The director presents the strategic report for the year ended 31 March 2026.
We are specialised electrical and building contractors, offering a range of services from contract management, execution to handover. Our excellent client retention rate among such organisations has played a significant role in sustaining our revenue. Client retention rates remain acceptably high at around 90% (90% in 2025), and we have been achieving our budgeted margin range. We continue to meet targets, and we are expanding our customer base. So far, we have not observed any significant reduction in investment that would impact our client base. Furthermore, our public sector contracts have remained stable, as government spending has been allocated accordingly. However, it is important to note that the situation remains volatile. We are already witnessing positive outcomes from our investment in tendering, with an increase in returned quotes and confirmed contracts for January 2027 and beyond.
The construction industry inherently carries several risks. Although is it impossible to eliminate all construction risks, we have implemented robust risk management and internal control systems to manage and mitigate these risks. The directors also acknowledge that construction works can be potentially hazardous and complex necessitating ongoing management and monitoring of health, safety, and environmental risk. To address these concerns, the group retains a full-time health & safety manager supported by external consultants. We also maintain an active training program to enhance competencies across all staff members.
As we embark on the new trading period commencing in April 2026, we are confident in our ability to build upon our current success and drive the group forward. We are committed to sustaining and replicating gains in the foreseeable future. However, our primary objective remains focused on ensuring year-on-year profitability.
Fleet modernisation:
We have a continued strategic plan to modernise our vehicle fleet, a move aimed at enhancing operational efficiency. This investment will not only improve our transportation capabilities but also reduce our environmental footprint through the adoption of more eco-friendly technologies. The company is to invest in electric vans in the coming year, having invested this year in electric cars.
Sustainability Initiatives:
In line with our commitment environmental responsibility, we will actively explore and implement sustainable practices throughout our operations. These include initiatives to reduce waste lower energy consumption and increase the use of renewable resources in our processes
The company has installed cladding in the offices to for better insultation and refurbishing the offices for the benefit of current and future employees as well as our guests who visit and train here.
Market expansion:
We aim to expand our market presence and reach new customers and regions. The expansion strategy will involve market research, partnerships, and potentially exploring new product lines or services to meet evolving market demands.
Talent development:
Our human capital is a key asset. We will continue to invest in the professional growth and development of our employees and apprentices fostering a culture of innovation and excellence that will drive our group’s success.
Customer-centric Approach:
To maintain and enhance customer satisfaction we will place a strong emphasis on a customer-centric approach.
This includes improve customer services personalised offering and proactive communication.
Finance Stability:
We will maintain a robust finance strategy that ensures stability and resilience even in challenging economic conditions. This includes prudent finance management risk investment and diversification of revenue streams.
Health and Safety:
The well-being of our employees and stake is paramount. We are committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment by implementing stringent health safety protocols. This includes regular safety training, hazard identification, and compliance with all relevant regulations. Our goal to minimise workplace accidents and promote a culture of safety through our organisation. We continue to maintain ISO45001 status.
In summary, as we look ahead, the group remains committed to growth, sustainability, and excellence. We are determined to modernise our operations, increase our production capabilities, and adapt to changing market dynamics. By prioritising profitability, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. We are confident our ability to achieve our long-term goals.
The directors monitor the performance of the group through the use of standard industry key performance indicators to review performance on a contract and group level basis compared to expectations as well as year on year comparison.
The turnover of the group was £18.0m (2025 - £20.3m). Profit before tax of the group £440k (2025: £2.2m). Margins reported are still within the expected range set for the business. The directors anticipate that the year 26 – 27 will see a reduction in turnover but remain profitable.
During the period there has been an abnormal number of bad debts of £382k which has adversely impacted profit in the period. These are considered to be one off by the directors.
While the group does not adhere to specific payment code, it is our group policy to make payments in accordance with the terms and conditions agreed upon between the group and its suppliers.
On behalf of the board
The director presents his annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026.
The results for the year are set out on page 8.
Dividends of £238,000 were paid from A C Electrical (North) Limited to shareholders prior to acquisition by A C Group Holdings Limited. The director does not recommend payment of a further dividend.
The director who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements was as follows:
United Kingdom company law requires the director to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the director has elected to prepare the group and parent company financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law, the director must not approve the financial statements unless he is satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and parent company, and of the profit or loss of the group for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the director is required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then 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 group and parent company will continue in business.
