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Registered number: 03577003









ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED









ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
COMPANY INFORMATION


Directors
Sean Haley (resigned 31 December 2024)
Jean Renton 
Philip Smith (resigned 30 August 2024)
Amolak Dhariwal (appointed 1 January 2025)
Tracey Smith (appointed 10 April 2025)




Registered number
03577003



Registered office
One Southampton Row

London

WC1B 5HA




Independent auditor
Forvis Mazars LLP
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor

30 Old Bailey

London

EC4M 7AU





 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

CONTENTS



Page
Strategic Report
1 - 8
Directors' Report
9 - 10
Directors' Responsibilities Statement
11
Independent Auditor's Report
12 - 15
Statement of Comprehensive Income
16
Statement of Financial Position
17
Statement of Changes in Equity
18
Notes to the Financial Statements
19 - 33

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

The directors present their Strategic Report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024.

Principal activity
 
The principal activity of the Company is the provision of catering services within the education sector.

Business review
 
Alliance in Partnership (AIP) provides a modern, progressive and bespoke catering service to schools within the United Kingdom.

In 2024 there was a trading loss for the year, after taxation, amounting to £2,542,929 (2023: as restated loss £2,578,231). Trading volume increased, through new contracts, but also negatively impacted costs as a result of mobilisation, coupled with high levels of inflation not fully recovered through the portfolio of contracts. The combination of these factors contributed to a loss for the year.

Net liabilities amounted to £128,931 (2023: restated net assets £2,413,998), with the impact of performance as noted above resulting in the reduction to the balance sheet.

Alliance in Partnership Limited's intermediate parent company Friars 702 Limited is 100% owned by Sodexo Limited. 

Commitment to growth and sustainability comes in many forms for the Company across the ingredient and menu offer, staff development, school partnerships and supplier relationships. We provide many schools from local hub kitchens with nutritious, freshly prepared hot meals on a daily basis where the schools have no kitchen facilities on site, helping ensure that as many school children as possible have access to a hot meal each day.

Our focus is on the preparation and presentation of fresh food made from the finest raw ingredients, sourced locally where possible, and conforming to the government's nutritional guidelines and the School Food Plan. Our menus are nutritionally analysed using the industry's leading nutritional analysis software, Saffron, and aligned to our own recipe manual. This recipe manual ensures our employees have recipes, methods of work, portion sizes and the allergen content enabling us to provide healthy and nutritional food which enables pupils’ and students’ learning, helping them fulfil their potential. We encourage our customers to eat healthily while at the same time making our offer interesting, fun, and sustainable. We encourage our customers to interact with us and provide feedback and suggestions.

We work in partnership with schools to ensure we provide a service that best fits their requirements. Across our portfolio we ensure that we address all ethnically diverse food requirements. Our team of development chefs are continually creating new dishes and regularly visit our sites to promote taster menus and new concepts, ensuring our food offer is always fresh and vibrant.

Social value is a core principle and we take our corporate responsibilities on the environment, health and wellbeing, and sustainability seriously.  We take every opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint and continue to focus on reducing single-use plastics by offering alternative products and innovative ideas such as hydration stations. In addition, we continue to use local and Fairtrade products within our catering services, together with MSC fish, Red Tractor meat, free range eggs and chicken, all sourced from approved and audited suppliers. Our procurement team continues to develop our supply chain and all our suppliers must adhere to our Suppliers Code of Practice which includes traceability, quality and hygiene. Audits are completed by an independent auditor on a regular basis.

Page 1

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Business review (continued)

Through taking the environment, sustainability and health seriously we hold Bronze level of the prestigious Soil Association's Food for Life Catering Award. The Company holds various accreditations - IS0 9001 Management systems, ISO 14001 Environmental, ISO 18001 Occupational Health and Safety.

Future developments

The Company expects to continue to provide catering services within the education sector for the foreseeable future.

In 2025, the Company is undertaking a full portfolio review of operations and client contracts, following a second successive year of losses, and identifying targeted actions to improve performance.

Directors' statement of compliance with duty to promote the success of the Company
 
The Company describes in this section of the report how the directors have had regard to the matters set out in section 172(1)(a) to (f) of the Companies Act 2006. In particular, the section outlines how the directors have acted in a way which is most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of the members as a whole and in doing so having regard for stakeholders’ interests.

The Company is part of the Sodexo S.A. group of companies and falls under the stewardship of Sodexo’s UK Regional Leadership Team (UK RLT). The board of directors of the Company also include members of the UK RLT.

The following paragraphs summarise how the directors fulfil their duties and engage with each of the key stakeholder groups:

Employees

We take the opportunity here to explain how both:

The directors have regard to section 172(1) of the Companies Act 2006 in respect of the interests of the Company’s employees; and
The directors have engaged with employees and the effect of this engagement on principal decisions of the Company.

The Board recognises that, as an integrated facilities management service provider, its employees are key to the Company´s strength and success. The Board and the UK RLT is committed to ensuring:

Health & safety

The Company is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees, contractors and visitors. Through suitable and sufficient risk assessment and the creation of resulting safe systems of work, Sodexo provides employees with information, training and instructions to enable them to work safely and to protect the safety and health of those who may be affected by its activities. Compliance with legislative requirements underpins its purpose. The Company tests and challenges itself to continually improve and to engage with its people to ensure everyone has a voice and is properly informed.

The Company believes that health and safety is everyone’s responsibility and through strong leadership, supervision and holding each other to account, health and safety can become a way of life that adds value and drives improved performance. Management and monitoring of performance is achieved through robust reporting, strong audit and monitoring regimes.


Page 2

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Ongoing support to all employees

The Company continues to provide ongoing support to all employees through:

promoting 'Speak Up', which is a confidential route for staff to raise concerns;
offering a free helpline ‘Talk’ where staff and their families can seek expert advice on personal and mental wellbeing topics;
offering a range of wellbeing products designed to provide employees with access to a virtual 24/7 GP, cycle to work scheme, free will writing services, daily wellbeing activities, fitness and nutrition consultation;
providing employees with the ability to access discounts to multiple high street retailers; and
providing all employees with access to life assurance.

The Company is proud of all its teams and their dedication and agility as our client and business needs continue to evolve.

High levels of employee engagement, wellbeing and communications

We strive to create an employee experience that enables our people to "belong, act and thrive" whilst working for Sodexo. We measure the effectiveness of our "belong, act, thrive" Employee Value Proposition (EVP) by conducting biennial global employee engagement surveys and ad hoc surveys to address specific areas of the organisation. The data are thematically and statistically analysed to distil an action plan to address feedback solicited through the survey. A communications strategy is then tuned to deepen employee engagement by focusing on informing, engaging and inspiring colleagues to create an effective and inclusive workplace.

Regular employee engagement surveys are conducted and results are carefully scrutinised by the UK RLT to identify and implement actions for improvement. The UK RLT monitors attrition rates, feedback from exit interviews, agency spend and absenteeism levels in an effort to identify emerging people risks, trends, and to ensure appropriate action is taken to address these. Emerging people risks and trends are highlighted to the Board together with proposed action plans.

In 2023, we conducted our biennial global employee engagement survey, #Voice2023. It measured employee happiness and advocacy for Sodexo across 9 core engagement drivers. The survey ran between April - May 2023. Our teams are currently engaged in an action planning process to make incremental improvements in those areas identified for development and improvement ahead of the next survey. Our next survey commenced in April 2025, with results available that summer.

A diverse and inclusive workforce and culture - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Inclusivity is a key commitment and proof point of our EVP to ensure colleagues 'can bring their authentic selves to work' so they feel a sense of belonging that allows them to act with purpose and thrive. At Sodexo, we are committed to promoting equitable opportunities, valuing diversity, and creating an inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our strategy is built on the ethos of the power of positive conversations that take place within a psychologically safe culture.

Our DE&l strategy focuses on five dimensions being gender, race and ethnicity, disability, generations and sexual orientation and gender identity. Each of these focus areas has an executive sponsor who is a member of the RLT. They play a key role at championing the agenda, driving progress and embedding accountability at a senior level. In FY24, the leadership team have continued to demonstrate their leadership and commitment to DE&l including hosting listening sessions with colleagues from across the business, sharing their own stories of what DE&I means to them and engaging in sponsorship and mentoring opportunities.

Sodexo recognises the impact we have, and can have both within our organisation, and the communities that we work and live within.

Through our Social Impact People pathway, we demonstrate enabling our employees, customers and community
Page 3

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

citizens to thrive. Examples of this are:

our award-winning apprenticeship pathway programme;
our commitment to ending Modern Slavery as we believe in the elimination of all forms of compulsory labour and work to ensure slavery and human trafficking does not take place in any part of our business or supply chain; 
the aspirational targets we have for the representation of women and those from underrepresented ethnic groups in management and senior leadership positions.

In 2024, the Sodexo UK&I Group achieved a number of external benchmarks that validate the progress and impact we are having. This includes The Times Top 50 employers for gender equality, reaccredited Disability Confident leader for a further three years, Advanced Employer in the Investing in Ethnicity maturity matrix progressing from level 2 the previous year, accredited both menopause and endometriosis friendly employer, achieved level 2 carers accreditation and highest score in Workplace Pride. We again supported the 10,000 Black intern programme in the summer of 2024. We introduced a raft of new progressive benefits which has included equalised parental leave for all eligible employees, flexible working 'a day one right' ahead of legislation change, paid leave for carers, neonatal leave and enhanced bereavement leave. In total, we have introduced 18 new policies across the UK&l Group. We encourage employment of other disadvantaged groups including long term unemployed, prison leavers, and homeless, and enable all employees to take up to 3 days paid leave a year to support charitable organisations. To support this, we have worked in partnership with Stop Hunger, our charitable foundation, to align charity partnerships with each DE&I dimension to support having a positive impact within the community.

Clients

The Company operates a Client Lifecycle approach to monitor and manage all contracts.

Client retention is the essential first step in our Focus on Growth strategic agenda that helps create sustainable growth. This is underpinned by our "Clients for Life" programme. Clients for Life is a philosophy that underpins Sodexo's client engagement and retention programme. It is designed to create and nurture open, transparent relationships with our clients and ensures we put client and consumer needs at the heart of everything we do.

Members of the UK RLT and our operational senior leadership team meet with our key clients at regular intervals to discuss and collaboratively agree the key strategic priorities that both organisations will invest effort and resources to drive continuous progression of both the strategic partnership and enhance service performance that impacts on our clients, employees and visitors.

Detailed client feedback touchpoints are executed by an independent and impartial team that captures client insight from a variety of client key stakeholders at various degrees of proximity to service delivery. This insight is shared across a range of key stakeholders within the Company to ensure that any decisions around service design and architecture places client objectives and needs at the heart of the decision-making process. Progress is tracked by the board and the UK RLT.

Suppliers

Sodexo manages its end-to-end supply chain to meet legislative requirements, mitigate risks and satisfy customer demands for supply chain transparency. All suppliers of goods and services to Sodexo are assessed to ensure they are capable and competent to deliver the goods or conduct the work they are being contracted to supply. Suppliers are assessed against Sodexo's Supplier Code of Conduct. The level of initial assessment and ongoing monitoring relates directly to the goods/services provided or to be undertaken and the associated risk. Assessment of the supplier's suitability is fulfilled by professionals who are independent from the day-to-day operational management of the suppliers they evaluate.

Dependent on the associated risk, food suppliers are further audited against our own Supplier Food Safety Code of Practice by either an external Independent Food Safety Consultancy or Sodexo's Health and Safety division.
Page 4

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024


It is essential suppliers strive to meet these standards on a continuous basis as a condition of the supply agreement. Failure to meet the expected standard results in the immediate suspension of trade. If positive action is not taken to remedy the situation, the supplier will be removed from the supply chain.

