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Company registration number:
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COMPANY INFORMATION
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CONTENTS
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STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The directors present their Strategic Report for Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Limited for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Countrywide Grounds Maintenance provides grounds maintenance services to businesses, local government, the care, health and education sectors throughout the UK. The Company prides itself on creating and maintaining safe, well maintained and attractive environments. The grounds maintenance work is undertaken by a franchised network of contractors who receive the full contract value. Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Limited generates its income from a fee to the franchisor, Countrywide Garden Maintenance Services Limited.
Countrywide Grounds Maintenance operates in a very competitive environment and the company has continued to build upon its reputation for service quality and high customer service standards to retain existing business and win new customers. Consolidation in the market has not adversely affected the Company. The Company recorded a significant 9.6% increase in turnover to £43.86m (2023: £40.03m); comprising of contracted, ad-hoc and seasonal work, and the directors are satisfied with the results of the year which are in line with expectations for the company.
As at 31st December 2024 the cash and net assets were strong, standing at £11.4m (2023: £11.3m).
Performance in the grounds maintenance sector is affected by the weather, general market conditions and consistent pressure on margins. The company takes a risk-adverse approach to its trading activities and as such, in the short term, no particular risk is considered fundamental to the business. At the date of the approval of the annual report and financial statements there remains considerable economic uncertainty in the UK economy. Cash generation has remained strong. The Board continues to monitor the situation on a day-to-day basis and take action to mitigate the impact on the Company especially in relation to the growing challenges around cost inflation, where unavoidable price increases are to be passed on to our customers. The Company is not directly exposed to the increases in interest rates. The directors are confident that they have procedures in place to identify any risks which may arise which affect the business.
The company continue to invest in IT to drive efficiencies across the network. The directors have invested in the Company’s bid team capability to continue to focus on growing recurring revenue from core contracted business.
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf.
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DIRECTORS' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic report, the Directors' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
∙select suitable accounting policies for the Company's financial statements and then apply them consistently;
∙make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
∙state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
∙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 to 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.
The profit for the year, after taxation, amounted to £119,199 (2023 - £107,895).
During the period the directors did not pay any dividends to shareholders.
The directors who served during the year were:
See strategic report.
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DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Company has chosen in accordance with section 414C(11) of the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013 to set out in the Company's strategic report information required by schedule 7 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 it must be stated in the Directors' Report that it has done so. This includes information that would have been included in the business review and the principal risks and uncertainties.
The directors are aware of the matters set out in section 172(1)(a) to (f) (duty to promote the success of the company) when performing their duties and do so appropriately.
There have been no significant events affecting the Company since the year end.
Under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006, Menzies LLP will be deemed to have been reappointed as auditor 28 days after these financial statements were sent to members or 28 days after the latest date prescribed for filing the accounts with the registrar, whichever is earlier.
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COUNTRYWIDE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE LIMITED
We have audited the financial statements of Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Limited (the 'Company') for the year ended 31 December 2024, which comprise the Statement of income and retained earnings, the Statement of financial position and the related notes, 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).
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 United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council'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.
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.
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.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COUNTRYWIDE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE LIMITED (CONTINUED)
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
∙the information given in the Strategic report and the Directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
∙the Strategic report and the Directors' report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the 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.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COUNTRYWIDE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE LIMITED (CONTINUED)
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
∙The Company is subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the financial statements including financial
reporting legislation, and general regulations such as health and safety. There are no industry specific laws and regulations which would be deemed to have a significant impact on the financial statements. We assessed the extent of compliance with the appropriate laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items.
∙We understood how the Company is complying with the legal and regulatory frameworks by, making inquiries to
management, those responsible for legal and compliance procedures and the company secretary. We corroborated our inquiries through our review of board minutes.
∙The engagement partner assessed whether the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence and
capabilities to identify or recognize non-compliance with laws and regulations. The assessment did not identify any issues in this area.
∙We assessed the susceptibility of the Company financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud
might occur. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
°Identifying and assessing the design effectiveness of controls management has in place to prevent and detect
fraud;
°Understanding how those charged with governance considered and addressed the potential for override of
controls or other inappropriate influence over the financial reporting process;
°Challenging assumptions and judgments made by management in its significant accounting estimates; and
°Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any journal entries posted with unusual account combinations
∙As a result of the above 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:
°Posting of unusual journals and complex transactions.
°Misappropriation of funds through fraudulent purchase ledger and payroll activity.
°Manipulation of amounts subject to significant judgment or estimate.
Because of 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 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 Auditor's report.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COUNTRYWIDE GROUNDS MAINTENANCE LIMITED (CONTINUED)
This report is made solely to the Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
for and on behalf of
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
3000a Parkway
Hampshire
PO15 7FX
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STATEMENT OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf by:
The notes on pages 10 to 15 form part of these financial statements.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Limited is a private company, limited by shares, incorporated in England and Wales. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found on the Company Information page.
2.Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise specified within these accounting policies and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006.
The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgment in applying the Company's accounting policies (see note 3).
The following principal accounting policies have been applied:
Turnover comprises the aggregate of the fair value of the sale of services provided, net value of value added tax, rebates and discounts. Revenue is recognised as follows:
Service revenues are recognised as those services are provided to customers.
Other income relates to the charge to a fellow subsidiary for services provided.
The Company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by the FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland":
∙the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows;
∙the requirements of Section 3 Financial Statement Presentation paragraph 3.17(d).
This information is included in the consolidated financial statements of TDG Group Holding Company as at 31 December 2024 and these financial statements may be obtained from 1020 N. University Parks Dr. Waco, TX 76707.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2.Accounting policies (continued)
The Company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 “Basic Financial Instruments” of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include trade and other debtors, cash and bank balances, are initially measured at their transaction price (adjusted for transaction costs except in the initial measurement of financial assets that are subsequently measured at fair value through profit and loss) and are subsequently carried at their amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any provision for impairment, 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.
Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial. The Company's cash and cash equivalents, trade and most other debtors due with the operating cycle fall into this category of financial instruments.
when paid. Final equity dividends are recognised when approved by the shareholders at an annual general meeting.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The company has no employees other than the directors. The average number of directors during the year was 2 (2023 - 2).
Directors remuneration has been borne by fellow group companies for 2024.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
9.Taxation (continued)
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Company has the following reserves:
Capital contribution The capital contribution represents amounts received from the parent company as a follow up to their initial investment in the company that are not to be repaid. Profit and loss account The profit and loss account represents cumulative profits and losses net of dividends paid, capital contributions and other adjustments.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The immediate parent company is Neighbourly Brands Limited (formerly Dwyer UK Holdings Limited), a company registered in England and Wales. The ultimate parent company is Neighborly Company, which is incorporated in Delaware, US and whose registered office address is 1020 N. University Parks Dr. Waco, TX 76707.
The largest group in which the results of the company are consolidated is that headed by Neighborly Company, incorporated in Delaware, USA. The smallest group in which they are consolidated is that headed by Dwyer Franchising LLC, incorporated in Delaware, USA.
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