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Registration number: SC342945

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Contents

Company Information | 1
Strategic Report | 2 to 5
Directors' Report | 6
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities | 7
Independent Auditor's Report | 8 to 11
Profit and Loss Account | 12
Balance Sheet | 13
Statement of Changes in Equity | 14
Notes to the Financial Statements | 15 to 28

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Company Information

Directors | N P Board A R Boucher F Herlihy S A L Mogford G Mooney A P Norton M Pierri A A Ryder A C Towle D I White

Company secretary | S Evans

Registered office | 65 Sussex Street Glasgow G41 1DX

Auditors | UHY Ross Brooke Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors Suite I Windrush Court Abingdon Business Park Abingdon Oxfordshire OX14 1SY

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

The directors present their strategic report for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Principal activity

The principal activity of the company is the provision of consultancy and technical services, specifically relating to cultural heritage, for a wide range of clients across the UK. The main services offered by the Company include obtaining and satisfying the requirements of planning and development consent orders.

Fair review of the business

Headland provides services to wide customer base spread across many sectors including transport, property, power, utilities, aggregates, and renewables. Thanks to the quality of service provided, the Company has an excellent reputation and enjoys a healthy level of repeat business, particularly in the areas of geophysics, trial trenching and mitigation. Headland continues to perform strongly in the current year, in line with expectations, and is proving to be a valuable addition to the RSK Group.
The Company's main commercial operations comprise:
- Archaeology contracting - Evaluation, geophysics, excavation, historic building recording, monitoring and archaeological clerk of works;
- Heritage consultancy - Feasibility studies, desk-based assessments, heritage statements, impact assessment and expert witness; and
- Specialist Services - Paleoenvironmental analysis, finds analysis, osteoarchaeology (skeletal biographies), geoarchaeology, community engagement and geomatics.
Since joining the RSK Group, Headland has benefited from cross selling opportunities, both inward and outward, and has utilised the services of RSK's many dedicated support teams. The company's Board also now includes members of both the RSK Group and Headland, providing additional knowledge and expertise to an already strong team.
The company works on around 200 projects each year, of various lengths and sizes, with some lasting just a few weeks and generating c. £10k revenue, to others lasting up to 6 years and generating in excess of £10m.
RSK Group Limited, the ultimate parent of the Company, is a holding company but through subsidiary companies the principal trading activity is that of research and consulting in the areas of environmental science, engineering agriculture, planning, and sustainability - together with the provision of related technical services. The Group is focused on providing services to clients that assist them in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.

Results for the year

Turnover for the year was £17.5m (2024: £14.7m) with an operating profit of £2.0m (2024: £0.7m), giving an operating profit margin of 11% (2024: 5%). The increase in profit is due to a reduction in the levels of work on non-profitable frameworks and increased efficiencies and innovation on other projects. Additional work was also undertaken beyond the business plan, with the increase in planned turnover generating additional profit.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Corporate responsibility

The whole RSK Group fully supports the historic Paris Agreement on climate change which has been signed and acceded to by all 197 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and recognised that this will play a significant role in limiting global temperature increases to well below 2 degrees C above pre-industrialised levels.
Businesses of all sorts are embracing the 17 SDGs recognised by the United Nations in 2015, which represent a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. It is not just about Climate Action, but it is also about providing affordable and clean energy, protecting life on land an on water, ending poverty and famine, and ensuring water supply and sanitation are available to all people.
These fundamental drivers will have great impact on RSK over the next 5 years, both on how we operate ourselves, but also how we support our clients as they evolve in support of the SDGs. To ensure consistent focus on the SDGs we have mapped our Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Route Map against them.
We have never before seen such huge opportunity before us, and we can assist our clients in solving problems by utilising our consulting and technical skills and services.

