Powell Dobson Architects Limited

Registered number

03873802

Report and Unaudited Accounts

30 September 2024

Powell Dobson Architects Limited
Report and accounts
Contents




Page

Company information	1
Directors' report	2
Accountants' report	4
Profit and loss account	5
Balance sheet	6
Statement of changes in equity	7
Notes to the accounts	8

Powell Dobson Architects Limited

Company Information

Directors

Ms A Smale

Mr A M Nixon

Ms B J Kinsella

Mr A Davies

Secretary

Ms A Smale

Accountants

GSPW Limited

137 Heol y Deri

Cardiff

CF14 6UH

Registered office

Suite 1F, Building One

Eastern Business Park

Wen Fawr Lane, Old St Mellons

Cardiff

CF3 5EA

Registered number

03873802

Powell Dobson Architects Limited
Registered number:		03873802
Directors' Report

The directors present their report and accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024.
Principal activities
The principal activity of the company continued to be that of the provision of architectural services.
Directors
The following persons served as directors during the year:

	Ms A Smale
	Mr A M Nixon
	Ms B J Kinsella
	Mr A Davies

Results and dividends
2024 has been a challenging year as the UK construction industry continues to see relatively stagnant growth. The industry remains under significant pressure from recent rises in construction costs, which continue to impact project starts through extended value engineering exercises to try to get projects within budget and meet viability appraisals. Many projects have been either delayed as a result of brief changes to reduce the building scale and therefore cost, or put on hold where budgets are under greater pressure.

The public sector procurement routes continue to be incredibly protracted with contractors, once awarded a tender, often having to wait months to get into contract and therefore get to a site start position. These delays have impacted a number of our education and major health projects over the last 12 months with starts being scheduled but then constantly pushed back.

The business has considerable experience in public and private sector housing, and this is a sector that has seen continued growth and opportunities, with another record year in terms of that sector’s turnover. The business has also expanded expertise in high-rise building safety and now has been awarded a third project in this sector. With a specialist team to deliver this work it is an anticipated area of growth over the next few years in light of the Building Safety Act legislation.

During 2024 the business has restructured and centralised all services within its Cardiff office. This change had been under consideration for some time following the retirement of certain partners and the expiry of leases, with a key objective of driving greater levels of specialisation in dedicated sector teams. Through the closure of our London and Swansea offices this has also delivered a substantial reduction in operating costs and overhead which will in turn deliver higher profitability during 2025 and beyond.

Despite the challenges, the Directors feel positive about what has been achieved by the business during this year of change and the strong pipeline already in place for 2025 as our delayed education projects from 2024 are now unlocking.

The financial statements of Powell Dobson Architects Limited should be read in conjunction with the accounts of Powell Dobson LLP.

The Powell Dobson Group results are summarised below:

			2024	2023
£

	Turnover		3,738,526	5,127,199

	Loss for the year - Powell Dobson Architects Limited		(414,173)	(299,438)

	Profit for the year - Powell Dobson LLP and Group		224,005	537,059


The directors are pleased with the results for the year given the economic conditions.

Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

This report was approved by the board on 31 January 2025 and signed on its behalf.





Ms A Smale
Director

Powell Dobson Architects Limited

Chartered Accountants' report to the board of directors on the preparation of the unaudited statutory accounts of Powell Dobson Architects Limited for the year ended 30 September 2024
In order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Companies Act 2006, we have prepared for your approval the accounts of Powell Dobson Architects Limited for the year ended 30 September 2024 which comprise of the Profit and Loss Account, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Changes in Equity and the related notes from the company’s accounting records and from information and explanations you have given us.
As a practising member firm of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, we are subject to its ethical and other professional requirements which are detailed at www.icaew.com/en/members/regulations-standards-and-guidance
This report is made solely to the Board of Directors of Powell Dobson Architects Limited, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 20 December 2020. Our work has been undertaken solely to prepare for your approval the accounts of Powell Dobson Architects Limited and state those matters that we have agreed to state to the Board of Directors of Powell Dobson Architects Limited, as a body, in this report in accordance with ICAEW Technical Release 07/16 AAF. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than Powell Dobson Architects Limited and its Board of Directors as a body for our work or for this report.
It is your duty to ensure that Powell Dobson Architects Limited has kept adequate accounting records and to prepare statutory accounts that give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and loss of Powell Dobson Architects Limited. You consider that Powell Dobson Architects Limited is exempt from the statutory audit requirement for the year.
We have not been instructed to carry out an audit or a review of the accounts of Powell Dobson Architects Limited. For this reason, we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the statutory accounts.

