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PHSC Plc

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FY2019 Annual Report · PHSC Plc
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40344 U PHSC Annual Report 2018_Cover.qxp_40344 U PHSC Annual Report 2019  01/08/2019  15:33  Page 1

Annual Report  
2019

B2BSG Solutions

In House The Hygiene Management Company

Inspection Services (U.K.) 

Ltd

RSA Environmental Health

 
 
CONTENTS OF THE ANNUAL REPORT
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Company Information 

Strategic Report   

Report of the Directors 

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 

Corporate Governance Statement 

Independent Auditor’s Report 

Group Statement of Financial Position 

Group Statement of Comprehensive Income  

Group Statement of Changes in Equity  

Group Statement of Cash Flows  

Accounting Policies  

Notes to the Financial Statements  

Company Financial Statements 

Statement of Financial Position 

Statement of Changes in Equity 

Statement of Cash Flows 

Notes to the Financial Statements 

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

Form of Proxy 

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COMPANY INFORMATION
for the year ended 31 March 2019

DIRECTORS: 

S A King 
N C Coote 
G N Webb MBE 
L E Young

SECRETARY: 

SGH Company Secretaries Limited 

REGISTERED OFFICE & BUSINESS ADDRESS:  The Old Church 

31 Rochester Road 
Aylesford 
Kent 
ME20 7PR

REGISTERED NUMBER: 

4121793 (England and Wales)

AUDITOR: 

SOLICITORS: 

REGISTRARS: 

NOMINATED ADVISER: 

BROKER: 

Crowe U.K. LLP 
Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditor 
40-46 High Street 
Maidstone 
Kent 
ME14 1JH

Gullands 
16 Mill Street 
Maidstone 
Kent  
ME15 6XT

Neville Registrars Limited 
Neville House 
Steelpark Road 
Halesowen 
West Midlands 
B62 8HD

Strand Hanson Limited 
26 Mount Row 
London 
W1K 3SQ

Novum Securities Limited 
8-10 Grosvenor Gardens 
London 
SW1W 0DH

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STRATEGIC REPORT
for the year ended 31 March 2019

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

•  EBITDA* of £0.116m excluding exceptional gain on property sale of £0.17m, down from £0.14m last year 

•  Profit after tax of £0.001m compared with a loss of £0.16m last year

•  Group revenue of £5.2m compared with £7.0m last year

•  Cash reserves of £0.64m at year end compared to £0.24m last year

•  Write-down of £0.20m due to impaired goodwill, the same as last year

•  Group net assets at £5.14m after goodwill impairment compared to £5.29m last year 

•  Profit per share of 0.005p compared to a loss per share of 1.095p last year

•  Final dividend of 0.5p proposed, making a total of 1.0p for the year, matching the 1.0p paid last year

Profit/(loss) before tax 
Less: interest received 
Add: interest paid 
Add: depreciation 
Add: impairment B2BSG Solutions Limited goodwill 
Less: net gain on sale of property 
Add: redundancy costs regarding closure of Adamson’s Laboratories Services Limited 

Underlying EBITDA* 

31.3.19 
£ 

42,494 
(303) 
1,514 
38,179 
200,000 
(166,270) 
– 

115,614 

31.3.18 
£

(145,861)
(3)
3,778
34,590
200,000
–
47,000

139,504

* 

 Underlying EBITDA is calculated as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, impairment charges and non-recurring costs. This is used by the board as 
a measure of underlying trading and has been provided to assist shareholders in understanding the Group’s trading activities.

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

•  Completion of the integration process of the two security businesses.

•  Consolidation of operational sites within the safety division, with Northleach office vacated at end of lease.

•  Refurbishment of existing Cumbernauld premises and additional lease taken on adjoining office space.

•  Disposal of freehold property previously used by discontinued asbestos consultancy business.

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STRATEGIC REPORT (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

On behalf of the board, I present my review of the Group’s activities and performance during the financial year 2018-19, 
along with some commentary about the Group’s plans and expectations for 2019–20. 

GENERAL BUSINESS REVIEW AND OUTLOOK

The  Group’s  revenue  profile  continues  to  be  dominated  by  its  security  business,  B2BSG  Solutions  Limited  (B2BSG), 
which was formed at the start of the year by the amalgamation of two separate subsidiaries operating in this sector. It 
accounted for approximately 52% of income, with the safety businesses contributing a combined 33% and our quality 
systems subsidiary, QCS International Limited (QCS), making up the remaining 17%. In the prior year the split was 60%, 
23% and 11% respectively, but based on total Group revenues that were around a third higher. This illustrates the effect 
on the Group of a general downturn in the demand for security-related services in the present retail environment.

Despite the recent difficulties at its security business caused by weak demand from retailers, the Group’s decision to 
diversify away from core health and safety services in 2012 can be shown to have been the right strategy overall. The 
move into quality systems that took place at the same time has reaped rewards with QCS accounting for circa £0.242m 
of profit before tax and management charges last year. Management’s task is to improve the bottom line at the security 
business whilst continuing to develop the full potential of QCS.

During 2018, the national retailer who had been the largest client of B2BSG encountered difficulties along with many 
others  with  a  high  street  presence,  and  temporarily  suspended  further  investment. This  had  a  severe  impact  on  our 
workload and meant that much of the infrastructure in place to serve the client was no longer required, at least until 
further notice. In response we had no alternative but to scale down the operation and this led to some staff cuts and 
other actions with adverse financial consequences. Ultimately in Q4 the client was able to secure a company voluntary 
agreement with its creditors and landlords and a slow improvement to the order book has since been observed.  There 
is no expectation that it will return to previous levels although the board is optimistic that the trend will be upwards.

Given the reliance upon retail clients and the well-publicised problems across this sector, the board decided that it was 
appropriate to make a provision of £200,000 against the carrying value of the security business. Progressively during 
the year we were transferring the contents of the Amesbury warehouse into the Finchampstead facility as part of the 
amalgamation of our security businesses that formed B2BSG, and this process identified certain stock totalling £37,100 
that was deemed to be slow-moving or for which there was no current client demand.  The majority of this stock, whilst 
written down, remains on shelves and available for sale should the opportunity arise.

The subsidiaries that make up the health and safety division were each net contributors to the Group and we continue 
to have a strong presence in sectors such as leisure, education, healthcare and transport. At the end of calendar year 
2018  our  Quality  Leisure  Management  Limited  subsidiary  vacated  its  office  at The  Old  Police  Station  in  Northleach, 
Gloucestershire upon expiry of the lease and moved to Northamptonshire where it now shares the office space with 
RSA Environmental Health Limited. Space had become available there following the closure of our asbestos business 
which had occupied an area of the premises.

In last year’s report we stated that QCS was proposing to take on additional space at the Cumbernauld office park that it 
occupies. We negotiated a new lease for the existing offices and took on the adjoining offices which had been vacant for 
some time, doubling the space available for the delivery of public training courses. An investment approaching £50,000 
was made to completely refurbish both units and now QCS has a modern and spacious facility from which to continue 
developing its offering.

Our freehold property in Essex was sold following the closure of our asbestos business and this contributed a net gain of 
circa £166,000.  At the time of acquisition in 2005, the Group paid for the property in line with an independent market 
valuation.  However,  the  book  value  at  that  time  included  an  unrealised  gain  from  when  the  property  was  originally 
purchased some years before and on which the former owners had not made a tax provision. The effect is that the 
Group’s tax liability on disposal was increased to reflect tax on the unrealised gain element as well as the appreciation 
in value since 2005.

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

Net asset value

As at 31 March 2019, the Group’s consolidated net assets stood at £5.14m. There were 14,677,257 ordinary shares in 
issue at that date which equates to a net asset value per share of 35p.

We note that the company’s ordinary shares continue to trade at a discount to the net asset value, which we believe to 
be a response to the high value of goodwill on the balance sheet. The board reviews the carrying value of goodwill each 
year to ensure that the book value is fairly stated and is within a range commensurate with good accounting practice. As 
has been noted above, we resolved to reduce the carrying value of our retail-dependent security businesses by £200,000, 
something that we also did in the previous year, and this represents a reduction of approximately 4% in the consolidated 
net assets of the Group. The board is satisfied that all other goodwill valuations can presently be justified.

Outlook

The delay in resolving issues surrounding the UK’s membership of the European Union (EU) continues to create an 
uncertain environment for many of the Group’s clients. Many of those organisations we work with are cutting back or 
delaying decisions until the political situation is resolved. In turn, this causes constraints on what those organisations are 
prepared to invest in the services and products that we provide. Whilst we do not generally sell into the EU ourselves, 
there is a direct effect in that all the products supplied by B2BSG are sourced abroad. The purchasing power of sterling 
has  deteriorated  because  of  political  uncertainty  and  this  negatively  impacts  our  margins.  Potentially,  there  may  be 
additional costs associated with bringing goods into the UK from the EU but these matters are not yet quantifiable. The 
prospects for B2BSG are therefore hard to predict with any certainty but we are doing all we can to contain costs and 
maximise income and margins.

We expect continued stability across the safety division where we have a particularly loyal client base. We believe the 
cost base is where it should be, and our focus will be on continuing to drive sales. 

With refurbished premises and additional training facilities now in place at QCS, we will look to exploit the opportunities 
that this gives us in terms of higher numbers of paying delegates on public courses and the potential to hold more than 
one training event at the same time.

Trading update

Unaudited management accounts for the first quarter of 2019-20 indicate that Group revenues were £1.08m and this 
generated EBITDA of £84,600. This compares with total revenues of £1.56m for the first quarter of 2018 -19 and EBITDA 
of £121,800. Cash at bank on 31 July 2019 was £660,700.

PRE-TAX PROFIT/(LOSS) PER SUBSIDIARY BEFORE GROUP MANAGEMENT CHARGES

Profits  before  tax  and  management  charges  are  reviewed  by  each  subsidiary  and  the  board  every  month  to  ensure 
that each subsidiary trades profitably. To 31 March 2019, the Group did not adopt a policy of cross-charging between 
subsidiaries with only informal account being taken of significant work done by one subsidiary on behalf of another. 
With consultants increasingly undertaking work across a number of subsidiaries, this policy has been changed from 
1 April 2019 to more accurately reflect the profits generated by each subsidiary. 

A review of the activities of each trading subsidiary is provided below. The profit figures stated are before tax, central 
management charges and impairment charges. The management charges are the individual subsidiary’s contribution to 
Group overheads and are not directly attributable costs.

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

B2BSG Solutions Limited (B2BSG)

Note: Figures shown for 2018 are the sum of the former B to B Links Limited and SG Systems (UK Limited).

•  2019: revenues of £2,724,000 yielding a loss of £137,400

•  2018: revenues of £4,226,300 yielding a loss of £17,900

It  is  clear  from  the  performance  outcome  that  there  was  a  material  reduction  in  revenues  in  the  year,  and  it  was 
not possible to rapidly restructure the business to accommodate this lower revenue. Many cost saving measures have 
progressively been implemented but will take time to have full effect. As described in the business review section above, 
income was reduced due to the hiatus in orders from the largest customer, along with depressed sales generally across 
the retail sector. Cost savings will largely accrue through closure of the Amesbury offices and warehouse at the end of 
March 2019, and reduced staffing. 

The profit is shown after a non-cash provision has been made of £37,068 (2018 - £45,000) for slow moving stock.

Inspection Services (UK) Limited (ISL)

•  2019: revenues of £232,600 yielding a profit of £43,500

•  2018: revenues of £215,500 yielding a profit of £46,300

There was sales growth of around 8% compared with the previous year but there were higher costs and this led to 
profits dropping overall by 6%. The profile of the business has not changed, with ISL obtaining most work from insurance 
brokers  who  place  inspection  business  with  the  company  on  behalf  of  their  clients. The  work  consists  of  statutory 
examination and inspection of lifting plant and equipment, and of pressure systems, along with ancillary equipment. 

Notable contracts during the year included conducting safety reviews of numerous pressure systems that form part of 
coffee machines leased to offices across London and the south, and the inspection of roof edge protection systems on 
several buildings for a large housing provider. 

Personnel Health & Safety Consultants Limited (PHSCL) 

•  2019: revenues of £657,100 yielding a profit of £278,000

•  2018: revenues of £615,700 yielding a profit of £240,000

An increase in revenue of 6% led to a 15% rise in profitability because the fixed cost base is relatively stable. As has been 
mentioned in previous reports, this subsidiary is a net provider of consultancy time to others within the safety division 
and hitherto the effect of that utilisation of labour has not been reflected in results. This will change next year. 

PHSCL’s  clients  tend  to  maintain  their  relationship  with  the  business  over  many  years,  in  particular  those  using  the 
company’s flagship product which is the Appointed Safety Advisor Service.

QCS International Limited (QCS)

•  2019: revenues of £759,500 yielding a profit of £242,300

•  2018: revenues of £767,600 yielding a profit of £285,200

QCS continued to perform strongly, consolidating gains made in the previous year when there had been significant uplift 
due to orders relating to changes in ISO standards. Whilst demand for transition to the new quality and environmental 
standards has ended, the company is now experiencing further enquiries regarding the brand-new ISO 45001 standard 
for health and safety.