Employees

The directors recognise that our people are the key to success, and we strive to engage with all our employees, making sure everyone is involved in the development of our business and feels pride in it.
As directors we recognise our responsibilities and are committed to equal opportunities for all employees and applicants, opposing all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination in relation to a protected characteristic. All employees and applicants, whether part time, full time or temporary, will be treated fairly and with respect.
The directors are committed to ensuring that every employee has a working environment that promotes dignity and respect, and where individual differences and contributions of employees are recognised and valued.
The Company is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion being core to our company culture. This is integral to the success of our business and supports our corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts.
As directors it is important to us that we look after the wellbeing of our employees and, along with companies across the RSK Group, have signed the Time to Change Employer pledge, demonstrating our commitment to change the way we all thing and act about mental health in the workplace.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Risk and uncertainty

The directors are required to identify risks that might adversely affect the Company's business in the medium and long-term. The directors have considered the risks to the business and means to manage those risks. The primary risks, and means of risk management, are:
- Failure to maintain a sufficient employee resource at appropriate levels of seniority and experience. The directors recognise that having a sufficient employee resource to undertake projects is critical to the continued success of the Company. To that end, the directors are committed to all the components of Investors In People and seek to be an employer of choice. We aim to hire the most talented of people; we communicate widely and openly, share our Vision and Principles, we train our people and empower them. In this way we plan to look after our clients' needs in an exemplary fashion. The directors monitor people metrics, including retention statistics to identify any trends or issues.
- Termination of projects / failure either to renew Master Service Agreements or the loss of clients, due to poor performance in terms of quality or health and safety. The directors recognise that poor workmanship can result in the loss of a client or be damaging to client relationships. We want to work to the highest technical standards and to the highest standards and to the highest standards in terms of health and safety. To these ends, we undertake regular appraisals with staff, we review projects, we undertake business reviews and peer reviews of projects and deliverables. We operate in accordance with ISO 9001 14001, and 45001. Many of our operations are regulated by compliance with various specific industry codes of practice and standards. Through internal reviews, monitoring of KPIs and a programme of internal audits, problems can be identified and remedied. There has been a very significant focus on communication, education and training to prevent incidents and identify risks at the earliest opportunity.
- Financial risk management. The Company's operations expose it to a variety of financial risks and these risks need to be considered throughout the lifetime of a project. The directors operate an internal review process so that tenders are reviewed before submission to a client. Risk of late payment by clients and bad debts could result in the Company having insufficient cash to pay suppliers in a timely fashion. The directors have considered this and have adequate working capital facilities, allowing for late payments by clients and to minimise financial risk is one of a diversity of operations as set out above with a mix of services, clients, projects and geographical spread of operations.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Key Performance Indicators

The directors monitor several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and debate the company performance relative to those KPI at board meetings and divisional meetings. Examples of KPIs monitored include:
- Net fee income;
- Accidents and Near Misses;
- Positive Interventions to improve safety performance;
- Customer Feedback - both praise and complaints;
- Staff Turnover;
- Utilisation of Staff;
- Gender Pay Gap;
- Cash at Bank; and
- Debtor and Creditor days.
The directors are pleased to report that performance of the company in respect to all KPIs monitored is satisfactory.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 26 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... A A Ryder Director

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Directors' Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Directors of the company

The directors who held office during the year were as follows:

N P Board

A R Boucher

A S Draper (resigned 31 March 2025)

S A L Mogford

G Mooney (appointed 1 January 2025)

A P Norton (appointed 12 July 2024)

M Pierri

A A Ryder

R J Coleman (resigned 12 July 2024)

A C Towle

P F Whipp (resigned 1 January 2025)

D I White (appointed 1 January 2025)

The following director was appointed after the year end:

F Herlihy (appointed 1 April 2025)

Dividends

In the financial year a dividend of £816,000 was paid to RSK Environment Limited (2024: £2,000,000).

Disclosure of information to the auditors

Each director has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information. The directors confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditors are unaware.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 26 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... A A Ryder Director

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for preparing the Annual 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 United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). 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 apply them consistently;

• | make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• | state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

• | 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 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.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 March 2025, which comprise the Profit and Loss Account, Balance Sheet, Statement of Changes in Equity, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

• | give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its profit for the year then ended;
• | have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
• | have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the director's 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 original financial statements were 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 directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matter 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 Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• | the Strategic Report and Directors' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• | adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
• | the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
• | certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
• | we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities set out on page 7, 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.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Auditor 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.
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:

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
- the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
- we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the company through discussions with directors and other management, and from our cumulative audit and commercial knowledge and experience of the company and the sector;
- we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company, including the Companies Act 2006, Taxation Legislation, General Data Protection Rules (GDPR), Anti-Bribery Act, Employment Law and Health & Safety legislation;
- we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
- identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.

