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Registered number: 03026494
BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
CONTENTS
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Directors' responsibilities statement
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Independent auditor's report
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Statement of changes in equity
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Notes to the financial statements
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The directors present their strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Business review and future developments
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The Company’s principal activity is the provision of programmes aimed at the Care Sector, focused on Early Years via Apprenticeships and a wide range of short courses. The Company is an approved training provider with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) accredited by Skillsfirst and NCFE. The Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eagle Superco Limited. Eagle Superco Limited and its subsidiaries, including this Company, are collectively referred to as the Busy Bees Group of companies (‘the Group’).
Turnover for the year was £5,104,000 (2023: £ 6,096,000) and Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA), as set out below, was £1,057,000 (2023: £ 1,119,000). Profit for the financial year was £ 1,040,000 (2023: £ 1,090,000). The directors are satisfied with the financial position. At December 2024 Shareholder’s funds were £4,939,000 (2023: £3,899,000). Turnover decreased as a result of fewer apprentices on programmes and a reduction in revenue from short course activity. EBITDA and profit for the year were lower than 2023 due to factors mentioned above.
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Depreciation on tangible fixed assets
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EBITDA is considered an appropriate performance metric by the Directors as it is a good indication of the cash generated by the business. EBITDA has decreased in the year as a result of fewer numbers of apprentices. A key performance indicator for Busy Bees Education & Training Limited is the number of apprentices it is currently training. The average number of apprentices in 2024 was 1,593 (2023: 1,990). The decrease in apprentices is a result of a slowdown in the Group's activity with apprenticeships given the pipeline created in 2023 and prior. The Directors expect trading activity to continue on a similar basis in the coming year.
Principal risks and uncertainties
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People risk
The Group and Company has noted an increase in the risk around the recruitment and retention of employees, particularly centre-level qualified employees during the current year and this is currently a principal risk for the Company. This increases the risk of not achieving the desired business performance, growth and quality as the Company may not have enough suitable employees to operate at the desired level and replacement employees may have less experience.
Alongside this, the Group and Company has experienced increased wage and cost pressure due to increasing employee turnover, the increasingly competitive recruitment market and recruitment costs, and has built those into operating plans. The increase in this risk is due in part to macroeconomic factors, reducing the availability of suitably qualified and experienced employees.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Principal risks and uncertainties (continued)
In response to these pressures, additional Board reporting has been introduced to allow the Board to monitor the operational and financial impact more closely and take appropriate action as needed. The Group and Company has access to the Group’s Education and Training capability in the UK, this not only allows the Company to offer high quality training to employees, but also to bring through a pipeline of apprentices to meet demand for childcare professionals.
The Company has a number of employee engagement channels which are utilised to monitor sentiment and adjust strategies, and has made an investment in employee renumeration and employee benefits, particularly for centre employees.
Credit risk
The directors manage the credit risk in the Company by requiring the majority of the trainees who attend courses to pay in advance and by carefully managing receivables exposure on all trainees.
Liquidity risk
The directors have a policy of maintaining larger cash balances than are required for working capital purposes to provide a buffer against liquidity and recessional risks. As a result of this policy and careful working capital management, the directors are able to ensure the Group and Company has excess liquidity and is well placed to pay any suppliers as they fall due.
The risks detailed below are those that are considered to affect the Group and are deemed relevant to this Company.
Market risk
Aside from the key risks facing most businesses, for example those of reputation and competition and market change, the Group, and therefore the company, considers its key risks to be as follows:
∙health and safety for young children in relation to which the Group has a dedicated compliance team that defines policy and procedure and closely monitors and reports compliance performance
∙change of government policy and the implementation of policy at a local level, including free entitlement funding. The Group actively engages in a positive way in many of the territories it operates in, with government at a ministerial, civil service and local level and regularly reviews its compliance with policy and funding requirements. Any changes to the legal and regulatory environment are captured as emerging risks through our risk management process with identified owners and action plans to ensure compliance when the changes come into effect. Our external legal advisers also provide detailed reviews in respect of existing and upcoming legislation that may affect the Group. A failure to comply could lead to unanticipated regulatory penalties or sanctions, as well as damage to our reputation.
