The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2023.

The principal activity of the company is the management and operation of the Dynamic Earth public science centre on behalf of Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust.

Business review

During the year the decision was made to align the organisation’s financial year with the fiscal calendar. The accounts detailed are for the 17-month period from November 2021 – March 2023.

During the 17-month period Covid-19 remained a significant factor until complete removal of Government restrictions in April 2022.

During this time the science centre remained open with appropriate restrictions and safety measures in place. While public confidence was returning to visiting indoor venues, demand was still below pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, the recommendation from the Scottish Government in December 2021 to limit Christmas parties had a large impact on the Events business. The complete removal of Government restrictions in April 2022 meant that we were able, at last, to fully reopen the centre on an unrestricted 7 days per week basis.

As at March 2023 the science centre has been fully operational for 12 months with no restrictions in place. The corporate events business has shown a strong recovery returning to pre-Covid levels of income.

Dynamic Earth Enterprises Ltd continued to receive a management fee from its parent company Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust to operate the Visitor Centre on its behalf. This fee was charged in line with the management fee agreement, pro-rated for a 17 month period.

Financially the period to 31st March 2023 represented a challenging 17 months for the organisation as it progressed through the recovery stages post-Covid and looked to grow visitor numbers back to pre-pandemic levels. Whilst the organisation has shown a strong recovery and growth of visitor numbers during this time this has required financial investment resulting in the loss shown for the period.

Future Developments

In April 2023 Dynamic Earth launched its 10-year strategy. Dynamic Earth will increasingly shift its storytelling to helping people make sense, through science of what is happening to the planet we live on. We believe in offering a message that inspires hope. Through science, and sustainable living, we can achieve a positive future for us and our planet. Dynamic Earth is here to help people make sense of the science and provide the inspiration for what we can each make happen. In this way we exist to tell the story of our planet “from beginning to mend”.

1.    Deliver Outstanding Science Engagement

We believe that growing science capital across Scotland, and beyond matters. Public understanding and interest in science is key to economic and social development, and essential to fostering and informed public response to the planetary crises.

2.    Reach More People in More Ways

Science engagement should be available to all. We are committed to growing the number of people we engage with and the diversity of our audiences.

3.    Enhance and Transform our Science Centre

We run an iconic science centre, located alongside Edinburgh’s most famous geological landmark – Arthur’s Seat. As well as an ongoing programme of enhancements, we believe it is the right point to reimagine the centre.

4.    Achieved Financial and Environmental Stability

We will prioritise growing our income so that we can increase our charitable impact. We are also committed to ‘walking the talk’ when it comes to reducing our own environmental impact.

5.    Maximise the Quality of our Relationships

People are at the heart of everything we do. We see it as essential to act positively when engaging with staff, supports, suppliers and strategic partners. In other words, everyone who helps us deliver our science engagement activities.

While there are some very serious challenges facing the entire planet, our story is really a story of hope. It’s about celebrating the heroes and focusing on the positive to inspire everybody to take responsibility for our one shared planet.

The directors who held office during the period and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:

The auditor, Thomson Cooper, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

•     select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•     make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

•     state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

•     prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the Directors are aware;

•     there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditors are unaware, and

•     the Directors have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of Financial Statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Thomson Cooper offer themselves for reappointment as auditors in accordance with section 485(4) of the Companies Act 2006. A resolution concerning their reappointment will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.

We have audited the financial statements of Dynamic Earth Enterprises Limited (the 'company') for the period ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the profit and loss account, the balance sheet and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

•     give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 March 2023 and of its loss for the period then ended;

•     have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

•     have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions Relating to Going Concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information; we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

• the information given in the directors' report for the financial period for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the directors' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

•     adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

•     the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

•     certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

•     we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

•     the directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the directors’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 3, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using

the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

We considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas: existence and timing of recognition of income, posting of unusual journals along with complex transactions and non-compliance with laws and regulations. We discussed these risks with management, designed audit procedures to test the timing and existence of revenue, tested a sample of journals to confirm they were appropriate and inspected minutes from meetings held by management and trustees for any reference to breaches of laws and regulations. In addition, we reviewed areas of judgement for indicators of management bias to address these risks.

We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our sector experience through discussion with the officers and other management (as required by the auditing standards).

We reviewed the laws and regulations in areas that directly affect the financial statements including applicable company law and considered the extent of compliance with those laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items.