We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
- making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected, and alleged fraud; and
- considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
- performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
- tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions; and
- investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
- agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
- enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims; and
- reviewing correspondence with HMRC and analysing legal costs to ascertain if there have been instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: 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.

......................................
Caroline Webster FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of UHY Ross Brooke, Statutory Auditor
Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors
Suite I Windrush Court
Abingdon Business Park
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 1SY

2 October 2025

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Profit and Loss Account for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

| Note | 2025 £ | 2024 £
Turnover | 3 | 17,513,068 | 14,732,368
Cost of sales |  | (13,214,236) | (12,600,159)
Net fee income |  | 4,298,832 | 2,132,209
Administrative expenses |  | (3,078,988) | (2,408,111)
Other operating income | 4 | 793,819 | 937,905
Operating profit | 6 | 2,013,663 | 662,003
Interest payable and similar expenses | 7 | (10,983) | (7,962)
Profit before tax |  | 2,002,680 | 654,041
Tax on profit | 11 | (640,691) | (258,539)
Profit for the financial year |  | 1,361,989 | 395,502

The above results were derived from continuing operations.

The company has no recognised gains or losses for the year other than the results above.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

(Registration number: SC342945)
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025

| Note | 2025 £ | 2024 £
Fixed assets |  |  |
Tangible assets | 12 | 574,538 | 527,520
Current assets |  |  |
Debtors | 13 | 5,994,622 | 6,271,320
Cash at bank and in hand |  | 902,435 | 952,339
|  | 6,897,057 | 7,223,659
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year | 15 | (5,402,455) | (6,196,812)
Net current assets |  | 1,494,602 | 1,026,847
Total assets less current liabilities |  | 2,069,140 | 1,554,367
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year | 15 | (81,565) | (112,781)
Net assets |  | 1,987,575 | 1,441,586
Capital and reserves |  |  |
Called up share capital |  | 1,000 | 1,000
Capital redemption reserve |  | 584,765 | 584,765
Retained earnings |  | 1,401,810 | 855,821
Shareholders' funds |  | 1,987,575 | 1,441,586

Approved and authorised by the Board on 26 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... A A Ryder Director

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Statement of Changes in Equity for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

| Share capital £ | Capital redemption reserve £ | Retained earnings £ | Total £
At 1 April 2023 | 1,000 | 584,765 | 2,460,319 | 3,046,084
Profit for the year | - | - | 395,502 | 395,502
Dividends paid | - | - | (2,000,000) | (2,000,000)
At 31 March 2024 | 1,000 | 584,765 | 855,821 | 1,441,586

| Share capital £ | Capital redemption reserve £ | Retained earnings £ | Total £
At 1 April 2024 | 1,000 | 584,765 | 855,821 | 1,441,586
Profit for the year | - | - | 1,361,989 | 1,361,989
Dividends paid | - | - | (816,000) | (816,000)
At 31 March 2025 | 1,000 | 584,765 | 1,401,810 | 1,987,575

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

1 | General information

The company is a private company limited by share capital, incorporated in Scotland.

The address of its registered office is:
65 Sussex Street
Glasgow
G41 1DX
Scotland

The principal place of business is:
13 Jane Street
Edinburgh
EH6 5HE
Scotland

These financial statements were authorised for issue by the Board on 26 September 2025.

2 | Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

These financial statements were prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006'.

Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost convention except that as disclosed in the accounting policies certain items are shown at fair value.
The financial statements are presented in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company.
As permitted by the FRS 102 framework, the company has taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions available under that standard in relation to presentation of a cashflow statement, remuneration of key management personnel and presentation of changes in current tax and deferred tax assets/liabilities.
These accounts are consolidated into the accounts of RSK Group Ltd.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Going concern

