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

The principal activity of the group is the provision of specialist residential support and care for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs. Care is provided to service users from within nine homes across five registered locations in South and West Yorkshire with a total current capacity of 70 beds which incorporates a new six bedroom facility opened in July 2024.

The ethos of the business is based on the principle that the service users are the priority and that the provision of high-quality care and support is key in enabling them and supporting them to develop to lead as an independent and normal life as possible. This approach has proved successful with high occupancy rates, good CQC ratings and excellent relationships with commissioning bodies.

The ongoing strategy is to develop from this sound base with a controlled expansion plan, increasing capacity in carefully selected locations. This will be in conjunction with exploring entry into supported living to offer certain service users their next stage of independence.

The group was established on 28 January 2019 when Ivy Cottage (Ackton) Limited was acquired by Curve Capital Holdings Limited. Debt finance was secured by the group to facilitate the acquisition. Servicing and repayment of the debt is dependent on the profit and cash flows generated by Ivy Cottage (Ackton) Limited. Cash generation continues to be strong and the debt burden has been substantially reduced.

Finance and Operational Risk

The delivery of high-quality care is dependent on the funding of appropriate care packages with local authorities and other government bodies that may be subject to additional financial constraint as a consequence of fiscal policies implemented by Central Government to manage the budget deficit.

Cost pressures, particularly in relation to the impact of minimum wage legislation and the national insurance increase on wage rates, along with inflationary pressures on utility costs have impacted on the cost base of the company.

Legislative and regulatory risk

The market is governed by quality standards and all of the group's services are monitored by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), specialist departments and local authorities. Failure to meet the necessary standards could put the business at significant risk. The group has systems in place to monitor standards in each of the care locations which include regular internal and external audits.

Labour and recruitment

Securing high quality staff is critical to the delivery of care. Competitive pressures in the employment market presents a challenge for the business and this has resulted in a higher than anticipated use of temporary agency staff. The company strives to be proactive and creative in its strategy to recruit and retain staff. We remunerate our staff members at rates higher than the national living wage, with increased hourly rates for weekend and night working. In addition, our internal HR team works hard to support staff in their development and to increase recruitment and retention.

The results of the business are set out within these accounts.

Turnover has increased in the current year to £9,851,782 (2024: £8,083,796) due to a combination of fee uplifts to cover additional costs relating to the national minimum wage as well as the higher care needs of existing and new service users.

The group reviews profit performance of the business using the EBITDA measure (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation). EBITDA for the current year was £2,473,975 (2024: £2,069,567).

The group’s new six bedroom Stone Lodge site in Upton was opened in July 2024. Extensive investment has been undertaken to create a high-quality facility that is proven to be very attractive to service users and full occupancy was achieved in November 2024.

Stone Lodge is consistent with the strategy to offer smaller facilities embedded within the local community. Further suitable locations are being sought identified and strategic conversations are occurring with relevant authorities to ensure demand.

The directors monitor the progress of the business by reference to key performance indicators which include occupancy, CQC ratings, turnover and EBITDA as referenced above.

Occupancy levels are measured on a monthly basis. The average occupancy during the year under review was 96.82% (2024: 97.91%). However, current year occupancy was impacted by the increased capacity delivered by Stone Lodge which took a number of months to fill. The occupancy rate at the year-end was 97.4%.

Direct wage costs (including temporary staff costs) as a proportion of weekly fees and contributions to care is also taken as a key measure. This increased to 64.44% in the current year (2024: 61.44%) and such a significant proportion reflects the staff numbers needed to meet and maintain the quality of care required and to support the development of the business.

The group operates in a regulated environment and, as a consequence, the relevant CQC ratings represent a key performance indicator. All locations are rated overall "good”.

The group has clear action plans in place to maintain and enhance the quality of provision across all locations.

Cash balances total £3,092,218 at the year end (2024: £2,145,915). The group has comfortably met all loan and interest payments during the period under review.

The directors monitor historic and projected cash flows very closely to ensure that necessary reserves are maintained and future cash generated to meet interest and loan repayments.

On behalf of the board

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

The principal activity of the group in the year under review was that of the provision specialist residential support and care for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs.

The results for the year are set out on page 8.

Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £150,000. The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.

No preference dividends were paid. The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.

The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:

The directors are responsible 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 group and company, and of the profit or loss of the group 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;

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

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the group and company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the group’s and company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and 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 group and company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditor of the company is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor of the company is aware of that information.

