The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 30 September 2022.
The group's principal activity is that of media representation and direct marketing in the UK as well as the publishing of newspapers and newspaper websites in Ireland. There have been no significant changes in these activities during the year ending 30 September 2022.
Results and performance
Group turnover for the 12 months ending 30 September 2022 was £123.9m (2021: £118.0m). Gross profit margin was 20.4% (2021: 18.2%).
In 2022 the business has continued to recover from the impact of covid with operating profit improving. 2022 is also the first year that includes a fully year results from the investment in National World PLC. As a result the profit before tax was £7.7m.
Business environment
The Group will continue to consolidate its position and concentrate its efforts on achieving maximum growth in its existing market segments. We aim to improve efficiency in all areas of our operations through cost reduction; more disciplined planning and more effective customer representation. Customer service remains a top priority.
Key performance indicators (KPIs)
The Group uses turnover and gross margin as its key performance indicators which are both noted above. It does not use non-financial key performance indicators.
Future developments
The directors will continue to focus efforts to enhance the customer offering and to maintain margins. There will also be ongoing efforts to ensure strong cash generation and to manage working capital. With these objectives, the directors are confident of ongoing good financial performance despite the prevailing economic backdrop.
The Group's principal risk relates to credit risk and movements in foreign currency exchange rates. The Group invoices customers in their local currency and pays expenses in local currency. However, that leaves it exposed to exchange differences arising from the translation of subsidiaries' financial statements to our reporting currency of £ sterling. The Group does not make any use of derivatives, currency or other financial instruments.
The Group had cash at 30 September 2022 of £7.6m (2021: £6.3m) for working capital.
Group credit risk is principally attributable to trade debtors. In order to manage credit risk, we establish limits with customers based on a combination of payment history and third party credit references. Credit limits are reviewed by Group management in conjunction with debt ageing and collection history.
The directors, in line with their duties under s172 of the Companies Act 2006, act individually and collectively in the way they consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the group for the benefit of its members, and in doing so have regard, amongst other matters, to the:
Likely consequences of any decision in the long term;
Interests of the group's employees;
Need to foster the group's business relationships with suppliers, customers and others;
Impact of the group's operations on the community and the environment;
Desirability of the group maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct;
Need to act fairly as between members of the group.
Stakeholders
The directors understand the importance of engagement with all of their stakeholders and give appropriate weighting to the outcome of their decisions for the relevant stakeholder in weighing up how best to promote the success of the group. The directors regularly discuss issues concerning customers, suppliers, employees, community and environment and their shareholders, which it takes into account in its discussions and in its decision-making process. In addition to this, the directors seek to understand the interests and views of the group's stakeholders by engaging with them directly when required. The below summarises the key stakeholders and the engagement with each:
Customers
The directors are in regular contact with their customers, including to obtain feedback on matters such as quality of customer service. The group works closely with its customers to achieve long term client satisfaction through bespoke service delivery.
Suppliers
The group works with a range of suppliers and remains committed to being fair and transparent in dealings with all suppliers. The group has, where relevant, procedures in place requiring due diligence of suppliers as to their internal governance, including for example, their anti-bribery and corruption practices, data protection policies and modern slavery matters. The group has systems and processes in place to ensure suppliers are paid in a timely manner.
Employees
The group has a well-established management reporting structure which encourages employee engagement in an open working environment. The directors are responsible for ensuring that this structure enables effective communication and feedback between employees and management.
Community and environment
The directors are aware of the impact its activities can have on the environment, and is committed to minimising the group's environmental footprint.
Shareholders
The directors also seek to behave in a responsible manner towards its shareholders. The directors communicate information relevant to its shareholders, such as its financial reporting information, in the form and frequency agreed between the parties.
The group and company are exempt from disclosing information relating to energy and carbon reporting on the basis that no individual subsidiary qualifies as large and the parent company has emissions under 40,000 kWh per year.
On behalf of the board
The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2022.
In accordance with s414c(11) of the Companies Act 2006, the information relating to future developments and financial risk management are included in the Strategic Report.
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
The results for the year are set out on page 10.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £3,000,000 (2021: £nil).
The auditor, Moore Kingston Smith LLP, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements of Media Concierge (Holdings) Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 30 September 2022 which comprise the Group Profit And Loss Account, the Group Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Group Balance Sheet, the Company Balance Sheet, the Group Statement of Changes in Equity, the Company Statement of Changes in Equity, the Group Statement of Cash Flows 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).
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 group and parent 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 group's and parent 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 other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. 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.
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 course of 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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 Strategic Report and the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or 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 by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the parent company 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.
As explained more fully in the Directors' Responsibilities Statement, 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 group's and parent 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 group or parent 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.
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK) we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control.
Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the directors.
Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the group's or the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the group or the parent company to cease to continue as a going concern.
Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the group to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including
fraud
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.
The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud, are; to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those assessed risks; and to respond appropriately to instances of fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the company.
Our approach was as follows:
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the company and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006, UK financial reporting standards as issued by the Financial Reporting Council, and UK taxation legislation.
We obtained an understanding of how the company complies with these requirements by discussions with management and those charged with governance.
We assessed the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, including the risk of material misstatement due to fraud and how it might occur, by holding discussions with management and those charged with governance.
We inquired of management and those charged with governance as to any known instances of noncompliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations.
Based on this understanding, we designed specific appropriate audit procedures to identify instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. This included making enquiries of management and those charged with governance and obtaining additional corroborative evidence as required.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.
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 for no purpose other than to draw to the attention of the company’s members those matters we are required to include in an auditor's report addressed to them. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to any party 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.
As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the Company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The Company’s profit for the year was £144,102 (2021 - £210,737 profit).
Media Concierge (Holdings) Limited (“the Company”) is a private company, limited by shares, domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 47 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7JP.
The Group consists of Media Concierge (Holdings) Limited and all of its subsidiaries.
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.
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.
As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the Company has not presented its profit and loss account and related notes. The Company’s profit for the period was £144,102 (2021 - £210,737)
At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The directors of the ultimate parent company, Media Concierge (Holdings) Limited, have prepared a cash flow forecast for a period of 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements which indicates that the group and company will have sufficient funds to meet liabilities as they fall due for that period. The cash flow forecast has assessed the impacts of other external factors and has concluded that there is no significant impact to the going concern status of the company.
Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.
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 recognised in the profit and loss account.
In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
An associate is an entity, being neither a subsidiary nor a joint venture, in which the company holds a long-term interest and where the company has significant influence. The group considers that it has significant influence where it has the power to participate in the financial and operating decisions of the associate.
Investments in associates are initially recognised at the transaction price (including transaction costs) and are subsequently adjusted to reflect the group’s share of the profit or loss, other comprehensive income and equity of the associate using the equity method. Any difference between the cost of acquisition and the share of the fair value of the net identifiable assets of the associate on acquisition is recognised as goodwill. Any unamortised balance of goodwill is included in the carrying value of the investment in associates.
Losses in excess of the carrying amount of an investment in an associate are recorded as a provision only when the company has incurred legal or constructive obligations or has made payments on behalf of the associate.
In the parent company financial statements, investments in associates are accounted for at cost less impairment.
At each reporting period end date, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible 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.
The carrying amount of the investments accounted for using the equity method is tested for impairment as a single asset. Any goodwill included in the carrying amount of the investment is not tested separately for impairment.
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.
The group 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 group's balance sheet when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and 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.
Trade debtors, loans and other receivables that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market are classified as 'loans and receivables'. Loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.
Interest is recognised by applying the effective interest rate, except for short-term receivables when the recognition of interest would be immaterial. The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a debt instrument and of allocating the interest income over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the debt instrument to the net carrying amount on initial recognition.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.
Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the group transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Basic financial liabilities are initially measured at transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Other financial liabilities classified as fair value through profit or loss are measured at fair value.
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 group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Equity instruments issued by the group 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 group.
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit and loss account, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if, and only if, there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.
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.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset are consumed.
Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.
In the application of the group’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The following judgements (apart from those involving estimates) have had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.
The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.
The annual amortisation charge for intangible assets is sensitive to changes in the estimated lives and residual values of the assets. The useful economic lives and residual values are re-assessed annually. Goodwill impairment reviews are also performed if there is an indication of impairment. These reviews require an estimation of the value in use of the cash generating units to which goodwill has been allocated. The value in use calculation requires the entity to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise for the cash generating unit and a suitable discount rate to calculate present value. See note 11 for the carrying amount of the intangible assets and the accounting policies for the useful economic lives for each class of asset.
In the normal course of business, a number of group companies make an estimate of the amount and volume of media and direct marketing costs associated with each sale when the sale is ordered as well as any related rebates. These costs and rebates are reviewed annually and adjusted where necessary.
An analysis of the group's turnover is as follows:
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:
The net carrying value of tangible fixed assets includes the following in respect of assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts.
Details of associates at 30 September 2022 are as follows:
The investment in associate is accounted for in accordance with the equity model. The share of profit in the year was £1,246,685 and the carrying value of the investment in associate at 30 September 2022 was £7,962,764. The fair value of the investment in associate at the year end was £9,903,661.
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 30 September 2022 are as follows:
Media Concierge (Holdings) Limited also has interests in other dormant companies. A complete list of group companies can be obtained from the Company Secretary at 47 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7JP.
All classes of shareholding are ordinary.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where the group or company has a legally enforceable right to do so. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset) for financial reporting purposes:
The deferred tax asset set out above is not expected to reverse in total within 12 months and relates to accelerated capital allowances that are expected to mature over several periods.
The provisions relate to the obligation under operating leases to correct any damage caused on expiry of lease. This is expected to be utilised within 2 to 5 years.
A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.
Contributions totalling £51,298 (2020: £28,701) were payable to the scheme at year end and are included within other creditors.
At the reporting end date the group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
Aggregate compensation includes £1,276,587 (2021: 5,402,601) remunerated to directors within the group and their relatives.
During the year the group made the following related party transactions:
During the year the group made sponsorship payments for promotional purposes totalling £99,000 (2021: £88,000) to a companies in which a Director had an interest.
At the balance sheet date the group was owed £3,549,858 (2021: £3,153,494) from the directors. The total amount paid in by the directors was £3,000,000 (2021: £2,517,500) with £3,396,364 (2021: £4,390,705) withdrawn. At the balance sheet date the company was owed £nil (2021: £3,000,000) from the directors. The total amount paid in by the directors was £3,000,000 (2021: £nil) with £nil (2021: £3,000,000) withdrawn.
At the balance sheet date, the group owed £29,918 to (2021: £211,137) companies in which one or more of the directors are also directors, for services rendered.
During the year the group and company was charged £580,000 (2021: £500,000) by a director of a subsidiary company for consultancy services.
During the year sales of £1,181,922 (2021: £1,306,725) were made to a company which the company of this entity holds a significant influence.
During the year costs of £497,115 (2021: £566,173) were incurred from a company which the ultimate parent company of this entity holds a significant influence.
Included in trade debtors is £481,547 (2021: £212,224) owed by a company which the ultimate parent company of this entity holds a significant influence.
Included in trade creditors is £960,825 (2021: £684,792) owed to a company which the ultimate parent company of this entity holds a significant influence.
Following the year end the group acquired a 100% share holding in Mayo News Holdings Limited, a company incorporated in the Republic of Ireland.