Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports (CWS-029) Training Course

Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports

Boards and committees make their most important decisions on the basis of written papers. Papers that are too long, poorly structured or unclear about what is being asked…

5 daysClassroom or online

49Upcoming dates

12Cities

£2,250Fees from

Course overview

Introduction

Boards and committees make their most important decisions on the basis of written papers. Papers that are too long, poorly structured or unclear about what is being asked make it difficult for directors to fulfil their duties, lead to deferred decisions and frustrate both board members and management.

This Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports training course teaches participants how to produce papers that enable effective governance. Participants learn what boards need, how to structure papers around the decision required, how to write clear executive summaries, how to present options, risks and financial information, and how to meet governance requirements while staying concise.

The course also covers templates, the paper approval process and how to work with company secretaries and board chairs to improve the quality of board packs.

Course Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

Explain the role of board papers in good governance
Understand what directors need to make informed decisions
Structure papers around the purpose and decision required
Write executive summaries that stand alone
Present options, risks and financial implications clearly
Address governance, legal and stakeholder considerations
Keep papers concise using appendices appropriately
Manage drafting, review and approval of board papers

Target Audience

This training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, including:

Senior managers who write board and committee papers
Company secretaries and governance officers
Chiefs of staff and executive office staff
Finance and strategy professionals
Public sector and non-profit executives
Committee secretaries

Training Methodology

The course uses real-world style board papers, governance templates and case studies. Participants analyse strong and weak papers, draft papers from source material, critique each other's work from a director's perspective and revise their drafts based on feedback.

Target Competencies

Governance-focused writing
Decision-led structure
Executive summary writing
Risk and financial presentation
Concise editing
Board pack coordination

Course outline

1Day One: Board Papers and Governance

Roles of boards and committees in decision making
How directors read and use board papers
Common problems with board packs and their consequences
Types of papers: decision, discussion and information
Director duties and the need for adequate information
Feedback from board members on what they value
Exercise: assessing a sample board paper

2Day Two: Structuring a Board Paper

Starting with purpose and the resolution sought
Standard sections in board paper templates
Writing an executive summary that stands alone
Background that is relevant and brief
Logical flow from issue to recommendation
Using appendices for detail and supporting evidence
Workshop: outlining a decision paper

3Day Three: Options, Risks and Financials

Presenting genuine options rather than straw men
Making a clear and justified recommendation
Explaining financial implications for non-financial directors
Presenting risks, mitigations and risk appetite alignment
Legal, regulatory and compliance considerations
Stakeholder, people and sustainability impacts
Exercise: drafting options and risk sections

4Day Four: Clarity and Concision

Writing in plain language for directors
Reducing length without losing essential information
Avoiding jargon, acronyms and internal shorthand
Using tables and charts effectively in papers
Balancing candour with appropriate sensitivity
Peer review from a director's perspective
Workshop: editing a paper to half its length

5Day Five: Process, Committees and Continuous Improvement

Board calendars and paper submission deadlines
Review and approval by executives and company secretaries
Writing committee reports to the main board
Minutes, action logs and matters arising
Improving board pack quality across the organisation
Final drafting exercise with individual feedback
Personal action plan for writing board papers

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports course?

The course runs over 5 days of classroom training, usually Monday to Friday.

When is the next Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports course?

The next public date is 7 - 11 Dec 2026 in Frankfurt. There are 49 upcoming dates in total.

Where is this course held?

Upcoming sessions run in Frankfurt, London, Barcelona, Vienna, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Dubai, Geneva, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, Paris, Rome.

Can I take Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports online?

Yes. Every date can also be joined live online in a virtual classroom with the trainer, for £1,280 per participant. Choose "Live online" in the dates table when you register.

How much does the course cost?

Fees start from £2,250 per delegate, depending on the city. Fees include tuition and course materials.

Do participants receive a certificate?

Yes. Delegates who complete the course receive a London Leadership Management Innovation certificate of completion.

Can this course be delivered in-house for our team?

Yes. LLMI can tailor and deliver this course privately for your organisation at your premises or in one of our training cities.

Course information last updated 14 November 2026.

Writing Board Papers and Committee Reports

Course overview

Introduction

Course Objectives

Target Audience

Training Methodology

Target Competencies

Course outline

Dates and fees

Frequently asked questions

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