| REGISTERED NUMBER: |
| Strategic Report, Report of the Directors and |
| Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| for |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited |
| REGISTERED NUMBER: |
| Strategic Report, Report of the Directors and |
| Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| for |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Contents of the Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| Page |
| Company Information | 1 |
| Strategic Report | 2 |
| Report of the Directors | 3 |
| Report of the Independent Auditors | 4 |
| Profit and Loss Account | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Statement of Changes in Equity | 10 |
| Cash Flow Statement | 11 |
| Notes to the Cash Flow Statement | 12 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 13 |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited |
| Company Information |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| DIRECTORS: |
| REGISTERED OFFICE: |
| REGISTERED NUMBER: |
| AUDITORS: |
| Chartered Accountants |
| and Statutory Auditors |
| Ebenezer House |
| Ryecroft |
| Newcastle under Lyme |
| Staffordshire |
| ST5 2BE |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Strategic Report |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| The directors present their strategic report for the year ended 31 October 2024. |
| REVIEW OF BUSINESS |
| As has been disclosed in previous accounts, the business has continued to diversify away from RTA work, following the implementation of the Civil Liabilities Bill. This has led to a planned and controlled reduction in the last 4 years, as well as reducing staffing numbers. |
| We are continuing to grow our Private Client Department, and our Non-RTA based litigation work, such as Clinical Negligence and ELPL. |
| Our margin has fallen by 4% as we continue to invest in growing case numbers in these areas. |
| Overall profit as a % of turnover has fallen in line with our budget plan, as we have had to deal with the costs of reducing staff in RTA, reducing our office space, and yet still invest in the growth areas of our retained business. |
| The accounts do not contain unsettled cases within our work in progress at year end. We currently have over £1 million more work in progress compared to budget, not valued in our accounts. We are carrying over £3 million of work in progress at year end at cost. |
| Our cash reserves have fallen by 15% from 2023 as we continue to invest in new cases and fund the staffing reduction. |
| We consider the following to be key performance indicators; |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Gross profit percentage | 81.38% | 85.41% |
| Net profit percentage | 3.02% | 5.15% |
| Liquidity | 315.53% | 304.03% |
| PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES |
| The Directors have identified the key risks faced by the company to be: |
| a) Market risk |
| b) Financial risk |
| With regards to market risk, the key risk remains the changes to work levels following the Civil Liabilities Bill implementation. We also need to consider the risk associated with the costs of re- investment into other legal areas, the cost of finalisation of RTA cases and the costs of reducing staffing numbers. |
| The company seeks to manage financial risk by ensuring liquidity is available to meet foreseeable needs and monitor work levels closely to ensure that they are sufficient in Non RTA PI and Private Client areas. |
| To achieve short term flexibility, the company operates an overdraft facility which means that it is exposed to interest rate risk, although the overdraft facility has not been used in 2024. |
| FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS |
| Looking to the future as reported above the directors will continue with their diversification plan, reducing all RTA from the firm, and continuing to grow and invest in the other areas of the business. |
| ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Report of the Directors |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 October 2024. |
| PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY |
| The principal activity of the company in the year under review was that of solicitors practising in personal injury claims, conveyancing and general private client services. |
| DIVIDENDS |
| The total distribution of dividends for the year ended 31 October 2024 will be £978,191, payable to the holding company. |
| DIRECTORS |
| The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from 1 November 2023 to the date of this report. |
| DISCLOSURE IN THE STRATEGIC REPORT |
| Future developments and principal risks and uncertainties are disclosed in the strategic report. |
| STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES |
| The directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, the Report of the Directors 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), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'. 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 then 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. |
| STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO AUDITORS |
| So far as the directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information (as defined by Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006) of which the company's auditors are unaware, and each director has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have taken as a director in order to make himself or herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information. |
| AUDITORS |
| The auditors, Thompson Wright Limited, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. |
| ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: |
| Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited |
| Opinion |
| We have audited the financial statements of Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 October 2024 which comprise the Profit and Loss Account, Other Comprehensive Income, Balance Sheet, Statement of Changes in Equity, Cash Flow Statement and Notes to the Cash Flow Statement, 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 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: |
| - | give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 October 2024 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 Auditors' 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 directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information in the Strategic Report and the Report of the Directors, but does not include the financial statements and our Report of the Auditors 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 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 the audit: |
| - | the information given in the Strategic Report and the Report of the Directors for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and |
| - | the Strategic Report and the Report of the Directors have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. |
| 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 Report of the Directors. |
