The members present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026.
SDA Consulting LLP are a leading independent construction consultancy and chartered surveying practice. Based in Manchester we provide regionally based construction consultancy services to both public and private sector clients predominantly in the North West of England across various sectors including Education, Housing, Local Authority, Healthcare and Finance. Our principal activities include Project Management, Quantity Surveying/Cost Management, Building Surveying, Principal Designer and Clerk of Works services.
We are a RICS Regulated Practice and operate to the highest standards of business conduct and professional ethics and are committed to high quality service delivery and sustainable operating practices. Our accreditations include ISO 9001:2015, CHAS, Cyber Essentials and Green Mark Level 3.
The partners are pleased to report that FY 2025/2026 saw revenue grow by over 1%. A slowing in activity from Higher Education sector clients generally was countered by increases in Local Authority work and successful expansion as we added new Further Education Colleges and Schools to our client portfolio. This was complemented by continued work with Housing and Private Sector Clients. We experienced good activity levels across all core project management, cost management and building surveying services.
We have invested in a move to a larger office premise with more spaces to work on group projects, meeting pods for digital meetings and both formal and relaxed working areas. This provides our well established and dedicated team with a vibrant working space to deliver our trademark client focussed services.
We continued to operate at strong levels of profitability, once again operating well within our working capital arrangements and are proud of our fair payment policies, paying all suppliers on time.
We also remain proud of our ability to retain established top talent whilst continuing to train the next generation of professionals through a range of apprentice and training schemes to future proof our business and provide opportunity to grow.
Project highlights in the year included completion of:
Major Lift Replacement at the iconic Lovell Telescope at UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jodrell Bank Observatory, replacing the passenger hoist that transports people and equipment from the platform beneath the upper dish to the focus box high above.
Lancaster University’s Management School East development, transforming 6,778 sqm across three floors of a nearly 50-year old building to align it with modern standards, delivering cutting edge facilities designed to meet the evolving needs of business education, research and engagement.
A new Solar Photovoltaic Farm at Forrest Hills for Lancaster University generating renewable energy for the Lancaster campus and making a significant contribution to the University’s net zero agenda.
Enhancements to Lancaster University’s energy infrastructure including the latest phase of a Spine Duct Strategic Improvement Project, Bowland Hall District Heating project and completion of a Heat Network Efficiency Scheme project.
Various Capital Schools Projects for Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and the Diocese of Salford.
Multi-million pound new build teaching facilities at Wigan and Leigh College with the new Powerhouse designed to create a Future Energy Zone with Sustainable Technologies Spaces where students will get hands-on experience with technologies transforming energy systems: air source heat pumps, solar arrays and small-scale wind systems.
A sixth form refurbishment at Crompton House CofE School, modernising the interior and improving facilities.
We continued to work on a global role supporting the transformation of a bank’s project management division to drive a more efficient operating model in the execution of a retail branch optimization programme.
Campus improvement works at MMU included two floors of improvement work to the Library, bar and café refurbishments in the Student Union and various repair and long-term maintenance projects.
Campus Improvement works at Wirral Metropolitan College included a Prep for Life Garden, Kitchen replacement scheme and Entrance Relocation.
Clerk of Works inspection services on various landmark buildings included Platform, King Street West, Stockport, a 73 apartment scheme for Rent to Buy.
Sugden Sports Centre Reroofing for the University of Manchester together with provision of Facilities Management Support on a wide variety of long term maintenance projects.
Looking forward, the positive outlook continues into the new financial year with our pipeline of work including:
Completion of two new inspiring historical archives centres, one in Chester and one in Crewe
Completion of the new multimillion pound King’s Road Community Primary School, a new state-of-the-art primary school being built in a substantial new village community of around 1300 homes on the southern edge of Chester.
New Northwich Market Hall, representing the biggest investment in Northwich Market since the 1960s to provide a significantly improved experience and replacing the existing market which is to be demolished and replaced with new homes.
A multimillion-pound refurbishment of iconic Ruskin Building at Lancaster University to achieve University Museum Accreditation, ensure safety of The Ruskin Whitehouse Collection, and make the Ruskin collection, programme and research accessible to more people and upgrades to various retained student residences.
A multimillion-pound upgrade to University of Manchester’s Zochonis Building with long term maintenance works including electrical, mechanical and external fabric upgrades and internal remodelling.
A multimillion-pound Energy Centre to serve the George Begg and John Garside buildings in the University of Manchester’s ‘North Campus’ providing centralised services based on the use of low carbon technologies and act as an expandable, environmentally sustainable solution with future expansion capability to integrate other retained buildings and utilise heat recovery from cooling systems.
A multimillion-pound redevelopment project to provide a new build steel portal frame building at the University of Manchester and relocation of catering kitchens with refurbishment of an existing building to create a Central Processing Unit.
Replacing cedar shingles to the roof and vertical cladding of a Grade II listed building at Uttley House for the University of Manchester.
Completion of a Motor Vehicle Workshop, Centre for Excellence and Hair and Beauty Facilities at Wirral Metropolitan College.
Major refurbishment of Denton Town Hall including structural repairs, demolition of an extension and improvements to community and public spaces. The project is focussed on preserving the historic 1889 building while addressing structural concerns.
Willohaus on Peru Street in Salford delivering 100 new affordable and sustainable Passivhaus homes for Salix Homes in partnership with English Cities Fund (ECF).
Western Avenue, Speke which has seen the redevelopment of derelict shops and apartments to provide a new purpose-built retail shop and apartments for older people for social rent. Built to include solar PV panels, energy-efficient heating and hot water systems and electric vehicle charging points.
Completion of The Mulberry Centre, converting a former day centre into homeless accommodation.
A multi-million pound pavilion and extension to the existing Children’s Hospice together with demolition and refurbishment of some of the existing facilities.
Repair and fire compartmentation work at the Courtyards extra-care scheme in Preston for Community Gateway Housing.
Richmond Park Estate Render remedial works and external decorations for Great Places Housing Group,
A Construction Technical Excellence College at Wigan and Leigh College to provide a new specialist centre training for future builders, bricklayers, electricians, carpenters and plumbers to learn cutting edge skills at a state-of-the-art facility.
Schools improvement works for Stockport MBC, St Teresa of Calcutta Academy Trust including a significant remodelling and refurbishment project at Mount St Joseph’s High School for St Teresa of Calcutta Academy Trust.
Campus enhancements at Wirral Metropolitan College and Wigan and Leigh College including a multi-million pound Centre for Excellence and Motor Vehicle Workshop at Wirral Metropolitan College.
Lab Gases Projects and a Flat Roof Replacement project at the University of Liverpool.
This strong pipeline of work is underpinned by framework agreements in our core markets which provides a strong platform for continued success. We have secured a new appointment on the University of Manchester’s Construction Consultancy Services Framework for project management services and on Fusion 21’s Construction Consultancy Services Framework for Clerk of Works services. We have also been reappointed on the University of Manchester’s cost consultancy services framework. This adds to our existing portfolio of on-going framework and DPS appointments.
The members' drawing policy allows each member to draw a proportion of their profit share, subject to the cash requirements of the business.
A member's capital requirement is linked to their share of profit and the financing requirement of the limited liability partnership. There is no opportunity for appreciation of the capital subscribed. Just as incoming members introduce their capital at "par", so the retiring members are repaid their capital at "par".
The designated members who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
SDA Consulting LLP is a limited liability partnership incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Fifth Floor The Tower, Deva City Office Park, Trinity Way, Manchester, M3 7BF.
The limited liability partnership's principal activities are disclosed in the Members' Report.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting by Limited Liability Partnerships" issued in May 2024, together 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 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The disclosure requirements of section 1A of FRS 102 have been applied other than where additional disclosure is required to show a true and fair view.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the limited liability partnership. 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.