∙cyber attack/(s) on our IT environment leading to loss of personal data and company information, as well as ongoing disruption to business operations. The Group has formalised disaster recovery plans, ongoing training, data protection controls and review of IT processes as well as stress testing of IT systems.
∙The medium to longer term impact of the wider economy in relation to recession, cost of living and inflation and the impact on the affordability of childcare which has increased in terms of likelihood and impact during the year.
We do not believe there is any short-term material risk to either our customer base, our workforce or our supply chain other than those described separately above.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
In preparation of the financial statements, the directors have made an assessment of the Group’s and the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position and its exposures to credit risk are set out above. The Company is dependent on the ability of other group companies to settle their obligations to the Company on a timely basis.
The Company made a profit after taxation of £1,040,000 (2023: £1,090,000) and has net current assets of £4,923,000 (2023: £3,860,000) and net assets of £4,939,000 (2023: £3,899,000). The Company is financed through an inter-company facility with other wholly-owned group companies, and there is an unlimited cross guarantee between the Company and other group companies in respect of bank borrowings.
The Company is reliant on the support of its ultimate parent Company, Eagle Superco Limited, to be able to meet its liabilities as they fall due. However, the directors consider that the Company is an integral part of Eagle Superco Limited structure and strategy, which is evidenced by a letter of comfort from Eagle Superco Limited, which states its commitment to provide necessary financial support to ensure that the Company is a going concern for at least twelve months from the date of approval of these financial statements.
The Group has existing TLB loans of £365.9m and €932.1m under its SFA. In addition, the Group has a £100.0m RCF facility. The TLB loans expire in March 2028, the RCF facility expires in September 2027. The TLB loans are a ‘cov-lite’ facility meaning there are no leverage covenant tests on the Group’s financing other than if more than 40% of the Group’s RCF facility is drawn. In this scenario, a leverage covenant of Group indebtedness to EBITDA of 9.85 times would apply.
During the year, the Group drew down on its RCF facility to fund acquisitions completed during the year. The maximum amount drawn at any one time was £38.0m. The amount drawn at 31 December 2024 was £24.0m; an amount of £16.0m is held for bank guarantees leaving available undrawn RCF facility of £60.0m at 31 December 2024.
The Group has prepared detailed forecasts for the period up to September 2026 which demonstrate that the Group is able to generate sufficient cash flows to operate within its financing arrangements. These assumptions are made by management based on recent performance, external forecasts and management’s knowledge and expertise of the Group’s cashflow drivers.
The Group’s forecasts include the effect of changes in government funding from 2025, increases in employment and other costs realised or expected to be realised during 2025 and 2026 and expected increases in income as a result of planned price increases and expected occupancy growth. The forecast excludes any non-committed future acquisitions and developments.
The forecast demonstrated that the Group is able to operate within its financing arrangements. The covenant compliance ratio at December 2024 is 4.4:1 vs a maximum ratio of 9.85:1. EBITDA at December 2024, as defined by the SFA, would need to fall by 54% in order to breach forecast covenant compliance.
The Group cannot predict the indirect impact of any potential economic slowdown or other events, and the below sensitivities are deemed sufficiently robust in light of current global macro-economic developments in the US following the market response to state enforced tariffs. Having reviewed the Group’s principal risks, the most significant impact on the Group’s cashflows would be a combination of the Group’s principal risks materialising in a temporary or prolonged reduction in occupancy, and consequently, cashflows. The current forecast is based on the Group’s 2025 operating plan and thereafter the Group’s longer term forecasts.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Going concern (continued)
To assess any potential impact on the Group’s cashflows and liquidity, various sensitivities have been performed reflecting a reduction in occupancy rates, including occupancy falling up to 7% below the current forecast. This reduction in occupancy is considered a reasonable reduction to sensitise the Group’s cashflows as it is based on the Group’s previous experience of occupancy trends following the impact of global economic slowdowns. In combination with sensitising the impact of a fall in occupancy, the Group has also sensitised the Group’s cashflows in 2026 to the specific principal risk of further cost and interest cost increases. Cost increases of a further 2%, from higher-than-expected employee costs and other supply costs above those already included within the Group’s forecast which reflects all announced UK employment tax changes as at December 2024.
