THE UNITE GROUP PLC Annual Report and Accounts 2024 97 2024 PERFORMANCE REVIEW Each year, we conduct a performance review of the Board and its Committees. This review considers the balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge, diversity, how the Board works together as a unit and other factors relevant to performance. An externally facilitated performance review takes place every third year. During 2024, the review was conducted internally with the next external review expected during 2026. PERFORMANCE REVIEW PROCESS The 2024 review was conducted using anonymous online questionnaires provided by Thinking Board Evaluator, created by Independent Audit Limited. Save in relation to its provision of prior board performance review services, Independent Audit Limited has no other connection to the Company or any of its Directors. This enabled comments on a range of issues, including Board and Committee performance, culture, the content and scope of topics covered at Board and Committee meetings, the nature and dynamics of Director contributions at meetings and that of Board and Committee Chairs. The questions were consistent with previous years to provide comparative results. CONCLUSION FROM THIS YEAR’S BOARD AND COMMITTEE PERFORMANCE REVIEW The Board and its Committees continue to operate effectively, fulfilling their oversight and governance responsibilities to a high standard. Areas of strength included the skills and experience of the Non-Executive Directors, with robust challenge and helpful support for the Executive team. The review concluded that the Board is effective in how it develops, and oversees the implentation of, the Group’s strategy, while ensuring the views of stakeholders and wider issues around sustainability are taken into account. The Board’s decision-making continues to be led by our purpose and aligned with our values. The key areas where there are opportunities for further development include: • technology and cyber risks – understanding how technology and innovation enables our strategy and delivers for customers, along with the challenges posed by IT and cyber risks in this dynamic area • monitoring operational performance – ensuring our operational policies and procedures are consistently implemented across the business • overseeing culture – ensuring our people performance management and leadership development drives operational consistency and develops the workplace culture we want • succession planning – following the successful implementation of the change in our Chief Executive and CFO through 2024, the Board can now focus more on our wider senior leader strength and talent pipeline. The Board and each of the Committees reviewed the outcomes and have developed an implementation plan. No changes to the Board are anticipated following this performance review. 2023 Board performance recommendations Progress against these recommendations PROGRESS AGAINST THE 2023 BOARD PERFORMANCE RECOMMENDATIONS 1. A better understanding of how technology is enabling our strategy Technology and strategy have been a Board focus in 2024 and this will continue in 2025 given the dynamic nature of this topic. 2. A better understanding of the IT security challenge, particularly cyber risks and mitigations IT security, in particular cyber risks, were reviewed by both Board and Audit & Risk Committee. 3. Improve Board awareness of culture Our people strategy was regularly discussed in Board and Committee meetings. A culture audit was also undertaken across the business during 2024. Consistent people performance management and leadership development is an area of focus through 2025. 4. More time to discuss and contribute to our strategy The Board were better able to contribute to the development of our strategy following the introduction of strategy workshops during the year with a separate day focused solely on strategy.