Trust Me, I'm Listed: An insider's guide to producing the Annual Report

'An entertaining handbook on corporate reporting which offers golden rules of structure, clarity and brevity for writers of all kinds.'

Martin Vander Weyer, Business Editor, The Spectator

'This book is a masterclass in reporting for everyone involved, including the chair.'

Dr. Gerry Murphy, Chairman, Tate & Lyle and Burberry

In summary

Too long? Too boring? Read by nobody? A thankless task? A bad report, maybe. Done well, however, the annual report is the vital calling card of any listed company. But how to do it well? How should it be put together and what should it say? What are the tips, tricks and secrets of producing what is often the first port of call for investors, and increasingly, other stakeholders?

In this comprehensive new book, reporting and communications expert Claire Bodanis has brought together a team of specialists to produce a detailed how-to guide for this most difficult of corporate documents. Taking the principle of 'if you understand why you're doing something you'll do it better', Trust me, I'm listed reveals the hows, whys and wherefores of corporate reporting, from the art of how to tell a great (and true) story while keeping the regulators (and box tickers) happy, to how to work well with your agency, to how to manage senior stakeholders to meet the deadlines. It also includes a special addendum with tips on how to get the annual report done while working remotely.

This book is a must-read for any company secretary, and any corporate reporter.

Extract from the foreword:

'Claire Bodanis has brought together a number of lenses through which to view annual reports. In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, it will matter even more that companies tell their story openly and honestly. Their language choices are now susceptible to analysis by artificial intelligence. There will be renewed interest in the nuances in descriptions of risks and the policies to mitigate or accept them. Clarity and consistency will be valued in times of considerable anxiety. It is a time for outstanding communication. Trust me, I’m listed will help all those about to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboards.'
Sir Donald Brydon, CBE