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Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).
Turnover
Turnover comprises the invoiced value of goods and services supplied by the company, net of Value Added Tax and trade discounts.
Government grants
Government grants received are credited to deferred income. Grants towards capital expenditure are released to the profit and loss account over the expected useful life of the assets. Grants received towards revenue expenditure are released to the profit and loss account as the related expenditure is incurred.
Operating lease rentals
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged against income on a straight line basis over the lease term.
Research and development expenditure
Research and development expenditure is charged to the profit and loss account in the period in which it is incurred.
Website cost
Planning and operating costs for the company's website are charged to the profit and loss account as incurred.
Foreign currencies
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. All foreign exchange differences are included to the profit and loss account.
Deferred taxation
Deferred tax is provided in full in respect of taxation deferred by timing differences between the treatment of certain items for taxation and accounting purposes. The deferred tax balance has not been discounted.
Intangible assets
Intangible assets (including purchased goodwill and patents) are amortised at rates calculated to write off the assets on a straight line basis over their estimated useful economic lives. Impairment of intangible assets is only reviewed where circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be fully recoverable.
Goodwill
Acquired goodwill is stated at cost less amortisation. Amortisation is calculated on a straight line basis over the estimated expected useful economic life of the goodwill of years.
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, are stated at cost or valuation less depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost or valuation of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following basis:
Investment properties
Investment properties are included in the balance sheet at their open market value at the balance sheet date. The resulting aggregate surplus or deficit is transferred to a revaluation reserve. Depreciation is provided only on those investment properties which are leasehold and where the unexpired lease term is less than 20 years.
Although this accounting policy is in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008), it is a departure from the general requirement of the Companies Act 2006 for all tangible assets to be depreciated. In the opinion of the directors compliance with the standard is necessary for the financial statements to give a true and fair view. Depreciation or amortisation is only one of many factors reflected in the annual valuation and the amount of this which might otherwise have been charged cannot be separately identified or quantified.
Assets on finance lease and hire purchase
Assets held under finance lease or hire purchase contracts i.e. those contracts where substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the company, are included in the appropriate category of tangible fixed assets and depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and their estimated expected useful lives.
Future obligations under such contracts are included in creditors net of the finance charge allocated to future periods.
Fixed asset investments
Fixed asset investments are stated at cost less provision for any permanent diminution in value.
Stocks
Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.
Current asset investments
Current asset investments are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the company has a present obligation as a result of a past event which it is more probable than not will result in an outflow of economic benefits that can be reasonably estimated.
Preference shares
The company's preference shares are treated as a financial liability since they are subject to mandatory redemption for a fixed or determinable amount at a fixed or determinable time and are thus included in creditors in the financial statements rather than as part of the company's issued share capital.
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