The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The results for the year show a turnover of £35.6m (2023 - £35.4m) with an operating profit of 1.5m (2023 - £999k).
We entered the 2024 trading year with £21m of secured turnover and a further £16m of highly probable projects under negotiation. As the year extended through the commencement of some secured projects were delayed by planning and base build progress. This delay in commencement showed a stabilisation in yearly turnover when compared to 2023 but also represented an increase in secured turnover rolling into 2025 of £26m.
Our commercial focus through the year and the continued strong client and consultant relationships allowed us to maintain our profitability whilst seeing a negligible increase in turnover. These results demonstrate that we have fortified our position as a £35m-£40m business, with the secured turnover into 2025 allowing us to be confident of a positive trend towards achieving our target of being a £45m to £55m business by 2027.
The business remains focussed on our company commitment of ‘Quality without Compromise’ (QWC) focussing us on our performance around delivery, safety and quality, achieved through engendering trust by integration and communication. This is what makes us a contractor of choice in the fit out and refurbishment market.
The strategy in the next year is to continue our increase in turnover towards our declared target whilst ensuring a high level of delivery is maintained and client relationships are nurtured. We will maintain careful financial management with firm control of costs and any associated company risk and invest in our people to motivate them to attain our collective goals.
Key senior personnel and management
The success of QOB’s business plan is predicated on the continued effort of its senior managers. We remain committed in retaining our key senior management team, as the loss of these personnel could affect the success of the company’s operations. We therefore have suitable protocol in place for retention, reward and development. We continue to incentivise and remunerate the high achievers in our business to secure and repeat successful behaviours. We are enhancing our employee benefits to reward our existing teams and to make us a business of choice for the next generation of key appointments into our company.
We continue to offer share ownership to selected employees having already successfully issued shares under approved schemes to high achieving and long serving employees.
The Directors regularly review at board meetings all foreseeable risks and uncertainties that face both our industry and the company specifically, so we can plan and mitigate. The main operational risks to our business performance are:
Market and General economy – The fit-out market continues to re-define itself post-pandemic and the standard of office space being fitted out for employees is high. We are well positioned to deliver fit out for discerning tenants and landlords alike, with the advent of landlord space becoming turnkey with exacting corporate standards to deliver ‘best in class’. This workstream allied with the environmental improvements required on base build plant represent a steady pipeline which we don’t see abating in the near term.
Financial risks – The financial strength of our clients and the trading entity that we contract with requires due diligence. We have internal process for reviewing, accepting and managing any risk associated with funding and payments. We maintain sufficient cash reserves (£2.9m) as working capital to navigate through any financial challenges, without the need for any overdraft or borrowing and forecast our position regularly.
Operational risk - Supply chain liquidity risk is managed through utilising a select supply chain of known performers who demonstrate exacting criteria as part of our vetting process. We do not have any projects or framework agreements that have fixed our supply chain cost or overhead independent of known fixed value and timeframes.
Pricing strategy – The inflationary effect of goods and materials on our supply chain has levelled from last year’s turbulence. We continue to review, with our supply chain, the period that we can fix our prices for prospective projects so that any risk in inflation is managed and mitigated. The size and speed of our projects limit exposure to price fluctuation but warrant continued assessment and review.
Contract - The migration of risk remains apparent in contracts, and we continue to review amendments to conditions that migrate additional liabilities so that we can negotiate an agreeable position on risk and measures required to protect both us and the client.
Health, Safety & Environmental – The legal, moral and reputational damage that could be associated with Health and Safety failure remains as a business risk. We have audited systems of work (ISO accreditation), training plans, in house H&S management and a commitment to exacting H&S performance. We have had no reportable accidents in the year.
Environmental – As a business we are aware that environmental performance is both a regulatory and corporate responsibility. We have accreditation (ISO) regarding our process of environmental management to manage any reputational risk associated with an environmental transgression. Our environmental and sustainability results are:
98% recycling/re-use rate
Zero pollution/environmental incidents
CCS score average 44
90% projects delivered with an environmental accreditation
We have environmental risk assessments that manage the use of suitable materials, waste disposal and discharge.
Regulatory risk – The building safety act has stalled many projects through the planning process, these are predominately new projects to which we have no exposure to the initial build but will monitor the pipeline delays associated with the secondary market of fit out generated through the moves of tenants around and into these new premises. We are competent in delivering as PD and have a supply chain that are capable of operating under the act, both from a design and construction perspective.
The Board continually monitors these key company risks via monthly management meetings that. We continue to invest in both internal and external resource and services that enable us to enhance our offering whilst understanding our risks, reviewing them, and putting plans in place to manage them.
Investment in people and place
We have moved office to provide a contemporary space for our employees, this move represents the growth of our business, and we are able to showcase a high end fit out for our people to enjoy. We continue to invest in the next generation through sponsorship on degree courses and apprenticeships so that we can manage and monitor the development of our employees and integrate them into the workplace.
We have undertaken charitable events both through sponsorship and attendance, we will continue to engage with meaningful charitable investment that show tangible benefits to the recipients.
Future Opportunity - Our client base remains loyal and engaged. We have a high level of repeat client/consultant interaction that continues to give us a pipeline of opportunity. We will continue to focus on people and organisations that we have delivered for and who offer opportunity for future work, this will remain our core focus whilst also being measured in supplementing this pipeline with new clients and consultants.