The Group has also sensitised higher than expected interest costs over what has been included in the forecast by modelling a slower than expected fall in SONIA/ EURIBOR rates, with a delay of three months, which is broadly comparable with actual SONIA/ EURIBOR rate performance in 2024. To offset the effect of these items, the Group has modelled the affect of removing planned capital expenditure cashflows on new sites in FY25 and FY26. Under the combination of these sensitivities, and with occupancy falling to 7% below the current forecast, the Group would have a minimum liquidity headroom, inclusive of the available undrawn RCF facility, of £85.2m in the forecast period and would remain in compliance with the leverage test covenant within its SFA.
The impact of other mitigating actions, such as reducing development capital expenditure and reducing head office costs, which could protect cashflow and profitability have not been modelled and would be available as further mitigating actions to preserve liquidity.
In the period to July 2025, the Group has performed ahead of forecast in relation to cashflows, occupancy and costs. At July 2025 the Group has no additional amounts drawn of the RCF, but £16.0m held for guarantees and therefore has £84.0m of available RCF.
Accordingly, the directors have made inquiries with the directors of the Group and as a result of these inquiries noted that there were no issues around the Group’s ability to continue as a Going Concern and that the Group continued to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its annual report and financial statements.
After making enquiries and taking account of the factors noted above, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company will have access to adequate resources to continue in existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Company continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and financial statements.
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
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. Details of the directors’ assessment of future developments, going concern and financial risk management and principal risks are set out in the strategic report.
The profit for the year, after taxation, amounted to £1,040,000 (2023 - £1,090,000).
The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend (2023: £nil).
Post balance sheet events
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There are no post balance sheet events.
The directors who served during the year and up to the date of this report were:
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A A Bromirski (resigned 7 February 2024)
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Qualifying third party indemnity provisions
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The Company has made qualifying third party indemnity provisions for the benefit of its directors, which were made during the year and remain in force at the date of this report. The provisions made by the company are in force for the benefit of one or more directors of associated companies.
Energy and carbon reporting
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The Company has taken advantage of the exemption in Part 7A of schedule 7 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 from the carbon reporting disclosure as it is a subsidiary undertaking and is included in the consolidated financial statements of Eagle Midco Limited and Eagle Superco Limited. See note 16 for further details.
During the year, there were no political donations (2023: £nil).
During the year, there were no charity contributions (2023: £nil).
Disclosure of information to auditor
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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.
This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of s418 of the Companies Act 2006.
Deloitte LLP are deemed to be reappointed as the Company's auditor s487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
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.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'. Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
∙select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
∙make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
∙prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and 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.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
Report on the audit of the financial statements
Opinion
In our opinion the financial statements of Busy Bees Education & Training Limited (the 'company'):
∙give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its profit for the year then ended;
∙have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland"; and
∙have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006
We have audited the financial statements which comprise:
∙the profit and loss account;
∙the balance sheet;
∙the statement of changes in equity; and
∙the related notes 1 to 16
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).
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 Financial Reporting Council's (the 'FRC's') Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the FRC's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
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.
We considered the nature of the company's industry and its control environment, and reviewed the company's documentation of their policies and procedures relating to fraud and compliance with laws and regulations. We also enquired of management and the directors about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, including those that are specific to the company's business sector.
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the company operates in, and identified the key laws and regulations that:
∙had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. These included the UK Companies Act and tax legislation; and
∙do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the company's ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty.
We discussed among the audit engagement team including relevant internal specialists such as tax, valuations, and IT specialists regarding the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements.
In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluated the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to the risks identified included the following:
∙reviewing financial statement disclosures by testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements;
∙performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud;
∙enquiring of management and in-house legal counsel concerning actual and potential litigation and claims, and instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations; and
∙reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
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.
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 any material misstatements in the Strategic report or the Directors' report.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report in respect of the following matters 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.
We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Joseph Darby, FCA
For and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Statutory Auditor
Birmingham, United Kingdom
26 August 2025
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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Profit for the financial year
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All amounts relate to continuing activities.
There were no recognised gains and losses for 2024 or 2023 other than those included in the profit and loss account, so no separate statement of other comprehensive income is presented.
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The notes on pages 14 to 26 form part of these financial statements.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
REGISTERED NUMBER: 03026494
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
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Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
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Total assets less current liabilities
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The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf on 26 August 2025.
