Company No:
Contents
DIRECTORS | Mr R Guttridge |
Mrs V Guttridge |
REGISTERED OFFICE | Third Floor Rational House |
64 Bridge Street | |
Manchester | |
M3 3BN | |
United Kingdom |
COMPANY NUMBER | 07106145 (England and Wales) |
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS | PM+M Solutions for Business LLP |
New Century House | |
Greenbank Technology Park | |
Challenge Way | |
Blackburn | |
BB1 5QB |
The directors present their annual report and the unaudited financial statements of the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2023.
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
REVIEW OF BUSINESS
2023 was a strong year for the business overall as many financial and operational targets were met.
Despite wider economic uncertainty due to factors such as the cost of living crisis, Ukraine war, Middle Eastern crisis and the threat of recession, Smoking Gun managed to buck the market to achieve record fee levels.
In line with the growth plans strategic senior hires were made and a new B2B division launched which has gained fast traction and delivered styring bottom line results in Q4.
The investment in our brand has paid dividends with double digit growth in inbound leads and deep industry recognition for the quality of our work with nearly 20 peer judged awards won.
The business has again supported charitable initiatives via discounted agency rates and also donating 1% profit to local charities.
2024 will see the business achieve significant YOY fee income growth again across the three main pillars of PR, social media and influencer marketing.
This will see headcount grow further with plans for more hires across PR and digital account roles, plus administrative support whilst 100% of staff will benefit from enhanced remuneration packages.
Plans have been announced to launch an industry led PR Apprenticeship which will help to both diversify revenue but also to provide a stream of talent whilst helping to solve wider industry DE&I challenges.
DIRECTORS
The directors, who served during the financial year and to the date of this report except as noted, were as follows:
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SMALL COMPANIES EXEMPTION
Approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by:
Mr R Guttridge
Director |
Note | 2023 | 2022 | ||
£ | £ | |||
Fixed assets | ||||
Intangible assets | 3 |
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Tangible assets | 4 |
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51,878 | 48,678 | |||
Current assets | ||||
Debtors | 5 |
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Cash at bank and in hand |
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732,061 | 446,681 | |||
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 6 | (
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Net current assets | 165,353 | 116,922 | ||
Total assets less current liabilities | 217,231 | 165,600 | ||
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year | 7 | (
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Provision for liabilities | (
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Net assets |
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Capital and reserves | ||||
Called-up share capital | 8 |
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Profit and loss account |
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Total shareholders' funds |
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Directors' responsibilities:
The financial statements of Smoking Gun PR Limited (registered number:
Mr R Guttridge
Director |
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. They have all been applied consistently throughout the financial year and to the preceding financial year, unless otherwise stated.
Smoking Gun PR Limited (the Company) is a private company, limited by shares, incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006 and is registered in England and Wales. The address of the Company's registered office is Third Floor Rational House, 64 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BN, United Kingdom.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value, and in accordance with Section 1A of Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102) ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ issued by the Financial Reporting Council and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements are presented in pounds sterling which is the functional currency of the Company and rounded to the nearest £.
Exchange differences are recognised in the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings in the period in which they arise except for exchange differences arising on gains or losses on non-monetary items which are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
Turnover is recognised when the significant risks and rewards are considered to have been transferred to the customer.
Turnover from rendering of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract. The stage of completion of a contract is measured by comparing the costs incurred for work performed to date to the total estimated contract costs. Turnover is only recognised to the extent of recoverable expenses when the outcome of a contract cannot be estimated reliably.
Short term benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised as an expense when the Company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Defined contribution schemes
The Company operates a defined contribution scheme. The amount charged to the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings in respect of pension costs and other post-retirement benefits is the contributions payable in the financial year. Differences between contributions payable in the financial year and contributions actually paid are included as either accruals or prepayments in the Balance Sheet.
Finance costs are charged to the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings over the term of the debt using the effective interest method so the amount charged is at a constant rate on the carrying amount. Issue costs are initially recognised as a reduction in the proceeds of the associated capital instrument.
Current tax is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recoverable) using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the Balance Sheet date.
Deferred tax
Deferred tax arises as a result of including items of income and expenditure in taxation computations in periods different from those in which they are included in the Company's financial statements. Deferred tax is provided in full on timing differences which result in an obligation to pay more or less tax at a future date, at the average tax rates that are expected to apply when the timing differences reverse, based on current tax rates and laws. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and a valuation allowance is set up against deferred tax assets so that the net carrying amount equals the highest amount that is more likely than not to be recovered based on current or future taxable profit.
Other intangible assets |
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Fixtures and fittings |
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Office equipment |
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The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is credited or charged to profit or loss.
Assets held under finance leases, hire purchase contracts and other similar arrangements, which confer rights and obligations similar to those attached to owned assets, are capitalised as tangible fixed assets at the fair value of the leased asset (or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments as determined at the inception of the lease) and are depreciated over the shorter of the lease terms and their useful lives. The capital elements of future lease obligations are recorded as liabilities, while the interest elements are charged to the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings over the period of the leases to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
Rentals under operating leases are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term, even if the payments are not made on such a basis. Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to sign an operating lease are similarly spread on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Assets, other than those measured at fair value, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each Balance Sheet date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised in the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings as described below.
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
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.
Financial assets and liabilities are only offset in the Balance Sheet when, and only when there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the Company intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets
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 assets are derecognised when and only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, or the Company transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or the Company, despite having retained some, but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has transferred control of the asset to another party.
Basic financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, 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.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Equity instruments
Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the fair value of cash or other resources received or receivable, net of direct issue costs. If payment is deferred and the time value of money is material, the initial measurement is on a present value basis. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the Company.
The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the Balance Sheet date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows (when the effect of the time value of money is material).
When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are expected to be recovered from a third party, a receivable is recognised as an asset if it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received and the amount of the receivable can be measured reliably.
2023 | 2022 | ||
Number | Number | ||
Monthly average number of persons employed by the Company during the year, including directors |
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Other intangible assets | Total | ||
£ | £ | ||
Cost | |||
At 01 January 2023 |
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Additions |
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At 31 December 2023 |
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Accumulated amortisation | |||
At 01 January 2023 |
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Charge for the financial year |
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At 31 December 2023 |
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Net book value | |||
At 31 December 2023 |
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At 31 December 2022 |
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Fixtures and fittings | Office equipment | Total | |||
£ | £ | £ | |||
Cost | |||||
At 01 January 2023 |
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Additions |
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At 31 December 2023 |
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Accumulated depreciation | |||||
At 01 January 2023 |
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Charge for the financial year |
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At 31 December 2023 |
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Net book value | |||||
At 31 December 2023 |
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At 31 December 2022 |
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2023 | 2022 | ||
£ | £ | ||
Trade debtors |
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Prepayments |
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2023 | 2022 | ||
£ | £ | ||
Bank loans |
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Trade creditors |
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Amounts owed to directors |
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Accruals and deferred income |
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Taxation and social security |
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Other creditors |
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2023 | 2022 | ||
£ | £ | ||
Bank loans |
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2023 | 2022 | ||
£ | £ | ||
Allotted, called-up and fully-paid | |||
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Commitments
2023 | 2022 | ||
£ | £ | ||
Total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating lease |
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Transactions with the entity's directors
2023 | 2022 | ||
£ | £ | ||
Directors' Loan Account | 1,747 | (3,885) |
This amount is unearned, interest free and repayable on demand.