The Company promotes purchasing policies that increase the use of environmentally sound and ethically sourced products & partnering with a diverse supply chain, including small & medium enterprises and social enterprises. We encourage our suppliers to share our ethical principles and procurement commitments.

Sodexo is committed to ensuring that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any of its supply chains or any part of its business and has in place measures to manage this risk including risk-based audit process.

Community

Sodexo's approach to creating Social Value and striving towards identifying and measuring its impact within local communities forms an integral part of the Company's regional strategy. The Company has undergone a comprehensive strategy to fully embed and coordinate its impact on local communities and the environment. This is led by our UK RLT and brought to life by our segments and transversal functions. The UK has pioneered a distinctive approach to social impact and social value that stands out on the global stage. Unlike other countries, where legislative requirements like the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) or traditional Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) frameworks dominate, the UK has developed a flexible, innovation- driven, and outcome-focused ecosystem. This approach not only enhances social and environmental outcomes but also drives business growth and competitiveness.

Our focus is based around four Social Impact Pathways:

Our People – by enabling our employees, customers and community citizens to thrive;

Our Planet - by fostering a culture of environmental responsibility through protecting and enhancing our planet and driving our journey to net zero;

Our Places - by adopting a need led approach to creating equity for all, across the communities we serve; and

Our partners - by taking an inclusive approach to creating resilience and growth amongst our partner network.

Each year we publish our progress against our social impact commitments contained within our Social Impact Pledge. This can be found at https://uk.sodexo.com /social-impact/commitments /pledge-and -progress. In doing so, we track our progress, articulate the Social Return On Investment ("SROI") of our activity, and accelerate subsequent actions based on achievements to date. Our most recent Pledge has now concluded. We have and will continue to go beyond what is expected of us as a business to ensure that we are meeting local needs through global, national and regional initiatives such as Social Mobility, DE&I, Net Zero and Responsible Sourcing.

The following illustrates key ways in which we are delivering against our Social Impact Pathways:

Our People - we are committed to living our understanding that Talent comes from all walks of life. In doing so, we go beyond legislative requirements within the Equalities Act, and seek to understand the true needs and demographical dimensions of the communities where we operate. One example is our commitment as the UK's largest prison provider, to engage, broker and secure additional employment opportunities through the work we do as part of our Starting Fresh Campaign, as well as the work we do on behalf of Veterans.

Our Planet - Sodexo has been on a journey to actively tackle our climate impacts for over a decade, working
Page 5

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which has supported us in measuring and reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Sodexo is committed to achieving net zero by 2040 and has set both near and long-term science-based targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTI). We are making significant progress against our targets through the implementation of our net zero transition plan. Further information on our progress can be found in the Climate-related Financial Disclosure section below and on our website: https://uk.sodexo.com /social-impact/planet/net-zero.

Our Places - Sodexo is the founding partner of the Stop Hunger Foundation; an independent registered charity in the UK since 2005. Stop Hunger has a global reach with activities supported in 58 countries around the world; it was created in 1996 by US Sodexo colleagues who witnessed children going to school hungry.

Stop Hunger relies on national, regional and local partnerships with registered charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs), as well as the unique ecosystem of Sodexo to tackle food insecurity and its root causes. Our key partners include Chapter One, Enactus and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association (SSFA the armed forces charity). We provide our partners with grant giving opportunities, hands on volunteering, expertise and knowledge sharing. In addition to alleviating food insecurity, the Foundation aims to support initiatives which go beyond food aid and empower women effectively and sustainably to eliminate food insecurity in the communities we live, work and play.

In FY24, the Stop Hunger Foundation generated an income of over £1,000,000 and supported through volunteering and grants given to 106 charities, CICs and charitable organisations in the UK, Ireland and Cyprus to help over 2.8 million beneficiaries exit food insecurity.

All Sodexo employees have access to a volunteering policy offering three paid days per holiday year to participate in volunteering and fundraising. A team of Stop Hunger charity champions are evident across our business, engaging, encouraging and enabling ways in which our workforce can give back to our communities to tackle food insecurity and its root causes.

Further information on the Company's work in this area, and the impact in local communities, can be found at https://uk.sodexo.com /social-impact/places /stop-hunger.

Our Partners - Our Responsible strategy is complemented by the way in which we engage suppliers; Partners with Purpose. In the UK, we go beyond traditional reporting metrics such as spend, diversity of supply chain, and ensure that we demonstrate the importance of our supplier's impact on our success. We encourage businesses to not only survive, but thrive, increasing their competitiveness through pro-bono coaching and mentoring. Each year we deploy a range of technical, professional employees to provide one to one support to suppliers, local charities and partners to support their ambitions, engagement with Sodexo, and involvement in driving key policy ambitions across the country.

Shareholder

The Board of the Company duly considers the views of its ultimate shareholder, Sodexo S.A., and the interests of the Group as a whole as part of any major decisions and transactions undertaken by the Company. The Chair, the Board and the UK RLT members provide the channel of communication between the Company and its shareholder.

Long-term decision making

The directors continue to review the Company's organisational structure, cost base, service offers, investments and other business plans to ensure all are optimal as our environment evolves.

Standards of business conduct

Conducting all aspects of Sodexo's business with the highest standards of ethics and integrity is essential to
Page 6

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Sodexo's purpose to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all and constitutes a fundamental pillar of Sodexo's Responsible Business Conduct commitments. The Company's Code of Ethics applies to all directors and employees of the Company and embodies this commitment.

The Ethics & Compliance Committee includes the COO (chair), CFO, HR Director, General Counsel, General Counsel - Ethics, General Counsel - Ireland, UK&l Head of Internal Audit, Head of Risk & Control, and Head of Supply Management. A segment CEO from a business segment is also included on a rotational basis annually.

The Committee receives, logs, considers and manages concerns raised under the Code of Ethics, Anti Bribery Policy, Gifts & Hospitality Policy and Whistleblowing Policy, including any allegations of bribery and corruption. The Committee conducts investigations, takes appropriate action, monitors and reviews incidents, training, measures trends, and reports appropriately to the Board. The Committee's minutes are submitted to each Board meeting for consideration by the directors.