The notes on pages 14 to 26 form part of these financial statements.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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Profit and total comprehensive income for the year
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Profit and total comprehensive income for the year
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The notes on pages 14 to 26 form part of these financial statements.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1.Accounting policies
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Basis of preparation of financial statements
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Busy Bees Education & Training Limited ("the Company") is a Company incorporated in England, United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006. The Company is a private Company limited by shares and is registered in England. The address of the Company’s registered office is shown on page 6.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value, and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102) issued by the Financial Reporting Council and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.
Functional currency
The functional currency is pounds sterling as that is the currency of the economic environment in which the Company operates.
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Financial Reporting Standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions
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The Company meets the definition of a qualifying entity under FRS 102 and advantage has been taken of certain of the disclosure exemptions set out in paragraph 1.12 of that standard. Accordingly, the following disclosures have not been made in these financial statements:
∙financial instruments as otherwise required by section 11 of FRS 102;
∙a cash flow statement as otherwise required by section 7 of FRS 102;
∙key management personnel compensation as otherwise required by paragraph 33.7 of FRS 102; and
∙exemption from related party transactions with other wholly owned subsidiaries of Eagle Superco Limited in line with FRS 102 paragraph 33.1A.
In preparation of the financial statements, the directors have made an assessment of the Group’s and the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position and its exposures to credit risk are set out above. The Company is dependent on the ability of other group companies to settle their obligations to the Company on a timely basis.
The Company made a profit after taxation of £1,040,000 (2023: £1,090,000) and has net current assets of £4,923,000 (2023: £3,860,000) and net assets of £4,939,000 (2023: £3,899,000). The Company is financed through an inter-company facility with other wholly-owned group companies, and there is an unlimited cross guarantee between the Company and other group companies in respect of bank borrowings.
The Company is reliant on the support of its ultimate parent Company, Eagle Superco Limited, to be able to meet its liabilities as they fall due. However, the directors consider that the Company is an integral part of Eagle Superco Limited structure and strategy, which is evidenced by a letter of comfort from Eagle Superco Limited, which states its commitment to provide necessary financial support to ensure that the Company is a going concern for at least twelve months from the date of approval of these financial statements.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1.Accounting policies (continued)
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Going concern (continued)
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The Group has existing TLB loans of £365.9m and €932.1m under it’s SFA. In addition, the Group has a £100.0m RCF facility. The TLB loans expire in March 2028, the RCF facility expires in September 2027. The TLB loans are a ‘cov-lite’ facility meaning there are no leverage covenant tests on the Group’s financing other than if more than 40% of the Group’s RCF facility is drawn. In this scenario, a leverage covenant of Group indebtedness to EBITDA of 9.85 times would apply.
During the year, the Group drew down on its RCF facility to fund acquisitions completed during the year. The maximum amount drawn at any one time was £38.0m. The amount drawn at 31 December 2024 was £24.0m; an amount of £16.0m is held for bank guarantees leaving available undrawn RCF facility of £60.0m at 31 December 2024.
The Group has prepared detailed forecasts for the period up to September 2026 which demonstrate that the Group is able to generate sufficient cash flows to operate within its financing arrangements. These assumptions are made by management based on recent performance, external forecasts and management’s knowledge and expertise of the Group’s cashflow drivers.
The Group’s forecasts include the effect of changes in government funding from 2025, increases in employment and other costs realised or expected to be realised during 2025 and 2026 and expected increases in income as a result of planned price increases and expected occupancy growth. The forecast excludes any non-committed future acquisitions and developments. The forecast demonstrated that the Group is able to operate within its financing arrangements. The covenant compliance ratio at December 2024 is 4.4:1 vs a maximum ratio of 9.85:1. EBITDA at December 2024, as defined by the SFA, would need to fall by 54% in order to breach forecast covenant compliance.
The Group cannot predict the indirect impact of any potential economic slowdown or other events, and the below sensitivities are deemed sufficiently robust in light of current global macro-economic developments in the US following the market response to state enforced tariffs. Having reviewed the Group’s principal risks, the most significant impact on the Group’s cashflows would be a combination of the Group’s principal risks materialising in a temporary or prolonged reduction in occupancy, and consequently, cashflows. The current forecast is based on the Group’s 2025 operating plan and thereafter the Group’s longer term forecasts.
