Two years ago, the regulations governing corporate reporting in the UK, and in the EU, promoted strategic reporting as the new model for the annual report. Last year’s Evolution of the Annual Report conference examined the changes to businesses, and their reporting methods, one year on. This September, the conference will feature more insights, expertise and debate on what the next trends, regulations and changes affecting the ever-evolving annual report will be.

The conference will take place on 30 September at the Brewery in London and will feature the awarding of FutureValue’s 2015 Strategic Report Accolades – an honour that emerged eight years ago as the ‘Strategic Value in Corporate Reporting Awards’. The awards recognise the highest standard of strategic and narrative reporting in FTSE-listed companies.

The Evolution of the Annual Report conference is set to feature a standout lineup of speakers including Tracy Gordon, corporate governance director at Deloitte and Caroline McCarthy-Stout, head of reporting: community & sustainable business, at Lloyds Banking Group.

Gordon says, “There is ever more pressure on boards and shareholders to be effective stewards of the companies they run.  The annual report is a key tool to provide evidence of this stewardship and to facilitate engagement.  Yet we continue to hear comments that annual reports are impenetrable and far too compliance driven, masking the real story of the company for the reporting year.  The Evolution of the Annual Report provides an excellent opportunity to debate some of the key reasons why this continues to be the case and whether recent changes are helping or hindering.”

Sessions will include a look at the Financial Reporting Council’s upcoming initiatives, an examination of international reporting, governance reporting strategies, the evolution of CSR reporting and a debate on the digital report and its place as an IR or brand communications piece.

The half-day event will conclude with the awarding of the seven winners of the Strategic Reporting Accolades. To book your tickets, visit the website, or contact Hannah Hodges (hannah.hodges@communicatemagazine.co.uk).