Sodexo's Ethics and Compliance program to which the Company aligns, is structured around the following pillars: a committed management team (tone at the top), risk assessments, policies and procedures (including the Code of Ethics), training and awareness-raising, third party assessment (Supplier Code of Conduct), our whistleblowing system (Speak-up) and specific anti-corruption internal controls.

Sodexo shares the same ethical principles as those set out in the Modern Slavery Act, 2015. We believe in the elimination of all forms of compulsory labour and work to ensure slavery and human trafficking do not take place within any part of our business supply chain.

Further details are set out in the Group's Modern Slavery Act Statement which can be found at https://uk.sodexo.com /social-impact/planet /responsible-sourcing.



Principal risks and uncertainties
 
The Board of Directors has significant and long-term experience in this sector.

The principal risks and uncertainties are with regard to inflation, and as a result, the sustainable profitability required to fund the operational and earnings’ requirements of the Company. Government funding of School meals hasn’t increased in line with inflation. Therefore, it is challenging to obtain the appropriate funding required from clients through tariff increases or contributions to the cost of catering. However reasoned negotiations with clients are obtaining equitable tariff and commercial solutions. The Ukraine War and other World Events have contributed to significant food inflation, our procurement teams source value for money deals and ensure continued supply of ingredients, in partnership with our valued supply partners. Labour supply shortages continue with the long shadow of Covid and Brexit. This is being addressed through competitive remuneration packages, employee engagement, retention and recruitment initiatives, and there is also consideration of different production methods.

We strategically plan well in advance for any legislative changes and have control systems in place across the Company. We continually develop these controls to ensure that strategies, financial and health and safety risks faced are identified and managed appropriately.

Board meetings are held and consider financial performance, the effectiveness of the risk management and control systems of the Company and the best practice approaches for training and development of our employees.

The directors are confident that we are acting with the highest standards and in line with our core values.

Page 7

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

Financial key performance indicators

We consider the key performance indicators of the business to be turnover growth and operating margin.
For the year to 31 August 2024, these were the following:

2024
2023
        %
        %
Turnover growth

11

(9)
 
Operating margin

(13)

(14)
 



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



Amolak Dhariwal
Director

Date: 26 August 2025
Page 8

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
DIRECTORS' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024.

Matters covered in the Strategic Report

As permitted by paragraph 1A of Schedule 7 to the Large and Medium-Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 certain matters which are required to be disclosed in the Directors’ Report have been omitted as they are included in the Strategic Report on pages 1 to 8. These matters relate to the business review, future developments, principal risks and uncertainties, financial key performance indicators and directors’ statement of compliance as required by the Companies Act 2006.

Proposed dividend

The loss for the year, after taxation, amounted to £2,542,929 (2023: restated loss £2,578,231).

The directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend (2023: £Nil).

Directors

The directors who served during the year were:

Sean Haley (resigned 31 December 2024)
Jean Renton 
Philip Smith (resigned 30 August 2024)

On 1 January 2025, Amolak Dhariwal, and on 10 April 2025, Tracey Smith were appointed as directors of the Company.

Going concern

The directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in the preparation of the financial statements.

The Company forms part of the Sodexo UK and Ireland group of companies, together the “UK&I Group”, which is part of the wider Sodexo Group headed by Sodexo S.A., a company incorporated in France. The principal activity of the UK&I Group is to provide facilities management and catering services across the UK and Ireland, operating across various segments such as education, sports and leisure, corporate services, government and healthcare.

The Company meets its day to day working capital requirements from operational cash flows, cash pooling and intercompany loan arrangements within the UK&I Group.

The UK&I Group has remained resilient throughout the adverse changes in the economic environment as a result of tight management of cash and balance sheet, and strong retention of existing contracts, alongside the spread of business across food and facilities management services, and across public and private sector clients as well as the strong inflation management processes in place. In addition, the UK&I Group continues to see opportunities for organic growth with new contracts in the pipeline. However, we remain prepared for further macro-economic impacts with agility, good commercial management, and careful cost control continuing to be critical.

To inform the basis of preparation of these accounts, the directors have considered cash and profit forecasts of the UK&I Group for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements, based on the facts we have as at the date of approval of these financial statements. These forecasts include a severe but plausible downside scenario which models a deterioration in gross margin as a result of operational performance, a downturn in revenues due to contracts of key clients not being renewed and the under recovery of inflation. The forecasts indicate that the UK&I Group will continue to be resilient in the current macro-economic environment. Routine peaks in cash requirements during the trading cycle will be funded from an 
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ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024


Going concern (continued)

overdraft facility with the parent company, Sodexo S.A., if necessary. In a worst-case scenario, the Company could draw upon additional funding from its ultimate parent company to enable it to meet its liabilities as they fall due during the 12 month period from the signing of these accounts.

Sodexo S.A., which currently has a strong credit rating of Baa1 from Moody’s Investors Service, has indicated its intention, by a letter of support, to continue to make available such funds as are needed by the Company during the going concern assessment period. As with any company placing reliance on other group entities for financial support, the directors acknowledge that there can be no certainty that this support will continue although, at the date of approval of these financial statements, they have no reason to believe that it will not do so.

Based on these analyses and facts, the directors believe that the Company will be able to continue to meet its liabilities as they fall due for at least the 12 month period following the date of approval of these financial statements and therefore have prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis. 

Political contributions

The Company made no political donations or incurred any political expenditure during the year (2023: £Nil).

Qualifying third party indemnity provisions

Qualifying indemnity insurance was in place for the directors during the year which was also in force at the date of this report.

Disclosure of information to auditor

Each of the persons who are directors at the time when this Directors' Report is approved has confirmed that:
 
so far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditor is unaware; and

the director has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a director in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's auditor is aware of that information.

Auditor

The auditor, Forvis Mazars LLPwill be proposed for reappointment in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved by the board on 26 August 2025 and signed on its behalf.
 





Amolak Dhariwal
Director

One Southampton Row
London
WC1B 5HA
Page 10

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

The directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, the Directors' 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, they have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom accounting standards and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 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 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 2006They 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.