To assess any potential impact on the Group’s cashflows and liquidity, various sensitivities have been performed reflecting a reduction in occupancy rates, including occupancy falling up to 7% below the current forecast. This reduction in occupancy is considered a reasonable reduction to sensitise the Group’s cashflows as it is based on the Group’s previous experience of occupancy trends following the impact of global economic slowdowns. In combination with sensitising the impact of a fall in occupancy, the Group has also sensitised the Group’s cashflows in 2026 to the specific principal risk of further cost and interest cost increases. Cost increases of a further 2%, from higher-than-expected employee costs and other supply costs above those already included within the Group’s forecast which reflects all announced UK employment tax changes as at December 2024.
The Group has also sensitised higher than expected interest costs over what has been included in the forecast by modelling a slower than expected fall in SONIA/ EURIBOR rates, with a delay of three months, which is broadly comparable with actual SONIA/ EURIBOR rate performance in 2024. To offset the effect of these items, the Group has modelled the affect of removing planned capital expenditure cashflows on new sites in FY25 and FY26. Under the combination of these sensitivities, and with occupancy falling to 7% below the current forecast, the Group would have a minimum liquidity headroom, inclusive of the available undrawn RCF facility, of £85.2m in the forecast period and would remain in compliance with the leverage test covenant within its SFA.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1.Accounting policies (continued)
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Going concern (continued)
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The impact of other mitigating actions, such as reducing development capital expenditure and reducing head office costs, which could protect cashflow and profitability have not been modelled and would be available as further mitigating actions to preserve liquidity.
In the period to July 2025, the Group has performed ahead of forecast in relation to cashflows, occupancy and costs. At July 2025 the Group has no additional amounts drawn of the RCF, but £16.0m held for guarantees and therefore has £84.0m of available RCF.
Accordingly, the directors have made inquiries with the directors of the Group and as a result of these inquiries noted that there were no issues around the Group’s ability to continue as a Going Concern and that the Group continued to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its annual report and financial statements.
After making enquiries and taking account of the factors noted above, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company will have access to adequate resources to continue in existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Company continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and financial statements.
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Company after deducting all of its liabilities.
All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset in the statement of financial position when, and only when there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the Company intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Debt instruments which meet the following conditions are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method:
a)The contractual return to the holder is (i) a fixed amount; (ii) a positive fixed rate or a positive variable rate; or (iii) a combination of a positive or a negative fixed rate and a positive variable rate.
The contract may provide for repayments of the principal or the return to the holder (but not both) to be linked to a single relevant observable index of general price inflation of the currency in which the debt instrument is denominated, provided such links are not leveraged.
b)The contract may provide for repayments of the principal or the return to the holder (but not both) to be linked to a single relevant observable index of general price inflation of the currency in which the debt instrument is denominated, provided such links are not leveraged.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1.Accounting policies (continued)
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Financial instruments (continued)
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c)The contract may provide for a determinable variation of the return to the holder during the life of the instrument, provided that (i) the new rate satisfies condition (a) and the variation is not contingent on future events other than (1) a change of a contractual variable rate; (2) to protect the holder against credit deterioration of the issuer; (3) changes in levies applied by a central bank or arising from changes in relevant taxation or law; or (ii) the new rate is a market rate of interest and satisfies condition (a).
d)There is no contractual provision that could, by its terms, result in the holder losing the principal amount or any interest attributable to the current period or prior periods.
e)Contractual provisions that permit the issuer to prepay a debt instrument or permit the holder to put it back to the issuer before maturity are not contingent on future events, other than to protect the holder against the credit deterioration of the issuer or a change in control of the issuer, or to protect the holder or issuer against changes in levies applied by a central bank or arising from changes in relevant taxation or law.
f)Contractual provisions may permit the extension of the term of the debt instrument, provided that the return to the holder and any other contractual provisions applicable during the extended term satisfy the conditions of paragraphs (a) to (c).
Debt instruments that are classified as payable or receivable within one year on initial recognition and which meet the above conditions are measured at the undiscounted amount of the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received, net of impairment.
With the exception of some hedging instruments, other debt instruments not meeting these conditions are measured at fair value through profit or loss.
Financial assets are derecognised when and only when a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, b) the Company transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or c) the Company, despite having retained some, but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has transferred control of the asset to another party.
Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.
Assets, other than those measured at fair value, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each balance sheet date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss as described below.
Non-financial assets
An asset is impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after initial recognition, the estimated recoverable value of the asset has been reduced. The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use.
Where indicators exist for a reversals of impairment losses, the prior impairment loss is tested to determine reversal. An impairment loss is reversed on an individual impaired asset to the extent that the revised recoverable value does not lead to a revised carrying amount higher than the carrying value had no impairment been recognised.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1.Accounting policies (continued)
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Impairment of assets (continued)
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Where a reversal of impairment occurs in respect of a CGU, the reversal is applied first to the assets (other than goodwill) of the CGU on a pro-rata basis and then to any goodwill allocated to that CGU.
Financial assets
For financial assets carried at amortised cost, the amount of an impairment is the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate. For financial assets carried at cost less impairment, the impairment loss is the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the best estimate of the amount that would be received for the asset if it were to be sold at the reporting date.
Where indicators exist for a reversal of impairment losses, and the reversal can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the prior impairment loss is tested to determine reversal. An impairment loss is reversed on an individual impaired financial asset to the extent that the revised recoverable value does not lead to a revised carrying amount higher than the carrying value had no impairment been recognised.
Government grants are recognised based on the accrual model and are measured at the fair value of the asset received or receivable. Grants are classified as relating either to revenue or to assets. Grants relating to revenue are recognised in income over the year in which the related costs are recognised. Government grants relating to the provision of training funding are deferred and credited to the profit and loss account as the related service is provided.
Turnover represents the value of sales, excluding value added tax, and is attributable to the Company's principal activity and arises wholly within the United Kingdom. Training fees paid in advance are held in deferred income and only recognised in the period to which they relate. Where payments are received from customers in advance of services provided, the amounts are recorded as deferred income and included as part of creditors due within one year.
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Such costs include costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of tangible fixed assets, on a straight line basis over the expected useful economic lives of the assets concerned.
The principal annual rates used for this purpose are:
Rentals under operating leases are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term, even if the payments are not made on such a basis. Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to sign an operating lease are similarly spread on straight-line basis over the lease term.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1.Accounting policies (continued)
Current UK corporation tax is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.
Current tax assets and liabilities are offset only when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the amounts and the Company intends either to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date where transactions or events that result in an obligation to pay more tax or a right to pay less tax in the future have occurred at the balance sheet date. Timing differences are differences between the Company's taxable profits and its results as stated in the financial statements that arise from the inclusion of gains and losses in tax assessments in periods different from those in which they are recognised in the financial statements.
Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that, on the basis of all available evidence, it can be regarded as more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits from which the future reversal of the underlying timing differences can be deducted.
When the amount that can be deducted for tax for an asset (other than goodwill) that is recognised in a business combination is less than the value at which it is recognised, a deferred tax liability is recognised for the additional tax that will be paid in respect of that difference. Similarly, a deferred tax asset is recognised for the additional tax that will be avoided because of a difference between the value at which a liability is recognised and the amount that will be assessed for tax. The amount attributed to goodwill is adjusted by the amount of deferred tax recognised.
Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for timing differences arising from investments in subsidiaries and associates, except where the Company is able to control the reversal of the timing difference and it is probable that it will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
Deferred tax is measured using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference. Deferred tax relating to property, plant and equipment carried at deemed cost is provided based on the difference between the accounts and tax base costs. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset only if the Company has a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities.
The Company contributes to a number of money purchase pension schemes. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the Company in an independently administered fund. The pension charge represents the amounts payable by the Company to the schemes during the year. Differences between contributions payable in the year and contributions actually paid are shown as either accruals or prepayments in the balance sheet.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty
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In the application of the Company’s accounting policies, which are described in note 1, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from the sources. The estimates and associated assumptions relate to provisioning against receivables and recognition of grant income and are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future period if the revision affects both current and future periods.
There were no critical accounting judgements or key sources of estimation uncertainty in either the current or prior periods.
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An analysis of turnover by class of business is as follows:
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Provision of training courses
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Modern apprentice grant funding
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All turnover arose within the United Kingdom.
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The profit before tax is stated after charging:
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Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
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The fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements of £21,000 (2023: £18,000) were borne by another wholly-owned Group Company. There were no non-audit fees in the year (2023: £nil).
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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Staff costs, including directors' remuneration, were as follows:
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Cost of defined contribution scheme
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The average monthly number of employees, excluding the directors, during the year was as follows:
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Administrative and management
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Company contributions to defined contribution pension schemes
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During the year retirement benefits were accruing to 1 director (2023 - 1) in respect of defined contribution pension schemes.
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3 directors (2023: 3 directors) were remunerated in the current year by a fellow wholly-owned Group Company and do not provide services directly to the Company. 1 director (2023: 1 director) was remunerated by the Company, as shown above.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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Origination and reversal of timing differences
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Adjustment in respect of prior periods
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Factors affecting tax charge for the year
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The difference between the total tax charge shown above and the amount calculated by applying the standard rate of UK corporation tax of 25.00% (2023 - 23.52%) to the profit before tax is as follows:
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Profit before tax multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25.00% (2023 - 23.52%)
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Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
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Adjustment in respect of prior periods
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Effects of group relief for nil consideration
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Total tax charge for the year
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Factors that may affect future tax charges
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The standard rate of tax applied to the reported profit before tax is 25.00% (2023: 23.52%).
At 31 December 2024 the Company has unrecognised trading losses of £nil (2023: £nil) available to offset against certain future profits.
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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Charge for the year on owned assets
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Amounts falling due within one year
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Amounts owed by group undertakings
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Prepayments and accrued income
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Deferred taxation (note 11)
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
9.Debtors (continued)
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There is no repayment date attached to the amount owed by group undertakings. There was no interest charged on amounts owed by group undertakings (2023: nil%). The amounts owed relate to trading balances with other wholly-owned group companies.
Amounts owed by group undertakings are repayable on demand; however, the Company do not anticipate needing to recall any funds in the next 12 months.
Other debtors of £233,000 (2023: £361,000) relate to modern apprentice funding due to the Company from funding providers.
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Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
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Amounts owed to group undertakings
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Other taxation and social security
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Accruals and deferred income
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There is no repayment date attached to the amount owed to group undertakings, they are intercompany trading balances with other wholly-owned group companies. There was no interest charged on the amounts owed to group undertakings (2023: nil).
Within accruals and deferred income is deferred income of £23,000 (2023: £60,000), which relates to course income in relation to future periods.
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Credited to profit or loss (note 7)
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Deferred tax balances at 31 December 2024 have been calculated at 25.00% (2023: 25.00%). The deferred tax provision is as follows and all items are expected to reverse within 12 months:
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
11.Deferred tax asset (continued)
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Fixed assets timing differences
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Other short term timing differences
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Deferred tax assets of £8,000 (2023: £4,000) are expected to reverse within 12 months, with the remainder recoverable after more than 12 months.
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Authorised, allotted, called up and fully paid
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2 (2023 - 2) Ordinary shares of £1 each
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The Group operates a money purchase scheme for the benefit of certain employees. Contributions are charged to the profit and loss account in the year to which they relate. The charge in the year was £72,000 (2023: £85,000).
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(a) The Company had no capital commitments at 31 December 2024 (2023: £nil).
(b) The Company provides an unlimited cross guarantee to other group companies in respect of bank borrowings. Total group bank borrowings at 31 December 2024 are £1,066.8m (2023: £1,111.8m).
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(c) At 31 December 2024 the Company had future minimum lease payments due under non-cancellable operating leases for each of the following periods:
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Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years
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BUSY BEES EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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Related party transactions
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The Company has taken the exemption available under FRS 102 not to disclose related party transactions with other 100% controlled members of the same Group. There were no other related party transactions in the year.
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The Company’s immediate parent undertaking is Busy Bees Holdings Limited. The largest Group into which the Company is consolidated is the Group headed by Eagle Superco Limited and the smallest Group into which the Company is consolidated is the Group headed by Eagle Midco Limited. Busy Bees Holdings Limited, Eagle Superco Limited and Eagle Midco Limited are all incorporated in United Kingdom and registered at St Matthews, Shaftsbury Drive, Burntwood, Staffordshire, WS7 9QP. The consolidated financial statements of Eagle Superco Limited can be obtained from the Company’s registered address above. The ultimate parent Company is Eagle Superco Limited and the ultimate controlling party is the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan incorporated in Canada, its registered address is 5650 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 2H5.
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