The Directors have acknowledged the latest guidance on going concern from the Financial Reporting Council and considered various relevant matters noted here.
The company participates in the Group’s centralised treasury arrangements and so shares banking arrangements with its subsidiaries. As at 31 March 2025 the funds comprised a £1bn committed acquisition facility and a £150m revolving credit facility (which was increased from the prior £50m during March 2025). These facilities were extended from 2028 to 2030 in September 2024. In September 2024 the Group received £520m preferred equity investment from a consortium of investors.
The facilities will finance growth, both organic and acquisitive and associated working capital requirements.
After a thorough review, the Group's consolidated business plan, forecasts and projections show that it is expected to operate within its facilities.
The Group has established contracts and master service agreements with several customers across a wide range of sectors and markets and has a significant pipeline of committed work, tenders in progress and opportunities. The Directors believe that the Group will continue to manage its business risks successfully despite uncertain economic conditions in some business sectors and countries.
After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least twelve months after the date on which the report and financial statements are signed. Accordingly, they have continued to adopt a going concern basis in the preparation of the annual report and financial statements.

Judgements

No significant judgements have had to be made by management in preparing these financial statements.

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

The company makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have the greatest level of uncertainty are addressed below:
(i) Impairment of debtors - £1.3m (2024: £2.4m)
The company makes an estimate of the recoverable value of trade and other debtors. When assessing impairment of trade and other debtors, management considers factors including the current credit rating of the debtor, the ageing profile of debtors and historical experience.
(ii) Amounts recoverable on contracts - £2.2m (2024: £1.2m)
The company’s revenue policies (set out in revenue recognition policy below) are fundamental to how the Group values the work it has carried out in each reporting period. Contracts are assessed on a contract by contract basis, and estimations are made regarding amounts not invoiced based on the stage of completion of the service.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Revenue recognition

Turnover comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the provision of services in the ordinary course of the Company's activities. Turnover is shown net of sales/value added tax, returns, rebates and discounts and after eliminating sales within the company.
In respect of long-term contracts for on-going services, turnover represents the value of work done in the period, including estimates of amounts not invoiced. Turnover in respect of long-term contracts and contracts for on-going services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion.
Turnover from a contract to provide services is recognised in the period in which the services are provided in accordance with the stage of completion of the contract when all of the following conditions are satisfied:
- the amount of turnover can be measured reliably;
- it is probable that the company will receive the consideration due under the contract;
- the stage of completion of the contract at the end of the reporting period can be measured reliably; and
- the costs incurred and the costs to complete the contract can be measured reliably.
Long-term contracts are assessed on a contract by contract basis and reflected in the profit and loss account by recording turnover and related costs as contract activity progresses. Turnover represents the value of work done in the period, including estimates of amounts not invoiced, and is recognised by reference to the stage of completion. Operating profit includes attributable profit on long-term completed contracts and amounts recoverable on uncompleted contracts, the latter being included within debtors due within one year.

Tax

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the profit and loss account, except that a change attributable to an item of income and expense recognised as other comprehensive income or to an item recognised directly in equity is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively.
Current tax
The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date in the countries where the Company operates and generate income.

Deferred tax
Deferred tax balances are recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed by the balance sheet date, except that:
The recognition of deferred tax assets is limited to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits; and
Any deferred tax balances are reversed if and when all conditions for retaining associated tax balances have been met.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Deferred tax balances are not recognised in respect of permanent differences except in respect of business combinations, when deferred tax is recognised on the differences between the fair values of assets acquired and the future tax deductions available for them and the different between the fair value of liabilities acquired and the amount that will be assessed for tax. Deferred tax is determined using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.
Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised when it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are stated in the balance sheet at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
The cost of tangible assets includes directly attributable incremental costs incurred in their acquisition and installation.

Depreciation

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets, other than land and properties under construction over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Asset class | Depreciation method and rate
Plant and machinery | 25% straight line
Motor vehicles | 25% straight line
Fixtures, fittings and equipment | 25% straight line

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Debtors

Short-term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment.

Creditors

Creditors are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

Borrowings

Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the profit and loss account over the period of the relevant borrowing.
Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Operating Leases

Leases in which substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases are charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

Finance leases
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee.
Assets held under finance leases are recognised at the lower of their fair value at inception of the lease and the present value of the minimum lease payments. These assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the asset and the lease term. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the Balance Sheet as a finance lease obligation.
Lease payments are apportioned between finance costs in the Profit and Loss Account and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments are measured at the fair value of the cash or other resources received or receivable, net of the direct costs of issuing the equity instruments. If payment is deferred and the time value of money is material, the initial measurement is on a present value basis.