Sales in public training and consultancy services for the year remained strong, both ahead of revenues for the previous 
year; these together normally account for around 80% of total income.  In-house training sales weakened, and it is this 
area of performance that caused total sales for the year to dip very slightly, by around 1% in total. 

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

In the financial year the company made considerable investment in its training facilities allowing an increase in capacity 
to accommodate more delegates and to offer more than one size of training room. This has been linked to a medium-
term target to grow sales for public training and to also increase profit. Early indications are that sales are higher, and 
that delegate feedback is positive.

New services for information security management and training on the associated ISO 27001 standard were launched 
in  the  year. This  is  linked  to  the  company’s  long-term  strategy  to  offer  as  wide  a  range  of  ISO  standard  support  for 
consultancy and training as practicable. The year also saw QCS deliver work for the first time on the ISO 50001 standard 
for energy management.

The UK’s potential departure from the EU has not yet had an obvious direct effect on sales. A significant proportion 
of  medical  device  work  is  associated  with  an  ability  to  offer  services  linked  to  EU  regulation.  QCS  will  offer  a ‘UK 
Responsible  Person’  service  in  the  event  of  a  no  deal  departure,  which  may  present  some  opportunities  with  the 
company acting as a UK address for manufacturers of medical devices within the EU. The weakness of sterling has the 
potential to work in the company’s favour in that scenario.

QCS  continues  to  operate  on  the  secure  foundation  of  repeat  business  with  all  outsource  consultancies  renewing 
contracts during the year and many clients continuing to send delegates to courses based on a positive experience of 
course delivery. Indications are such that current performance is expected to continue.

Quality Leisure Management Limited (QLM)

•  2019: revenues of £437,600 yielding a profit of £106,500

•  2018: revenues of £439,400 yielding a profit of £111,900

Revenue was similar to the prior year although this resulted in profit down around 5% but in line with management 
expectations. QLM continued to operate well in key areas of income generation including audits, training and accident 
investigation. There was a noticeable trend toward leisure and culture area-specific audits that targeted higher risk or 
specialist areas rather than facility wide audits. There was however significant development which saw quality systems 
consultancy and training bring in revenue of £18,000 which was double that expected.

QLM’s  value  to  support  service  clients  is  not  always  reflected  in  the  income  recorded  in  this  area.  Clients  generally 
appear to be placing greater reliance on the QLM team and across a broader range of topics. Mainly, it would appear, as 
a result of internal efficiency savings and cost cutting exercises.

Sub-contractor costs were noticeably down at £27,000; better and more efficient use of contracted staff prior to using 
sub-contractors led to reduced expenditure in this area. 

Further  time  and  investment  will  be  put  into  the  development  of  QLM  Leisuresafe™  in  2019-20  as  a  key  income 
generator as an audit in its own right and as a template for bespoke health and safety reviews.

QLM’s focus in the coming year is to ensure that the high levels of client retention are maintained, primarily though 
the quality and diversity of the support offered, as well as developing in the broader leisure, culture and hospitality 
industries.

RSA Environmental Health Limited (RSA) 

•  2019: revenues of £404,300 yielding a profit of £66,700

•  2018: revenues of £370,400 yielding a profit of £75,400

Revenue for the year was 9% above that generated the previous year mainly due to the inclusion of income from the 
Envex brand that moved to the company upon closure of the Group’s asbestos subsidiary. The increase in revenue was 
outstripped by higher costs and this led to a reduction in profits of about 11%. 

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

The past year has seen the activity of the company evolve, with income being spread more evenly across the reported 
revenue streams. Health and safety consultancy was particularly strong for the year whereas the other income streams 
were down on forecast and on the previous year. With a limited amount of fee earning staff within the company this 
would be expected as consultancy days spent on one revenue stream reduce the time available to spend on the others. 

RSA’s  core  offering  remains  the  SafetyMARK  service,  with  it  still  being  the  largest  income  stream. The  year  saw  a 
decline in revenue with the market being more competitive, schools in both the state and independent sectors seeing 
increases in their cost pressures due to government policy. That caused the amount of renewals and new contracts to 
be down from the previous year. Schools report that they still value our services but they are having to justify all of their 
expenditure and in some circumstances may not be able to afford them. This area continues to be a focus of activity 
with more effort being made with multi academy trusts. Management will look to improve service delivery to make the 
offering compelling to clients and making it more likely they will renew.

This sector will continue to be difficult to operate in until there is a change in government policy that will ease the 
school funding burden. In addition to the above, SafetyMARK operates on a two-year cycle with renewals in 2018-19 
corresponding to contracts gained in 2016-17 which was itself a period when fewer new schools were joining.

The company did sign up two medium sized multi academy trusts towards the end of the year, which has generated 
a tranche of work for the next financial year. Therefore, the company is to continue to focus attention on obtaining 
additional trusts as our marketing strategy for the next financial year.

The key will now be to ensure that profitability is maximised by using the economies of scale afforded by a larger client 
base, as well as ensuring that costs are well controlled and standard fees are reviewed, where appropriate.

PHSC plc

•  2019: net loss of £523,700 before management charges, exceptional costs and dividends received

•  2018: net loss of £521,700 before management charges, exceptional costs and dividends received

The parent company incurs costs on behalf of the Group and does not generate any income. The costs incurred by PHSC 
plc represent the costs of running an AIM quoted Group and are generally consistent with the previous year.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINITIES
Regulatory/Marketplace

Much of the Group’s work involves assisting organisations with the implementation of measures to meet regulatory 
requirements relating to health and safety at work. If the regulatory burden was to be substantially lightened, for example 
if the government embarked upon a programme of radical deregulation, there could be less demand for the Group’s 
services. Changes to the operation of the employer’s liability insurance system, as proposed in some quarters, could 
reduce the incentive for organisations to buy in claims-preventive services such as health and safety advice. In mitigation 
of these risks, the board has diversified the Group’s range of offerings for example, through investing in its security 
businesses and is exploring non-regulatory areas of environmental work to add to the current portfolio of services.

In  the  event  of  a “no  deal”  Brexit,  the  Group’s  security  division  will  take  appropriate  steps  to  ensure  that  sufficient 
supplies are held of relevant products to meet the predicted needs of customers. In doing so, customers can expect 
more frequent requests to forecast their likely requirements over longer time horizons than usual. The security division 
is already dealing extensively with a wide range of imported goods, some from within the EU and others from countries 
beyond the EU. It is therefore well-versed in customs processes and expects to be able to apply the same or similar 
processes to imports from within the EU (albeit at potentially different tariff rates) should that prove necessary under a 
“no deal” Brexit. Matters outside the Group’s control would include delays caused at customs if administrative demands 
on border officials are suddenly increased, resulting in slower clearance times for imported goods.

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

There  are  predictions  by  economists  that  the  value  of  sterling  may  significantly  deteriorate  if  the  UK  leaves  the  EU 
without a deal. Whilst the Group will take reasonable steps to hedge against the effects of a weaker pound, customers 
are  being  advised  to  consider  pre-ordering  and/or  increasing  their  stock  levels  of  those  products  supplied  by  the 
Group’s security division which they see as critical to their business. Higher stock levels would have the double benefit 
of reducing the risk of an interruption to supply, and mitigating the impact of price rises that would ultimately work 
their way through to all imported goods if there is a materially weaker exchange rate. The warehouse at B2BSG has the 
capacity for storage of additional product and close partnership with logistics providers will allow access to further 
warehousing space should that prove necessary. 

The Group’s security division works almost exclusively in the retail sector and this has continued to suffer as a result 
of  weaker  consumer  demand  on  the  high  street  and  the  move  towards  on-line  purchasing.   Any  further  material 
deterioration in the retail sector and specifically in B2BSG’s client base may have a significant negative effect on the 
company’s and hence the Group’s prospects.

Technological

The Group’s website is a primary source of new business. If the website became inaccessible for protracted periods, or 
was subject to “hacking”, this may prejudice the opportunity to obtain new business. Additionally, the increase in the 
use of the internet for satisfying business requirements may lead to a reduction in demand for face-to-face consultancy 
services and the number of training courses commissioned may be affected by moves towards screen-based interactive 
learning. The subject of IT security is regularly reviewed by the board to ensure that appropriate strategies are in place.

Personnel

Generally, there is an excess of demand over supply for health and safety professionals. Those with sufficient qualifications 
and experience to be suitable for consultancy roles are in the minority. This has the combined effect of making it difficult 
for the Group to source suitable personnel and having to offer higher remuneration packages to attract them. The Group 
is dependent upon its current executive management team. Whilst it has entered into contractual arrangements with the 
aim of securing the services of these personnel, the retention of their services cannot be guaranteed. Accordingly, the 
loss of any key member of management of the Group may have an adverse effect on the future of the Group’s business. 
The Group and each subsidiary have contingency plans in place in the event of incapacity of key personnel.

Geographical

The Group offers a nationwide service but a number of organisations see benefit in using consultancies that are local 
to them and internet search engines favour local providers. The acquisitions made, particularly QCS with an office in 
Scotland, have increased the geographical spread of the Group and assist in mitigating this risk.

Licences

The Group is reliant on licences and accreditations in order to be able to carry on its business. The temporary loss of, or 
failure to maintain, any single licence or accreditation would be unlikely to be materially detrimental to the Group, as the 
directors believe that this could be remedied. However, if the Group fails to remedy any loss of, or does not maintain, any 
licence or accreditation, this would have a material adverse effect on the business of the Group. The Group has internal 
processes in place to ensure that the licences and accreditations are maintained.

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

GOING CONCERN

Company law require the directors to consider the appropriateness of the going concern basis when preparing the 
financial statements. The directors confirm that they consider that the going concern basis remains appropriate as the 
Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future based upon the Group’s 
forecasts and current banking facilities. The cashflow forecasts do not indicate that the facility will need to be increased. 
Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements.

In closing I would like to extend thanks to all our shareholders for their continued support, and to everyone employed 
across the Group for their hard work and effort.

On behalf of the board

Stephen King
Group Chief Executive

16 August 2019

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PHSC plcJob No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
for the year ended 31 March 2019

The directors present their report with the audited financial statements of PHSC plc (company and Group) for the year 
ended 31 March 2019.

DIRECTORS

The directors who held office during the year under review were:

S A King
N C Coote
G N Webb MBE
L E Young 

DIVIDENDS

A  total  dividend  of  1.0p  per  ordinary  share,  (£146,772)  was  paid  in  respect  of  the  year  ended  31  March  2018;  half 
was paid in February 2018 and the balance in October 2018. An interim dividend of 0.5p in respect of the year ended 
31  March  2019  was  paid  in  February  2019  and  a  final  dividend  of  0.5p  is  proposed  for  payment  in  October  2019, 
matching the total of 1.0p paid last year.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Group’s operations expose it to a variety of financial risks which are outlined in note 1 to the financial statements 
on page 32. 

SHARE CAPITAL

The issued share capital of the company throughout the financial year was 14,677,257 ordinary shares of £0.10 each.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY ISSUES

The directors are aware of the impact of the Group’s business on the environment but believe this to be minimal due 
to the nature of its operations. Details of the Group’s involvement in the community can be found on the company’s 
website (www.phsc.plc.uk).

EMPLOYEES

Each  company  within  the  Group  has  in  place  the  necessary  structures  to  ensure  effective  communication  with  its 
employees.  In  addition,  there  are  initiatives  to  ensure  that  staff  are  offered  continuing  professional  development 
opportunities appropriate to their roles. The Group aims to improve the performance of the organisation through the 
development of its employees. Their involvement is encouraged by means of team meetings and briefings and bonuses 
are paid on the basis of individual performance and results at subsidiary and Group level. The Group is committed to 
equality of employment and its policies reflect a disregard of factors such as disability in the selection and development 
of employees. During the year, a review was conducted to identify any gender-related pay anomalies across the Group. 
As at the date of this report, there are no known anomalies in any subsidiary that would fall into this category. 

The board would like to formally acknowledge the valuable work carried out by every employee and recognises that it 
is reliant upon each individual member of staff and management if it is to succeed and prosper.

DATA PROTECTION

The company has introduced a policy to meet the requirement of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and 
this has been issued across the Group.

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS

As at 3 August 2019, the following persons had notified the company of an interest of 3% or more of its issued share 
capital.

Name 

No. of ordinary shares 

% of issued share capital

S A King 
N C Coote 
Unicorn Asset Management Limited and Unicorn AIM VCT II plc 
Downing LLP held via Downing ONE VCT 
James Faulkner 

3,190,000 
3,144,342 
1,071,440 
510,767 
455,000 

21.73
21.42
7.30
3.48
3.10

PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO AUDITOR

So far as each of the directors is aware at the time the report is approved:

• 

• 

there is no relevant audit information of which the Group’s auditor is unaware; and

the directors have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

This  year’s AGM  will  be  held  at  10.00  am  on  Monday  30  September  2019  at   The  Old  Church,  31  Rochester  Road, 
Aylesford, Kent ME20 7PR. The notice of meeting is set out on pages 62 to 63 of this document and a form of proxy is 
on page 65.

