Radley Yeldar, a creative communications company, recently released its ninth edition of 'How does it stack up?' (HDISU), a yearly review of FTSE 100 annual reports.

Corporate reporting is a vital tool for communicating with investors and stakeholders. It is increasingly important for companies to be transparent, to demonstrate sustainable practice, and to build trust in their audiences. In 2014 changes in UK registration also pushed for greater disclosure. 

The report calls on companies to make a ‘judgement call’, focusing on what’s material to their business and critical to its success.

Companies that have shown reporting best practice are recognised and ranked by the HDISU?14 in three separate categories; narrative reporting, online reporting, and integrated reporting.

In the narrative reporting category Fresnillo, Land Securities, and AstraZeneca ranked highly, while BT, ARM Holdings, and Land Securities were among those that ranked highly for online reporting. Anglo American, AstraZeneca and Marks & Spencer are commended for integrated reporting.

The report was celebrated at a seminar that discussed the findings of the HDISU?14 with report contributors and offered industry insights and frameworks for best practice reporting.