The director is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the group’s and parent company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and parent company, and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. He is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the group and parent company, and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
We have audited the financial statements of A C Group Holdings Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 March 2026 which comprise the group profit and loss account, the group statement of comprehensive income, the group balance sheet, the company balance sheet, the group statement of changes in equity, the company statement of changes in equity, the group 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).
Basis for opinion
Conclusions relating to going concern
Other information
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
As explained more fully in the director's responsibilities statement, the director is 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 director determines 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 director is responsible for assessing the group's and 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 director either intends to liquidate the group or parent company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities, including fraud
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.
Based on our understanding of the company, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to breaches of the legal and regulatory framework that the company operates in. We considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included UK Companies Act 2006, employment law, health and safety and tax legislation.
We also evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls) and determined that the principal risks were related to the posting of inappropriate journal entries to manipulate financial results and potential management bias in accounting estimates.
As a result of the above, our audit procedures performed included:
Discussions with management and those charged with governance in relation to known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulation and fraud.
Agreeing financial statements disclosures to underlying supporting documentation and assessing compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Testing the appropriateness of journal entries and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.
Assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias.
Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. The test nature and other inherent limitations of an audit, together with the inherent limitations of any accounting and internal control system, mean that there is an unavoidable risk that even some material misstatements in respect of irregularities may remain undiscovered even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK).
We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.
Our examination should therefore not be relied upon to disclose all such material misstatements or frauds, errors or instances of non-compliance that might exist. The responsibility for safeguarding the assets of the company and for the prevention and detection of fraud, error and non-compliance with law or regulations rests with the directors of A C Group Holdings Limited.
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.
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 £2,035,215 (2025 - £0 profit).
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions relating to medium-sized companies.
A C Group Holdings Limited (“the company”) is a private limited company domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Riverside Works, Bridge Street, Dukinfield, SK16 4RX.
The group consists of A C Group Holdings Limited and all of its subsidiaries.
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, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements for parent company information presented within the consolidated financial statements:
Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;
Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: Compensation for key management personnel.
The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company A C Group Holdings Limited together with all entities controlled by the parent company (its subsidiaries).
All financial statements are made up to 31 March 2026. 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.
Subsidiaries are consolidated in the group’s financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the director has a reasonable expectation that the group and parent company have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the director continues 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 goods and 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.
Contract revenue is recognised according to stage of completion of each project. Stage of completion is determined by reference to proportion of costs incurred to budget, amounts billed in advance/arrears are recognised in deferred/accrued income.
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.
Equity investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss, except for those equity investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably, which are recognised at cost less impairment until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.
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 balance sheet 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.
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.
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 profit and loss account 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 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.
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.
In the application of the group’s accounting policies, the director is 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 estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.
Tangible fixed assets are depreciated over their useful lives taking into account residual values, where appropriate. The actual lives of the assets and residual values are assessed annually and may vary depending on a number of factors. Residual value assessments consider issues such as future market conditions and the remaining life of the asset.
Contract revenue is recognised according to stage of completion of each project. Stage of completion is determined by reference to proportion of costs incurred to budget, amounts billed in advance/arrears are recognised in deferred/accrued income.
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 tangible fixed assets are assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts, as follows:
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 March 2026 are as follows:
Obligations under finance lease are secured on the assets they relate to. Lease terms are 3 years. Finance lease payments represent rentals payable by the company for certain motor vehicles. Leases include purchase options at the end of the lease period, and no restrictions are placed on the use of the assets. All leases are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments.
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company:
Deferred tax liabilities are expected to reverse over the useful life of the assets.
Deferred tax assets are expected to reverse within 12 months.
A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.
All shares have equal voting rights.
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:
During the year, A C Electrical (North) Limited paid £120,000 (2025: £120,000) in rent and a £150,000 (2025: £115,000) management charge to A C Electrical (North) Two Limited, a company under common control. As at 31 March 2026, A C Electrical (North) Two Limited owed A C Electrical (North) Limited £576,154 (2025: £573,021).
During the year, A C Electrical (North) Limited paid £80,000 (2025: £0) in management charges to Baytree Design Consultancy Limited, a company with a common director.
During the year, A C Electrical (North) Limited received £50,000 (2025: £0) in management charges from EMK Construction Limited, a company under common control.
Dividends totalling £96,000 (2025 - £75,000) were paid in the year in respect of shares held by the company's directors.