Details of the business to be considered at the meeting are given below.

Report and accounts (Resolution 1)

It is a requirement of company law that the annual report and accounts is laid before shareholders in general meeting.

Dividend (Resolutions 2)

As noted above, the directors recommend a final dividend of 0.5p per share.

Re-election of directors (Resolutions 3 and 4)

Under  the  company’s  articles  of  association,  both  Nicola  Coote  and  Lorraine  Young  retire  by  rotation  and  offer 
themselves  for  re-election. The  board  has  considered  their  respective  contributions  to  the  board  and  the  company 
and supports their re-election by shareholders.

Appointment of auditor (Resolution 5)

During the year the audit was put out to tender.  After a thorough process the board (on the recommendation of the audit 
committee) decided to retain Crowe UK LLP (Crowe) as the company’s auditor.  A resolution for the re-appointment of 
Crowe will be put to the AGM together with the usual practice of authorising the directors to determine the auditor’s 
fees.

Authority of directors to allot shares (Resolutions 6 and 7)

By law, directors are not permitted to allot new shares (or to grant rights over shares) unless they are authorised to do 
so by shareholders. In addition, directors require specific authority from shareholders before allotting new shares (or 
granting rights over shares) for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their holdings. 
Resolution 6 gives the directors the necessary authority until the earlier of next year’s AGM or 30 September 2020 to 
allot securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of £489,242 being equivalent to one third of the companies issued 
shared capital as at 16 August 2019. 

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REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Resolution 7 empowers the directors, until the earlier of next year’s AGM or 30 September 2020 to allot such securities 
for cash otherwise than on a pro-rata basis to existing shareholders, up to an aggregate nominal amount of £293,545 
being equivalent to 20% of the company’s issued share capital as at 16  August 2019. It is intended to renew this authority 
and power at each annual general meeting.

Voting

A form of proxy is included at the end of this document for use at the AGM. Please complete, sign and return it as soon 
as possible in accordance with the instructions on it, whether or not you intend to come to the AGM. Returning a form 
of proxy will not prevent you from attending the meeting and voting in person if you wish. A form of proxy should be 
returned so that it is received not less than 48 hours (excluding non-working days) before the time of the AGM.

The directors consider that all the resolutions to be put to the meeting are in the best interests of the company and its 
shareholders as a whole. The directors will be voting in favour of them and unanimously recommend that you do so as 
well.

Subsequent events and future developments

There  have  been  no  significant  events  affecting  the  company  since  the  year  end.  Future  developments  have  been 
discussed in the strategic report.

On behalf of the board

SGH Company Secretaries Limited
Secretary 

16  August 2019

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

The directors are responsible for preparing the strategic report, the directors’ report and the Group and parent company 
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare Group and parent company financial statements for each financial year. 
Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the consolidated financial statements and company accounts in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU 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 Group and parent company and of the profit or loss of the Group 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;

• 

state whether applicable 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 company 

will continue in business.

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

They are further responsible for ensuring that the strategic report, the report of the directors and other information 
included in the annual report and financial statements is prepared in accordance with applicable law and regulations 
in the UK.

The maintenance and integrity of the PHSC plc website is the responsibility of the directors; the work carried out by the 
auditors does not involve the consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accepts no responsibility for 
any changes that may have occurred in the accounts since they were initially presented on the website.

Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of the accounts and the other information included 
in annual reports may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

Dear Shareholder,

The  board  has  an  obligation  to  ensure  that  good  standards  of  corporate  governance  are  embraced  throughout  the 
company  and  its  subsidiaries  (together,  the “Group”). As  a  board,  we  set  clear  expectations  concerning  the  Group’s 
culture, values and behaviours. Our values are to ensure our customers receive quality service and support, our customers, 
staff and other stakeholders are treated fairly and equally and that we develop our staff so they can provide the most 
innovative and effective solutions. We firmly believe that by encouraging the right way of thinking and behaving across 
all our people, our corporate governance culture is reinforced, enabling us to drive our premium, customer-focussed, 
people-led strategy and deliver value for our stakeholders.

It is the board’s job to ensure that the Group is managed for the long-term benefit of all shareholders, with effective and 
efficient decision-making. Corporate governance is an important part of that job, reducing risk and adding value to our 
business.

In September 2018 the company adopted the 2018 Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code (the ‘QCA 
Code’) in line with the amendments to the AIM Rules which now require all AIM quoted companies to adopt and comply 
with a recognised corporate governance code.

The below statement sets out how the company complies with the 10 principles of the QCA Code.

Stephen King

Group Chief Executive

ESTABLISHING STRATEGY AND BUSINESS MODEL

The Group is dedicated to being a leading provider of health, safety, hygiene and environmental consultancy services 
and security solutions to the public and private sectors. 

The board sets the company’s strategy and monitors its implementation through management and financial performance 
reviews. It also seeks to ensure that adequate resources are available to implement the company’s strategy in a timely 
manner. The company has set out a strategy and business model to promote long-term value creation for shareholders 
and will update all shareholders on this in the annual report each year. 

The board meets on a regular basis to discuss the strategic direction of the Group and any significant change will be 
highlighted promptly.

Further information on the Group’s strategy, performance and outlook can be found within the strategic report on pages 
3 to 10.

UNDERSTANDING AND MEETING SHAREHOLDER NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS

The company remains committed to listening to, and communicating openly with, its shareholders to ensure that its 
strategy, business model and performance are clearly understood. The AGM is a forum for shareholders to engage in 
dialogue  with  the  board. The  results  of  the AGM  will  be  published  via  a  regulated  information  service  and  on  the 
company’s website. 

Stephen  King  is  the  principal  contact  between  PHSC  plc  and  its  shareholders,  with  whom  he  maintains  a  regular 
dialogue. The views of shareholders are communicated to the whole board. The company’s progress on achieving its key 
targets is regularly communicated to investors through its announcements to the market.

The company also uses other professional advisers such as the company’s nomad, broker, auditor and company secretary 
who provide advice and recommendations on shareholder communication.

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

CONSIDERING STAKEHOLDER AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The board recognises its responsibilities to stakeholders including staff, suppliers, customers and the community within 
which it operates. The heads of each of its operating subsidiaries provide regular feedback to the executive directors, 
who then ensure that the board as a whole is informed of any major developments.

The Group’s initiatives in relation to its employees are detailed in the directors’ report on page 11.

EMBEDDING EFFECTIVE RISK MANAGEMENT

The board regularly reviews the risks facing the business and the internal controls which are in place to address these 
risks. Each operating subsidiary has reviewed its business and identified the key risks which it faces. As a result, plans 
have been put in place to deal with various contingencies which might arise.  Accepting that no systems of control can 
provide absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss, the directors believe that the established systems for 
internal control within the group are appropriate for the business.

The Group’s operations expose it to a variety of financial risks which are outlined in note 1 to the financial statements 
on page 32.

MAINTAINING A BALANCED AND WELL-FUNCTIONING BOARD

It is the role of the board to ensure that the company is managed for the long-term benefit of all shareholders and other 
stakeholders  with  effective  and  efficient  decision-making.  Good  corporate  governance  is  an  important  contributor, 
reducing  risk  and  adding  value  to  PHSC  plc. The  board  will  continue  to  monitor  the  governance  framework  of  the 
company on an ongoing basis. 

The  board  comprises  four  directors,  of  which  two  are  executives  and  two  are  non-executives,  reflecting  a  blend  of 
different experience and backgrounds. The chair of the board is Stephen King, who is also the group chief executive. 
He oversees the financial position of the Group on a day to day basis with assistance from the group accountant. Nicola 
Coote  is  the  deputy  group  chief  executive  and  she  leads  on  the  Group’s  marketing  initiatives  and  oversees  PHSCL. 
Graham Webb and Lorraine Young are the non-executive directors, whom the board considers to be independent. 

The  board  sets  direction  for  the  company  and  has  a  formal  schedule  of  matters  reserved  for  its  decision,  including 
Group  strategy,  approval  of  major  capital  expenditure,  approval  of  the  annual  and  interim  results,  annual  budgets, 
dividend policy and board structure. The board monitors the exposure to key business risks and reviews the strategic 
direction of all trading subsidiaries, their annual budgets, their performance in relation to those budgets and their capital 
expenditure. The board delegates day-to-day responsibility for managing the business to the executive directors and the 
operational board. 

The QCA Code recommends that the chair and chief executive should not be the same person. Currently Stephen King, 
the group chief executive, is also the company’s chair.  As the board is comprised of only four members, two of whom 
are independent non-executive directors, the directors are of the view that there is no need to split these roles. For the 
same reason the board has not appointed a senior independent director. 

Graham Webb has served on the board for 15 years. The board is of the view that he retains his independent judgement 
and continues to make a valuable contribution to the board. Regular board meetings are held (a minimum of four per 
year) and other meetings are scheduled as required. Brief biographical details of the directors can be found below:

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

Stephen King

Group Chief Executive and Chair

Stephen  King  co-founded  PHSCL  in  1990  with  Nicola  Coote.  He  has  over  30  years’  experience  in  health  and  safety 
management, having qualified in 1985. He left a role as personnel manager at Delta Enfield Cables Ltd in 1986, moving 
to the News International printing facility at Wapping, London. At News International, he was occupational health and 
safety manager, in charge of a team of practitioners responsible for the well-being of over 4,000 staff. In 1990, he joined 
Reuters plc as UK health and safety manager. He left employment with Reuters plc in 1992 and continued to service 
their health and safety requirements through PHSCL. He has acted as secretary of the south east branch of the Institution 
of Occupational Safety and Health and served a two-year term as chair of the London Occupational Health and Safety 
Group by whom he was granted honorary life membership. He chaired the annual Tolley Health and Safety Conference 
for  three  successive  years  and  has  presented  papers  at  several  conferences.  He  chaired  the  Kent  Health  and  Safety 
Consultants Forum, a group set up by the Health and Safety Executive with a remit of improving the standard of advice 
given by all independent safety consultants in the county, for the whole of its six-year existence. Currently he is chair of 
Kent Executive Club, a long-established group that promotes links between business people across the county. His other 
activities include serving as a trustee of a local animal sanctuary and chairing a semi-professional women’s football team.

Nicola Coote

Deputy Group Chief Executive and Deputy Chair

Nicola Coote co-founded PHSCL in 1990 with Stephen King, after working with him in occupational safety and health at 
both News International and Reuters plc. She left Reuters plc in 1992 and continued to service their health and safety 
requirements  through  PHSCL.  Nicola’s  role  includes  heading  the  marketing  function  of  PHSC  plc.  Nicola  has  served 
as secretary of the south east branch of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and has chaired the 
annual Tolley health and safety conference. She was the first female fellow of IOSH in the south of England and supports 
the institution by sitting on the panel for applicants applying for chartered membership and chartered fellowship status. 
She has been a national examiner for the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) 
and continues to work on the editorial board of Lexis Nexus Butterworth Tolley, whilst being a contributor to their 
publication “Tolley’s Health & Safety at Work Handbook”. Nicola is the vice chair of a board of governors at a secondary 
school, which is part of a multi-academy trust.

Graham Webb MBE

Non-Executive Director

Graham Webb  was  appointed  a  non-executive  director  of  PHSC  plc  in  June  2003.  He  served  as  a  Kent Ambassador 
for 12 years, appointed by Kent County Council. Prior to its sale, Graham was chair in the UK for many years of the 
international hair and beauty group that bears his name. The US company was sold to Wella and subsequently acquired 
by Procter & Gamble for whom Graham served in North America as their goodwill ambassador for 6 years. He was chair 
of the Institute of Directors, Kent branch, from 1996 to 1999 and was appointed as a member of the Confederation 
of  British  Industry  South  Eastern  Regional  Council  (1994  to  2000).  Graham  was  chair  of  the  Kent  Business Awards 
for 9 years and chair of the Kent Excellence in Business Awards for 3 years. His charitable activities include being an 
ambassador for the Kent Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.  As chair of the Kent and Medway NSPCC Full 
Stop Appeal, Graham helped raise over £460,000. In the 2005 New Year Honours list, Graham was awarded an MBE for 
his services to business, and charity in Kent. Graham is chair of the remuneration committee and is a member of the 
audit committee.

Lorraine Young

Non-Executive Director

Lorraine Young was appointed a non-executive director of PHSC plc with effect from April 2016. Lorraine runs a board 
advisory  practice  and  is  also  a  non-executive  director  of  City  of  London  Group  plc,  an AIM  listed  company  in  the 
financial services sector.  Lorraine is a past president and Fellow of ICSA, the Governance Institute. She has held senior 
governance roles at a number of blue-chip companies, including Standard Chartered plc and Brambles Industries plc. 
She  ran  her  own  company  secretarial  and  corporate  governance  advisory  practice  for  13  years,  which  in  2016  she 
merged  with  the  company  secretarial  team  at  Shakespeare  Martineau,  where  she  was  a  partner.  She  left  the  firm  in 
February 2019 to pursue her own consultancy interests once more. Lorraine is chair of the audit committee and is a 
member of the remuneration committee.