Dividends

Dividend distribution to the company’s shareholders is recognised as a liability in the financial statements in the reporting period in which the dividends are declared.

Defined contribution pension obligation

A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the company has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Financial instruments

Financial assets and liabilities are recognised in the company’s balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets
Basic financial assets, including trade and other receivables, loans receivable from other Group companies, investments in subsidiary companies and cash and cash equivalents, are initially recognised at transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of future receipts discounted at the market rate of interest. Such assets are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any provision for impairment.

Impairment of financial assets
At each reporting date the company assesses whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset is impaired. If such evidence exists, the company recognises an impairment loss which is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the future cashflows, discounted at the original effective interest rate. Impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss.
Impairment losses are reversed if the reversal can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised. The reversal of the impairment will be recognised in profit or loss.

Financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables, bank loans, hire purchase contracts and loans payable to other Group companies, are initially recognised at transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of future payments discounted at the market rate of interest.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial instruments
A financial asset is derecognised when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or the company transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred.
A financial liability is derecognised when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled, or expires.

3 | Turnover

The analysis of the company's revenue for the year from continuing operations is as follows:

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Rendering of services | 17,513,068 | 14,732,368

All turnover in the period was derived from UK operations.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

4 | Other operating income

The analysis of the company's other operating income for the year is as follows:

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Other operating income | - | 6,000
Research & Development Expenditure Tax Credits | 793,819 | 931,905
| 793,819 | 937,905

5 | Other gains and losses

The analysis of the company's other gains and losses for the year is as follows:

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Gain on disposal of tangible assets | - | 3,400

6 | Operating profit

Arrived at after charging/(crediting)

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Depreciation expense | 244,365 | 193,271
Operating lease expense - plant and machinery | 131,851 | 125,439
Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment | - | (3,400)

7 | Interest payable and similar expenses

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Interest on obligations under finance leases and hire purchase contracts | 10,983 | 7,962

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

8 | Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs (including directors' remuneration) were as follows:

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Wages and salaries | 6,479,209 | 5,724,512
Social security costs | 601,063 | 531,482
Other short-term employee benefits | 55,000 | 46,689
Pension costs, defined contribution scheme | 322,521 | 268,183
| 7,457,793 | 6,570,866

The average number of persons employed by the company (including directors) during the year, analysed by category was as follows:

| 2025 No. | 2024 No.
Technical | 168 | 170
Administrative | 23 | 8
| 191 | 178

9 | Directors' remuneration

The directors' remuneration for the year was as follows:

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Remuneration | 428,488 | 351,496
Contributions paid to money purchase schemes | 25,397 | 16,026
| 453,885 | 367,522

The remuneration in the table above relates to 5 (2024 - 4) directors who are remunerated by the company. The other directors’ remuneration is borne by the company’s ultimate parent, RSK Group Limited. No direct recharge is made to the company for services provided, but an estimate of the cost of these directors’ time is incorporated into the management charge charged to the company from RSK Group Limited.

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

During the year the number of directors who were receiving benefits and share incentives was as follows:

| 2025 No. | 2024 No.
Accruing benefits under money purchase pension scheme | 5 | 4

In respect of the highest paid director:

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Remuneration | 126,409 | 117,625
Company contributions to money purchase pension schemes | 7,596 | 5,943

10 | Auditors' remuneration

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Audit of the financial statements | 18,000 | 12,000

11 | Taxation

Tax charged/(credited) in the profit and loss account

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Current taxation |  |
UK corporation tax | 640,691 | 258,539

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

The tax on profit before tax for the year is the same as the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (2024 - the same as the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK) of 25% (2024 - 25%).
The differences are reconciled below:

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Profit before tax | 2,002,680 | 654,041
Corporation tax at standard rate | 500,670 | 163,510
Effect of expense not deductible in determining taxable profit (tax loss) | 585 | 388
Increase from tax losses for which no deferred tax asset was recognised | 207,187 | 214,401
Decrease in UK and foreign current tax from adjustment for prior periods | (84,296) | (115,209)
Tax increase/(decrease) from effect of adjustment in research and development tax credit | 16,545 | (4,551)
Total tax charge | 640,691 | 258,539

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

12 | Tangible assets

| Fixtures, fittings and equipment £ | Plant and machinery £ | Motor vehicles £ | Total £
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2024 | 658,670 | 566,456 | 354,901 | 1,580,027
Additions | 98,479 | 152,964 | 39,939 | 291,382
At 31 March 2025 | 757,149 | 719,420 | 394,840 | 1,871,409
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024 | 460,164 | 349,992 | 242,351 | 1,052,507
Charge for the year | 88,822 | 101,376 | 54,166 | 244,364
At 31 March 2025 | 548,986 | 451,368 | 296,517 | 1,296,871
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2025 | 208,163 | 268,052 | 98,323 | 574,538
At 31 March 2024 | 198,506 | 216,464 | 112,550 | 527,520

Assets held under finance leases and hire purchase contracts

The net carrying amount of tangible assets includes the following amounts in respect of assets held under finance leases and hire purchase contracts:

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Motor vehicles | 57,801 | 109,019
Plant and machnery | 122,870 | 95,331
Fixtures, fittings and equipment | 26,330 | 36,695
| 207,001 | 241,045

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

13 | Debtors

Current | 2025 £ | 2024 £
Trade debtors | 1,288,013 | 2,384,789
Amounts owed by group undertakings and undertakings in which the company has a particular interest | 556,151 | 1,156,666
Other debtors | 14,075 | 10,965
Prepayments | 691,828 | 371,471
Accrued income | 2,163,916 | 1,161,408
Corporation tax receivable | 1,280,639 | 1,186,021
| 5,994,622 | 6,271,320

14 | Cash and cash equivalents

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Cash at bank | 902,435 | 952,339

15 | Creditors

| Note | 2025 £ | 2024 £
Due within one year |  |  |
Loans and borrowings | 18 | 124,646 | 98,694
Trade creditors |  | 779,138 | 1,177,367
Amounts owed by group undertakings and undertakings in which the company has a particular interest |  | 2,017,918 | 2,529,170
Social security and other taxes |  | 753,407 | 698,961
Outstanding defined contribution pension costs |  | 214,540 | 136,009
Accruals |  | 1,070,571 | 863,222
Group relief liability |  | 442,235 | 693,389
|  | 5,402,455 | 6,196,812
Due after one year |  |  |
Loans and borrowings | 18 | 81,565 | 112,781

16 | Pension and other schemes

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the company to the scheme and amounted to £322,521 (2024 - £268,183).

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

17 | Share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid shares

| 2025 | 2024
| No. | £ | No. | £
Ordinary A shares of £1 each | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000

18 | Loans and borrowings

Non-current loans and borrowings

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Hire purchase contracts | 81,565 | 112,781

Current loans and borrowings

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Hire purchase contracts | 124,646 | 98,694

19 | Obligations under leases and hire purchase contracts

Operating leases

The total of future minimum lease payments is as follows:

| 2025 £ | 2024 £
Not later than one year | 174,932 | 90,559
Later than one year and not later than five years | 535,705 | 64,540
Later than five years | 139,500 | -
| 850,137 | 155,099

The amount of non-cancellable operating lease payments recognised as an expense during the period was £131,851 (2024 - £125,439).

Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

20 | Dividends

Interim dividends paid

|  | 2025 £ |  | 2024 £
Interim dividend of £816.00 (2024 - £2,000.00) per Ordinary A share |  | 816,000 |  | 2,000,000

21 | Contingent liabilities

The company is party to cross guarantee arrangements relating to a borrowing facility provided by Ares Management to RSK Group Limited. The amount borrowed under this agreement at 31 March 2025 is £831,936,000 (2024: £1,060,136,000).
The company is also a guarantor of any trading and other obligations of any RSK Group member that may be a Junior Creditor in the related Subordination Deed.

22 | Related party transactions

There are no other related party transactions to disclose other than the Directors' remuneration which is disclosed in the Directors' remuneration note.

23 | Parent and ultimate parent undertaking

The company's immediate parent is RSK Environment Limited, incorporated in Scotland.
The ultimate parent is RSK Group Limited, incorporated in England and Wales.
These financial statements are available upon request from Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff, CF14 3UZ.