With the exception of any known or possible non-compliance with relevant and significant laws and regulations, and as required by the auditing standards, our work in respect of these was limited to enquiry of the officers and management of the company.

We communicated identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance or fraud throughout the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with the directors.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditors responsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

The profit and loss account has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Dynamic Earth Enterprises Ltd is a company limited by shares and is registered in Scotland. Its registered office is 110-112 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8AS

The company's accounting period has been extended to 31 March 2023 to better fit with its funding from central government sources. The current period reflects 17 months compared with the prior period of 12 months.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The disclosure requirements of section 1A of FRS 102 have been applied other than where additional disclosure is required to show a true and fair view.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

The entity satisfies the criteria of being a qualifying entity as defined in FRS 102. Its financial statements are consolidated into the financial statements of Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust which can be obtained from Companies House.

Scottish Government funding amounting to £956,771 has been confirmed for the year ending March 2024. The Centre is dependent on this core funding from the Scottish Government, and without which, it would be forced to undertake a significant restructure of its existing operations. There are no indications that this funding will be withdrawn in future years and the Directors believe that it is reasonable to presume that funding will continue to be awarded after March 2024.true

The Directors have reviewed the business’s cashflow requirements and have considered whether the Company has sufficient cash reserves and revenues to cover any shortfall of income over the next twelve months. These factors have been considered by the Directors when reviewing the Organisation’s cashflow requirements.

Having reviewed the matters outlined above, the Directors consider that the company can continue as a going concern, and have therefore continued to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these financial statements.

Turnover is derived from three principal sources; the management of Dynamic Earth Visitor Centre on behalf of its parent company, Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust, hospitality and events, and the attraction shop and cafe.

Income from hospitality and events is recognised once the event has taken place. Income received in advance of the event is deferred and included in creditors until the event has occurred. Income from the shop and cafe is recognised when food and drinks are sold. The management fee is recognised as earned and realisable under the terms of a long term contract.

Fixed assets are stated in the statement of financial position at cost less associated depreciation. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a straight line basis over its expected useful life, as follows.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Finance and operating leases

Costs in respect of operating leases are charged on a straight line basis over the lease term.

At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the company's balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the company.

The charge for taxation is based on the result for the year and takes into account deferred taxation due to timing differences between the treatment of certain items for taxation and accounting purposes.

Deferred tax is recognised on all timing differences where the transactions or events that give the company an obligation to pay more tax in the future, or a right to pay less tax in the future, have occurred by the statement of financial position date. Deferred tax assets are recognised when it is more likely than not that they will be recovered. Deferred tax is measured using rates of tax that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the statement of financial position date.

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

The company operates a group pension scheme on behalf of its employees through Scottish Widows plc. The total pension contributions paid by the company in the year was £63,408 (2020 - £71,171)

Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.

A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.

Debtors

Short term debtors are measured at transactions price, less any impairment. Loans receivable are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

Creditors

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

During the period an amount of £nil (2021 - £647,583) was received in relation to the Covid Job Retention Scheme. This is included as other operating income within the profit and loss account.

No liability to corporation tax will arise for the period ended 31st March 2023 due to the company having taxable losses brought forward from previous years to offset against chargeable profits in the current year. Tax losses of £769,833 (2021 – £184,751) remain available for offset against future taxable trading profits.

On 1 November 2005, a Bond and Floating charge was granted in favour of Lloyds Banking Group in respect of the bank overdraft facility.

Dividends

The holders of the special shares are, prior to any ordinary dividend declared by the Directors, entitled to a dividend of £100 plus 0.1% of the net profits of the Company in excess of £100.

Ordinary shares and voting rights

The ordinary shares carry one vote each; the special shares carry no voting rights.

Priority

On a return of assets on liquidation, or otherwise, the assets of the Company remaining after payment of its liabilities shall belong to and be distributed amongst the holders of the ordinary shares.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust, a company limited by guarantee and incorporated in Scotland. The Directors consider Dynamic Earth Charitable Trust as the ultimate controlling party. Copies of the group accounts can be obtained from 110-112 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS

Lloyds Banking Group plc hold a Bond and Floating charge over the assets of the company in respect of an overdraft facility approved on an annual basis. If the company fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the facility, the bank has the right to exercise that security as a means of recovering any sums outstanding and repayable as part of the agreement. The maximum value of funds available within the overdraft facility is currently £150,000.