  
Page 11

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

Opinion
 
 
We have audited the financial statements of Alliance in Partnership Limited (the ‘Company’) for the year ended 31 August 2024 which comprise the Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Changes in Equity and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 “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 August 2024 and of its loss for the year then ended; 
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the “Auditor’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.
Page 12

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED (CONTINUED)


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 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. 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In 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: 
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.  
Page 13

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED (CONTINUED)


Responsibilities of directors  
 
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 11, 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 the financial statements. 

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

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. 

Based on our understanding of the Company and its industry, we considered that non-compliance with the following laws and regulations might have a material effect on the financial statements: employment regulation, health and safety regulation and anti-money laundering regulation. 

To help us identify instances of non-compliance with these laws and regulations, and in identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect to non-compliance, our procedures included, but were not limited to:
Inquiring of management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, as to whether the Company is in compliance with laws and regulations, and discussing their policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations;
Inspecting correspondence, if any, with relevant licensing or regulatory authorities;
Communicating identified laws and regulations to the engagement team and remaining alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout our audit; and
Considering the risk of acts by the Company which were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.

We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the preparation of the financial statements, such as tax legislation, pension legislation and the Companies Act 2006. 

In addition, we evaluated the directors’ and management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements, including the risk of management override of controls, and determined that the principal risks related to: posting manual journal entries to manipulate financial performance, management bias through judgements and assumptions in significant accounting estimates, revenue recognition (which we pinpointed to the cut-off assertion), and significant one-off or unusual transactions.
Page 14

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED (CONTINUED)


Our audit procedures in relation to fraud included but were not limited to:
Making enquiries of the directors and management on whether they had knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;
Gaining an understanding of the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud;
Discussing amongst the engagement team the risks of fraud; and
Addressing the risks of fraud through management override of controls by performing journal entry testing.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities including fraud rests with management. As with any audit, there remained a risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal controls.

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.

Use of the audit 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.
 





Richard Karmel (Senior Statutory Auditor)
  
for and on behalf of
Forvis Mazars LLP
 
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor
  
30 Old Bailey
London
EC4M 7AU

26 August 2025
Page 15

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

2024
2023
(As restated)
Note
£
£

  

Turnover
 4 
28,965,769
26,090,512

Operating expenses
  
(32,715,708)
(29,748,304)

Operating loss
 5 
(3,749,939)
(3,657,792)

Interest receivable and similar income
 9 
362,437
377,980

Interest payable and similar expenses
 10 
(119)
(3,155)

Loss on ordinary activities before tax
  
(3,387,621)
(3,282,967)

Tax on loss
 11 
844,692
704,736

Loss for the financial year
  
(2,542,929)
(2,578,231)

There was no other comprehensive income for 2024 (2023:£NIL).

The notes on pages 19 to 33 form part of these financial statements.

All activities of the Company are classified as continuing.
Page 16

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
REGISTERED NUMBER: 03577003

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 AUGUST 2024

2024
2023
(As restated)
Note
£
£

Fixed assets
  

Tangible fixed assets
 12 
761,954
1,093,174

  
761,954
1,093,174

Current assets
  

Stocks
 13 
353,470
192,179

Debtors: amounts falling due after more than one year
 14 
708,746
408,971

Debtors: amounts falling due within one year
 14 
9,058,193
7,167,893

Cash at bank and in hand
  
3,324,611
16,394,904

  
13,445,020
24,163,947

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
 15 
(14,335,905)
(22,843,123)

Net current (liabilities)/assets
  
 
 
(890,885)
 
 
1,320,824

Total assets less current liabilities
  
(128,931)
2,413,998

  

Net (liabilities)/assets
  
(128,931)
2,413,998


Capital and reserves
  

Called up share capital 
 18 
5,850
5,850

Other reserves
 19 
2,450
2,450

Profit and loss account
 19 
(137,231)
2,405,698

  
(128,931)
2,413,998


The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf by: 


Amolak Dhariwal
Director


Date: 26 August 2025

The notes on pages 19 to 33 form part of these financial statements.
Page 17

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024


Called up share capital
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Total equity

£
£
£
£


At 1 September 2022
5,850
2,450
4,983,929
4,992,229



Loss for the year (As restated - see note 21)
-
-
(2,578,231)
(2,578,231)



At 1 September 2023 (As restated)
5,850
2,450
2,405,698
2,413,998



Loss for the year
-
-
(2,542,929)
(2,542,929)


At 31 August 2024
5,850
2,450
(137,231)
(128,931)


The notes on pages 19 to 33 form part of these financial statements.
Page 18

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

1.


General information

Alliance in Partnership Limited is a private company limited by shares and registered in England and Wales. The registered number is 03577003 and the registered office is One Southampton Row, London, WC1B 5HA.

The principal activity of the Company is the provision of catering services within the education sector.

2.Accounting policies

 
2.1

Basis of preparation of financial statements

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 presentational currency of these financial statements is Pound Sterling (£). All amounts in the financial statements have been rounded to the nearest £1.

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).

 
2.2

Financial Reporting Standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions

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);

the requirements of Section 11 Financial Instruments paragraphs 11.42, 11.44 to 11.45, 11.47, 11.48(a)(iii), 11.48(a)(iv), 11.48(b) and 11.48(c);

the requirements of Section 33 Related Party Disclosures; and

the requirements of Section 29 Income Tax paragraph 29.28.

This information is included in the consolidated financial statements of Sodexo S.A. as at 31 August 2024 and these financial statements may be obtained from The Secretary, Sodexo S.A., 225 Quai de la Bataille de Stalingrad, 92866 Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France.

Other reduced disclosure exemptions taken in preparing these financial statements:

the requirements of Section 28 Employee Benefits in respect of multi - employer pension plans classified as defined benefit plans, paragraph 28.11.

Page 19

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

2.Accounting policies (continued)

 
2.3

Going concern

The directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in the preparation of the financial statements.

