Notorious Communications Ltd

Registered number

11794737

Report and Accounts

31 December 2024

Notorious Communications Ltd
Registered number:			11794737
Directors' Report

The directors present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Principal Activities

Executive Summary
At the beginning of the year (January 2nd 2024) we rebranded to Notorious Communications Limited, the rebrand was focused on asserting a clearer more confident position in the market. Notorious Communications is a fully independent media planning and buying agency, founded in 2019, initially incorporated with investor service support delivered by Goodstuff Holdings. The agency experienced a step change in the year bringing all the media buying in-house (previously done by Goodstuff) in preparation for further growth. We have built strong relationships across our diverse client base who fully supported this transition. The impact of this move is reflected in the annual turnover which increased to £15.6m (FY23: £4.3m). In the year we also expanded our service offerings to include Paid Search and Social generating £1.5m turnover, predominately from existing clients. This is a specific area of growth moving into FY25. Gross profit/Notorious Communications revenue was up 48% year on year to £1.7m (+£0.6m: 35% buying uplift, 36% new client wins, 30% organic client growth), this is way ahead of recorded UK Ad market revenue increase of 10.4% and in spite of the challenging economic environment which impacted the activity levels of new client pitching/wins in the year. Two of our new clients onboarded in the year, Whitworths and Morning Foods, expands our client base/expertise within the FMCG market. Cost base increase, predominantly driven by our investment in people (including the full year impact of new starters, weighted towards the end of FY23), as well as investment in tools and systems, raised annual costs by £0.5m to £1.3m (FY23: £0.8m) impacting Operating Profit margins. Operating Profit margins were 23% (FY23: 29%), remaining at healthy levels for the media sector. Balance sheet reserves increased to £0.8m, we are comfortably placed to meet all liabilities and support future growth plans.

Risks and uncertainties
The Board continually monitor our risks and uncertainties, in line with others in the industry, our key risks are fluctuating demand levels of clients, retaining key employees and cost inflation. We minimise our risk by having a diverse client base, being a good employer and constantly monitoring our working capital. Our exposure to any credit risk is low, mitigated by a robust credit control function (debtor days: 14), the debtors spread across numerous clients, as well as having a credit insurance policy in place.

Our People
We provide our partners with experienced teams of elite level talent and are therefore committed to employing the best people, investing in training and development to nurture, retain and bring the best out of our team. As a minimum all our team actively maintain their CPD training levels along with additional training to ensure the team excel in their specialisms, stay up to date with media trends and are able to advise clients to the highest standard. We promote a positive work/life balance for all employees. All our employees are paid fairly and share in our success via a bonus structure. Our commitment to our team as a fair employer is reflected in our staff retention rate of 94%.

Our Commitment to Clients
We are conscious of making decisions that benefit our clients first as well as contributing to a sustainable future for the planet and our industry. Our recently developed TCP: Transparency, Choice and Positivity proposition has been designed to emphasise: - Transparency of all income - Choice centred on client opportunities - Positivity linked to consciously funding higher integrity media environments with measurable sustainability impacts. In 2024 we won both national and international level recognition for excellence in effective outcomes winning industry awards for Park Christmas Savings campaign 2024.

Looking ahead
Management use Key Performance Indicators across the business to monitor performance, we feel this information is commercially sensitive so it has been omitted from this report. The Board remain fully focused to deliver further growth, into FY25 there is a strong focus on business development to build our brand further. There was a more positive start to H1 of FY25, increased pitch opportunities have already resulted in 3 new clients to date.


Directors
The following persons served as directors during the year:

	Jessica Scott
	Nikki Wheatley
	Ben Hayes

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

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





Nikki Wheatley
Director

Notorious Communications Ltd
Profit and Loss Account
for the year ended 31 December 2024


	2024		2023
£		£

Turnover	15,633,834		4,336,866

Cost of sales	(13,914,545)		(3,174,115)

Gross Profit	1,719,289		1,162,751

Administrative expenses	(1,327,434)		(826,421)

Operating Profit	391,855		336,330


Profit before Taxation	391,855		336,330

Tax on Profit	(92,163)		(84,353)

Profit for the financial year	299,692		251,977

Notorious Communications Ltd
Registered number:		11794737
Balance Sheet
as at 31 December 2024

Notes			2024			2023
£				£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	3		18,597			21,879

Current assets
Debtors	4	738,043			347,420
Cash at bank and in hand		2,718,974			1,607,073
		3,457,017			1,954,493

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	5	(2,663,600)			(1,464,050)

Net Current Assets			793,417			490,443

Total assets less current liabilities			812,014			512,322

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital			166			166
Profit and loss account			811,848			512,156

Shareholders' funds			812,014			512,322

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




Nikki Wheatley
Director
Approved by the board on 26 September 2025

Notorious Communications Ltd
Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 31 December 2024


1	Accounting policies

	Basis of preparation
	The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (as applied to small entities by section 1A of the standard).