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for the year ended 31 March 2019

Independence of directors

At present, the company has two Independent non-executive directors, Graham Webb and Lorraine Young.

Time commitments

The non-executive directors are expected to commit sufficient time to fulfil their duties in that role. All current executive 
directors work full-time.

Attendance at meetings

Stephen King* 
Nicola Coote* 
Graham Webb 
Lorraine Young 

Board 

Audit 

Remuneration

5/5 
5/5 
5/5 
5/5 

– 
– 
2/2 
2/2 

–
–
1/1
1/1

*  Stephen King and Nicola Coote are not members of the audit and remuneration committee, however they are both invited to attend committee meetings 

as and when required.

Board committees

The board has delegated certain matters to committees. There is an audit committee and a remuneration committee. 
The terms of reference of these committees were reviewed during the year and are available on request. There is no 
separate nominations committee and the board as a whole deals with any matters that would normally be within the 
remit of such a committee. For example, the board reviews succession planning at senior levels within the Group at 
least annually. 

Audit committee

During the year the audit was put out to tender. A tender document was circulated to a short-list of three audit firms. 
Based on responses received, two firms were invited for interview by the board. The decision to retain the services of 
Crowe as the company’s auditor was a result of their proven track record of good service and competitive fee quote.

The audit committee comprises Lorraine Young (chair) and Graham Webb. During the year it has considered internal 
controls and risk management issues which are relevant to the Group. A risk register has been set up which will be 
kept under review as the Group’s strategy evolves.  Accepting that no systems of control can provide absolute assurance 
against material misstatement or loss, the directors believe that the established systems for internal control within the 
Group are appropriate to the business. The committee also reports to the board any significant estimates and judgements 
that have been made during the preparation of the Group’s financial statements. 

There is an annual audit planning meeting between the external auditor and the committee chair as well as a formal 
meeting with the auditor and the committee at the time of the final results. The committee considers the continuing 
independence of the external auditor and notes the level of non-audit fees to ensure they remain at an acceptable level. 
Where relevant, developments in accounting standards and reporting have been discussed during the year.  The audit 
committee reviews annually whether the Group needs to have an internal audit function and does not consider this to 
be necessary at present.

Remuneration committee

The remuneration committee comprises Graham Webb (chair) and Lorraine Young. The committee has written terms 
of  reference  and  considers  all  aspects  of  the  remuneration  of  the  executive  directors  and  other  senior  executives. 
The members of the committee maintain knowledge and awareness of the latest regulatory requirements and current 
market  practice. As  in  prior  years,  any  payments  to  senior  executives  under  the  Group  bonus  plan  are  approved  by 
the committee. It also hears representations on any proposed general pay increases across Group subsidiaries and is 
responsible for approving those.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Nominations committee

The board has not set up a separate nominations committee. Any matters which would normally be dealt with by such 
a committee will be considered by the whole board.

Directors’ remuneration

The remuneration of the executive directors was as follows:

Year ended 31.3.19 

 Short term employee benefits 

Salary 
£ 

90,000 
70,000 

Bonus 
£ 

1,013 
1,013 

Pension 
salary  
sacrifice 
£ 

Waiver 
£ 

(1,380) 
– 

(8,600) 
(5,400) 

Benefits 
£ 

2,480 
4,116 

Post 
 employment 
benefits 
Pension 
£ 

Total 
£ 

12,851 
8,630 

96,364 
78,359 

Year
ended
31.3.18
Total
£

92,723
82,511

S A King 
N C Coote 

Stephen  King’s  benefits  relate  to  health  insurance  and  Nicola  Coote’s  to  a  company  car  and  health  insurance.  Both 
directors opted to take their bonus as a pension contribution.

The fees of the non-executive directors were as follows:

G N Webb 
L E Young 

EVALUATING BOARD PERFORMANCE

 Year ended  
31.3.19 
£ 

15,000 
15,000 

Year ended 
31.3.18 
£

14,000
14,000

Given the company’s current size, the board has not considered it necessary to undertake a formal assessment of the 
board’s performance and effectiveness.

PROMOTING ETHICAL VALUES AND BEHAVIOURS

The company has a corporate culture that is based on ethical values and behaviours. It will maintain a quality system 
appropriate to the standards required for a company of its size.  The board communicates regularly with staff through 
meetings and other forms of internal communication. Information is cascaded to staff at subsidiaries via operational 
board  meetings  (which  are  held  at  least  quarterly).  The  head  of  each  subsidiary  attends  these  meetings  with  the 
executive  directors.  The  non-executive  directors  attend  these  meetings  from  time  to  time  to  keep  up  to  date  with 
performance and developments throughout the business.

SGH Company Secretaries Limited
Secretary

16  August 2019

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS  
OF PHSC PLC
for the year ended 31 March 2019

OPINION 

We have audited the financial statements of PHSC plc (parent company) and its subsidiaries (Group) for the year ended 
31 March 2019, which comprise:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the Group statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 March 2019;

the Group and parent company statements of financial position as at 31 March 2019;

the Group and parent company statements of cash flows for the year then ended;

the Group and parent company statements of changes in equity for the year then ended; and

the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the financial statements is applicable law 
and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU.

In our opinion:

• 

• 

• 

the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 
31 March 2019 and of the Group’s profit for the period then ended;

the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU; 

the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the 
EU; and

• 

the financial statements 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 Group 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

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which ISAs (UK) require us to report to you 
when:

•  The directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not 

appropriate; or

•  The  directors  have  not  disclosed  in  the  financial  statements  any  identified  material  uncertainties  that  may  cast 
significant doubt about the Group’s or the parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis 
of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for 
issue. 

OVERVIEW OF OUR AUDIT APPROACH
Materiality

In planning and performing our audit we applied the concept of materiality. An item is considered material if it could 
reasonably be expected to change the economic decisions of a user of the financial statements. We used the concept of 
materiality to both focus our testing and to evaluate the impact of misstatements identified.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined overall materiality for the Group financial statements as a whole 
to be £38,000 (FY18 £50,000), based on a percentage of Group revenue.

20

PHSC plcJob No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS  
OF PHSC PLC (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

We use a different level of materiality (performance materiality) to determine the extent of our testing for the audit of 
the financial statements. Performance materiality is set based on the audit materiality as adjusted for the judgements 
made as to the entity risk and our evaluation of the specific risk of each audit area having regard to the internal control 
environment. 

Where  considered  appropriate  performance  materiality  may  be  reduced  to  a  lower  level,  such  as,  for  related  party 
transactions and directors’ remuneration.

We agreed with the audit committee to report to it all identified errors in excess of £2,500 (2018: £2,500). Errors below 
that threshold would also be reported to it if, in our opinion as auditor, disclosure was required on qualitative grounds.

Overview of the scope of our audit

The audit scope was established during the planning stage and was based around the key matters set out below. 

All subsidiaries were considered significant components and a full scope audit was undertaken on each of these. The 
audit approach for each component was consistent with the overall scope of the audit.

The parent and subsidiaries were all audited by Crowe and no component auditors were used.

Key Audit Matters

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the 
financial  statements  of  the  current  period  and  include  the  most  significant  assessed  risks  of  material  misstatement 
(whether or not due to fraud) that we identified. These matters included those which had the greatest effect on: the 
overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These 
matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion 
thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit.

Key audit matter

How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit matter

Goodwill valuations and 
impairment reviews are 
considered to be a significant 
risk due to the size of the 
balances and application of 
judgement by the directors.

Stock is a considered a key 
matter due to significant 
amount of stock held at any 
one time.

Going concern is considered a 
key matter due to the current 
economic climate and due to 
the fact that one of the group’s 
subsidiaries has made losses in 
the current year.

Impairment  reviews  were  conducted  by  management  based  upon  current 
forecasts. We challenged management on assumptions used, conducted sensitivity 
analysis on key criteria and checked the calculations.

We carried out substantive testing on a sample of stock items to check whether 
stock was being recorded at the lower of cost and net realisable value. We also 
reviewed the ageing of stock items and the provisions in place for slow moving 
stock.

We  reviewed  forecasts  prepared  by  management  along  with  current  financing 
and  post  year  end  trading. We  also  reviewed  historic  forecasts  to  actual  result's 
achieved to assess accuracy.

Our audit procedures in relation to these matters were designed in the context of our audit opinion as a whole. They 
were not designed to enable us to express an opinion on these matters individually and we express no such opinion.

21

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OF PHSC PLC (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

OTHER INFORMATION

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in 
the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or 
apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial 
statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

OPINION ON OTHER MATTER 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 directors’ report and strategic report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the parent company and their 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 where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to 
you if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not 

been received from branches not visited by us; or

• 

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

•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page [•], 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  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 directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent company or to cease 
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

22

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OF PHSC PLC (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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 for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting 
Council’s website at: 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  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.

Mark Anderson 
(Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of 
Crowe U.K. LLP
Statutory Auditor
Maidstone

16  August 2019

23

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GROUP STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
as at 31 March 2019

Non-Current Assets
Property, plant and equipment 
Goodwill 
Deferred tax asset 

Current Assets
Stock 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total Assets 

Current Liabilities
Trade and other payables 
Current corporation tax payable 

Non-Current Liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities 

Total Liabilities 

Net Assets 

Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the Group
Called up share capital 
Share premium account 
Capital redemption reserve 
Merger relief reserve 
Retained earnings 

Note 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

5 
6 
13 

488,585 
3,478,463 
17,627 

594,343
3,678,463
21,105

3,984,675 

4,293,911

8 
7 
9 

316,556 
973,130 
642,466 

389,034
1,568,625
244,290

1,932,152 

2,201,949

5,916,827 

6,495,860

11 

675,162 
54,707 

1,137,094
16,230

729,869 

1,153,324

13 

46,313 

46,313 

55,818

55,818

776,182 

1,209,142

5,140,645 

5,286,718

10 
10 

1,467,726 
1,916,017 
143,628 
133,836 
1,479,438 

1,467,726
1,916,017
143,628
133,836
1,625,511

5,140,645 

5,286,718

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 16  August 2019, and were 
signed on its behalf by:

S A King 

Director

Accounting policies and notes on pages 28 to 48  form part of these financial statements.

24

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P H S C   p l c

GROUP STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

for the year ended 31 March 2019

Continuing operations:
Revenue 
Cost of sales 

Gross profit 

Administrative expenses 
Goodwill impairment 
Other income 

Profit/(loss) from operations 
Finance income 
Finance costs 

Profit/(loss) before taxation 
Corporation tax expense 

Profit/(Loss) for the year after tax attributable to owners of the parent 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income attributable to owners of the parent   

Note 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

5,215,341 
(2,719,724) 

7,012,864
(3,937,451)

14 

2,495,617 

3,075,413

14 
6 

17 
17 

18 

(2,418,182) 
(200,000) 
166,270 

(3,042,499)
(200,000)
25,000

43,705 
303 
(1,514) 

42,494 
(41,795) 

699 
– 

699 

(142,086)
3
(3,778)

(145,861)
(14,836)

(160,697)
–

(160,697)

Basic and diluted Earnings per Share from continuing operations  

19 

0.005p 

(1.095)p

Accounting policies and notes on pages 28 to 48  form part of these financial statements.

25

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P H S C   p l c

GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Balance at 1 April 2017 
Loss for year attributable to equity holders 
Dividends 

Share 
Capital 
£ 

1,467,726 
– 
– 

Share 
Premium 
£ 

1,916,017 
– 
– 

Merger 

Capital 
Relief  Redemption 
Reserve 
£ 

Reserve 
£ 

Retained 
Earnings 
£ 

Total 
£

133,836 
– 
– 

143,628 
– 
– 

1,859,594 
(160,697) 
(73,386) 

5,520,801
(160,697)
(73,386)

Balance at 31 March 2018 

1,467,726 

1,916,017 

133,836 

143,628 

1,625,511 

5,286,718

Balance at 1 April 2018 
Profit for year attributable to equity holders 
Dividends 

1,467,726 
– 
– 

1,916,017 
– 
– 

133,836 
– 
– 

143,628 
– 
– 

1,625,511 
699 
(146,772) 

5,286,718
699
(146,772)

Balance at 31 March 2019 

1,467,726 

1,916,017 

133,836 

143,628 

1,479,438 

5,140,645

Accounting policies and notes on pages 28 to 48  form part of these financial statements.

26

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P H S C   p l c

GROUP STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash generated from operations 
Interest paid 
Tax paid 

Net cash generated from operating activities 

Cash flows from/(used in) investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Disposal of fixed assets 
Interest received 

Net cash from/(used in) investing activities 

Cash flows used in financing activities
Payment of contingent consideration 
Dividends paid to shareholders 

Net cash used in financing activities 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

The above statement of cash flows relates to the Group.

Note 

I 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

325,587 
(1,514) 
(9,345) 

143,360
(3,778)
–

314,728 

139,582

(69,578) 
299,495 
303 

(19,358)
15,730
3

230,220 

(3,625)

– 
(146,772) 

(25,000)
(73,386)

(146,772) 

(98,386)

398,176 
244,290 

37,571
206,719

642,466 

244,290

NOTES TO THE GROUP STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
for the year ended 31 March 2019

I. CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS
Operating profit/(loss) – continuing operations 
Depreciation charge 
Goodwill impairment 
(Profit)/loss on sale of fixed assets 
Decrease in stock 
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables 
(Decrease)/increase trade and other payables 

Cash generated from operations 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

43,705 
38,179 
200,000 
(162,338) 
72,478 
595,495 
(461,932) 

(142,086)
34,590
200,000
919
98,333
(121,132)
72,736

325,587 

143,360

27

PHSC plcJob No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
for the year ended 31 March 2019

General information

PHSC  plc  is  a  company  quoted  on AIM  and  incorporated  in  England  and Wales  under  the  Companies Act  2006. The 
address of the registered office is given at the front of this report. The nature of the Group’s operations and its principal 
activities are set out in the strategic report on page 3.  The financial statements are presented in pounds sterling which 
is the Group’s functional and presentation currency.  The figures shown in the financial statements are rounded to the 
nearest pound.

Basis of preparation of financial statements

The Group’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs, as adopted by the EU, International 
Financial  Reporting  Intermediate  Committee  (IFRIC)  interpretations  and  the  Companies  Act  2006  applicable  to 
companies reporting under IFRSs. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention 
except as noted below.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. 
It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. The 
areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to 
the financial statements are disclosed in note 2.

Accounting standards require the directors to consider the appropriateness of the going concern basis when preparing 
the financial statements. The directors confirm that they consider that the going concern basis remains appropriate as 
the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future based upon forecasts. 

A number of new standards and amendments to standards and interpretations have been issued but are not yet effective 
and, in some cases, have not been adopted by the EU. The directors have assessed the potential impact of IFRS 16 which 
may have an impact on the measurement and treatment of operating leases and the related disclosures. As at 31 March 
2019  the  estimated  impact  of  the  transition  to  IFRS  16  would  be  to  increase  tangible  fixed  assets  and  liabilities  by 
approximately £74,000. The impact on the statement of comprehensive income is not expected to be material to the 
financial statements.

Basis of consolidation

The  Group  financial  statements  consolidate  the  financial  statements  of  PHSC  plc  and  all  its  subsidiary  undertakings 
made up to 31 March 2019.

Subsidiaries are entities over which the Group has control. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating 
policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. The Group obtains and exercises control through voting 
rights.

The  acquisition  of  subsidiaries  has  been  accounted  for  using  the  acquisition  method  of  accounting. The  cost  of  an 
acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed 
at the date of exchange. Acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and 
contingent liabilities assumed are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of 
acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.

Inter-company transactions (including unrealised gains/losses) and balances are eliminated. Unrealised losses are also 
eliminated, unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. Amounts reported in the 
financial  statements  of  subsidiaries  have  been  adjusted  where  necessary  to  ensure  consistency  with  the  accounting 
policies adopted by the Group. 

28

PHSC plcJob No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment. Cost includes 
expenditure  that  is  directly  attributable  to  the  acquisition  of  the  items.  Subsequent  costs  are  included  in  the  asset’s 
carrying amount only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group 
and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to profit and loss in the 
period in which they are incurred. 

At the date of transition to IFRS, the carrying value of land and freehold buildings that had previously been revalued is 
shown as deemed cost, and not subsequently revalued. 

Depreciation is provided on all property, plant and equipment, other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write off 
the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset over the shorter of the expected useful life or lease term, as follows:

Freehold buildings 
Improvements to property 

Fixtures and equipment 
Motor vehicles 

– 
– 

– 
– 

2% on a straight line basis
 on a straight line basis (10% of cost if expected useful life is shorter than the 
lease term)
25% on reducing balance basis
25% on reducing balance basis

Material  residual  value  estimates  are  updated  as  required. An  asset  is  written  down  immediately  to  its  recoverable 
amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount. Gains and losses on disposal are 
determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised in profit and loss.

Operating lease commitments

An operating lease is one in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor. 
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis 
over the term of the lease.

Intangible assets

Goodwill arises on the acquisition of subsidiary undertakings and interests and represents the excess of the cost of 
acquisition over the net asset values of the subsidiaries or interests acquired. Such goodwill is capitalised as an intangible 
asset and is stated at cost less impairment losses.

Impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment

For  the  purposes  of  assessing  impairment,  assets  are  grouped  at  the  lowest  levels  for  which  there  are  separately 
identifiable cash flows (cash-generating units). As a result, some assets are tested individually for impairment and some 
are tested at cash-generating unit level. Goodwill is allocated to those cash-generating units that are expected to benefit 
from the business combination on which the goodwill arose and represent the lowest level within the Group at which 
management monitors the related cash flows.

Goodwill,  other  individual  assets  or  cash-generating  units  that  include  goodwill  are  tested  for  impairment  at  least 
annually. All property, plant and equipment with a finite life are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s or cash-generating unit’s carrying amount exceeds 
its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value, reflecting market conditions less costs to sell, 
and value in use, based on an internal discounted cash flow evaluation. With the exception of goodwill, all assets are 
subsequently reassessed for indications that an impairment loss previously recognised may no longer exist. Impairment 
losses are charged to administrative expenses.

29

PHSC plcACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)for the year ended 31 March 2019Job No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600Stock

Stock is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving 
stock. The value of stock is calculated on purchase cost on a first-in, first-out basis.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  comprise  cash  in  hand,  demand  deposits,  bank  overdrafts,  and  short-term,  highly  liquid 
investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes 
in value.

Financial instruments

During the year the company adopted IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’. The company has assessed the impact of IFRS 9 and 
does not consider the impact material to the financial statements. As a result, the comparative data has not been restated. 

Trade receivables and contract assets are initially stated at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised 
cost  using  the  effective  interest  method. The  carrying  amounts  for  accounts  receivable  are  net  of  allowances  for 
expected credit losses. The company evaluated the expected credit losses on trade receivables by reviewing historical 
data, adjusted for forward-looking factors to the debtors and the economic environment. Individual receivables are only 
written off when management deems them not collectible. 

Taxation

Current tax is the tax currently payable based on the taxable profit for the year.

Deferred tax is provided in full on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their 
tax bases, except when, at the initial recognition of the asset or liability, there is no effect on accounting or taxable profit 
or loss under a business combination. Deferred tax is determined using tax rates and laws that have been substantially 
enacted  by  the  statement  of  financial  position  date,  and  that  are  expected  to  apply  when  the  temporary  difference 
reverses.

Tax losses available to be carried forward, and other tax credits to the Group, are recognised as deferred tax assets, to the 
extent that it is probable that there will be future taxable profits against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

Changes  in  deferred  tax  assets  or  liabilities  are  recognised  as  a  component  of  the  tax  expense  in  the  statement  of 
comprehensive income, except where they relate to items that are charged or credited directly to equity, in which case 
the related deferred tax is also charged or credited directly to equity.

Provisions

These are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, when it is 
probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount can be reliably estimated.

Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditure expected to be required to settle the obligation, using a 
pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the obligation. 
The increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.

Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options 
are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. The proceeds of share issues, received net of any 
directly attributable transactions costs, are credited to share capital at nominal value and the excess credited to the share 
premium account. 

30

PHSC plcACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)for the year ended 31 March 2019Job No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600The capital redemption reserve arose when the company repurchased some of its own shares. At that point the nominal 
value of those shares was transferred to the capital redemption reserve.

The merger relief reserve represents the premium of any shares issued in part consideration on acquisitions in accordance 
with section 612 of The Companies Act 2006.

Retained earnings represent the accumulated profits and losses, less dividends since the Group was formed. 

Employee benefits

The Group supports various personal pension arrangements and is auto-enrolment compliant. Payments are made to 
individual defined contribution pension schemes. Agreed contributions are charged to the statement of comprehensive 
income as they become payable.

Revenue recognition

Revenue consists of the consideration to which the Group expects to be entitled for services provided in the ordinary 
course of the Group’s activities, excluding VAT and trade discounts.

Revenue stream

Services – one-off consultancy, training, 
health & safety audits, editorials and 
safety inspections

Services – health and safety support, 
annual consultancy services, appointed 
safety advisor services and certification 
services.

Nature, timing of satisfaction of performance obligations 
and significant payment terms

Revenue from services is recognised as the services are provided as 
this is the point at which the performance obligations are fulfilled. In 
respect of services invoiced in advance, amounts are deferred until 
provision of the service. 

Customer payment terms are generally 30 days from the date of invoice.

Revenue is recognised evenly across the length of the contract as this 
is considered the best estimate of the fulfilment of the performance 
obligations.

Customer payment terms are generally 30 days from the date of invoice.

Supply and installation of security 
equipment and maintenance of 
equipment.

Revenue from installation and maintenance is recognised as these 
services are provided as this is the point at which the performance 
obligations are fulfilled.

Customer payment terms are between 30 and 60 days from the 
date of invoice.

This is the first year of adoption of IFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers” with an initial date of application 
of 1 April 2017. The directors have considered the impact and do not believe there to be any changes.

Foreign currencies

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets 
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the date of the Group statement of financial position are reported 
at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date. All foreign exchange gains and losses are presented in the statement of 
comprehensive income within the administrative expense heading. 

31

PHSC plcACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)for the year ended 31 March 2019Job No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 March 2019

1. 

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

Financial risk 

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks. The Group’s overall risk management programme 
focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the Group’s 
financial performance.

Risk management is carried out by the board which evaluate and manage financial risks in close co-operation with 
the managing directors of the subsidiary companies. The Group:

• 

• 

• 

regularly reviews credit extended to customers with appropriate action being taken to minimise the cost 
of bad debts; 

balances risk and return when assessing where to place cash surplus to the Group’s immediate requirements; 
and

keeps  open  options  to  employ  debt  finance  to  ensure  that  the  Group  has  enough  funds  for  continuing 
operations and planned expansions.

Market risk

The  Group  has  interest-bearing  assets  which  are  subject  to  a  variable  rate  of  interest. Thus  the  Group  is  only 
exposed to interest rate risk, which is not expected to have a significant impact on profit or loss or equity.

Credit risk

The Group has implemented policies that require appropriate credit checks on potential customers before sales 
are made. No credit limits were exceeded during the year, and management does not expect any losses from non-
performance by these counterparties.

Liquidity risk

The Group keeps open avenues for securing debt finance to ensure that funds may be called upon if and when 
needed  for  operations  and  payments  due  in  respect  of  acquisitions. The  board  monitors  the  Group’s  liquidity 
position on the basis of expected cash flow on a regular basis.

The following table analyses the Group’s financial liabilities, which will be settled on a net basis, into relevant 
maturity  groupings,  based  on  the  remaining  period  to  maturity  at  31  March. The  amounts  disclosed  are  the 
contractual undiscounted cash flows:

At 31 March 2019
Trade and other payables 

At 31 March 2018
Trade and other payables 

Capital risk

Less than 
1 year 
£ 

Between 
1 & 2 yrs 
£ 

Between 
2 & 5 yrs 
£ 

Over 
5 yrs 
£

675,162 

1,137,094 

– 

– 

– 

– 

–

–

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern 
in order to provide returns to shareholders. The Group defines capital as share capital plus reserves. The Group 
is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements. The board monitors levels of cash and any excess 
levels have historically been used for acquisitions. 

32

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

1. 

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT – continued

Foreign exchange risk

The Group purchases security-related products in foreign currencies. The Group has a number of methods to in 
protecting against foreign risk and do not enter into long term contracts that would increase currency exposure.

2. 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated. They are based on historical experience and other factors, 
including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions

The directors are required to make estimates and judgements concerning the future. The resulting accounting 
estimates  will,  by  definition,  seldom  equal  the  related  actual  results. The  areas  involving  a  higher  degree  of 
judgement  or  complexity  and  areas  where  assumptions  are  significant  to  the  production  of  these  financial 
statements are disclosed below.

Impairment of goodwill

An impairment of goodwill has the potential to significantly impact upon the Group’s statement of comprehensive 
income for the year. In order to determine whether impairments are required the directors estimate the recoverable 
amount of the goodwill. This calculation is based on the directors’ expectations of future volumes and margins 
based on the forecast results to 31 March 2020 in perpetuity assuming a zero-growth rate. Full details are disclosed 
in note 6.

Provision for obsolete and slow-moving stock

Stock of approximately £37,000 (2018 – £45,000) has been identified as slow moving within the B2BSG business 
and a non cash provision has been made against this stock to cover potential obsolescence. The stock provision 
will be monitored and updated regularly.

The risks of material adjustment to provision in the next financial year are as follows:

i)  Changes in technology rendering current stock technologically obsolete

ii)  Customers  changing  their  existing  systems  which  would  mean  elements  of  current  maintenance  stock  are 
unable to be utilised. 

33

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

3. 

SEGMENTAL REPORTING

IFRS 8 requires that operating segments be identified on the basis of internal reporting and decision-making. PHSC 
plc’s operating segments are by subsidiary company as the directors and management team receive and make 
decisions based on monthly management accounts by subsidiary. A description of each subsidiary’s activities is 
included in the strategic report on pages 3 to 10.

The  following  table  shows  the  Group’s  revenue  and  results  for  the  year  under  review  analysed  by  operating 
segment. Segment operating profit represents the trading profit after depreciation, but before tax and management 
charges. The management charges represent Group overheads and are reflected in the operating loss of the parent 
company. All revenue arose in the UK and all assets are located in the UK. There is an element of liabilities that 
derive from foreign currency due to some of the subsidiaries sourcing goods overseas. 

Profit/ 
(loss) 

Profit  
before tax  Taxation  taxation  sale property  impairment  after tax 
£’000

Gain on   Goodwill 

  Deferred 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

(137) 

108 

(2) 

43 
278 
107 
67 

495 

242 

(523) 

(5) 
(29) 
(14) 
(6) 

(54) 

(80) 

(22) 

77 

(48) 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

(3) 

11 

6 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

166 

166 

–

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

(200) 

1

Profit/ 
(loss) 

Loss  
before tax  Taxation  taxation  sale property  impairment  after tax 
£’000

Gain on   Goodwill 

  Deferred 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

78 
(96) 

(18) 

46 
240 
112 
75 

473 

285 

(165) 

(521) 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

(16) 

(1) 

– 

– 

2 

– 

1 

54 

(16) 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(200) 

(161)

  Operating 
Revenue  Depreciation  profit/(loss) 
£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

2,724 

13 

(137) 

Year ended 31 March 2019
Security division – B2BSG  

Health and safety division
ISL 
PHSCL 
QLM 
RSA 

233 
657 
438 
404 

1,732 

Quality systems division – QCS 

759 

Holding company – PHSC plc 

– 

Total 

5,215 

1 
2 
2 
1 

6 

7 

12 

38 

Net 
interest 
£’000 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

43 
278 
107 
67 

495 

242 

(522) 

78 

(1) 

(1) 

  Operating 
Revenue  Depreciation  profit/(loss) 
£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

Net 
interest 
£’000 

Year ended 31 March 2018
Security division
B to B  
SG  

Health and safety division
ISL 
PHSCL 
QLM 
RSA 

Quality systems division – QCS 

Discontinued operations – ALS  

Holding company – PHSC plc 

Total 

2,777 
1,449 

4,226 

216 
616 
439 
370 

1,641 

768 

378 

– 

7,013 

7 
2 

9 

1 
2 
2 
1 

6 

2 

5 

13 

35 

78 
(96) 

(18) 

46 
240 
112 
75 

473 

285 

(163) 

(519) 

58 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 

(2) 

(2) 

(4) 

34

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

3. 

SEGMENTAL REPORTING – continued

The table below shows assets and liabilities by subsidiary, exclusive of inter-company balances. 

  Non-current 

asset   Non current 
assets 

additions 

£’000 

£’000 

Current 
assets 

£’000 

Total 
assets 

£’000 

Current  Non-current 
liabilities 

liabilities 

Total 
liabilities 

Net 
operating 
assets 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000

As at 31 March 2019
Security division – B2BSG  

Health and safety division
ISL 
PHSCL 
QLM 
RSA 

Quality systems division – QCS 
Holding company – PHSC plc 

Total 

8 

– 
2 
3 
1 

6 

51 
5 

70 

267 

286 

553 

194 

2 
7 
5 
461 

475 

192 
943 
321 
176 

194 
950 
326 
637 

1,632 

2,107 

51 
4,519 

616 
(602) 

667 
3,917 

5,312 

1,932 

7,244 

118 
92 
124 
57 

391 

100 
45 

730 

Adjustment of goodwill on consolidation including goodwill impairment 
 Deferred tax adjustment to property revaluation 

Net assets 

– 

– 
1 
1 
– 

2 

4 
33 

39 

194 

359

118 
93 
125 
57 

393 

104 
78 

769 

76
857
201
580

1,714

563
3,839

6,475

(1,327)
(8)

5,140

35

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

3. 

SEGMENTAL REPORTING – continued

  Non-current 

asset  Non-current 
assets 

additions 

£’000 

£’000 

Current 
assets 

£’000 

Total 
assets 

£’000 

Current  Non-current 
liabilities 

liabilities 

Total 
liabilities 

Net 
operating 
assets 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000

As at 31 March 2018
Security division
B to B  
SG  

Health and safety division
ISL 
PHSCL 
QLM 
RSA 

Quality systems division – QCS 
Discontinued operations – ALS  
Holding company – PHSC plc 

4 
1 

5 

2 
4 
1 
1 

8 

7 
– 
– 

268 
7 

275 

1 
7 
6 
461 

475 

965 
148 

1,233 
155 

1,113 

1,388 

176 
773 
303 
202 

177 
780 
309 
663 

462 
188 

650 

97 
45 
90 
49 

1,454 

1,929 

281 

8 
– 
4,660 

669 
85 
(1,074) 

677 
85 
3,586 

129 
8 
85 

Total 

20 

5,418 

2,247 

7,665 

1,153 

Adjustment of goodwill on consolidation including goodwill amortisation  
 Deferred tax adjustment to property revaluation 

Net assets 

– 
– 

– 

– 
1 
1 
– 

2 

462 
188 

650 

97 
46 
91 
49 

771
(33)

738

80
734
218
614

283 

1,646

1 
– 
44 

47 

130 
8 
129 

547
77
3,457

1,200 

6,465

(1,170)
(8)

5,287

PHSC plc company accounts reflect the overdraft in current liabilities. In the Group’s consolidated accounts and 
segmental analysis, the overdraft is reflected as part of the Group facility shown under current assets.

Revenues  from  one  customer  within  the  B2BSG  business  segment  totalled  £922,216  (2018  –  £1,518,490), 
representing more than 10% of its total revenue.

4. 

AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION

Audit 
Fees payable to the company’s auditor for the audit of the annual parent company  
and consolidated accounts 
Fees payable to the company’s auditor for other services provided to the company 
and its subsidiaries: 
The audit of the company’s subsidiaries under legislative requirements 

Total audit 

Tax
Tax compliance services 
Tax advisory services 

Total tax 

Total 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

6,140 

6,910

22,000 

28,140 

7,000 
2,000 

9,000 

37,140 

25,500

32,410

10,560
2,700

13,260

45,670

36

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

5. 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

COST 
At 1 April 2017 
Additions 
Disposals 

At 31 March 2018 
Additions 
Disposals 

At 31 March 2019 

DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2017 
Charge for year 
Disposals 

At 31 March 2018 
Charge for year 
Disposals 

At 31 March 2019 

NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2019 

At 31 March 2018 

At 31 March 2017 

Freehold 
property 
£ 

Improvements 
to property 
£ 

Fixtures and 
equipment 
£ 

Motor 
vehicles 
£ 

Totals 
£

712,000 
– 
– 

712,000 
– 
(140,730) 

32,299 
2,010 
– 

34,309 
46,987 
– 

290,348 
17,348 
(145,944) 

161,752 
22,591 
(28,246) 

30,910 
– 
(4,665) 

26,245 
– 
(12,467) 

1,065,557
19,358
(150,609)

934,306
69,578
(181,443)

571,270 

81,296 

156,097 

13,778 

822,441

164,674 
11,653 
– 

176,327 
10,245 
(7,506) 

28,779 
285 
– 

29,064 
5,707 
– 

231,114 
18,750 
(130,398) 

119,466 
19,442 
(24,437) 

14,766 
3,902 
(3,562) 

15,106 
2,785 
(12,343) 

439,333
34,590
(133,960)

339,963
38,179
(44,286)

179,066 

34,771 

114,471 

5,548 

333,856

392,204 

46,525 

41,626 

8,230 

488,585

535,673 

547,326 

5,245 

3,520 

42,286 

59,234 

11,139 

594,343

16,144 

626,224

Depreciation expenses of £38,179 (2018 – £34,590) are included in administrative expenses in the statement of 
comprehensive income.

Lease rentals amounting to £77,879 (2018 – £106,168), relating to the lease of buildings and motor vehicles are 
included in the statement of comprehensive income.

37

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

6.  GOODWILL

COST 
At 1 April 2017 and 2018 
Additions 

At 31 March 2019 

IMPAIRMENT
At 1 April 2017 
Impairment 

At 31 March 2018 
Impairment 

At 31 March 2019 

NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2019 

At 31 March 2018 

At 31 March 2017 

Goodwill 
£

5,514,547
–

5,514,547

1,636,084
200,000

1,836,084
200,000

2,036,084

3,478,463

3,678,463

3,878,463

Impairment Tests for Goodwill

Goodwill is allocated to the Group’s cash-generating units, identified according to subsidiary.

The following table shows a summary of the goodwill allocation by subsidiary:

Personnel Health & Safety Consultants Limited and dormant subsidiaries 
RSA Environmental Health Limited 
Inspection Services (UK) Limited 
Quality Leisure Management Limited 
QCS International Limited 
B to B Links Limited 
SG Systems (UK) Limited 

31.3.19 
£ 

594,952 
601,644 
205,207 
582,844 
417,638 
739,066 
337,112 

31.3.18 
£

594,952
601,644
205,207
582,844
417,638
939,066
337,112

Total goodwill for Group 

3,478,463 

3,678,463

When considering impairment, the directors have taken the cash flow forecast prepared to 31 March 2020 and 
used the expected cash flows for that year in perpetuity as the cash flows generated are expected to continue for 
the foreseeable future. The 2020 forecasts have been prepared using a range of growth assumptions compared to 
the results for 2019. Revenue growth ranges from 0%-8% and gross margin growth of between 0 to 7 percentage 
points for the cash generating units.

Zero growth rates, and zero margin improvement have been adopted in the perpetuity calculations for all cash 
generating units. 

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

6.  GOODWILL – continued

The cash flow projections:

• 

• 

are based on profits before tax and inter group management charges; and

have been discounted using a discount rate of 11% (2018 – 11%). The rate has been determined by calculating 
the Group’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 4% using the capital asset pricing model with a 7% 
risk factor added. 

The table below shows the amount by which each subsidiary’s recoverable amount exceeds its carrying value. An 
illustration is also provided to show at what point the key assumptions regarding cash flow and WACC need to 
change to before impairment would be necessary.

Personnel Health & Safety Consultants Limited and  
dormant subsidiaries 
RSA Environmental Health Limited 
Inspection Services (UK) Limited 
Quality Leisure Management Limited 
QCS International Limited 
B to B Links Limited* 
SG Systems (UK) Limited 

Margin in 
carrying 
value 
£ 

1,148,003 
15,763 
183,657 
575,201 
1,739,226 
(197,680) 
63,547 

Annual  
cash flow at 
which  
impairment  
required 
£ 

Discount at 
which 
impairment  
required 
%

65,445 
63,963 
22,573 
64,113 
45,954 
103,297 
37,082 

32
11.3
21
22
57
9
13

The impairment review undertaken by the directors identified that the value-in-use of the B to B cash generating 
unit was less than its carrying value and thus impairment was required. An impairment charge of £200,000 has 
been provided on the basis that the remaining goodwill could be supported by the value-in-use calculation. 

*  Figures stated prior to the impairment charge of £200,000

Sensitivity analysis

The  calculations  are  sensitive  to  movements  in  the  discount  rate  and  revenue  and  may  therefore  result  in  an 
impairment charge to the income statement. An increase of 1% to the discount rate and 3% reduction in revenue 
would result in the additional impairment charges as follows:

B to B Links Limited 
RSA Environmental Health Limited 

Reduction in  
revenue of % 
£ 

109,870 
37,618 

Increase in  
discount rate  

£

26,129
34,007

39

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

7. 

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade receivables 
Less provision for impairment of trade receivables 

Trade receivables – net 
Other debtors and prepayments  
Contract assets  

Total 

At 31 March 2019 there were £1,000 impaired trade receivables (2018 –  £1,000).

The ageing of receivables which are past due and not impaired are as follows:

Up to 3 months 
3 – 6 months 
Over 6 months 

Movements on the Group provision for impairment of trade receivables are as follows:

At 1 April  
Provision for receivables impairment 
Release of provision 

At 31 March 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

880,955 
(1,000) 

1,456,141
(1,000)

879,955 
83,988 
9,187 

1,455,141
97,315
16,169

973,130 

1,568,625

31.3.19 
£ 

324,024 
89,480 
30,407 

31.3.18 
£

558,290
84,496
58,855

443,911 

701,641

31.3.19 
£ 

1,000 
– 
– 

1,000 

31.3.18 
£

21,982
–
(20,982)

1,000

The creation and release of the provision for impaired receivables is included in administrative expenses in the 
statement of comprehensive income. Amounts charged to the provision account are generally written off when 
there is no expectation of recovering additional cash. 

The other classes within trade and other receivables do not contain impaired assets. The maximum exposure to 
credit risk at the year-end is the fair value of each class of receivable mentioned above. The Group does not hold 
any collateral as security.

All debts which are older than 90 days relate to long standing repeat customers and are considered to be fully 
recoverable based on the history of payments from these customers taking into consideration future factors.

The Group has one type of financial assets that are subject to IFRS 9’s new expected credit loss model:

• 

Trade receivables

The Group was required to revise its impairment methodology under IFRS 9 for each of these classes of assets as 
there is always considered some form of risk of default. The impact of the change in impairment methodology was 
not considered material to the financial statements. As a result, the comparative data has not been restated.

Trade receivables and contract assets

The  Group  applies  the  IFRS  9  simplified  approach  to  measuring  expected  credit  losses  which  uses  a  lifetime 
expected loss allowance for all trade receivables and contract assets. This did not lead to a material change in the 
impairment of trade receivables so no adjustment was made.

40

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

8. 

STOCK

Stocks 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

316,556 

389,034

£37,064  of  stock  was  written  down  in  the  current  year  (2018:  £45,000). The  value  of  stock  consumed  and 
recognised as an expense was £1,118,577 (2018 – £1,973,806).

9. 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

The cash balances for the purposes of the cash flow statement were as follows:

Cash at bank and in hand 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

642,466 

244,290

On 1 October 2008, PHSC plc entered into an unlimited multilateral guarantee with HSBC plc (see note 12).

10.  CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL 

Number of  
shares (Nominal  
value of 10p) 

Ordinary 
shares 
£ 

Share 
premium 
£ 

Total 
£

Called up, allotted and fully paid

At 31 March 2018 and 2019 

14,677,257 

1,467,726 

1,916,017 

3,383,743

11.  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Trade payables 
Social security and other taxes 
Other payables 
Accruals 
Contract liabilities 

Total 

12.  FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

31.3.19 
£ 

130,726 
223,678 
9,763 
71,590 
239,405 

31.3.18 
£

515,004
270,197
11,655
99,178
241,060

675,162 

1,137,094

On 1 October 2008, PHSC plc entered into an unlimited multilateral guarantee with HSBC plc. Each company 
within  the  Group  operates  its  own  current  account,  the  balance  on  which  is  allowed  to  fluctuate  according 
to trading conditions. Interest is only charged on a net overdrawn balance as the Group has the right to offset 
overdrawn accounts with accounts in credit across the Group. During the year the Group reduced its overdraft 
facility from £300,000 to £150,000 which is secured by a debenture including a fixed charge over certain present 
freehold  and  leasehold  property;  first  fixed  charge  over  book  and  other  debts,  chattels,  goodwill  and  uncalled 
capital, both present and future; and first floating charge over all assets and undertakings both present and future. 
The overdraft is next reviewed in October 2019.

41

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

13.  DEFERRED TAX

Deferred tax asset 

At 1 April 2017 
Credited to income statement 

At 31 March 2018 
Credited to income statement 

At 31 March 2019 

Deferred tax liabilities 

At 1 April 2017 
Credited to income statement 

At 31 March 2018 
Credited/(debited) to income statement 

At 31 March 2019 

Tax losses 
carried forward 
£ 

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances 
£ 

Other 
short-term 
temporary 
differences 
£ 

21,617 
(613) 

21,004 
(3,443) 

17,561 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

Provision 
revalued  
properties 
£ 

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances 
£ 

43,188 
– 

43,188 
(11,919) 

31,269 

9,455 
(1,982) 

7,473 
2,414 

9,887 

76 
25 

101 
(35) 

66 

Intangible 
assets 
£ 

5,157 
– 

5,157 
– 

Total 
£

21,693
(588)

21,105
(3,478)

17,627

Total 
£

57,800
(1,982)

55,818
(9,505)

5,157 

46,313

Deferred tax has been provided on the revalued fixed assets at 17% (2018 – 19%). At present it is not envisaged 
that any tax will become payable in the foreseeable future.

14.  EXPENSES BY NATURE

Cost of sales 
Staff related costs 
Premises costs 
Professional fees 
Operating lease expenses 
Other expenses 
Goodwill impairment 

Total cost of sales and administrative expenses 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

1,929,541 
2,128,386 
122,738 
312,954 
79,879 
564,408 
200,000 

3,034,011
2,533,300
125,181
375,697
106,168
760,593
200,000

5,337,906 

7,134,950

42

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

15.  EMPLOYEES

Staff costs (including executive directors)

Wages and salaries 
Social security costs 
Other pension costs 

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

Directors 
Consultants 
Administrative 

Total 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

1,844,924 
184,456 
65,958 

2,214,768
218,135
62,266

2,095,338 

2,495,169

31.3.19 

31.3.18

7 
22 
29 

58 

9
27
36

72

The aggregate compensation for key management, being the members of the board of PHSC plc and the directors 
of the subsidiary companies (including de facto directors), was as follows:

Short-term employee benefits 
Post-employment benefits 

Total 

31.3.19 
£ 

403,796 
38,656 

31.3.18 
£

507,069
47,046

442,452 

554,115

43

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

16.  DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION

Directors of PHSC plc only

Emoluments 
Pension contributions to money purchase schemes 

31.3.19 
£ 

151,216 
23,507 

31.3.18 
£

183,970
19,264

204,723 

203,234

The remuneration of the executive directors of PHSC plc, from all Group companies was as follows:

S A King 
N C Coote 

Salary 
£ 

90,000 
70,000 

Bonus 
£ 

1,013 
1,013 

  Year ended 31.3.19
  Short-term employee benefits 

Pension 
salary 
sacrifice 
£ 

Waiver 
£ 

Post 
 employment 
benefits 
Pension 
£ 

Benefits 
£ 

Year
ended
31.3.18
Total
£

Total 
£ 

(1,380) 
– 

(8,600) 
(5,400) 

2,480 
4,116 

12,851 
8,630 

96,364 
78,359 

92,723
82,511

Stephen King’s benefits relate to health insurance and Nicola Coote’s to a company car and health insurance. Both 
directors opted to take their bonus as a pension contribution.

The fees of the non-executive directors were as follows:

 Year ended  
31.3.19 
£ 

Year ended 
 31.3.18  

£

15,000 
15,000 

14,000
14,000

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

303 

3

– 
– 
1,514 

1,514 

1,211 

66
608
3,104

3,778

3,775

G N Webb 
L C Young 

17.  FINANCE INCOME AND COSTS

Finance income
Interest received 

Interest expense
Bank interest 
Loan interest 
Other interest 

Net finance charge 

44

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

18.  TAXATION 

Analysis of tax charge in year

Current tax:
UK corporation tax on profits in the year 
Adjustments in respect of previous year 

Total current tax charge/(credit) 

Deferred tax:
Origination and reversal of temporary differences  
Adjustment in respect of prior period 
Effect of tax rate change on opening balance 

Taxation (credit)/charge 

Tax on profit on ordinary activities 

Reconciliation of tax on ordinary activities

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

54,707 
(6,885) 

47,822 

16,230
–

16,230

(4,496) 
1,377 
(2,908) 

(2,189)
795
–

(6,027) 

(1,394)

41,795 

14,836

The relationship between expected tax expense based on the effective tax rate of PHSC plc at 19% (2018 – 19%) 
and the tax expense actually recognised in the income statement can be reconciled as follows:

Loss on ordinary activities before tax  

 Tax on loss on ordinary activities at standard rate of corporation tax of 19%  
(2018: 19%)  
Effects of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 
Depreciation on ineligible assets 
Movement in revalued property deferred tax less capital gain on disposal 
Differences due to deferred tax rate being lower than standard corporation tax rate   
Adjustments in respect of prior periods 

Total tax charge 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

42,494 

(145,861)

8,075 

(27,714)

41,655 
2,128 
(2,139) 
(2,416) 
(5,508) 

41,795 

39,487
2,268
–
795
–

14,836

The UK government has legislated to maintain the main rate of corporation tax at 19% for the years commencing 
1 April 2018 and 2019 and then to reduce it to 17% from 1 April 2020. This will affect future tax charges.

19.  EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to equity holders of the Group by the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year.

Profit/(loss) attributable to equity holders of the Group (£) 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue  
Basic earnings per share (pence per share) 

There are no dilutive shares, options or warrants in issue.

45

31.3.19 

31.3.18

699 
  14,677,257 
0.005p 

(160,697)
14,677,257

(1.095)p

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

20.  DIVIDENDS

A final dividend of £73,386 was paid in October 2018 in respect of the year ended 31st March 2018 and an interim 
dividend of £73,386 representing 0.5p per ordinary share was paid in February 2019 in respect of the year ended 
31 March 2019.  A final dividend of £73,386 is proposed, to be paid in October 2019, making a total dividend for the 
year of 1.0p. 

21.  COMMITMENTS

Operating lease commitments

The Group leases various offices under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. The leases have varying terms 
and renewal rights. The Group also leases various motor vehicles under cancellable operating lease agreements. 
The lease expenditure is charged to the statement of comprehensive income during the year.

The minimum lease payments to which the Group is committed under operating leases are: 

Within one year 
Between two and five years 

Total 

The Group had no capital commitments at the year end.

22.  RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

PHSC plc dividends were paid to directors as follows: 
S A King 
N C Coote 
G N Webb MBE 

31.03.19 

31.03.18

Land and 
building 
£ 

8,236 
45,100 

Motor 
vehicles 
£ 

11,104 
9,946 

53,336 

21,050 

Land and  
buildings 
£ 

27,267 
– 

27,267 

Motor 
vehicles 
£

17,231
8,171

25,402

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

31,894 
31,439 
194 

63,527 

15,950
15,722
97

31,769

23.  ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY

There is no ultimate controlling party, but the largest shareholder, Mr S A King, holds 21.73% (2018 – Mr S A King 
21.73%) of the issued share capital of PHSC plc.

46

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

24.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Set out below are the Group’s financial instruments:

Financial assets at amortised cost
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Financial liabilities at amortised cost
Trade and other payables 

Due within 1 year 
Due in over 1 year 

25.  REVENUE

Set out below is a breakdown of revenue:

Revenue from health and safety services provided 
Revenue from quality systems services provided 
Revenue from security related products 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

973,130 
642,466 

1,491,433
244,290

1,615,596 

1,735,723

675,162 

625,837

675,162 

625,837

675,162 
– 

625,837
–

675,162 

625,837

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

1,731,712 
759,500 
2,724,129 

2,018,877
767,646
4,226,341

5,215,341 

7,012,864

The split of revenue is in line with the segmental analysis in note 3.

The following table provides information about receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities with customers:

Receivables which are included in ‘trade and other receivables’ 
Contract assets 
Contract liabilities 

31.3.19 
£ 

879,955 
9,187 
239,405 

31.3.18 
£

1,455,141
16,169
241,060

Contract assets relate to uninvoiced work carried out at the reporting date where performance obligations had 
been met. The contract liabilities relate to the deferred revenue in respect of ongoing services and the revenue is 
being recognised across the term of the customer contract.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

25.  REVENUE – continued

Significant changes in the contract assets and contract liabilities balances during the period are as follows:

Revenue deferred into future periods 
Revenue accrued in current period 
Deferred revenue recognised in the period 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

(239,405) 
9,187 
241,060 

(241,060)
16,169
225,507

The performance obligations for all revenues that have been deferred into future periods have been satisfied by 
the following year end as the performance obligations on the contracts are no longer than one year in length. 
There are no impairment losses in relation to the contract assets recognised under IFRS 15.

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Company number: 4121793

P H S C   p l c

COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2019

49

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COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
as at 31 March 2019

Non-Current Assets
Property, plant and equipment 
Investments 

Current Assets
Trade and other receivables 

Total Assets 

Current Liabilities
Trade and other payables 
Overdraft 
Current corporation tax 

Non-Current Liabilities
Deferred taxation 

Total Liabilities 

Net Assets 

Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the Group

Called up share capital 
Share premium account 
Capital redemption reserve 
Merger relief reserve 
Revaluation reserve 
Retained earnings 

Note 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

9 
10 

400,310 
3,568,206 

542,008
4,118,206

3,968,516 

4,660,214

11 

755,400 

808,356

755,400 

808,356

4,723,916 

5,468,570

12 
13 

49,046 
620,631 
566 

273,918
1,105,005
–

670,243 

1,378,923

14 

32,647 

32,647 

44,286

44,286

702,890 

1,423,209

4,021,026 

4,045,361

15 
15 

1,467,726 
1,916,017 
143,628 
133,836 
– 
359,819 

1,467,726
1,916,017
143,628
133,836
43,373
340,781

4,021,026 

4,045,361

The company has elected to take the exemption under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 to not present the parent 
company profit and loss account. The loss for the year was £502,143 (2018 – loss £463,257). 

