As a company listed in one of the major indices in theUK, the FTSE 250, there is undoubtedly a need to ensure that you are not only compliant but deliver excellence in every area of the business.

But whilst you may have lots of industry experience and knowledge within your company, when it comes to legislation and regulation, you may benefit from linking up to a company which specialises in this area.

Working with a company secretarial services provider can not only supply professional expertise and technical know-how, it can also open up support in a number of other areas too.

We take a look at some of the specialist services on offer that your FTSE 250 Company could benefit from both on both a day to day basis and on adhoc occasions.

Engaging with Shareholders

For a company listed on one of the major indices on the London Stock Exchange, regular and transparent communication with shareholders is vital to ensure ongoing engagement. With establishing relationships with shareholders, any publicly listed company will struggle to succeed and will fail to realise its potential.

In such a volatile economic landscape, there are an increasing number of global opportunities for investors to place their money so keeping your shareholders focused and committed can be a time-consuming task.

An AGM is one of the biggest opportunities for a publicly listed company to interact with its shareholders but the planning, organisation and running can put a huge strain on internal resources.

Any successful company has a headcount which is sufficient to ensure all functions within the business can be properly performed, but few have surplus man hours going spare. This means that a large project such as an AGM can be almost impossible to manage without impacting on business as usual.

Turning to a specialist company secretarial service provider at times like this can mean you get expert and experienced help when you need it the most. Whether it’s drafting the proxy form, Chairman’s script or AGM notice, liaising with registrars regarding proxy voting or simply helping to run the meeting and produce minutes, help from professionals with many years’ experience in the business can make a huge difference.

Compliance

A word guaranteed to send a shudder down the spine of nearly all directors, compliance is an area which is critical to every business.

As a listed company on the London Stock Exchange, there will be a plethora of compliance requirements which you will be obliged to fulfil, regardless of the sector in which you work. FTSE company secretarial services are available from companies like Elemental CoSec, these companies can take much of the administrative burden away and simplify the process.

The UK Corporate Governance Code, the Listing Rules and Disclosure and Transparency Rules for the London Stock Exchange and the UK Companies Act are just a few which every FTSE 250 company needs to be aware of. And whilst these are some of the major ones, there are many others too such as guidelines issued by the Association of British Insurers and National Association of Pension Funds on the running of AGMs.

It can be difficult to keep up with every nuance in the regulations but following best practice will not only influence shareholders, it could also directly impact on the success of your business. Studies have repeatedly shown that companies who have robust corporate governance in place outperform their peers.

Getting professional help from chartered secretaries and lawyers at companies offering specialist services will allow you to devise, implement and follow the right processes and practices and ensure that your business is reaching its potential from top to bottom. Corporate governance should flow through every company from entry level staff all the way through to directors, and should pervade every process. This ensures staff are galvanised by being trusted, whilst at the same time there are the appropriate levels of risk controls in place to mitigate any dangers.