Executives and board members often read only the first page of a long report, so that page has to carry the decision. This template puts the answer first: three headline figures, four numbered findings and a recommendation box with the ask and its date. It is built to stand alone as a board paper cover sheet.

The sample summarises a fictional proposal from Driftwood Group to merge three depots into one hub, saving £480k a year with a 22-month payback. Every figure appears in the body and adds up. Replace the proposal with your own, pick the three findings that most change a reader's mind, and cut until it reads aloud in two minutes.