GSPW Limited
Chartered Accountants
137 Heol y Deri
Cardiff
CF14 6UH

31 January 2025

Powell Dobson Architects Limited
Profit and Loss Account
for the year ended 30 September 2024


	2024		2023
£		£

Turnover	3,738,526		5,127,199

Cost of sales	(269,184)		(659,944)

Gross profit	3,469,342		4,467,255

Administrative expenses	(4,019,548)		(4,831,487)

Operating loss	(550,206)		(364,232)

Interest receivable	92		1,311
Interest payable	(47,826)		(33,921)

Loss before taxation	(597,940)		(396,842)

Tax on loss	183,767		97,404

Loss for the financial year	(414,173)		(299,438)

Powell Dobson Architects Limited
Registered number:		03873802
Balance Sheet
as at 30 September 2024

Notes			2024			2023
£				£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	4		219,413			214,429

Current assets
Debtors	5	1,390,069			1,579,454
Cash at bank and in hand		44,770			119,161
		1,434,839			1,698,615

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	6	(864,328)			(524,790)

Net current assets			570,511			1,173,825

Total assets less current liabilities			789,924			1,388,254

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year	7		(109,640)			(240,773)

Provisions for liabilities			-			(49,024)


Net assets			680,284			1,098,457

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital			1			1
Profit and loss account			680,283			1,098,456

Shareholders' funds			680,284			1,098,457

The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Act.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The profit and loss account has not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.




Ms A Smale
Director
Approved by the board on 31 January 2025

Powell Dobson Architects Limited
Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 30 September 2024

Share		Profit		Total
capital		and loss
account
£		£		£

At 1 October 2022	1		1,402,894		1,402,895

Loss for the financial year	-		(299,438)		(299,438)

Dividends	-		(5,000)		(5,000)

At 30 September 2023	1		1,098,456		1,098,457



At 1 October 2023	1		1,098,456		1,098,457

Loss for the financial year	-		(414,173)		(414,173)

Dividends	-		(4,000)		(4,000)

At 30 September 2024	1		680,283		680,284

Powell Dobson Architects Limited
Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 30 September 2024


1	Accounting policies

	Company information
	Powell Dobson Architects Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Suite 1F, Building One, Eastern Business Park, Wern Fawr Lane, Old St Mellons, CARDIFF, UK, CF3 5EA.

	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 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The disclosure requirements of section 1A of FRS 102 have been applied other than where additional disclosure is required to show a true and fair view.

	The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

	The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

	Going concern
	At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

	Turnover

	Turnover represents amounts receivable for services net of VAT and trade discounts, together with movements in amounts recoverable on contracts. Turnover for services is recognised as the service is provided.

	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 are recoverable.


	Tangible fixed assets
	Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses. Depreciation is provided so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

	Leasehold land and buildings			Straight line over the life of the lease
	Plant and machinery			10 - 25% reducing balance
	Fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment			10 - 25% reducing balance


	Tangible fixed assets (continued)
	The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is credited or charged to profit or loss.

	Impairment of fixed assets
	At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible 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).

	Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use.

	If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset 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.

	Cash and cash equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

	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 instruments
	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.

	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.


	Classification of financial 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.

	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.

	Taxation
	The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

	Current tax
	The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

	Deferred tax

	Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

	The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit and loss account, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.


	Leases

	Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

	Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.


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.


	Critical judgements
	The following judgements (apart from those involving estimates) have had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.

	Amounts recoverable on long term contracts
	A number of the long-term contracts included within the financial statements have completion dates that differ from the year end. The measurement of revenue and costs is affected by a variety of uncertainties that depend upon future events. Under long-term contracts, the estimates of contract revenue and costs often need to be revised as events occur and uncertainties are resolved.

	Therefore, contract revenue and costs are allocated to the accounting periods in which the work is performed. In cases where the outcome of a long-term contract can be estimated reliably, the contract revenue and costs are recognised by reference to the stage of completion at the end of the reporting period. Estimation of the contract outcome is based upon the stage of completion, future cost and the collectability of contract billings.

	In cases where the outcome of a long-term contract cannot be estimated reliably, contract costs are recognised in the profit and loss account as an expense in the period in which they are incurred, and revenue is recognised only to the extent of contract costs incurred when it is considered probable that these will be recovered.


3	Employees			2024		2023
Number					Number

	Average number of persons employed by the company			0		0


4	Tangible fixed assets
		Land and buildings		Plant and machinery etc		Total
£			£		£
	Cost
	At 1 October 2023	148,123		770,549		918,672
	Additions	-		67,901		67,901
	At 30 September 2024	148,123		838,450		986,573

	Depreciation
	At 1 October 2023	121,689		582,554		704,243
	Charge for the year	13,217		49,700		62,917
	At 30 September 2024	134,906		632,254		767,160

	Net book value
	At 30 September 2024	13,217		206,196		219,413
	At 30 September 2023	26,434		187,995		214,429


5	Debtors			2024		2023
£					£

	Trade debtors			800,884		869,489
	Corporation tax debtor			73,205		120,522
	Deferred tax asset			65,605		-
	Other debtors			450,375		589,443
				1,390,069		1,579,454


6	Creditors: amounts falling due within one year			2024		2023
£					£

	Bank loans and overdrafts			538,410		51,249
	Other loans			63,502		86,295
	Obligations under finance lease and hire purchase contracts			73,031		49,734
	Trade creditors			47,363		58,002
	Amounts owed to group undertakings and undertakings in which the company has a participating interest			4,000		-
	Other creditors			138,022		279,510
				864,328		524,790


7	Creditors: amounts falling due after one year			2024		2023
£					£

	Bank loans			40,202		92,491
	Other loans			-		63,503
	Obligations under finance lease and hire purchase contracts			69,438		84,779
				109,640		240,773


	The bank loan is for 72 months and is repayable in monthly instalments which commenced in July 2021. Interest is fixed at 2% per annum.

	The other loan is repayable in 36 equal instalments which commenced in May 2022. Interest is fixed at 11.95% but was subsidised fully for the first 12 months to May 2022 under the Government CBILS scheme.

	One HP finance arrangement is repayable over 36 equal instalments which commenced in April 2023. Interest is charged at 10.23%. The other is also repayable over 36 equal instalments which commenced in September 2024. Interest is charged at 9.76%.

8	Called up share capital			2024		2023
£					£

	Ordinary share capital
	Issued and fully paid

	1 Ordinary share of £1 each			1		1



9	Other financial commitments			2024		2023
£					£

	Total future minimum payments under non-cancellable operating leases			294,263		498,601


10	Related party transactions

	During the year the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:

Purchases
				2024		2023
£					£

	Entities with control, joint control or significant influence over the company			2,965,000		3,760,250


10	Related party transactions (continued)

	The following amounts were due to related parties at the year end:

				2024		2023
£					£

	Entities with control, joint control or significant influence over the company			4,000		36,941


11	Other information

	Powell Dobson Architects Limited is a private company limited by shares and incorporated in England. Its registered office is:
	Suite 1F, Building One
	Eastern Business Park
	Wen Fawr Lane, Old St Mellons
	Cardiff
	CF3 5EA