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 Curve Capital Holdings Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the group statement of comprehensive income, the group statement of financial position, the company statement of financial position, the group statement of changes in equity, the company statement of changes in equity, the group statement of cash flows, the company statement of cash flows 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).

In our opinion the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the group's and the parent company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of the group's 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's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group's and parent 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.

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.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors' report.

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

• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

• the parent company 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.

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 parent 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 parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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.

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

We considered the nature of the group's business and its control environment. We also enquired of management about their identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities.

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework in which the group operates and identified key laws and regulations that:

- Had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, which included the Companies Act 2006, tax legislation and payroll legislation; and

- Did not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the group's ability to operate.

We discussed among the audit engagement team the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and how / where fraud might occur in the financial statements.

In common with all audits under ISA's (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 accounting adjustments and journal entries, assessed whether accounting estimates were reasonable and accurate and reviewed the accounting records for any significant and unusual transactions.

In addition, our procedures to respond to the risks identified included:

- Reviewing financial statement disclosures by testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provision of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements;

- Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected variances that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud;

- Enquiring of management about any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and any instances of known or suspected fraud; and

- Reviewing the latest available Care Quality Commission inspection reports for all registered homes operated by the subsidiary.

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: 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 parent 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 parent 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 parent company and the parent company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions relating to medium-sized groups.

As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s profit for the year was £407,503 (2024 - £310,859 loss).

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions relating to medium-sized companies.

Curve Capital Holdings Limited is a private company, limited by shares, registered in England and Wales. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found on the General Information page.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

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 £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company Curve Capital Holdings Limited together with a subsidiary, Ivy Cottage (Ackton) Ltd. The registered office for Ivy Cottage (Ackton) Ltd is Littleworth Lane, Lundwood, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 5RG.

All financial statements are made up to 31 March 2025. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the group.

All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for business combinations by the group, following the acquisition of the entire share capital of Ivy Cottage (Ackton) Ltd on 28 January 2019.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.

The group recognises turnover when:

- The amount of revenue can be reliably measured;

- it is probable that future economic benefits will flow into the entity; and

- specific criteria have been met for each of the group's activities.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of a business over the fair value of net assets acquired. It is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is considered to have a finite useful life and is amortised on a systematic basis over its expected life, which is 10 years.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

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 recognised in the income statement.

In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries, are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.

A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.

At each reporting period end date, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

The carrying amount of the investments accounted for using the equity method is tested for impairment as a single asset. Any goodwill included in the carrying amount of the investment is not tested separately for impairment.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

The group has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the group's statement of financial position when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amounts presented in the financial statements when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

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, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.

Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the group 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 group after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares 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 group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Equity instruments issued by the group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the group.

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if, and only if, there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset are consumed.

In the application of the group’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.

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

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:

Included within the net book value of freehold land and buildings above is £171,292 (2024: £173,192) in respect of land.

Freehold land and buildings with a carrying amount of £5,131,867 (2024: £4,657,672) have been pledged to secure borrowings of the company.

Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 March 2025 are as follows:

The bank loan is repaid in monthly instalments of £37,500 and is due to be repaid in full by February 2028. The rate of interest applied to the loan is the aggregate of the base rate and a margin of 2.1%.

HSBC Bank Plc (senior lender) holds a mortgage, fixed charge and floating charge over the assets of the company dated 28 January 2019. They also have security over cash deposits of £880 held in the deposit account.

John Frederick Taylor (junior lender) also holds a fixed and floating charge (subordinated to the senior

liabilities) over the assets of the company dated 28 January 2019.

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and movements thereon:

A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees.

Contributions totalling £44,914 (2024: £36,590) were payable to the scheme at the end of the year and are included in creditors.

The ordinary A and ordinary B shares carrying full voting rights whilst there are no voting rights attached to the preference shares.

Any profits resolved to be distributed as dividends will be distributed equally to holders of ordinary A and ordinary B shares as though they constituted a single class of share. No dividends may be declared or paid in respect of the preference shares.

In the event of a share sale the proceeds shall be distributed to the sellers of preference shares first equivalent to the issue price on each share plus £8 per share plus 5% per annum of the issue price. Any remaining proceeds will be distributed to ordinary A and ordinary B shares as if they were the same class.

In the event of a liquidation all shareholders will receive £9 per share as though they were the same class of share with any remaining balance being distributed to holders of ordinary A and ordinary B shares as if they were the same class.

In the event of a business sale any surplus assets will be distributed in the same manner as set out above in respect of a liquidation.

At the reporting end date the group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

The directors control the parent company by virtue of their controlling interest in the issued share capital, although no one director has individual control of the company.