Turnover represents the amounts recoverable for the services provided to clients, excluding value added tax, under contractual obligations which are performed gradually over time.
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 LLP 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.
Revenue comprises sales of goods or services provided to customers net of value added tax and other sales taxes, less an appropriate deduction for actual and expected returns and discounts. Revenue is recognised when performance obligations are satisfied and the control of goods or services is transferred to the buyer. Where the performance obligation is satisfied over time, revenue is recognised in accordance with its progress towards complete satisfaction of that performance obligation.
When cash inflows are deferred and represent a financing arrangement, the promised consideration is adjusted for the effects of the time value of money, which is recognised as interest income.
Members' participation rights are the rights of a member against the LLP that arise under the members' agreement (for example, in respect of amounts subscribed or otherwise contributed remuneration and profits).
Members' participation rights in the earnings or assets of the LLP are analysed between those that are, from the LLP's perspective, either a financial liability or equity, in accordance with section 22 of FRS 102. Members' participation rights, including amounts subscribed or otherwise contributed by members, for example members' capital, are classed as liabilities unless the LLP has an unconditional right to refuse payment to members, in which case they are classified as equity.
All amounts due to members that are classified as liabilities are presented within 'Loans and other debts due to members' and, where such an amount relates to current year profits or movements in the liability to non-working members in respect of future profits, they are recognised within ‘Members' remuneration charged as an expense’ in arriving at the relevant period’s result. Undivided amounts that are classified as equity are shown within ‘Members' other interests’. Amounts recoverable from members are presented as debtors and shown as amounts due from members within members’ interests.
Where there exists an asset and liability component in respect of an individual member’s participation rights, they are presented on a gross basis unless the LLP has both a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts, and it intends either to settle on a net basis or to settle and realise these amounts simultaneously, in which case they are presented net.
Once an unavoidable obligation has been created in favour of members through allocation of profits or other means, any undrawn profits remaining at the reporting date are shown as 'Loans and other debts due to members' to the extent they exceed debts due from a specific member.
Where members do not provide any substantive services, to the extent that profits are liabilities, the automatic right to a share of the LLP’s profits is treated as a return on capital which is the right to share in the future profits of the LLP. The capital contributed by such members is initially recognised at fair value, with the fair value being equal to the amount subscribed. Subsequently, the capital contribution is measured at fair value and remeasured at each period end.
The LLP agreement does not provide the LLP with any rights to recover amounts paid to members, and amounts paid are treated as distributions rather than drawings on account. The LLP considers whether the corresponding distribution forms part of members’ remuneration charged as an expense or represents a discretionary division of profit made during the period. Where the LLP could have chosen never to divide the associated profits, the distribution is accounted for as a discretionary division of profit, and not reported in profit or loss. Conversely, where the distribution is of profits that are subject to automatic division then a liability in respect of those profits will already have been recognised, with the corresponding expense forming part of members’ remuneration charged as an expense, and the distribution will reduce that liability.
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 profit and loss account.
At each reporting period end date, the limited liability partnership reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible 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 limited liability partnership estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.
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.
This report is made solely to the limited liability partnership's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 as applied by the Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the limited liability partnership'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 limited liability partnership and the limited liability partnership's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Work in progress represents the fair value of work undertaken on contracts to provide professional services which have not been completed and are unbilled at the balance sheet date.
Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The limited liability partnership 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 limited liability partnership's statement of financial position when the limited liability partnership 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.
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 limited liability partnership 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 limited liability partnership 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 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 limited liability partnership’s obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
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 limited liability partnership 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.
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
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.
Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.
The average number of persons (excluding members) employed by the partnership during the year was:
The partners are jointly and severally liable for the bank loan.
In the event of a winding up the amounts included in "Loans and other debts due to members" will rank equally with ordinary creditors.
At the reporting end date the limited liability partnership had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, as follows: