Registration number:
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Contents
Company Information |
|
Directors' Report |
|
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities |
|
Independent Auditor's Report |
|
Profit and Loss Account |
|
Balance Sheet |
|
Statement of Changes in Equity |
|
Notes to the Financial Statements |
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Company Information
Directors |
P Savill D Spencer S M Lawton M G Ampleford |
Registered office |
|
Auditors |
|
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Directors' Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Directors of the company
The directors who held office during the year were as follows:
Principal Activity
Barclay Simpson Solutions (trading as BSS) is a business solutions and services provider with a primary focus on cyber security and a secondary focus on change, technology, data, audit, risk and compliance. Our core capabilities include the effective delivery of solutions and services through the deployment of bespoke teams of experienced subject matter experts and the application of strong service delivery principles.
Key Performance Indicators
Our Board use a range of performance measures to monitor and manage the growth of the business in the medium to long term and present their key performance indicators for the financial year.
• Turnover: £5.39m down from £5.91m in 2022
• Gross profit: £1.34m up from £1.24m in 2022
• Net profit before tax: £389k down from £546k in 2022
• Invoice Financing Debt as a % of year end debtors: Nil debt, same as 2022
• GP/TO: 24.9% up from 20.9% in 2022.
Business Review
The business continued its investment in its permanent consultancy headcount which helped drive growth during H2. This late growth mitigated the economic challenges of H1 with some clients under pressure to reduce budgets and delay projects. The business performed well overall with improvements in its underlying operating margins, the continued growth and diversification of its client base through new client wins and the expansion of services provided to retained clients and further investment in its staffing and operational capabilities.
2024 Developments
The business now has a diverse range of clients and will look to expand the services delivered to them. The business plans to further invest in its cyber security staff and is developing its technology and change capabilities to expand our involvement in our current clients and win new ones. BSS is gaining industry certifications and endorsements and will continue to invest in its growing workforce to ensure the highest standards of technical skills and professional qualifications are available to drive service levels and profitability.
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Directors' Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Disclosure of information to the auditors
Each director has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information. The directors confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditors are unaware.
Small companies provision statement
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
Approved and authorised by the
......................................... |
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
• |
select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; |
• |
make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; |
• |
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business. |
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2023, which comprise the Profit and Loss Account, Balance Sheet, Statement of Changes in Equity, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 Section 1A 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
• | give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of its profit for the year then ended; |
• | have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and |
• | have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. |
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the director's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
• |
the information given in the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and |
• |
the Directors' Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. |
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Directors' Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
• | adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or |
• | the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or |
• | certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or |
• | we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or |
• | the directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the directors’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report. |
Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities set out on page 4, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
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.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following: enquiring of management concerning the Company’s policies with regards to identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance; enquiring of management concerning the Company’s policies for detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; enquiring of management concerning the Company’s policies in relation to the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations; discussing among the engagement team where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud; and obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the Company operate in and focusing on those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the Company. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the UK Companies Act 2006 and UK tax and employment law, including that pertaining to the use of contractors and interim workers.
One particular focus area was the risk of fraud through management override of controls. Our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following: performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud; reviewing the bank statements of the Company for evidence of any unusual activity which may be indicative of fraud; enquiring of management in relation to any potential litigation and claims; and testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments. As regards the use of contractors and interim workers we have made enquiries of management as to how the Company ensures compliance with relevant employment and tax law, and sample checked documentation that the Company obtain as part of its internal procedures.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
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.
......................................
For and on behalf of
1st Floor, 5 St Bride Street
EC4A 4AS
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Profit and Loss Account for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Note |
2023 |
2022 |
|
Turnover |
|
|
|
Cost of sales |
( |
( |
|
Gross profit |
|
|
|
Administrative expenses |
( |
( |
|
Operating profit |
387,155 |
546,067 |
|
Other interest receivable and similar income |
|
- |
|
Profit before tax |
|
|
|
Tax on profit |
( |
( |
|
Profit for the financial year |
|
|
The above results were derived from continuing operations.
The company has no recognised gains or losses for the year other than the results above.
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
(Registration number: 12984055)
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023
Note |
2023 |
2022 |
|
Fixed assets |
|||
Tangible assets |
|
|
|
Current assets |
|||
Debtors |
|
|
|
Cash at bank and in hand |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year |
( |
( |
|
Net current assets |
|
|
|
Net assets |
|
|
|
Capital and reserves |
|||
Called up share capital |
106 |
106 |
|
Share premium reserve |
9,900 |
9,900 |
|
Retained earnings |
563,657 |
616,175 |
|
Shareholders' funds |
573,663 |
626,181 |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
Approved and authorised by the
......................................... |
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Statement of Changes in Equity for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Share capital |
Share premium |
Retained earnings |
Total |
|
At 1 January 2023 |
|
|
|
|
Profit for the year |
- |
- |
|
|
Dividends |
- |
- |
( |
( |
At 31 December 2023 |
|
|
|
|
Share capital |
Share premium |
Retained earnings |
Total |
|
At 1 January 2022 |
|
|
|
|
Profit for the year |
- |
- |
|
|
At 31 December 2022 |
106 |
9,900 |
616,175 |
626,181 |
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
General information |
The company is a private company limited by share capital, incorporated in the United Kingdom.
The address of its registered office is:
Accounting policies |
Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 Section 1A smaller entities - 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006 (as applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime).
Basis of preparation
These financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost convention except that as disclosed in the accounting policies certain items are shown at fair value.
Going concern
At the date of approval of these financial statements the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence and meet its liabilities as they fall due for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least twelve months from the date these financial statements are approved. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
Revenue recognition
Turnover comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the provision of services in the ordinary course of the company’s activities. Turnover is shown net of sales/value added tax, returns, rebates and discounts.
The company recognises permanent placement revenue when the candidate commences their employment with the company's customer. Revenue in respect of temporary staff is recognised when the temporary staff provide their services.
Tax
The tax expense for the period comprises current tax. Tax is recognised in profit or loss, except that a change attributable to an item of income or expense recognised as other comprehensive income is also recognised directly in other comprehensive income.
The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date in the countries where the company operates and generates taxable income.
Tangible assets
Tangible assets are stated in the balance sheet at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
The cost of tangible assets includes directly attributable incremental costs incurred in their acquisition and installation.
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Depreciation
Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets, other than land and properties under construction over their estimated useful lives, as follows:
Asset class |
Depreciation method and rate |
Website development |
4 years straight line |
Computer equipment |
4 years straight line |
Financial instruments
Classification
Recognition and measurement
The company’s cash holdings comprise on demand balances. All cash is held with banks with strong external credit ratings.
Trade and other creditors and accruals are initially recognised at transaction value as none represent a financing transaction. They are only derecognised when they are extinguished.
Liabilities are classified as current if the company does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.
The company has an invoice financing facility whereby its trade debtors have been transferred to another party. The terms of this facility do not meet the criteria for derecognition as the risks and rewards of ownership of these debtors are retained by the company. Consequently the assets and liabilities relating to this facility are separately disclosed.
As the company only has short term receivables and payables, its net current asset position is a reasonable measure of its liquidity at any given time.
Defined contribution pension obligation
A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the company has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Dividends
Dividend distribution to the company’s shareholders is recognised as a liability in the financial statements in the reporting period in which the dividends are declared.
Staff numbers |
The average number of persons employed by the company (including directors) during the year, was
Auditors' remuneration |
2023 |
2022 |
|
Audit of the financial statements |
|
|
Profit before tax |
Arrived at after charging/(crediting)
2023 |
2022 |
|
Depreciation expense |
|
|
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Tangible assets |
Website development |
Other tangible assets |
Total |
|
Cost |
|||
At 1 January 2023 |
|
- |
|
Additions |
- |
|
|
At 31 December 2023 |
|
|
|
Depreciation |
|||
At 1 January 2023 |
|
- |
|
Charge for the year |
|
|
|
At 31 December 2023 |
|
|
|
Carrying amount |
|||
At 31 December 2023 |
|
|
|
At 31 December 2022 |
|
- |
|
Debtors |
Current |
Note |
2023 |
2022 |
Trade debtors |
|
|
|
Amounts owed by related parties |
|
- |
|
Prepayments |
|
|
|
Other debtors |
|
|
|
|
|
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Creditors |
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Note |
2023 |
2022 |
|
Due within one year |
|||
Trade creditors |
|
|
|
Amounts owed to group undertakings and undertakings in which the company has a participating interest |
|
|
|
Taxation and social security |
|
|
|
Accruals and deferred income |
|
|
|
Other creditors |
|
|
|
|
|
The Company has an invoice financing facility, but at the balance sheet date the balance was £nil (2022: £nil). At the balance sheet date, trade debtors of £834,667 (2022: £657,353) have been transferred to the financing party. There is a fixed charge over these debtors and a floating charge over the company's other assets in favour of the financing party in respect of any amounts drawn under the facility.
Dividends |
2023 |
2022 |
|||
£ |
£ |
|||
Interim dividend of £ |
349,790 |
- |
||
Related party transactions |
During the year the company was recharged expenses of £153,649 (2022: £115,327) by Barclay Simpson Associates Limited, the ultimate parent company. At the balance sheet date, £15,050 (2022: £11,421) was due from (2022: due to) Barclay Simpson Associates Limited.
During the year the company was charged fees of £550,141 (2022: £1,055,902) by Barclay Simpson Interim Services Limited, the immediate parent company. At the balance sheet date, £124,996 (2022: £50,170) was due to Barclay Simpson Interim Services Limited. Additionally dividends of £282,625 were paid to Barclay Simpson Interim Services Limited during the year.
Barclay Simpson Solutions Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Parent and ultimate parent undertaking |
The company's immediate parent is
The ultimate parent is