| 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. |
| Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited |
| Responsibilities of directors |
| As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities set out on page three, 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 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. |
| Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited |
| Auditors' 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 a Report of the Auditors 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: |
| Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows: |
| - the Senior Statutory Auditor ensured that the audit team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations; |
| - we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the company through discussions with directors and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of solicitors. |
| - we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company, including the Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation, data protection, anti-bribery, employment, environmental consumer rights act, other industry specific accreditations and health and safety legislation; |
| - we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and |
| - identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit. |
| We assessed the susceptibility of the company's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by: |
| - making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and |
| - considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations. |
| To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we: |
| - performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships; |
| - tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions; |
| - assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and |
| - investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions. |
| In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to: |
| - agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation; |
| - reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance; |
| Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited |
| - enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims; and |
| - reviewing correspondence with HMRC, relevant regulators including the Health and Safety Executive, and the company's legal advisors. |
| Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited |
| 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. |
| A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Auditors. |
| 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 a Report of the Auditors 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 |
| Chartered Accountants |
| and Statutory Auditors |
| Ebenezer House |
| Ryecroft |
| Newcastle under Lyme |
| Staffordshire |
| ST5 2BE |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Profit and Loss Account |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Notes | £ | £ |
| TURNOVER | 3 |
| Cost of sales |
| GROSS PROFIT |
| Administrative expenses |
| 13,356 | 374,936 |
| Other operating income | 4 |
| OPERATING PROFIT | 7 |
| Interest receivable and similar income |
| 402,029 | 569,391 |
| Interest payable and similar expenses | 8 |
| PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION |
| Tax on profit | 9 |
| PROFIT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Balance Sheet |
| 31 October 2024 |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ |
| FIXED ASSETS |
| Intangible assets | 11 |
| Tangible assets | 12 |
| Investments | 13 |
| CURRENT ASSETS |
| Debtors | 14 |
| Cash at bank and in hand |
| CREDITORS |
| Amounts falling due within one year | 15 |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
| PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES | 19 |
| NET ASSETS |
| CAPITAL AND RESERVES |
| Called up share capital | 20 |
| Retained earnings | 21 |
| SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS |
| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Statement of Changes in Equity |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| Called up |
| share | Retained | Total |
| capital | earnings | equity |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Balance at 1 November 2022 |
| Changes in equity |
| Dividends | - | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Total comprehensive income | - |
| Balance at 31 October 2023 |
| Changes in equity |
| Dividends | - | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Total comprehensive income | - |
| Balance at 31 October 2024 |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Cash Flow Statement |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Notes | £ | £ |
| Cash flows from operating activities |
| Cash generated from operations | 1 | ( |
) |
| Interest paid | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Tax paid | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Net cash from operating activities | ( |
) |
| Cash flows from investing activities |
| Purchase of tangible fixed assets | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Interest received |
| Net cash from investing activities |
| Cash flows from financing activities |
| New loans in year |
| Loan repayments in year | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Amounts due to group undertakings |
| Equity dividends paid | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Net cash from financing activities | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| (Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | ( |
) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 2 | 5,709,428 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | 2 | 5,288,012 | 6,211,366 |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Notes to the Cash Flow Statement |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 1. | RECONCILIATION OF PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION TO CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Profit before taxation |
| Depreciation charges |
| Finance costs | 165,401 | 99,025 |
| Finance income | (366,856 | ) | (189,675 | ) |
| 67,039 | 451,317 |
| Decrease in trade and other debtors |
| Decrease in trade and other creditors | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Cash generated from operations | ( |
) |
| 2. | CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
| The amounts disclosed on the Cash Flow Statement in respect of cash and cash equivalents are in respect of these Balance Sheet amounts: |
| Year ended 31 October 2024 |
| 31.10.24 | 1.11.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 5,288,012 | 6,211,366 |
| Year ended 31 October 2023 |
| 31.10.23 | 1.11.22 |
| £ | £ |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 6,211,366 | 5,709,428 |
| 3. | ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS |
| At 1.11.23 | Cash flow | At 31.10.24 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Net cash |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 6,211,366 | (923,354 | ) | 5,288,012 |
