The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The directors are pleased with the progress achieved by our group of companies in 2023; in continuing to create the true home of live events and entertainment technology in the UK.
Our environment
2023 marked the first full year of trading of our completed second generation campus in Wakefield, West Yorkshire as well as a number of market firsts for our education, services and innovation divisions. Our market has continued to benefit from the strong growth of live events and a cultural tailwind for exceptional collective entertainment experiences, whilst film production was negatively impacted by the SAG-AFTRA strikes over the second half of 2023 and into 2024. Despite this, the group has been able to deliver very strong results underpinning the growth of our activities and services, inline with our Second Decade Plan. We have strengthened our commitment to reach true carbon neutrality by 2030; by creating our first studio facility powered by onsite renewable power generation, as well as by acquiring ISO 9001 and 14001 approvals during the year. Through the development of our education offering at the Academy of Live Technology and our cutting edge innovation research work at XPLOR, Production Park remains at the forefront of providing people and processes to support the incredible live experiences of tomorrow.
Our team
Production Park is built on the creative talent, adaptability and energy of our people. We believe in supporting artists, sponsors, productions and practitioners to realise their absolute best results; by removing barriers and supporting their endeavors. This requires a dynamic and determined approach and demands that we look after our team, respecting their work and their personal selves in equal measure. Investment in our people has continued in 2023 with the group headcount passing a milestone of 100 valued team members. We annually review remuneration and benefit packages and have been able to provide pay increases in line with the increased cost of living. Equally, we have been able to deliver 14 internal promotions in the year whilst also securing a number of senior appointments to strengthen the group leadership team. Finally we continued to deliver a commitment to being a great place to work through our free lunches, diversified educational opportunities and speaker events.
Our passion
Over 2023 Production Park has hosted in excess of 100 productions ranging from theatre shows to expansive global stadium tours. We have continued to develop our campus, opening CentreStage as an onsite social hub, café and bar, as well as expanding our premium band rehearsal capabilities through Unit2. 2023 has also been an important year in establishing Production Park as a credible partner for film making. Our 2022 partnership with Blitz Hire Limited has driven both underlying growth and improved our network and customer understanding for larger film requirements. This has been effective in supporting us to play a role in a number of major film productions in 2023 and, at the time of writing, we have secured internationally sponsored film production on site in 2024.
Our performance
2023 provided a marker year for the investment and diversification strategy that has been led by our directors over the past 5 years. The group exceeded plan expectations with a turnover up more than 60% on prior year at £24.67m and an EBITDA of £7.76m for the period. This performance was delivered despite the strike environment, which the BFI estimated reduced UK film production activity by 40% across the year. In achieving this result the group continued its relentless commitment to supporting our customers through growth of equipment and facilities, adding more that £5m of fixed assets in the year and agreeing land acquisitions to allow the continued expansion of the campus.
Our community
The nurturing of future talent has been a core priority of Production Park over the last decade, epitomised by the continual investment in the Academy for Live Technology (ALT). ALT, since its founding in 2011, has seen more than 1,000 students graduate directly into the entertainment technology industry, many of whom are now notable in their field as production managers, designers and systems engineers. This award winning institution has received continued support and investment from Production Park and today continues to evolve and professionalise whilst remaining focused on providing real skills; learnt hands on within industry environments. In 2023 we continued our pledge to our local community by hosting over 400 learners for free, across transitional and sponsored courses, thereby widening access and participation opportunities within the live events sector.
The directors approve expenditure on a daily basis and various reports are produced on a regular basis to monitor the performance of the group. Management accounts are produced promptly each month and circulated to all board members. The board considers cash flow and balances on both a weekly and monthly basis. The target of the board is to improve the financial position of the group compared to the previous year and to maintain a significant level of net assets.
The directors consider turnover, gross profit margin, profit before tax and net assets to be key performance indicators. The directors are satisfied with the performance and position of the group based upon these metrics at the year end.
The directors consider client retention and client satisfaction key performance indicators.
On behalf of the board
The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The results for the year are set out on page 9.
No ordinary dividends were paid. The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.
No preference dividends were paid. The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
The group engages in research and development activities in relation to product development used by the music industry in staging assets.
BHP LLP were appointed as auditor to the group and in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the medium-sized companies exemption.
We have audited the financial statements of Production Park Holdings Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise 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 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 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.
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.
We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the company and the industry in which it operates and considered the risk of acts by the company that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. We designed audit procedures to respond to the risk, recognising that 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.
We focused on laws and regulations, relevant to the company, which could give rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements. Our tests included agreeing the financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation, enquiries with management and a review of legal expenses. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described and, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it.
As part of our audit, we addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including testing of journals and review of nominal ledger. We evaluated whether there was evidence of bias by the directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.
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.
As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s loss for the year was £587,385 (2022 - £396,206 loss).
Production Park Holdings Limited (“the company”) is a private limited company domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 53 Lidgate Crescent, Langthwaite Business Park, South Kirkby, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF9 3NR.
The group consists of Production Park 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, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements for parent company information presented within the consolidated financial statements:
Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;
Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for financial instruments not measured at fair value; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;
Section 26 ‘Share based Payment’: Share-based payment expense charged to profit or loss, reconciliation of opening and closing number and weighted average exercise price of share options, how the fair value of options granted was measured, measurement and carrying amount of liabilities for cash-settled share-based payments, explanation of modifications to arrangements;
Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: Compensation for key management personnel.
The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company Production Park Holdings Limited together with all entities controlled by the parent company (its subsidiaries) and the group’s share of its interests in joint ventures and associates.
All financial statements are made up to 31 December 2023. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the group.
All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.
Entities in which the group holds an interest and which are jointly controlled by the group and one or more other venturers under a contractual arrangement are treated as joint ventures. Entities other than subsidiary undertakings or joint ventures, in which the group has a participating interest and over whose operating and financial policies the group exercises a significant influence, are treated as associates.
Investments in joint ventures and associates are carried in the group balance sheet at cost plus post-acquisition changes in the group’s share of the net assets of the entity, less any impairment in value. The carrying values of investments in joint ventures and associates include acquired goodwill.
If the group’s share of losses in a joint venture or associate equals or exceeds its investment in the joint venture or associate, the group does not recognise further losses unless it has incurred obligations to do so or has made payments on behalf of the joint venture or associate.
Unrealised gains arising from transactions with joint ventures and associates are eliminated to the extent of the group’s interest in the entity.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The directors have prepared forecasts and cashflows to 31 December 2025 which show that the company is able to operate and pay its debts as they fall due in this period. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
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.
When cash inflows are deferred and represent a financing arrangement, the fair value of the consideration is the present value of the future receipts. The difference between the fair value of the consideration and the nominal amount received is recognised as interest income.
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer (usually on dispatch of the goods), the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.
Revenue from contracts for the provision of professional services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion when the stage of completion, costs incurred and costs to complete can be estimated reliably. The stage of completion is calculated by comparing costs incurred, mainly in relation to contractual hourly staff rates and materials, as a proportion of total costs. Where the outcome cannot be estimated reliably, revenue is recognised only to the extent of the expenses recognised that it is probable will be recovered.
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.
Individual freehold properties are carried at current year value at fair value at the date of the revaluation less any subsequent accumulated impairment losses. Revaluations are undertaken with sufficient regularity to ensure the carrying amount does not differ materially from that which would be determined using fair value at the financial year end date.
Fair values are determined from market based evidence normally undertaken by professionally qualified valuers.
Although this accounting policy is in accordance with the applicable accounting standard, FRS102 "The Financial Reporting Standard", it is a departure from the general requirement of the Companies Act 2006 for all tangible fixed assets to be depreciated.
The accounting policy adopted is necessary for the financial statements to give a true and fair view. Depreciation or amortisation is only one of many factors reflected in the annual valuation and the amount of this which might otherwise have been charged cannot be separately identified or quantified.
Equity investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss, except for those equity investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably, which are recognised at cost less impairment until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.
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.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
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.
Entities in which the group has a long term interest and shares control under a contractual arrangement are classified as jointly controlled entities.
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.
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.
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.
Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.
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.
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 group after deducting all of its 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.
Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.
Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.
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.
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
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.
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.
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.
In assessing whether there have been any indicators of impairment of assets, the directors have considered both external and internal sources of information such as market conditions, counterparty credit ratings and experience of recoverability and where applicable, the ability of the asset to be operated as planned.