The Company forms part of the Sodexo UK and Ireland group of companies, together the “UK&I Group”, which is part of the wider Sodexo Group headed by Sodexo S.A., a company incorporated in France. The principal activity of the UK&I Group is to provide facilities management and catering services across the UK and Ireland, operating across various segments such as education, sports and leisure, corporate services, government and healthcare.

The Company meets its day to day working capital requirements from operational cash flows, cash pooling and intercompany loan arrangements within the UK&I Group.

The UK&I Group has remained resilient throughout the adverse changes in the economic environment as a result of tight management of cash and balance sheet, and strong retention of existing contracts, alongside the spread of business across food and facilities management services, and across public and private sector clients as well as the strong inflation management processes in place. In addition, the UK&I Group continues to see opportunities for organic growth with new contracts in the pipeline. However, we remain prepared for further macro-economic impacts with agility, good commercial management, and careful cost control continuing to be critical.

To inform the basis of preparation of these accounts, the directors have considered cash and profit forecasts of the UK&I Group for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements, based on the facts we have as at the date of approval of these financial statements. These forecasts include a severe but plausible downside scenario which models a deterioration in gross margin as a result of operational performance, a downturn in revenues due to contracts of key clients not being renewed and the under recovery of inflation. The forecasts indicate that the UK&I Group will continue to be resilient in the current macro-economic environment. Routine peaks in cash requirements during the trading cycle will be funded from an overdraft facility with the parent company, Sodexo S.A., if necessary. In a worst-case scenario, the Company could draw upon additional funding from its ultimate parent company to enable it to meet its liabilities as they fall due during the 12 month period from the signing of these accounts.

Sodexo S.A., which currently has a strong credit rating of Baa1 from Moody’s Investors Service, has indicated its intention, by a letter of support, to continue to make available such funds as are needed by the Company during the going concern assessment period. As with any company placing reliance on other group entities for financial support, the directors acknowledge that there can be no certainty that this support will continue although, at the date of approval of these financial statements, they have no reason to believe that it will not do so.

Based on these analyses and facts, the directors believe that the Company will be able to continue to meet its liabilities as they fall due for at least the 12 month period following the date of approval of these financial statements and therefore have prepared the financial statements on a going concern basis.

 
2.4

Turnover

Turnover is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Company and the revenue can be reliably measured. Turnover is measured as the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates, value added tax and other sales taxes. The following criteria must also be met before revenue is recognised:

Page 20

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

2.Accounting policies (continued)


2.4
Turnover (continued)

Sale of goods

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when all of the following conditions are satisfied: 
the Company has transferred the significant risks and rewards of ownership to the buyer;
the Company retains neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over the goods sold;
the amount of revenue can be measured reliably;
it is probable that the Company will receive the consideration due under the transaction; and
the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.

Rendering of services

Revenue from a contract to provide services is recognised in the period in which the services are provided in accordance with the stage of completion of the contract when all of the following  conditions are satisfied:
the amount of revenue can be measured reliably;
it is probable that the Company will receive the consideration due under the contract;
the stage of completion of the contract at the end of the reporting period can be measured reliably; and
the costs incurred and the costs to complete the contract can be measured reliably.

The Company's turnover represents the value of meals supplied during the year. Payment for these is either received in advance via cashless systems, on the day in cash, or later by invoicing to relevant bodies in respect of recorded meals sold. In all cases, turnover is recognised at the point of delivery of meals to recipients.

 
2.5

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets under the cost model are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management.

Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.

The estimated useful lives range as follows:

Plant and machinery
-
3-5 years
Motor vehicles
-
4 years
Fixtures and fittings
-
3-5 years

The assets' residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted prospectively if appropriate, or if there is an indication of a significant change since the last reporting date.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Page 21

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

2.Accounting policies (continued)

  
2.6

Client contracutal arrangements

Contractual arrangements with clients may provide for a financial commitment by the Company. For example, the Company may agree to finance the purchase of equipment or fixtures on the client site that are necessary to fulfil service obligations, or it may make an upfront financial contribution. These contributions are recognised as an asset within accrued income at the inception of the contract, with a corresponding provision within other creditors, and released as a deduction from revenue over the life of the contract. The provision is offset against any purchase of equipment, or upon invoicing from the customer. The amortisation period is in in line with the contract duration but may be amortised over a longer period if the contract duration permits.

  
2.7

Impairment of assets

At each reporting date, the Company reviews the carrying value of its plant and equipment 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.

The 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 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. Any resulting changes are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the period to which they relate.

 
2.8

Stocks

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value, being the estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost is based on the cost of purchase on a first in, first out basis.

At each reporting date, stocks are assessed for impairment. If stock is impaired, the carrying amount is reduced to its selling price less costs to sell. The impairment loss is recognised immediately in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

 
2.9

Debtors

Short-term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. Loans receivable are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

 
2.10

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without penalty on notice of not more than 24 hours. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value.

 
2.11

Creditors

Short-term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Page 22

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

2.Accounting policies (continued)

 
2.12

Finance costs

Finance costs are charged to profit or loss over the term of the debt using the effective interest method so that the amount charged is at a constant rate on the carrying amount. Issue costs are initially recognised as a reduction in the proceeds of the associated capital instrument.

 
2.13

Operating leases

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income on a straight line basis over the lease term.

Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to sign an operating lease are recognised on a straight line basis over the lease term.

 
2.14

Finance leases

Assets obtained under hire purchase contract and finance leases are capitalised as tangible fixed assets. Assets acquired by finance lease are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and their useful lives. Finance leases are those where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership are assumed by the Company. Obligations under such agreements are included in creditors net of the finance charge allocated to future periods. The finance element of the rental payment is charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income so as to produce a constant periodic rate of charge on the net obligation outstanding in each period.

 
2.15

Pensions

Defined contribution pension plan
The Company operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the Company pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the Company has no further payments obligations.
The contributions are recognised as an expense in the Statement of Comprehensive Income when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals as a liability in the Statement of Financial Position. The assets of the plan are held separately from the Company in independently administered funds.

