The Board meets regularly throughout the year, holding six scheduled meetings as well as a two-day off-site strategy meeting. Substantive agenda items have briefing papers, which are circulated in a timely manner before each meeting. The Board ensures that it is supplied with all the information that it requires and requests in a form and of a quality to fulfill its duties.
In addition to overseeing the management of the Group, the Board has determined certain items which are reserved for decision by itself. These matters include approval of the Group’s long-term objectives and commercial strategy, ensuring a sound system of internal control, risk management strategy, approval of major investments, acquisitions and disposals, any changes to capital structure and the overall review of corporate governance.
The Company Secretary is responsible for ensuring that the Board processes and procedures are appropriately followed and support effective decision making. All directors have access to the Company Secretary’s advice and services. There is an agreed procedure for directors to obtain independent professional advice in the course of their duties, if necessary, at the Company’s expense.
All directors receive induction training upon joining the Board, with individual AIM and NEX Exchange training provided by the Company’s Nominated Adviser and Corporate Adviser, regulatory and compliance training provided by the Group Head of Compliance or an external firm of lawyers, risk management training (including that in relation to the ICAAP and ILAAP) with an overview of credit and its associated risks and mitigation by the Head of Credit Risk in Arbuthnot Latham.
The Board has delegated certain of its responsibilities to Committees. All Committees have written terms of reference.