| 6,211,366 | ( |
) | 5,288,012 |
| Debt |
| Debts falling due within 1 year | (210,860 | ) | 210,860 | - |
| (210,860 | ) | 210,860 | - |
| Total | 6,000,506 | (712,494 | ) | 5,288,012 |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 1. | STATUTORY INFORMATION |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited is a |
| The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£). |
| 2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
| Basis of preparing the financial statements |
| The preparation of financial statements in conformity with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the company's accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements are disclosed below. |
| Going concern |
| The company had net assets of £9,005,101 (2023: £9,805,089) at the year end and has continued to generate profits post year end. The directors believe that the company is well placed to manage the risks at these challenging times and therefore continue to adopt a going concern basis of accounting in preparing these financial statements |
| The company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland": |
| • | the requirements of paragraphs 11.42, 11.44, 11.45, 11.47, 11.48(a)(iii), 11.48(a)(iv), 11.48(b) and 11.48(c); |
| • | the requirements of paragraphs 29.28(b) and 29.29; |
| • | the requirement of paragraph 33.7. |
| Preparation of consolidated financial statements |
| The financial statements contain information about Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited as an individual company and do not contain consolidated financial information as the parent of a group. The company is exempt under Section 400 of the Companies Act 2006 from the requirements to prepare consolidated financial statements as it and its subsidiary undertaking are included by full consolidation in the consolidated financial statements of its parent, TSGroup Limited, Bridge Street Mills, Bridge Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6QA. |
| Related party exemption |
| The company has taken advantage of exemption, under the terms of Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland', not to disclose related party transactions with wholly owned subsidiaries within the group. |
| Significant judgements and estimates |
| The company makes significant judgements and estimates concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying value of assets and liabilities are detailed below. |
| Impairment of debtors |
| Management makes an estimate of the recoverable value of trade and other debtors. When assessing impairment of trade and other debtors, management considers factors including the progress and stage reached of individual cases. |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued |
| Turnover |
| Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates, value added tax and other sales taxes. |
| Turnover represents amounts chargeable to clients for professional services provided during the year, inclusive of direct expenses incurred on client assignments but excluding value added tax. Turnover is recognised when a right to consideration has been obtained through performance under each contract. Consideration accrues as contract activity progresses by reference to the value of work performed. |
| Turnover also includes appropriate amounts in respect of long-term work in progress, to the extent that the outcome of these contracts can be assessed with reasonable certainty. |
| Turnover is not recognised where the right to receive payment is conditional on events outside the control of the business. |
| Unbilled revenue is included in debtors as 'Trade debtors' . |
| All turnover is derived from UK customers. |
| Goodwill |
| Purchased goodwill arising on acquisition is the difference between the fair value of the purchase consideration and the fair value of the company's share of the identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquired business at the date of acquisition. Positive goodwill is capitalised and classified as an asset on the balance sheet and amortised over its estimated useful life of 10 years, unless the estimated life is proven to be less, in which case 5 years has been used. |
| Goodwill is reviewed for impairment at the end of the first full financial year following each acquisition and subsequently when necessary if circumstances indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. |
| Intangible assets |
| Intangible assets are initially measured at cost. After initial recognition, intangible assets are measured at cost less any accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. |
| Tangible fixed assets |
| Short leasehold | - |
| Office equipment | - |
| Fixtures and fittings | - |
| Investments in subsidiaries |
| Investments in shares are measured at cost. |
| Taxation |
| Taxation for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Profit and Loss Account, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. |
| Current or deferred taxation assets and liabilities are not discounted. |
| Current tax is recognised at the amount of tax payable using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. |
| Deferred tax |
| Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date. |
| Timing differences arise from the inclusion of income and expenses in tax assessments in periods different from those in which they are recognised in financial statements. Deferred tax is measured using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the year end and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference. |
| Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. |
| Hire purchase and leasing commitments |
| Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued |
| Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits |
| The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the company's pension scheme are charged to profit or loss in the period to which they relate. |
| Financial instruments |
| The company has chosen to adopt the Sections 11 and 12 of FRS 102 in respect of financial instruments. |
| (i) Financial assets |
| Basic financial assets, including trade and other debtors, and cash and bank balances are initially recognised at transaction price, 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. Such assets are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method. |
| At the end of each reporting period financial assets measured at amortised cost are assessed for objective evidence of impairment. 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. |
| (ii) Financial liabilities |
| Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other creditors and loans from fellow group companies, 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 receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. 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. Trade creditors are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as creditors due after more than one year. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. |
| 3. | TURNOVER |
| The turnover and profit before taxation are attributable to the one principal activity of the company. |
| An analysis of turnover by class of business is given below: |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| 4. | OTHER OPERATING INCOME |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Sundry receipts | 21,817 | 4,780 |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 5. | EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Wages and salaries |
| Social security costs |
| Other pension costs |
| The average number of employees during the year was as follows: |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| Directors | 3 | 3 |
| Fee earners | 27 | 31 |
| Accounts | 8 | 9 |
| Administration | 35 | 47 |
| 6. | DIRECTORS' EMOLUMENTS |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Directors' remuneration |
| Directors' pension contributions to money purchase schemes |
| The number of directors to whom retirement benefits were accruing was as follows: |
| Money purchase schemes |
| 7. | OPERATING PROFIT |
| The operating profit is stated after charging: |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Other operating leases |
| Depreciation - owned assets |
| Goodwill amortisation |
| Auditors' remuneration |
| Auditors' remuneration for non audit work |
| 8. | INTEREST PAYABLE AND SIMILAR EXPENSES |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Client account interest |
| Loan interest payable |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 9. | TAXATION |
| Analysis of the tax charge |
| The tax charge on the profit for the year was as follows: |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Current tax: |
| UK corporation tax |
| Adjustment to prior years | (1,542 | ) | - |
| Total current tax |
| Deferred tax: |
| Accelerated capital allowances | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Tax on profit |
| Reconciliation of total tax charge included in profit and loss |
| The tax assessed for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK. The difference is explained below: |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Profit before tax |
| Profit multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of |
| Effects of: |
| Expenses not deductible for tax purposes |
| Depreciation in excess of capital allowances | - |
| Adjustments to tax charge in respect of previous periods | ( |
) |
| Change in tax rate | - | 18,182 |
| Temporary timing difference | - | (2,834 | ) |
| Total tax charge | 58,425 | 113,521 |
| 10. | DIVIDENDS |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Interim |
| 11. | INTANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
| Goodwill |
| £ |
| COST |
| At 1 November 2023 |
| and 31 October 2024 |
| AMORTISATION |
| At 1 November 2023 |
| and 31 October 2024 |
| NET BOOK VALUE |
| At 31 October 2024 |
| At 31 October 2023 |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 12. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
| Fixtures |
| Short | Office | and |
| leasehold | equipment | fittings | Totals |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| COST |
| At 1 November 2023 |
| Additions |
| Disposals | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| At 31 October 2024 |
| DEPRECIATION |
| At 1 November 2023 |
| Charge for year |
| Eliminated on disposal | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| At 31 October 2024 |
| NET BOOK VALUE |
| At 31 October 2024 |
| At 31 October 2023 |
| 13. | FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS |
| Shares in |
| group |
| undertakings |
| £ |
| COST |
| At 1 November 2023 |
| and 31 October 2024 |
| NET BOOK VALUE |
| At 31 October 2024 |
| At 31 October 2023 |
| The company's investment at the balance sheet date is 100% of the share capital of Thorneycroft Trust Corporation Limited which is a dormant company. |
| 14. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Trade debtors |
| Amounts owed by group undertakings |
| Other debtors |
| Tax |
| Prepayments and accrued income |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 15. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Bank loans and overdrafts (see note 16) |
| Trade creditors |
| Amounts owed to group undertakings |
| Tax |
| Social security and other taxes |
| Other creditors |
| Deferred income | 51,051 | 5,000 |
| Accrued expenses |
| 16. | LOANS |
| An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below: |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Amounts falling due within one year or on demand: |
| Bank loans |
| 17. | LEASING AGREEMENTS |
| Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows: |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Within one year |
| Between one and five years |
| 18. | SECURED DEBTS |
| The following secured debts are included within creditors: |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Bank loans |
| A charge was created on 28th November 2014 by National Westminster Bank Plc creating a fixed and floating charge over all assets of the company. |
| R L Stow has provided a guarantee for £300,000 to NatWest Bank Plc. |
| NatWest Bank Plc also had a cross guarantee of £400,000 with the following companies, OnClaims Limited, TSGroup Limited, Complete Medical Services Limited, TSG Professional Services Limited. |
| 19. | PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| Deferred tax |
| Accelerated capital allowances |
| Thorneycroft Solicitors Limited (Registered number: 04932249) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 October 2024 |
| 19. | PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES - continued |
| Deferred |
| tax |
| £ |
| Balance at 1 November 2023 |
| Credit to Profit and Loss Account during year | ( |
) |
| Balance at 31 October 2024 |
| 20. | CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL |
| Allotted, issued and fully paid: |
| Number: | Class: | Nominal | 2024 | 2023 |
| value: | £ | £ |
| Ordinary | £1 | 1 | 1 |
| 21. | RESERVES |
| Retained |
| earnings |
| £ |
| At 1 November 2023 |
| Profit for the year |
| Dividends | ( |
) |
| At 31 October 2024 |
| 22. | ULTIMATE PARENT COMPANY |
| The intermediate parent company is TSG Professional Services Limited and the ultimate parent company is TSGroup Limited. |
| Copies of the consolidated financial statements of TSGroup Limited can be obtained from the company at Bridge Street Mills, Bridge Street, Macclesfield, SK11 6QA. |
| 23. | RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES |
| R L Stow |
| Director |
| Provided a guarantee for £300,000 to NatWest plc. |
| Upland Systems Limited |
| A company in which R L Stow's husband is director and shareholder |
| During the year, Upland Systems Limited supplied services of £97,442 (2023- £59,247). |
| At the year end Upland Systems Limited were owed £14,235 (2023 - £4,980). |
| 24. | ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY |
| The controlling party is TSG Professional Services Limited and the ultimate controlling parties are the directors/shareholders of TSGroup Limited. |