Multi-employer pension plans
The Company contributes to various local government pension schemes on behalf of its employees. It is not possible or practicable for the Company to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the plans as defined benefit plans and it therefore accounts for the plans as a defined contribution plans.

 
2.16

Interest income

Interest income is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income using the effective interest method.

Page 23

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

2.Accounting policies (continued)

 
2.17

Current and deferred taxation

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, except that a change attributable to an item of income and expense recognised as other comprehensive income or to an item recognised directly in equity is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date in the countries where the Company operates and generates income.

Deferred tax balances are recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed by the statement of financial position date, except that:

The recognition of deferred tax assets is limited to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits; and
Any deferred tax balances are reversed if and when all conditions for retaining associated tax allowances have been met.

Deferred tax is determined using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

  
2.18

Financial instruments

The Company only enters into basic financial instruments transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other debtors and creditors and loans to related parties.

Debt instruments (other than those wholly repayable or receivable within one year), including loans and other accounts receivable and payable, are initially measured at present value of the future cash flows and subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Debt instruments that are payable or receivable within one year, typically trade debtors and creditors, are measured, initially and subsequently, at the undiscounted amount of the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received. However, if the arrangements of a short-term instrument constitute a financing transaction, like the payment of a trade debt deferred beyond normal business terms or in case of an out-right short-term loan that is not at market rate, the financial asset or liability is measured, initially at the present value of future cash flows discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument and subsequently at amortised cost, unless it qualifies as a loan from a director in the case of a small company, or a public benefit entity concessionary loan.

Financial assets that are measured at cost and amortised cost are assessed at the end of each reporting period for objective evidence of impairment. If objective evidence of impairment is found, an impairment loss is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

For financial assets measured at amortised cost, the impairment loss is measured as the difference between an asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated cash flows discounted at the asset's original effective interest rate. If a financial asset has a variable interest rate, the discount rate for measuring any impairment loss is the current effective interest rate determined under the contract.

Page 24

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

3.


Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgement in applying the Company's accounting policies.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are reasonable under the circumstances. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.

The estimates and judgements that have the most material impact on the financial performance and position of the Company are as follows:

(i) Impairment of trade debtors

Provision is made for doubtful trade debtors. This provision requires management's judgement as to whether circumstances exist which indicate that trade debtors may not be recoverable in full. This judgement is considered to be material on account of the balance of trade debtors being material to the Company's Statement of Financial Position.

(ii) Tangible fixed assets

The Company uses various tangible fixed assets to support the delivery of its services to clients. Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives. Accounting policies for depreciation are intended to reflect management's estimation of the useful lives of the Company's tangible fixed assets. Management periodically reviews these estimates to ensure they remain appropriate.


4.


Turnover

The whole of the turnover is attributable to the Company's principal activity and is derived from the provision of catering services within the education sector. All turnover arose within the United Kingdom.

2024
2023
(As restated)
£
£

United Kingdom
28,965,769
26,090,512

28,965,769
26,090,512


Page 25

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

5.


Operating loss

The operating loss is stated after charging:

2024
2023
(As restated)
£
£

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets: owned by the company
390,651
477,237

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets: on finance leases
39,952
103,005

Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets
1,344
145,426


6.


Auditor's remuneration

During the year, the Company obtained the following services from the Company's auditor:


2024
2023
£
£

Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the Company's financial statements
47,500
39,088


7.


Employees

Staff costs, including directors' remuneration, were as follows:


2024
2023
(As restated)
£
£

Wages and salaries
15,694,573
13,473,206

Social security costs
882,857
691,444

Pension costs
821,879
556,284

17,399,309
14,720,934


The average monthly number of employees, including the directors, during the year was as follows:


        2024
        2023
            No.
            No.







Direct labour and supervision
1,010
971



Management
45
32

1,055
1,003

Page 26

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

8.


Directors' remuneration

2024
2023
£
£

Directors' emoluments
72,668
45,507

Company contributions to defined contribution pension schemes
5,867
5,236

78,535
50,743


During the year retirement benefits were accruing to 3 directors (2023 - 3) in respect of defined contribution pension schemes.

The amounts disclosed for directors' remuneration represent an allocation of total UK&I director remuneration. The Company's directors are remunerated through other entities in the group of companies headed by Sodexo S.A. Directors' remuneration is allocated to a company based on the proportion of a directors' time spent concerning matters relating to that company.


9.


Interest receivable

2024
2023
£
£


Interest receivable from bank
362,437
377,980

362,437
377,980


10.


Interest payable and similar expenses

2024
2023
£
£


Finance leases and hire purchase contracts
119
3,155

119
3,155

Page 27

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

11.


Taxation


2024
2023
(As restated)
£
£

Corporation tax


Current tax credit on loss for the year
(606,015)
(613,142)

Adjustments in respect of previous periods
(12,144)
(27,903)


(618,159)
(641,045)


Total current tax credit
(618,159)
(641,045)

Deferred tax


Origination and reversal of timing differences
(240,222)
(84,697)

Adjustments in respect of prior periods
13,689
34,726

Impact of rate change
-
(13,720)

Total deferred tax
(226,533)
(63,691)


Tax credit on loss on ordinary activities
(844,692)
(704,736)

Factors affecting tax charge for the year

The tax credit for the year is lower than (2023 - lower than) the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of25% (2023 - 21.515%). The differences are explained below:

2024
2023
(As restated)
£
£


Loss on ordinary activities before tax
(3,387,621)
(3,282,967)


Loss on ordinary activities multiplied by effective rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25% (2023 - 21.515%)
(846,905)
(706,332)

Effects of:


Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
668
12,473

Enhanced tax relief
-
(3,980)

Adjustments to tax charge in respect of prior periods
1,545
6,823

Impact of rate change
-
(13,720)

Total tax credit for the year
(844,692)
(704,736)

Page 28

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
 
11.Taxation (continued)


Factors that may affect future tax charges

The company is a member of the Sodexo S.A. Group which is expected to be a MNE within the scope of Pillar Two. The Group has carried out preliminary work and does not anticipate any significant impact from this measure in the UK.  As at 31 August 2024, no deferred tax has been recognised in application of the amendment to FRS102 concerning the mandatory exemption from recognition of deferred tax in the financial statements in relation to Pillar Two income tax.


