During the financial year, Urban Hax CIC continued to expand its activities and investment in community infrastructure, providing accessible creative, digital, technical and enterprise opportunities for individuals and businesses across Walsall and the wider Black Country. The company's work remained focused on reducing economic, social and skills-based barriers, supporting local people to develop their capabilities, access employment and self-employment opportunities, and participate in the creative and digital economy. A significant area of activity during the year was the development of the Guildhall Walsall, a new Creative Industries Enterprise Centre within a historic Grade II* listed building in Walsall town centre. This ambitious project represents a substantial investment in the town's creative infrastructure, transforming a prominent heritage building into an accessible centre for creative enterprise, innovation and community activity. The facility has been developed to provide affordable coworking, artist studios, specialist creative workspaces, meeting and training facilities, and access to advanced digital fabrication and production technologies. The project aims to support the growth of creative businesses, encourage collaboration and contribute to the wider regeneration of Walsall town centre. Alongside this development, Urban Hax CIC continued operating its existing community facilities, including Meanwhile coworking and Bloxwich Launchpad, providing affordable workspace, digital access, equipment and practical support to freelancers, entrepreneurs, community organisations and residents. These facilities enabled individuals to access professional environments and technology that may otherwise have been financially inaccessible, helping to improve digital confidence, develop business ideas and support progression into employment or self-employment. The company continued to deliver free and subsidised training, workshops, mentoring and enterprise development activities. This included the Guildhall Incubation Programme, supported by Arts Council England, which provides structured business development, mentoring and practical support for emerging creative practitioners and entrepreneurs. Through this programme, participants have been supported to strengthen their business skills, develop sustainable creative practices and establish connections within the local creative economy. Urban Hax CIC also continued to promote community participation in making, repair and practical skills through its makerspace activities, Walsall Tool Shack and community repair initiatives. By providing shared access to specialist tools, equipment and technical knowledge, these activities helped reduce the financial barriers associated with creative production, home maintenance and practical learning. They also encouraged resource sharing, repair, reuse and environmentally sustainable practices. Community engagement and creative participation remained central to the company's work. Through initiatives including Walsall Makerfest, creative workshops and collaborative community projects, Urban Hax CIC created opportunities for residents of different ages, backgrounds and abilities to engage with technology, design, making and creative enterprise. These activities helped strengthen community connections, encourage creativity and raise awareness of opportunities within the local creative and digital sectors. The company continued working closely with Walsall Council, Arts Council England and other public, voluntary and community sector partners to deliver projects aligned with local priorities for economic regeneration, cultural participation, digital inclusion and social mobility. Particular emphasis was placed on ensuring that opportunities remained accessible to people experiencing financial disadvantage, limited access to technology or other barriers to participation. Throughout the year, Urban Hax CIC reinvested its resources into maintaining and expanding community facilities, acquiring specialist equipment, improving accessibility and developing programmes that deliver long-term public benefit. Any trading surplus was retained for the company's community purposes, with no distribution of profits to directors or members. Overall, the company's activities contributed to strengthening Walsall's creative and digital infrastructure, supporting enterprise development, improving access to skills and technology, and creating opportunities for local people to participate more fully in the economic, cultural and social life of their communities. The continued development of the Guildhall and the expansion of existing programmes provide a strong foundation for delivering increased community impact in future years.

During the financial year, Urban Hax CIC continued to engage with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure its activities, facilities and programmes remained responsive to the needs of local communities, creative practitioners, businesses and partner organisations across Walsall and the wider Black Country. A significant focus of consultation during the year was the development of the Guildhall Walsall Creative Industries Enterprise Centre. The company engaged with prospective tenants, creative businesses, freelancers, artists and community organisations to better understand their requirements for affordable workspace, specialist facilities, equipment and business development support. This engagement helped inform the design, facilities, pricing structures and operational arrangements of the centre, ensuring that its development reflected the practical needs of the local creative sector. Ongoing consultation also took place with users of the company's existing facilities, including Meanwhile coworking, Bloxwich Launchpad and its makerspace services. Feedback was gathered through regular conversations, programme evaluations, workshops and direct engagement with service users. This informed decisions relating to accessibility, opening arrangements, equipment provision, training opportunities and the affordability of services. Urban Hax CIC maintained close working relationships with Walsall Council, Arts Council England and other funding and delivery partners. Consultation included project planning meetings, progress reviews, funding discussions and collaborative programme development. These discussions helped ensure that activities complemented local economic development, cultural regeneration, digital inclusion and community engagement priorities while demonstrating appropriate use of public funding. The company also engaged with participants, mentors and delivery partners involved in its creative enterprise and skills development programmes, including the Guildhall Incubation Programme. Feedback and ongoing dialogue helped identify barriers faced by emerging creative businesses and informed the provision of practical training, mentoring, networking opportunities and business support. Through community events, workshops, repair initiatives and collaborative projects, Urban Hax CIC continued to engage directly with residents and community groups. These interactions provided valuable insight into local interests, skills gaps and barriers to accessing creative and technical opportunities, helping the company shape future activities and improve the inclusivity of its services. Directors and staff regularly reviewed stakeholder feedback alongside operational experience, project outcomes and emerging community needs. This enabled the company to adapt its approach, identify opportunities for improvement and ensure that resources were directed towards activities offering meaningful community benefit. Overall, stakeholder consultation remained an integral part of Urban Hax CIC's decision-making and service development. By maintaining open communication with service users, community organisations, public sector partners and local businesses, the company continued to develop inclusive, accessible and sustainable services that respond to the evolving needs of Walsall and the wider Black Country.

During the financial year ending 2026, the directors of Urban Hax CIC received total remuneration of £73,005, compared with £58,925 in the previous financial year. The increase in total remuneration was primarily attributable to the appointment of an additional director in September 2025, reflecting the growth of the organisation and the need for additional management and operational capacity. The directors undertook substantial responsibilities in the day-to-day operation and strategic development of the company, including the management of community facilities, delivery of publicly funded programmes, financial oversight, partnership development and the development of the Guildhall Walsall Creative Industries Enterprise Centre. Remuneration was paid in respect of active operational and management duties rather than solely by virtue of holding the office of director. The remuneration was considered reasonable and proportionate to the responsibilities undertaken and the scale of the company's activities. The company remains committed to ensuring that directors' remuneration is consistent with its community interest objectives and that its resources continue to be directed towards delivering meaningful and sustainable public benefit. Full details of directors' remuneration are disclosed in the company's statutory accounts.

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration