiness work before the letter arrives, not after.

METHOD

We read the papers before the meeting

Most reviews restate what a board already knows. Ours start from the minutes, the register and the things nobody minuted.
  • Partner-led throughout
  • Findings shown to you before the board
  • No recommendation we would not implement ourselves
INDEPENDENCE

We do not sell you the remedy

We do not staff implementations, so nothing in our findings is an advertisement for our next engagement.
  • No implementation arm
  • No referral fees, taken or paid
  • Conflicts declared before scoping

What boards ask us first

Will this end up in the annual report?
Only what you choose to put there. Our findings go to the chair first, in draft, and nothing is issued that the board has not seen.
How long does a review take?
Between four and nine weeks depending on the size of the board and how much of the paperwork exists.
Do you work with our auditors?
Yes, and independently of them. We share findings where it is useful and are not directed by them.
What does it cost?
A board effectiveness review starts at £18,000. Regulatory readiness is scoped after a first conversation.

Trusted by

  • Northwind
  • Harbour & Co
  • Quill
  • Lumen
  • Atlas
  • Orbit

How an engagement runs

Four stages, and you can stop after any of them.
  1. STAGE ONE

    Terms of reference

    Written, agreed and dated before anything is looked at.

  2. STAGE TWO

    Evidence

    Papers, interviews, and the minutes nobody has read since.

  3. STAGE THREE

    Findings

    Put to you privately before they go anywhere near a board.

  4. STAGE FOUR

    Report

    Yours. We do not keep a copy unless you ask us to.

Fees

Fixed at the terms of reference. Expenses at cost, itemised.
EngagementTypical lengthFeeReports to
Governance reviewSix weeks18,000The board
InvestigationFour to ten weeksFrom 24,000The chair alone
Board effectivenessEight weeks21,000The board
Interim company secretaryAs needed1,400 a dayThe chair

Start a conversation

A first discussion is confidential and costs nothing.
  • Monday to Friday, 9 to 6
  • A reply within one working day
  • Visits by appointment
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