12.


Tangible fixed assets





Plant and machinery
Motor vehicles
Fixtures and fittings
Total

£
£
£
£



Cost or valuation


At 1 September 2023 (As restated - see note 21)
2,579,419
995,078
806,209
4,380,706


Additions
18,418
-
9,777
28,195


Transfers intra group
-
-
76,700
76,700


Disposals
(2,217)
-
-
(2,217)



At 31 August 2024

2,595,620
995,078
892,686
4,483,384



Depreciation


At 1 September 2023 (As restated - see note 21)
1,959,003
938,750
389,779
3,287,532


Charge for the year on owned assets
217,160
15,386
158,105
390,651


Charge for the year on finance lease assets  
-
39,952
-
39,952


Transfers intra group
-
-
4,168
4,168


Disposals
(873)
-
-
(873)



At 31 August 2024

2,175,290
994,088
552,052
3,721,430



Net book value



At 31 August 2024
420,330
990
340,634
761,954



At 31 August 2023
620,416
56,328
416,430
1,093,174

The net book value of assets held under finance lease agreements is £Nil (2023: £39,952).

Page 29

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

13.


Stocks

2024
2023
£
£

Raw materials and consumables
353,470
192,179

353,470
192,179


Stock recognised in cost of sales during the year as an expense was £9,093,707 (2023: £9,323,055).


14.


Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year

2024
2023
(As restated)
£
£

Due after more than one year

Accrued income
708,746
408,971

708,746
408,971


2024
2023
(As restated)
£
£

Due within one year

Trade debtors
3,054,805
2,465,922

Amounts owed by group undertakings
3,636,614
3,326,642

Other debtors
91,880
132,886

Prepayments and accrued income
730,178
542,419

Tax recoverable
1,257,122
638,963

Deferred taxation (note 17)
287,594
61,061

9,058,193
7,167,893


No interest is receivable on amounts due from group undertakings, they are unsecured and repayable on demand.

Page 30

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

15.


Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

2024
2023
(As restated)
£
£

Trade creditors
785,579
1,927,102

Amounts owed to group undertakings
8,363,058
18,014,238

Other taxation and social security
2,369,381
743,605

Obligations under finance lease and hire purchase contracts
-
82,929

Other creditors
1,636,638
937,913

Accruals and deferred income
1,181,249
1,137,336

14,335,905
22,843,123


No interest is payable on amounts owed to group undertakings, they are unsecured and repayable on demand.

Obligations that were due under finance leases were secured on those assets to which they relate.  


16.


Finance lease obligations


Minimum lease payments under hire purchase fall due as follows:

2024
2023
£
£


Within one year
-
82,929

-
82,929
Page 31

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024

17.


Deferred taxation




2024


£






At beginning of year
61,061


Credited to Statement of Comprehensive income (see note 11)
226,533



At end of year
287,594

The deferred tax asset is made up as follows:

2024
2023
£
£


Accelerated capital allowances
60,634
(28,878)

Short term timing differences
226,960
89,939

287,594
61,061


18.


Share capital

2024
2023
£
£
Authorised, allotted, called up and fully paid



5,850 (2023 - 5,850) Ordinary shares of £1.00 each
5,850
5,850

The Company has one class of ordinary shares and each share carries one voting right per share, but no right to fixed income. 



19.


Reserves

Other reserves

Other reserves includes the nominal value of own shares purchased.

Profit and loss account

The profit and loss account includes all current and prior period retained profits and losses.


20.


Related party transactions

The Company is exempt under the terms of FRS 102 from disclosing transactions with entities that are wholly-owned members of the Group headed by Sodexo S.A.
Page 32

 
ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP LIMITED
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024


21.


Prior year restatements

The presentation of the Statement of Comprehensive Income has been updated to align with other subsidiary entities across the Sodexo UK&I Group. As a result, we have merged cost of sales and administrative expenses together into operating expenses. There has been no impact on profit or loss as a result of the restatement.

The presentation of the employees note (see note 7) has been updated to remove agency costs not included within payroll for the comparative period. There has been no impact upon the profit and loss or net assets as a result of the restatement.

The directors have reassessed the accounting treatment of financial commitments within certain customer contracts, which should have been accounted for at the inception of the contract as per accounting policy 2.6. Accordingly, turnover, accrued income, other creditors, taxation and tangible fixed assets have been adjusted in the comparative period to reflect the financial commitments for certain client contracts that should have been booked at inception of the contracts. These adjustments have impacted the profit and loss and net assets for the comparative period.

2023 
(As reported)
Restatements
2023 
(As restated)
        £
        £
        £

Turnover

26,186,348

(95,836)

26,090,512
 
Loss after tax

(2,509,034)

18,968

(2,578,231)
 
Tangible fixed assets - Cost

4,642,184

(261,478)

4,380,706
 
Tangible fixed assets - Depreciation

3,295,203

(7,671)

3,287,532
 
Accrued income (Due after more than one year)

-

408,971

408,971
 
Accrued income (Due within one year)

352,674

189,745

542,419
 
Tax recoverable

619,995

18,968

638,963
 
Other creditors

504,839

433,074

937,913
 
Net assets

2,483,195

(69,197)

2,413,698
 


22.


Controlling party

The immediate parent company is AIP Catering Limited, a company registered in England and Wales, by virtue of its ownership of 100% of the share capital of Alliance in Partnership Limited. AIP Catering Limited is wholly owned by Friars 702 Limited.

The Company’s ultimate parent company and controlling party is Sodexo S.A., a company incorporated in France. This is the smallest group of undertakings for which consolidated financial statements are prepared. Copies of the consolidated financial statements can be obtained from The Secretary, Sodexo S.A., 225 Quai de la Bataille de Stalingrad, 92866 Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France.

Page 33