The group depreciates tangible assets over their estimated useful lives. The estimation of the useful lives of tangible assets is based on historic performance as well as expectations about future use and therefore requires estimates and assumptions to be applied. The actual lives of these assets can vary depending on a variety of factors, including technological innovation, product life cycles and maintenance programmes.
Judgement is also applied, when determining the residual values for fixed assets. When determining the residual value, the directors have assessed the amount that the company would currently obtain for the disposal of the asset, if it were already of the condition expected at the end of its useful life. Where possible this is done with reference to external market prices.
Intangible assets have arisen due to historic acquisitions of subsidiary companies. The directors separately identified the intangible assets acquired on the acquisition. The directors have had to apply judgement as to how long they estimate the useful life to be. The factors involved in making the decision will vary for each type of intangible asset. The directors consider the useful lives on an annual basis and make adjustments as they consider appropriate.
Production Park Limited (entity) holds investment property which is rented to other group companies. The property in question is held at fair value, the fair value is determined where possible by a current market valuation and adjusted for any significant changes in market conditions. The latest valuation was undertaken during October 2023 and is incorporated in these accounts.
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:
Freehold property is carried at the current market value, the last valuation incorporated within these financial statements was undertaken in December 2021 by an external valuer Colliers International. The directors are satisfied that this valuation was appropriate as at 31 December 2023.
Investment property is carried at the current market value, the last professional valuation incorporated within these financial statements was undertaken in October 2023 by an external valuer Colliers International. The directors have updated this valuation based on their knowledge and expertise as at 31 December 2023.
During the year there was a share for share exchange between Blitz Hire Limited and Production Park Holdings Limited. The additions in the year are in relation to additional shares in Blitz Hire Limited.
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 December 2023 are as follows:
The address of the registered office of all subsidiary undertakings is Unit 53, Lidgate Crescent, South Kirkby, Pontefract, WF9 3NR.
Details of associates at 31 December 2023 are as follows:
The address of the registered office of Sixty82 BV is Amperelaan 9, 9207 AM Drachten.
Amounts owed by group undertakings are subject to interest at market rate and are repayable on demand.
Included in other borrowings is a dual facilities agreement from Shawbrook Bank Limited with interest rates of 5.3% and 6.6%. Also included in other borrowings is a loan from the Arts Council of England with an interest rate of 2%. The group's bankers hold a first legal charge over all freehold property and a debenture incorporating a fixed and floating charge over all present and future assets of the group.
Obligations under hire purchase and finance leases are secured on the related assets.
Interest on the bank loan is charged at 3.99% over the Bank of England base rate.
Included in other borrowings is a loan from FDC Debt LP with a 6.5% interest rate, a dual facilities agreement from Shawbrook Bank Limited with interest rates of 5.3% and 6.6% respectively. Also included in other loans is loan from the Arts Council of England with an interest rate of 2% and a loan from Aldermore Commercial Mortgages with an interest rate of 5.6%. The group's bankers hold a first legal charge over all freehold property and a debenture incorporating a fixed and floating charge over all present and future assets of the group.
Obligations under hire purchase and finance leases are secured on the related assets.
Interest on the bank loans is charged at 3.99% over the Bank of England base rate.
Included in other loans is a £3.1m (2022: £3.1m) loan from FDC Debt LP with a 6.5% interest rate, a dual facilities agreement from Shawbrook Bank Limited with an outstanding liability £5.5m (2022: £6.5m) and interest rates of 5.3% and 6.6%. Also included in other loans is a £11.1m (2022: £11.7m) loan from the Arts Council of England with an interest rate of 2% and a £3.9m (2022: £3.9m) loan from Aldermore Commercial Mortgages with an interest rate of 5.6%. The group's bankers hold a first legal charge over all freehold property and a debenture incorporating a fixed and floating charge over all present and future assets of the group.
Finance lease payments represent rentals payable by the company or group for certain items of plant and machinery. Leases include purchase options at the end of the lease period, and no restrictions are placed on the use of the assets. All leases are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments.
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and movements thereon:
The deferred tax liability set out above is not expected to reverse within 12 months and relates to accelerated capital allowances and unrealised chargeable gains.
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.
During the year there was a share for share exchange between Blitz Hire Limited and Production Park Limited.
The profit and loss reserve represents accumulated profit and losses less dividends paid on equity capital.
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 following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:
The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:
Loans have been granted by directors to the group as follows: