Company registration number 03831953 (England and Wales)
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
COMPANY INFORMATION
Directors
Mr I Black
Mrs E Parkin
Mr N Percival
Secretary
Mrs J Rudge
Company number
03831953
Registered office
Sterling House
810 Mandarin Court
Centre Park
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 1GG
Auditor
Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited
Suites C,D,E & F
14th Floor The Plaza
100 Old Hall Street
Liverpool
England
L3 9QJ
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
CONTENTS
Page
Strategic report
1 - 2
Directors' report
3 - 4
Independent auditor's report
5 - 8
Statement of income and retained earnings
9
Balance sheet
10
Notes to the financial statements
11 - 18
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 1 -

The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 30 September 2024.

Principal activities

The principal activity of the company continued to be the provision of labour supply.

Fair review of the business

Turnover increased in the year from £70m to £74m an increase of 6.4%, this can be attributed to a larger share of the overall market. Trading in the Rail sector has been difficult during the last half of the current financial year, which is due to the delayed deployment of Control Period 7 (CP7).

Principal risks and uncertainties

The company uses various financial instruments these include cash and various items, such as trade debtors and trade creditors that arise directly from its operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to raise finance for the company's operations.

 

The existence of these financial instruments exposes the company to a number of financial risks.

 

The main risk arising from the company's financial instruments is credit risk.

 

Credit risk

The company's principal financial assets are cash and trade debtors. The credit risk associated with the cash is limited as the counterparties have high credit ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies. The principal credit risk arises therefore from its trade debtors.

 

In order to manage credit risk the directors set limits for customers based on a combination of payment history and third party credit references. Credit limits are reviewed by the board on a regular basis in conjunction with debt ageing and collection history.

Future Developments

Contractor numbers have been consistent in the first three months of the new financial year, indicating stability in the workforce. The directors expect an increase during the remaining period of the year when Control Period 7 (CP7) funds are released and projects start.

Key performance indicators

The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).

 

The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:

-    settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction.

-    ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts; and

-    pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations.

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 2 -
Section 172 (1) statement

The directors of Sterling Solutions Umbrella Ltd must act in accordance with the legally prescribed duties. These duties are detailed in the Companies Act 2006 and include, in Section 172, the requirement that a director of a company must act in the way they consider, in good faith, would most likely promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole, and in doing so have regard (amongst other matters) to: the likely consequences of any decisions in the long term;

 

-    the interest of the company's employees.

-    the impact of the company's operations on the community and environment.

-    the desirability of the company's maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct.

-    the need to act fairly as between members and the company

 

Examples of how the Directors take these matters into account include the following.

 

All employees of the group are committed to helping the group make a positive impact. The group engage with all employees frequently, including companywide briefings on strategy and business performance. We have staff forums for two-way dialogue between leaders and employees that addresses issues that matter most to staff. These also include a staff forum where the staff can communicate with peers to then be addressed by management.

 

The recent pandemic has significantly changed working practices; which has continued to the present day. Many of the group employees have flexible working patterns. In respect to communication with the group’s agency partners this remains flexible for the benefit of both parties and involves both physical meetings and those through electronic methods.

 

As an employer we have always made good mental health and wellbeing a priority, providing learning and development, training and workshops to support staff.

 

We engage regularly with employees through company social events, both inside and outside of the working week which helps build a good team spirit.

 

The group is constantly working to participate in reducing the poor effect it may have on the environment. Current areas that have been addressed are that all company vehicles are at least a hybrid model, with a future move towards electric certainly on the agenda. We have also started to move towards changing all lighting systems in company owned property to one of energy efficient light bulbs.

On behalf of the board

Mr I Black
Director
10 February 2025
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 3 -

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2024.

Results and dividends

The profit for the period after taxation amounted to £183,406 (2023: £470,802). The directors have recommended the payment of a dividend of £150,000 during the year (2023: £200,000).

Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £150,000. The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.

Directors

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

Mr I Black
Mrs E Parkin
Mr N Percival
Disabled persons

Applications for employment by disabled persons are always fully considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of the applicant concerned. In the event of members of staff becoming disabled, every effort is made to ensure that their employment within the company continues and that the appropriate training is arranged. It is the policy of the company that the training, career development and promotion of disabled persons should, as far as possible, be identical to that of other employees.

Employee involvement

During the year, the policy of providing employees with information about the company has been continued through internal media methods in which employees have also been encouraged to present their suggestions and views on the company's performance. Regular meetings are held between local management and employees to allow a free flow of information and ideas.

Auditor

In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.

Energy and carbon report

As the company has not consumed more than 40,000 kWh of energy in this reporting period, it qualifies as a low energy user under these regulations and is not required to report on its emissions, energy consumption or energy efficiency activities.

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 4 -
Statement of directors' responsibilities

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

 

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

 

 

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.

Statement of disclosure to auditor

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.

On behalf of the board
Mr I Black
Director
10 February 2025
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
- 5 -
Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Sterling Solutions Rail Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 30 September 2024 which comprise the statement of income and retained earnings, the balance sheet and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

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

Conclusions relating to going concern

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

 

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

 

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

Other information

The 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:

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED (CONTINUED)
- 6 -
Matters on which we are required to report by exception

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

Responsibilities of directors

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 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's 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.

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

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.

Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:

 

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED (CONTINUED)
- 7 -

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas:

 

(i) The presentation of the Statement of Comprehensive Income, (ii) the accounting policy for revenue recognition and (iii) the understatement of creditors. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

 

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the company operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the UK Companies Act.

 

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the company’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty.

Audit response to risks identified

Our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:

 

 

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

Due to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation.  This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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.

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED (CONTINUED)
- 8 -
Michael Buxton
Senior Statutory Auditor
For and on behalf of Mitchell Charlesworth (Audit) Limited
10 February 2025
Accountants
Statutory Auditor
Suites C,D,E & F
14th Floor The Plaza
100 Old Hall Street
Liverpool
England
L3 9QJ
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
STATEMENT OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 9 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
Turnover
3
74,960,721
70,431,080
Cost of sales
(73,149,745)
(68,773,843)
Gross profit
1,810,976
1,657,237
Administrative expenses
(1,627,570)
(1,186,435)
Profit before taxation
183,406
470,802
Tax on profit
7
-
0
-
0
Profit for the financial year
183,406
470,802
Retained earnings brought forward
377,124
106,322
Dividends
8
(150,000)
(200,000)
Retained earnings carried forward
410,530
377,124

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

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT
30 SEPTEMBER 2024
30 September 2024
- 10 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Fixed assets
Intangible assets
9
-
0
167,106
Current assets
Debtors
10
5,980,842
6,721,833
Cash at bank and in hand
-
0
832,562
5,980,842
7,554,395
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
11
(5,570,284)
(7,344,349)
Net current assets
410,558
210,046
Net assets
410,558
377,152
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
13
28
28
Profit and loss reserves
410,530
377,124
Total equity
410,558
377,152
The financial statements were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 10 February 2025 and are signed on its behalf by:
Mr I Black
Director
Company registration number 03831953 (England and Wales)
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 11 -
1
Accounting policies
Company information

Sterling Solutions Rail Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Sterling House, 810 Mandarin Court, Centre Park, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1GG.

1.1
Accounting convention

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.

This 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:

 

 

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of Sterling 2000 Group Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from its registered office, Sterling House, 810 Mandarin Court, Centre Park, Warrington WA1 1GG.

1.2
Going concern

Atruet 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. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3
Turnover

Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for 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.

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.

1.4
Research and development expenditure

Research expenditure is written off against profits in the year in which it is incurred. Identifiable development expenditure is capitalised to the extent that the technical, commercial and financial feasibility can be demonstrated.

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 12 -
1.5
Intangible fixed assets other than goodwill

Intangible assets are measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses.

 

Software development costs are recognised as an intangible asset when all of the following criteria are demonstrated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortisation is charged so as to allocate the cost of intangibles less their residual values over their estimated useful lives, using the straight line method. The intangible assets are amortised over the following useful economic life:

Development costs
10 years

If there is an indication that there has been significant change in amortisation rate, useful life or residual value of an intangible assets, the amortisation is revised prospectively to reflect the new estimates.

1.6
Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting period end date, the company 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.

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.

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 13 -
1.7
Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.8
Financial instruments

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

 

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

 

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

Basic financial assets

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

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.

Impairment of financial assets

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.

Derecognition of financial assets

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the company 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.

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 14 -
Classification of financial liabilities

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

Basic financial liabilities

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.

Other financial liabilities

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.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.9
Equity instruments

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

1.10
Employee benefits

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.

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 15 -
2
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the company’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.

3
Turnover

The whole of the turnover is attributable to the principal activity of the company wholly undertaken in the United Kingdom.

4
Operating profit
2024
2023
Operating profit for the year is stated after charging:
£
£
Amortisation of intangible assets
14,554
7,540
5
Auditor's remuneration
2024
2023
Fees payable to the company's auditor and associates:
£
£
For audit services
Audit of the financial statements of the company
6,275
5,975
6
Employees

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was:

2024
2023
Number
Number
2,029
1,269
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 16 -
7
Taxation

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:

2024
2023
£
£
Profit before taxation
183,406
470,802
Expected tax charge based on the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25.00% (2023: 22.00%)
45,852
103,576
Group relief
(45,852)
(103,576)
Taxation charge for the year
-
-
8
Dividends
2024
2023
£
£
Interim paid
150,000
200,000
9
Intangible fixed assets
Development costs
£
Cost
At 1 October 2023
174,646
Transferred to Sterling (2000) Limited
(174,646)
At 30 September 2024
-
0
Amortisation and impairment
At 1 October 2023
7,540
Amortisation charged for the year
14,554
Transferred to Sterling (2000) Limited
(22,094)
At 30 September 2024
-
0
Carrying amount
At 30 September 2024
-
0
At 30 September 2023
167,106
STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 17 -
10
Debtors
2024
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Trade debtors
2,390,405
2,429,416
Amounts owed by group undertakings
2,077,759
2,798,815
Prepayments and accrued income
1,512,678
1,493,602
5,980,842
6,721,833
11
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
Bank overdrafts
12
452,511
-
0
Trade creditors
27,491
3,449
Taxation and social security
3,336,688
5,527,939
Other creditors
16,533
16,394
Accruals and deferred income
1,737,061
1,796,567
5,570,284
7,344,349

On 29 October 2024, a fixed and floating charge was registered at Companies House over the company's assets by Barclays Bank PLC.

12
Loans and overdrafts
2024
2023
£
£
Bank overdrafts
452,511
-
0
Payable within one year
452,511
-
0
13
Share capital
2024
2023
2024
2023
Ordinary share capital
Number
Number
£
£
Issued and fully paid
of £1 each
28
28
28
28
14
Capital commitments

As at 30 September 2024 and 30 September 2023, the directors have confirmed the company had no capital commitments.

STERLING SOLUTIONS RAIL LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
- 18 -
15
Contingencies

The directors have confirmed that there were no contingent liabilities which should be disclosed at 30 September 2024 and 30 September 2023.

 

The company is party to an unlimited intercompany guarantee with the following companies in the group.

 

Sterling 2000 Group Limited

Sterling 2000 (Holdings) Limited

Sterling (2000) Limited

Sterling (CIS) Limited

Centre Park Resources Limited

Sterling Solutions Umbrella Ltd

Sterling Techserv Limited

Sterling Professional Consultancy Limited

Sterling Norway Limited

16
Related party transactions

Rail is related to Spire HR Solutions Limited by virtue that Mrs Janene Rudge is a director of Spire HR Solutions Limited and is a director of Sterling 2000 Group Limited which controls Rail.

 

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sterling 2000 Group Limited, the company is exempt from the requirements to disclose transactions with other members of the group.

 

17
Ultimate controlling party

The entire issued share capital of the company is owned by Sterling (2000) Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales.

 

The ultimate parent company is Sterling 2000 Group Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales.

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