The commercial office space remains buoyant within our project value banding, allied with the regulatory requirements of MEES driving landlords’ upgrades. We consider ourselves well set to deliver our targets through 2025 and beyond.
On behalf of the board
The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The results for the year are set out on page 10.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £482,275. The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
Principal risks and uncertainties
The company is exposed to a number of risks as a result of global economic changes. The principal risks and uncertainties that the company faces, together with an explanation of how they are mitigated, are as follows:
War in Ukraine- The company has no ongoing business activities in the region and all business relationships were assessed to ensure that they were not impacted by the restrictions in the region.
Inflation - Cost increases have a direct impact on construction costs. Inflation leads to rising prices for various inputs, such as labor, equipment and materials ,. This can put pressure on construction margins.
Liquidity risk
The company seeks to manage liquidity risk to ensure sufficient liquidity is available to meet foreseeable needs. The company continually monitors rolling cash flow forecasts to ensure sufficient cash is available to meet anticipated cash requirements. Interest rate risk At present, given the company does not have any external borrowings and as the inter-group balances do not attract interest, it has been deemed by the directors that the company is not exposed to interest rate risk.
Foreign currency risk
Where the company purchases services from foreign suppliers, the directors mitigate the foreign exchange risk associated with transactions by purchasing these services in sterling as opposed to a foreign currency. Should any transactions take place in these foreign currencies, then the foreign exchange risk is minimal. However, should this change, the Board will take necessary steps to mitigate any such fluctuations, as this is constantly reviewed.
The board continually monitors the financial performance of the company via monthly management meetings, individual job costings and end day forecasting. This, combined with the continued reinvestment of available profits back into the business, provides a strong base from which to operate successfully.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the medium-sized companies exemption.
We have audited the financial statements of QOB Interiors Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 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 significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Basis for 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
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our 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.
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.
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:
- the nature of the industry and sector, whether the financial results of our client differed from the industry trends;
- the legal and regulatory framework that the Company operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements;
- the matters discussed among the audit engagement team during the planning process regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statement and any potential indicators of fraud.
Audit procedures performed included the reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements; discussions with the directors' on their own assessment of the risks that irregularities may occur either as a result of fraud or error, their assessment of compliance with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance, including any potential litigation or claims; performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud; in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; inspection of relevant legal correspondence and board minutes; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.
As a result of our assessment, it is considered that there are no laws and regulations for which non-compliance may be fundamental to the operating aspects of the business. However, laws and regulations considered to have a direct effect on the financial statements included the UK Companies Act, Employment Laws, Tax legislation both UK and local for foreign sales, Pensions legislation, Health & Safety legislation, distance selling regulations and electrical safety standards.
No instances of material non-compliance were identified. However, the likelihood of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is limited by the inherent difficulty in detecting irregularities, the effectiveness of the entity's controls, and the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed. Irregularities that result from fraud might be inherently more difficult to detect than irregularities that result from error. There is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements may not be detected, even though the audit has been planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK).
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
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.
QOB Interiors Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 250 Woodcote Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 0QE.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
This company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements:
Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;
Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for financial instruments not measured at fair value; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;
Section 26 ‘Share based Payment’: Share-based payment expense charged to profit or loss, reconciliation of opening and closing number and weighted average exercise price of share options, how the fair value of options granted was measured, measurement and carrying amount of liabilities for cash-settled share-based payments, explanation of modifications to arrangements;
Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: Compensation for key management personnel.
The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of QOB Holding Company Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from its registered office, 250 Woodcote Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 0QE.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is credited or charged to profit or loss.
The “percentage of completion method” is used to determine the appropriate amount to recognise in a given period. The stage of completion is measured by the proportion of contract costs incurred for work performed to date compared to the estimated total contract costs. Costs incurred in the year in connection with future activity on a contract are excluded from contract costs in determining the stage of completion. These costs are presented as accruals, accrued income, prepayments or other balance items depending on their nature, and provided it is probable they will be recovered.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the company transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
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.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans and loans from fellow group companies that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.
Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Other than the recognition of turnover for construction services which has been detailed under the construction contracts policy, there are no material items in the financial statements where these judgement and estimates have been made.
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was:
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
There are no other key management personnel other than the directors.
The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:
The Finance Act 2021 was substantially enacted in May 2021 and has increased the corporation tax rate to from 19% to 25% with effect from 1 April 2023. The deferred taxation balances have been measured using the rates expected to apply in the reporting periods when the timing differences reverse.
The loans were secured on the assets of the company.
The loans were Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans that the UK government has provided a guarantee on 80%, together with seven months of no interest charges falling in the previous accounting period.
As at 24th December 2024, the directors of QOB Interiors Limited made the decision to repay the full outstanding balance. The loan has now been fully settled and the facility closed.
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the company and movements thereon:
The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund.
Called-up share capital represents the nominal value of shares that have been issued.
Retained earnings includes all current and prior period retained profits less dividends paid. All balances within retained earnings are distributable reserves.
The ultimate controlling company is QOB Holding Company Limited, a company registered in England and Wales.