Company secretaries have the opportunity to learn more about the UK government's recent corporate governance proposals from a range of experts at a forthcoming seminar organised by Manifest, in association with ICSA - The Governance Institute.

The event - being held on 31st October in the City of London - will outline the UK's current corporate governance landscape with Manifest's data on remuneration, pay ratios, shareholder voting and strategic performance alignment and explore how the government's corporate governance reform proposals can be implemented in practice.

While the pay ratio disclosure requirements will be introduced through secondary legislation many of the government's proposals are to be introduced through changes to the corporate governance code which the Financial Reporting Council will now consult on as part of a wider review of the code. These include giving remuneration committees more responsibility for overseeing pay and incentives across their company and requiring them to engage with the wider workforce to explain how executive remuneration aligns with wider company pay policy.

There will be a panel discussion on all these issues with contributions from Peter Swabey director of policy at ICSA, Sarah Wilson chief executive of Manifest, Ashley Hamilton Claxton corporate governance manager at Royal London Asset Management and Andrew Udale senior client partner at Korn Ferry Hay.

The government has said it will also be introducing secondary legislation to require all companies of significant size to explain how their directors comply with the requirements of section 172 of the Companies Act to have regard to employee and other interests.  Edward Houghton, senior research advisor: human capital and governance at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Luke Hilyard,  policy lead for stewardship and corporate governance at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association will discuss how boards can engage with their stakeholders. They will also look at the information investors will want to know if they are to understand how companies are managing their human capital and stakeholder relations.

The event will outline key priorities for company secretaries as they assist boards in adjusting to the new demands. All participants will receive an executive summary of the key findings from Manifest Total Remuneration Survey plus a 10% discount for the full survey.

To find out more and to request your place at the seminar telephone 01376 503500 or email: info@manifest.info