The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
The Eric Wright Learning Foundation was opened in 2005 as an ambitious project to provide Preston, South Ribble and the Chorley area with a vocational centre specialising in construction and so open a construction industry career path for local young people 14+ who would previously have considered it unfeasible.
To ensure that the opportunities provided address current educational and school requirements, the Learning Foundation relocated its skills provision to Preston College in 2015. We now work in partnership with Preston college and other schools/ colleges to deliver three key objectives.
Objective One - Inspire: Through our staff careers ambassador programme, provide advice support and guidance to learners, schools and parents to improve the knowledge and understanding of our industry.
Objective Two - Skills: To provide skills and training to learners from 14+ years covering a wide curriculum through our partnership with Preston College, and extended to all local colleges where we work.
Objective Three - Careers: Progression into work and the opportunity for the Eric Wright Group to support potential direct (or indirect) employees into meaningful careers.
Public benefit
The Trustees confirm that we have paid due regard to the Charity Commission Guidance on public benefit reporting in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The remainder of this Annual Report explains the charity's work during the year and how it has been carried out for the public benefit.
In 2025 EWLF has supported 40 bursaries to allow students to study at Preston College and achieve GCSE and BTEC in Construction and the Built Environment. We have supported College staff in the delivery of their T- level programme.
Throughout 2025 our career ambassadors supported 70 live events in schools supporting 52,855 students. These meaningful engagements have enabled young people from ages 5-19 to learn about careers in construction and the built environment, exploring different roles.
All teaching provision is being provided by Preston College as part of our long term partnering arrangements. 76 students attended the 14-16 programme.
The Eric Wright Group supported 830 days of work experience during the academic year giving young people a real insight into the working environment. Wowex has now completed eight cohorts, resulting into students securing roles within the business. These courses have enabled students to gain a complete insight into the operational roles within the industry, to meet experts, form their own business and present their tender in a formal environment.
Strategic Aim
The strategic aim of the Eric Wright Learning Foundation to inspire young people to discover their full potential, empowering them to build successful futures and contribute to positive and lasting change in their communities.
This is delivered through a three-pillar strategy:
1. Inspire
Inspire and educate young people, schools, and families about the diverse and rewarding careers available in the construction sector building a skilled and passionate future workforce.
Our strategic partnership with Preston College enables the development of a student progression plan which reflects the skills and career opportunities within the Eric Wright Group and wider industry.
2. Skills
Our objective is to provide skills and training to learners from 14+ years covering a wide curriculum. We fund individuals (14-16) to attend our partner college (Preston's college) to study construction-based trades leading to a GCSE qualification.
3. Progression
Our objectives are to support young people in exploring real work opportunities, further learning and work experience and to support potential direct (or indirect) employees into meaningful careers.
Small Company Provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.
Financial Review
The Statement of Financial Activities on page 5 shows a deficit of £387 for the year (2024: surplus of £2,860).
Reserves Policy
As noted above the teaching provision is provided by Preston College. The Foundation is committed to offering support for transport for the students and equipment if needed. This greatly reduces the expenditure required to be funded by the Foundation.
The Foundation works closely with the Eric Wright Charitable Trust. Its annual budget is discussed with the trustees, who have indicated their willingness to support the projected level of expenditure.
Our objective is to improve the knowledge and understanding of our industry, not just for potential learners but also for schools, parents and care givers. We want to share our enthusiasm for the industry in that it can provide an exciting and fulfilling career opportunity and is open to a wide spectrum of academic and practical abilities.
The EWLF continues to review the options to broaden and increase its activities to achieve the maximum positive impact.
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
Organisational Structure
The charity was founded in 2005 and is registered with the Charity Commission under charity number 1111185.
The Trustees, being also the Directors of the Company, attend the quarterly Board Meetings at which activities of the charity are reviewed, Financial Reports are analysed and strategy is set.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered company number- 05536198 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity number- 1111185
Registered Office
Sceptre House
Sceptre Way
Bamber Bridge
Preston
Lancashire
PR5 6AW
Trustees
Independent Examiner
Jane Dennis BA(Hons) FCA
Fairhurst Accountants Ltd
Chartered Accountants
Douglas Bank House
Wigan Lane
Wigan
Lancashire
WN1 2TB
Bankers
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
St Ann's Square
PO Box 320
St. Ann Street
Manchester
Greater Manchester
M60 2SS
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 26 May 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Eric Wright Learning Foundation (the company) for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the company’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 August 2024.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
(a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Governance costs include costs of the preparing and examination of the statutory accounts, the costs of trustee meetings and the cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 August 2025 nor for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 August 2025 nor for the year ended 31 August 2024.
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used.
Controlling entity
The charity is under the control of the Trustees named in the Trustee’s report.
Related party transactions
Donations amounting to £66,220 (2024: £65,045) were received from the Eric Wright Charitable Trust.