	Turnover
	Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of discounts and value added taxes. Turnover includes revenue earned from the sale of goods and from the rendering of services. Turnover from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have transferred to the buyer. Turnover from the rendering of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract. The stage of completion of a contract is measured by comparing the costs incurred for work performed to date to the total estimated contract costs.

	Intangible fixed assets
	Intangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative amortisation and any accumulative impairment losses.

	Tangible fixed assets
	Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative depreciation and any accumulative impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over its expected useful life, as follows:

	Freehold buildings			over 50 years
	Leasehold land and buildings			over the lease term
	Plant and machinery			over 5 years
	Fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment			over 5 years

	Investments
	Investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Listed investments are measured at fair value. Unlisted investments are measured at fair value unless the value cannot be measured reliably, in which case they are measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Changes in fair value are included in the profit and loss account.

	Stocks
	Stocks are measured at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost is determined using the first in first out method. The carrying amount of stock sold is recognised as an expense in the period in which the related revenue is recognised.

	Debtors
	Short term debtors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price), less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. Loans and other financial assets are initially recognised at transaction price including any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts.

	Creditors
	Short term creditors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price). Loans and other financial liabilities are initially recognised at transaction price net of any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method.

	Taxation
	A current tax liability is recognised for the tax payable on the taxable profit of the current and past periods. A current tax asset is recognised in respect of a tax loss that can be carried back to recover tax paid in a previous period. Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences between the recognition of income and expenses in the financial statements and their inclusion in tax assessments. Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Deferred tax is measured using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference, except for revalued land and investment property where the tax rate that applies to the sale of the asset is used. Current and deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.

	Provisions
	Provisions (ie liabilities of uncertain timing or amount) are recognised when there is an obligation at the reporting date as a result of a past event, it is probable that economic benefit will be transferred to settle the obligation and the amount of the obligation can be estimated reliably.

	Foreign currency translation
	Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recognised at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. At the end of each reporting period foreign currency monetary items are translated at the closing rate of exchange. Non-monetary items that are measured at historical cost are translated at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. All differences are charged to profit or loss.

	Leased assets
	A lease is classified as a finance lease if it transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership. All other leases are classified as operating leases. The rights of use and obligations under finance leases are initially recognised as assets and liabilities at amounts equal to the fair value of the leased assets or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments. Minimum lease payments are apportioned between the finance charge and the reduction in the outstanding liability using the effective interest rate method. The finance charge is allocated to each period during the lease so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Leased assets are depreciated in accordance with the company's policy for tangible fixed assets. If there is no reasonable certainty that ownership will be obtained at the end of the lease term, the asset is depreciated over the lower of the lease term and its useful life. Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense on a straight line basis over the lease term.

	Pensions
	Contributions to defined contribution plans are expensed in the period to which they relate.


2	Employees					2024		2023
Number							Number

	Average number of persons employed by the company					18		11


3	Tangible fixed assets
		Leasehold Improve-ments		Furniture and Office Equipment		IT Equipment		Total
£			£		£		£
	Cost
	At 1 January 2024	3,635		9,476		24,711		37,822
	Additions	-		-		6,350		6,350
	At 31 December 2024	3,635		9,476		31,061		44,172

	Depreciation
	At 1 January 2024	2,535		4,171		9,237		15,943
	Charge for the year	851		2,189		6,592		9,632
	At 31 December 2024	3,386		6,360		15,829		25,575

	Net book value
	At 31 December 2024	249		3,116		15,232		18,597
	At 31 December 2023	1,100		5,305		15,474		21,879


4	Debtors					2024		2023
£							£

	Trade debtors					597,344		280,129
	Deferred Tax - other					27,000		-
	Other debtors					113,699		67,291
						738,043		347,420

	Amounts due after more than one year included above					27,000		-


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

	Trade creditors					1,448,736		867,836
	Media costs accrual					895,498		253,143
	Credit card control					2,556		11,600
	Taxation and social security costs					278,574		261,267
	Other creditors					38,236		70,204
						2,663,600		1,464,050


6	Other financial commitments					2024		2023
£							£

	Total future minimum payments under non-cancellable operating leases					-		19,046


7	Related party transactions

	During the year, the company made interest-free advances to directors amounting to £50,000 (2023: £30,000). These were repayable on demand and including previous loans a total of £90,000 remained outstanding at 31st December 2024.


8	Other information

	Notorious Communications Ltd is a private company limited by shares and incorporated in England. Its registered office is:
	5th Floor
	Studio 10 Little Lever Street
	Manchester
	M1 1HR