BRIAN_YEARDLEY_CONTINENTA - Accounts

The directors present the strategic report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.

The company’s principal activity is the provision of logistics services to clients in the UK, EU and worldwide.

This principal activity is split into two divisions, firstly, the general cargo (GC) division and secondly, the live events division (TRUCKINGBY - TBY) moving musical equipment for some of the biggest artists and bands in the world.

The market conditions in both divisions became more challenging throughout 2023, after the Covid bounce experienced in 2022 this year has been very much a return to type and a market correction after the previous year where demand outstripped supply and trucks, trailers and driver availability were at a premium.

Despite these obvious challenges the business was able to consolidate a lot of its gains in 2022 into repeat and recurring business, which against the backdrop of toughening market conditions and ongoing economic uncertainty is testament to both the reputation the business has and equally important, the commitment, determination and desire of the staff who work so hard to maintain it.

More specifically, it was with great relief that the winter period of late 2022 and early 2023 continued un-interrupted for the TBY division, which gave further confidence and optimism to the live-events sector heading into the busy late Spring and Summer periods.

Without question the live-events sector within which TBY operates had a much more challenging year in 2023, this was however not unexpected after a hectic 2022. The volume and frequency of tours in 2023 was always going to cool slightly when compared to the prior year, and as such the market rates for trucking services inevitably tightened. Despite this, the TBY division has managed to achieve the same level of turnover in 2023 as it did in 2022, coming in at £5.8m for both years, this is a great achievement given the challenges and market conditions that existed this year as outlined earlier.

The GC business also experienced a much more challenging 2023 in what is and always has been an ultra-competitive market. Brian Yeardley Continental Limited continues to be one of the larger UK operators that continues to venture into Europe in the aftermath of Brexit.

The company strategy continues to be focused on increasing its presence in Europe, the formation of TruckingBYLazar S.R.L. in 2021 followed by the formation of StokholmBY A/S in 2022, have both contributed significantly in strengthening our continental network.

The GC market has not been immune to the toughening market conditions in 2023 either and this has placed a growing importance on continuing to ever evaluate operational efficiencies. It has been and will continue to be a core strategy of the business to conduct on-going reviews into key routes and operational markets to ensure we remain competitive and offer the very best service possible.

The company is committed to investing in its employees, broadening diversity and places great emphasis on nurturing, and developing the skills of its employees through in-house and external training, updates, and webinars. The company values the involvement of its employees and has continued to keep them informed on matters affecting them as employees and on the various factors affecting the performance of the company in addition to providing channels for employees to feedback their own thoughts and ideas.

The company is equally committed to reducing its environmental footprint taking responsibility for monitoring its drivers and ensuring they are operating in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations, with continued investment in fleet technology to obtain high quality accreditations and efficiencies.

Competition

There is increasing competition within the general cargo and live events sectors both in the UK and Europe. The directors therefore continually monitor the market and its competition to ensure it offers its customers the highest levels of service at the most competitive prices.

Exchange rate risk

The company’s activities expose it to limited financial risk of changes in foreign currency rates, specifically that between GBP and EUR’s. The company continually reviews the market and associated factors in ascertaining the level of risk present. The company does invoice customers in foreign currency to hedge these exposures. Except for foreign currency exchange, the company does not actively use financial instruments as part of its financial risk management.

Credit risk

The company is exposed to credit risk and cash flow risk associated with selling on credit and manages this through its robust credit control procedures and the use of well know, industry leading, credit referencing software.

Brexit

Although it has now been over three years since the UK formally left the EU concerns continue to linger regarding Brexit and the lack of clarity around its long-term effect on the live events logistics sector. The company has a Brexit strategy team that is tasked with developing and implementing strategy in relation to Brexit and to quickly react upon any new procedures or regulations to ensure the business can continue to operate effectively and offer its customers a quality service. The company continues to forge strong relationships and strategic alliances both in the UK and Europe and the directors are confident that this coupled with its robust approach to strategy and planning will ensure it is well placed to react to any post-Brexit challenges that lie ahead.

Covid-19

Whilst there have not been any nationwide lockdown restrictions in the UK since July 2021, the effects and repercussions of that unprecedented period are still having and impact on business and certainly are not forgotten. It is inevitable and prudent that any business continues to evaluate the re-emergence of Covid, a new variant or other similar virus that could result in a repeat of what we saw throughout 2020 and 2021. The key risks are the restriction or complete cessation of live events which would result in a fall in demand for trucking services and the inherent risk of infection within the company’s workforce. The company mitigates against the risk of infection by ensuring the cleanliness of workspaces across the company and facilities and hygiene levels are regularly scrutinised, the business engages with several reputable hygiene service providers to ensure the highest standards are met.

Ongoing Russia Ukraine conflict and Middle East uncertainty

The Russia/Ukraine conflict that began in February 2022 sadly still shows little sign of being resolved peacefully despite the efforts of most major world powers. The ongoing war continues to cause great uncertainty across Europe and beyond and the economic effects of this are being felt by all, predominantly in the shape of fluctuating prices which has contributed to the current cost of living crisis. In addition, recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East threaten to de-stabilise the region and risk further conflict which will inevitably cause further economic instability.

The specific risks the business faces in this regard are both rising costs of its own consumables but also that consumers have less disposable income to enable them to attend live events which could cause a slowdown in demand for trucking services for these events. The company manages these risks by keeping a constant watch over market and consumable prices, fixing costs where possible to avoid unexpected fluctuations and pricing our services competitively which minimises the impact on our customers whilst maintaining our quality of service and continuing to demonstrate excellent value for money.

Events since the year end and going concern

The business going forward continues to be in an extremely strong position, 2023 whilst not without its challenges has again shown that the business remains robust and adaptable to the ever-changing market and geopolitical landscape in which it operates. It is testament to the staff who are the driving force of the business that we have taken on these challenges head on and can reflect on 2023 with an air of positivity.

Our attention now switches to 2024 and once again, with a full order book for the TBY division and plans for fleet expansion to meet the growing demand we are extremely confident that 2024 will be a year in which the business continues to grow and progress.

The business is now more resilient to changes in both of its key operating sectors, the fleet is designed to balance the need for dedicated specialist vehicles with the need for vehicles that can operate within each division with ease. This enables us to maintain a low fixed-cost base, and fluidly re-distribute assets between sectors to operate more efficiently. This means the business is no longer over reliant on any one customer or revenue stream.

The company uses an invoice discounting facility as the primary source of working capital funding and the directors have no reason to believe that this facility will be withdrawn during the next 12 months.

The directors have prepared budgets and considered the cash flow requirement of the company for a period more than twelve months from the date of the approval of these financial statements. The forecasts have been prepared on a conservative basis with sensitivity around the continuing recovery of the live events division, new contract wins, the fulfilling of existing contracts and related cash receipts. The timing and amounts of these are subjective and impact the future cash flows of the business. These projections indicate that the current financing facilities are adequate for the foreseeable future.

The directors therefore consider that the company is a going concern and continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these accounts.

The primary performance indicators used by the business are turnover, operating profit and distributable reserves. These show;

                    2023        2022

Turnover                    £14,227,225    £14,912,236

Operating profit                £199,264    £1,121,313        

Reserves                £2,278,160    £2,260,634

The company also measures KPI’s according to destination country, subcontractor use compared to own fleet, fuel usage, efficiency, and other associated factors. The disclosure of these more detailed KPI’s is not required.

On behalf of the board

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.

The principal activity of the company continues to be that of UK and international haulage.

The results for the year are set out on page 9.

No interim ordinary 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 auditor, Azets Audit Services Limited, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

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 company and of the profit or loss of the company 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;

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

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

We have audited the financial statements of Brian Yeardley Continental Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the statement of comprehensive income, the balance sheet, the statement of changes in equity, the 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 company's affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of its 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 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 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 company and its 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, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

• the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• certain disclosures of 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 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 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.

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.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of 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 and on the Financial Reporting Council’s website, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.

We obtain and update our understanding of the entity, its activities, its control environment, and likely future developments, including in relation to the legal and regulatory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework.  Based on this understanding, we identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.  This includes consideration of the risk of acts by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, we designed procedures which included:

• Enquiry of management and those charged with governance around actual and potential litigation and claims as well as actual, suspected and alleged fraud; 

• Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;

• Assessing the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations considered to have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company through enquiry and inspection; 

• Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

• Performing audit work over the risk of management bias and override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for indicators of potential bias. 

• Performing audit work over the timing and recognition of revenue and in particular whether it has been recorded in the correct accounting period.

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 of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the 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 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 company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

The statement of comprehensive income has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

Brian Yeardley Continental Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Strand House, Wakefield Road, Featherstone, Pontefract, WF7 5BP.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 £1.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Atruet the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company 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 represents amounts receivable for goods and services. Income is recognised on delivery of a customer's goods to their destination and is net of VAT and trade discounts.

Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

Intangible assets acquired on business combinations are recognised separately from goodwill at the acquisition date where it is probable that the expected future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the entity and the fair value of the asset can be measured reliably; the intangible asset arises from contractual or other legal rights; and the intangible asset is separable from the entity.

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 on a straight line basis over their estimated useful lives as follows:

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 credited or charged to profit or loss.

Interests in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. The investments are assessed for impairment at each reporting date and any impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses are recognised immediately in profit or loss.

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

An associate is an entity, being neither a subsidiary nor a joint venture, in which the company holds a long-term interest and where the company has significant influence. The company considers that it has significant influence where it has the power to participate in the financial and operating decisions of the associate.

Entities in which the company has a long term interest and shares control under a contractual arrangement are classified as jointly controlled entities.

At each reporting period end date, the company 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).

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.

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 company 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 company's balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with 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 company 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 company after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans 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 receipts 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.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Equity instruments issued by the company 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 company.

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 company’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 profit and loss account, 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 when the company has 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.

Equity-settled share-based payments are measured at fair value at the date of grant by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted using the Black-Scholes model. The fair value determined at the grant date is expensed, where the amounts are mentioned, on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the estimate of shares that will eventually vest. A corresponding adjustment is made to equity.

When the terms and conditions of equity-settled share-based payments at the time they were granted are subsequently modified, the fair value of the share-based payment under the original terms and conditions and under the modified terms and conditions are both determined at the date of the modification. Any excess of the modified fair value over the original fair value is recognised over the remaining vesting period in addition to the grant date fair value of the original share-based payment. The share-based payment expense is not adjusted if the modified fair value is less than the original fair value.

Cancellations or settlements (including those resulting from employee redundancies) are treated as an acceleration of vesting and the amount that would have been recognised over the remaining vesting period is recognised immediately.

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 leases 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.

Joint Venture

As stated in accounting policy for fixed asset investments jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost. These financial statements do not include the company’s share of the assets and liabilities in joint operations or its share of revenues and expenses arising jointly from those operations on the basis that it is not otherwise required to produce consolidated financial statements. The joint venture investment is reviewed for impairment losses.

In the application of the company’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 estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.

The depreciation policy has been set according to management's experience of the useful lives and residual values of a typical asset in each category, something which is reviewed annually. It is not considered practical to use a per unit basis to allocate depreciation without undue cost and therefore amounts are charged annually. The depreciation charged during the year was £626,364 (2022 - £612,016) which the directors feel is a fair reflection of the benefits derived from the consumption of the tangible fixed assets in use during the period.

Outstanding trade debtor balances are reviewed on a line by line basis by management to identify possible amounts where a provision is required. Management closely manage the collection of trade debtors and are therefore able to identify balances where there is uncertainty about its recoverability, and determine what provision is required (if any).

An analysis of the company's turnover is as follows:

The turnover analysis above reflects where the company's customer is based rather than whether the goods being shipped are exports from or imports to the UK.

As a result of the CVA, the company previously amended the liabilities owing to creditors within the CVA to the amounts agreed to be paid under the terms of the CVA. The CVA has been concluded in the prior year which resulted in a final release to the profit and loss account.

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the 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:

The net carrying value of tangible fixed assets includes the following in respect of assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts.

Trade debtors have been pledged as security against borrowings under an invoice discounting arrangement, as detailed in note 15.

Finance lease payments represent rentals payable by the company for certain vehicles. Leases include purchase options at the end of the lease period, and no restrictions are placed on the use of the assets. The average lease term is 5 years. All leases are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments.

Finance lease obligations are secured against the assets to which they relate.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where the company has a legally enforceable right to do so. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset) for financial reporting purposes:

The company operates defined contribution pension schemes for all qualifying employees. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the company in independently administered funds.

The company has issued share options in 2021 over an additional 1,540 shares, with an exercise price of £6.50 and 418 shares, with an exercise price of £61.18. The fair value of the share options issued has not been included within the accounts as the directors consider its impact annually and in aggregate to be immaterial.

During the year, 800 share options have been exercised at the exercise price of £6.50. These shares were subsequently repurchassed by The Company and later cancelled.

The overall fair value was calculated using the Black-Scholes model, with the total fair value of the options estimated to be £83,000.

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

Amounts contracted for but not provided in the financial statements:

The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.

During the year the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:

The company leases land and property from the Solo Pension Scheme, a small self-administered pension scheme of which Mr B Yeardley, a shareholder and director, is a member. Rent is payable by the company to the scheme which in the year amounted to £163,000 (2022 - £164,000).

Key management personnel are the directors, whose remuneration is disclosed in note 27.

The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:

The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:

The company has no ultimate controlling party.

Details of the company's joint ventures at 31 December 2023 are as follows:

The inception of new finance leases totalling £266,606 (2022 - £80,194) represents a major non-cash transaction.