We are about to launch the 2025/26 edition of Life in the Boardroom, our unique survey of NEDs and Board Chairs. Questionnaires will be available in June. Get in touch to secure a copy.

We are preparing to launch the 2025/26 edition of Life in the Boardroom, our survey of NEDs, including Board Chairs. This survey has been running since 1990 and is unique insofar as we collect data direct from individual directors.

Participants include directors of UK and overseas listed and private companies, private equity portfolio companies, public sector companies, not-for-profit organisations and charities.

Life in the Boardroom is published biennially. In addition to information about directors’ fees and time commitments, the Life in the Boardroom report includes directors’ views on a range of topical and important board issues.

The 2023/24 edition included data from 316 individuals (of whom 278 were Chairs) representing 788 board appointments. Each participant receives a free copy of the 80+ page report.

Below, we have selected six responses from the 2034/24 report. In light societal and regulatory developments in the meantime, it will be interesting to see how they compare with responses from our forthcoming 2025/26 survey:

1. Fees paid to male Chairs were 57% greater than fees paid to female Chairs

2. Board gender ratio was 67% male: 33% female

3. When asked if their firm’s remuneration policy adequately meets the needs of their wider workforce (especially considering the cost-of-living crisis) 59% responded in the affirmative

4. 50% of respondents thought their firms had invested enough in technological developments to remain competitive

5. 42% thought AI would benefit their firms

6. 73% of respondents from AIM companies reported their firms were not intending to put directors’ remuneration policy to a binding shareholder vote (note this was before publication of the revised QCA Corporate Governance Code, which contains new remuneration disclosure requirements)

Life in the Boardroom’s longevity attests to its enduring popularity and relevance. We are constantly looking at ways to ensure our unique survey remains relevant and to increase the number participant numbers. To that end, we will shortly be issuing a ‘pulse survey’ to past participants to gauge their views about issues of most interest/concern to them.

The main survey questionnaires will be available at or around the beginning of June. If you are a NED or non-executive Board Chair and would like to participate in the 2025/26 edition of Life in the Boardroom, please email margarita.skripina@mm-k.com, paul.norris@mm-k.com or surveys@mm-k.com.   

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