Approved and authorised for issue by the board on 16  August 2019 and signed on its behalf by;

S A King 

Director

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COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Share 
Capital 
£ 

Share 
Premium 
£ 

Merger 

Capital 
Relief  Redemption 
Reserve 
£ 

Reserve 
£ 

Revaluation 
Rreserve 
£ 

Retained 
Earnings 
£ 

Total 
£

Balance at 1 April 2017 
Loss for year attributable  
to equity holders 
Dividends paid 

1,467,726 

1,916,017 

133,836 

143,628 

43,373 

877,424 

4,582,004

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

– 
– 

(463,257) 
(73,386) 

(463,257)
(73,386)

Balance at 31 March 2018 

1,467,726 

1,916,017 

133,836 

143,628 

43,373 

340,781 

4,045,361

Balance at 1 April 2018 
Loss for year attributable  
to equity holders 
Transfer of reserve on property sale 
Dividends received 
Dividends paid 

1,467,726 

1,916,017 

133,836 

143,628 

43,373 

340,781 

4,045,361

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
(43,373) 
– 
– 

(502,143) 
43,373) 
624,580 
(146,772) 

(502,143)
–
624,580
(146,772)

Balance at 31 March 2019 

1,467,726 

1,916,017 

133,836 

143,628 

– 

359,819 

4,021,026

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COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Cash flows (used by)/generated from operating activities:
Cash (used by)/ from operations 
Tax paid 
Interest paid 

Net cash generated (used by)/from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Disposal proceeds sale of property, plant and equipment 
Dividends from subsidiary companies 
Interest received 

Net cash from investing activities 

Cash flows used by financing activities
PPayment of contingent consideration 
Dividends paid to Group shareholders 

Net cash used by financing activities 

Net decrease in overdraft 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

Overdraft at end of year 

Note 

I 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

(265,800) 
(21,056) 
(1,514) 

193,550
–
(2,411)

(288,370) 

191,139

(4,862) 
299,495 
624,580 
303 

919,516 

–
–
–
–

–

– 
(146,772) 

(25,000)
(73,386)

(146,772) 

(98,386)

484,374 
(1,105,005) 

92,753
(1,197,758)

(620,631) 

(1,105,005)

NOTES TO THE COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
for the year ended 31 March 2019

I. CASH (USED BY)/FROM OPERATIONS

Loss before taxation and interest 
Depreciation charge 
Impairment of investment 
Profit on sale of fixed assets 
Decrease in trade and other receivables 
Decrease in trade and other payables 

Cash generated (used by)/from operations 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

(490,949) 
12,906 
550,000 
(165,841) 
52,956 
(224,872) 

(461,013)
12,704
451,725
–
206,226
(16,092)

(265,800) 

193,550

52

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 March 2019

1. 

BASIS OF PREPARATION

The  company’s  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRSs,  as  adopted  by  the  EU, 
International Financial Reporting Intermediate Committee (IFRIC) interpretations and the Companies Act 2006 
applicable to companies reporting under IFRSs. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical 
cost convention except as noted below.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires the use of certain critical accounting 
estimates.  It  also  requires  management  to  exercise  its  judgement  in  the  process  of  applying  the  company’s 
accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions 
and estimates are significant to the financial statements, are disclosed in note 19.

The company has elected to take the exemption under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 to not present the 
parent company profit and loss account. The loss for the year before dividends received from subsidiaries (2019  
–  £624,580; 2018 – nil) was £502,143 (2018 – loss £463,257). There were no recognised gains and losses for 2019 
or 2018 other than those included in the company statement of comprehensive income. As at 31 March 2019 the 
company had net assets of £4,021,026 (2018 – £4,045,361). 

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. Accounting standards require the directors 
to consider the appropriateness of the going concern basis when preparing the financial statements. The directors 
confirm  that  they  consider  that  the  going  concern  basis  remains  appropriate  as  the  company  has  adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future based upon forecasts.

A number of new standards and amendments to standards and interpretations have been issued but are not yet 
effective and, in some cases, have not been adopted by the EU. The directors have assessed the potential impact 
of IFRS 16 (measurement and treatment of operating leases) but consider that the impact will not be material on 
the company’s financial statements in future periods. The company does not have any operating leases and income 
only relates to management charges and dividends received.

2. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Revenue

Management charge income is recognised when the service the company has provided is fulfilled.

Deferred income tax

Deferred  income  tax  is  provided  in  full  on  temporary  differences  arising  between  the  tax  bases  of  assets  and 
liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. The deferred income tax is not accounted for if 
it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction, other than a business combination, that at 
the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred income tax is determined 
using tax rates that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the balance sheet date and are expected to 
apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled. Deferred 
income tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against 
which the temporary differences can be utilised.

Segmental reporting

A business segment is a group of assets and operations engaged in providing products or services that are subject 
to risks and returns that are different from those of other business segments. The directors regard the operations 
of the company as being one business segment. Further analysis of revenue is disclosed in note 3.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

2. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES – continued

Pensions

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable for the year are charged to 
the income statement.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to 
write off the cost of non-current assets, less their estimated residual value, over the shorter of the expected useful 
life or lease term, on the following bases:

Freehold buildings 
Improvements to property 

Fixtures and equipment 

– 
– 

– 

2% of cost on a straight-line basis
 on a straight-line basis (10% of cost if expected useful life is shorter than 
the lease term)
25% reducing balance basis

Investments

Investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated at cost less amounts provided for any impairment in value. An 
impairment review is carried out each year.

Impairment of tangible and intangible assets

An  impairment  loss  is  recognised  for  the  amount  by  which  the  investments  carrying  amount  exceeds  its 
recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value, reflecting market conditions less costs 
to sell, and value in use, based on an internal discounted cash flow evaluation. Impairment losses are charged to 
administrative expenses.

Taxation

Current income tax assets/liabilities comprise those claims from or obligations to, or claims from, fiscal authorities 
relating to the current or prior reporting periods, that are unpaid at the balance sheet date. They are calculated 
according to the tax rates and tax laws applicable to the fiscal periods to which they relate, based on the taxable 
profit for the year.

Provisions

These are recognised when the company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, 
when it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount can be 
reliably estimated.

Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditure expected to be required to settle the obligation, 
using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to 
the obligation. The increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.

Financial Instruments

During the year the company adopted IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’. The company has assessed the impact of IFRS 
9 and does not consider the impact material to the financial statements. As a result, the comparative data has not 
been restated. 

Trade  receivables  and  contract  assets  are  initially  stated  at  the  transaction  price  and  subsequently  measured 
at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The carrying amounts for accounts receivable are net of 
allowances  for  expected  credit  losses. The  company  evaluated  the  expected  credit  losses  on  trade  receivables 
by reviewing historical data, adjusted for forward-looking factors to the debtors and the economic environment. 
Individual receivables are only written off when management deems them not collectible. 

54

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

2. 

ACCOUNTING POLICIES – continued

Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. 

Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net 
of tax, from the proceeds. The proceeds of share issues received net of any directly attributable transactions costs 
are credited to share capital at nominal value and the excess credited to the share premium account. The capital 
redemption reserve arose when the company repurchased some of its own shares. At that point the nominal value 
of those shares was transferred to the capital redemption reserve.

The merger relief reserve represents the premium of any shares issued in part consideration on acquisitions in 
accordance with section 612 of The Companies Act 2006.

Dividends

Dividends received from subsidiary companies are recognised at the point that the right to receive the dividend 
has been established.

3. 

REVENUE

The revenue of the company during the year was generated in the UK and derives from the management charge 
levied to the subsidiary companies and is recognised when the service is delivered.

4. 

LOSS BEFORE TAXATION

The profit before taxation is stated after charging:

Depreciation – owned assets 

5.  DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION

Full details are given on page 44 of the Group accounts.

6. 

STAFF COSTS

The average number of employees during the year was as follows: 

Directors 
Consultants 
Administration 

The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows: 
Wages and salaries 
Social security costs 
Other pension costs 

The directors are considered to be key management personnel of the company.

55

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

12,906 

12,704

31.3.19 

31.3.18

4 
2 
3 

9 

£ 

4
2
3

9

£

263,178 
23,595 
25,129 

278,888
25,082
19,104

311,902 

323,074

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

7. 

AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION

Full details are given on page 36 of the Group accounts.

8. 

FINANCE INCOME AND COSTS

Finance income
Interest received 

Interest expense
Bank interest 
Other interest 

Net finance cost 

9. 

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

COST OR VALUATION
At 1 April 2017  
Transfer from subsidiary 

At 31 March 2018 
Additions 
Disposals 

At 31 March 2019 

DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2017 
Charge for the year 

At 31 March 2018 
Charge for year 
Disposals 

At 31 March 2019 

NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2019 

At 31 March 2018 

At 31 March 2017 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

303 

–

– 
(1,514) 

(66)
(2,345)

(1,211) 

(2,411)

Freehold 
land and 
buildings 
£ 

582,638 
– 

582,638 
– 
(140,730) 

Freehold 
improvements 
£ 

Plant and 
equipment 
£ 

23,978 
– 

23,978 
– 
– 

13,103 
– 

13,103 
4,862 
(2,417) 

Totals 
£

619,719
–

619,719
4,862
(143,147)

441,908 

23,978 

15,548 

481,434

35,312 
11,653 

46,965 
10,245 
(7,506) 

20,461 
84 

20,545 
828 
– 

9,234 
967 

10,201 
1,833 
(1,987) 

65,007
12,704

77,711
12,906
(9,493)

49,704 

21,373 

10,047 

81,124

392,204 

2,605 

5,501 

400,310

535,673 

547,326 

3,433 

3,517 

2,902 

542,008

3,869 

554,712

56

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

10. 

INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS

Investment in shares of subsidiary undertakings

At 1 April 
Impairment of investment in B to B 
Impairment of investment in SG 
Impairment of investment in ALS 

At 31 March 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

4,118,206 
(550,000) 
– 
– 

4,569,931
(220,000)
(120,000)
(111,725)

3,568,206 

4,118,206

As stated in the strategic report, the continued decline of the high street and the general uncertainty over Brexit 
has led to reduced opportunities and general pressure on gross margins in the security sector. The impairment 
review undertaken by the directors identified that the value-in-use of the B to B investment was compromised and 
thus impairment of the investment was required. The investment value has been reduced by £550,000 to a new 
carrying value of £600,724.

Investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated at cost and include the following:

Name of Company 

Proportion 
of voting 

Class of 
shares held  rights held  Registered office

Adamson’s Laboratory Services Limited 

Ordinary  100% 

B2BSG Solutions Limited 

Ordinary  100% 

Camerascan CCTV Limited 

Ordinary  100% 

Envex Company Limited  

Ordinary  100% 

In House The Hygiene Management Company Limited  Ordinary  100% 

Inspection Services (UK) Limited 

Ordinary  100% 

Personnel Health & Safety Consultants Limited 

Ordinary  100% 

Quality Leisure Management Limited 

Ordinary  100% 

QCS International Limited  

Ordinary  100% 

RSA Environmental Health Limited 

Ordinary  100% 

Safetymark Certification Services Limited 

Ordinary  100% 

SG Systems (UK) Limited 

Ordinary  100% 

 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 9 Cumbernauld Business Park,  
Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire, 
Scotland G6 3JZ
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR
 The Old Church, 31 Rochester  
Road,  Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PR

57

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

11.  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Amount owed by subsidiary undertakings 
Prepayments 

31.3.19 
£ 

736,876 
18,524 

31.3.18 
£

778,373
29,983

755,400 

808,356

The company has one type of financial asset which is subject to IFRS 9’s new expected credit loss model:

• 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

The company applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime 
expected loss allowance for all balances owed from subsidiary undertakings.

This  did  not  lead  to  a  material  change  in  the  assessment  of  the  potential  impairment  of  amounts  owed  from 
subsidiary undertakings so no adjustment was made.

12.  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Trade payables 
Amount owed to subsidiary undertakings 
Social security and other taxes 
Other payables 
Accruals 

13.  OVERDRAFT

Bank overdraft 

31.3.19 
£ 

2,348 
5,000 
20,747 
1,158 
19,793 

31.3.18 
£

27,340
189,050
36,036
1,098
20,394

49,046 

273,918

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

620,631 

1,105,005

On 1 October 2008, PHSC plc entered into an unlimited multilateral guarantee with HSBC plc. Each company 
within  the  Group  operates  its  own  current  account,  the  balance  on  which  is  allowed  to  fluctuate  according 
to trading conditions. Interest is only charged on a net overdrawn balance as the Group has the right to offset 
overdrawn accounts with accounts in credit across the Group. During the year, the Group’s overdraft facility was 
reduced to £150,000 which is secured by a debenture including a fixed charge over certain present freehold and 
leasehold  property;  first  fixed  charge  over  book  and  other  debts,  chattels,  goodwill  and  uncalled  capital,  both 
present and future; and first floating charge over all assets and undertakings both present and future. On 31 March 
2019, PHSC plc’s company balance was £620,631 overdrawn (2018 – £1,105,005 overdrawn) within the Group’s 
cash  at  bank  and  in  hand  figure  of  £642,466  (2018  –  £244,280). The  overdraft  facility  is  reviewed  subject  to 
requirement.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

14.  DEFERRED TAXATION

Deferred taxation – accelerated capital allowances 

At 1 April 2018 
Deferred tax credit in year  

At 31 March 2019 

15.  SHARE CAPITAL

Called up, allotted and fully paid 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

32,647 

44,286

Deferred tax 
£ 

Deferred tax 
£

44,286 
(11,819) 

44,453
(167)

32,647 

44,286

Number of 
shares 
(Nominal value 
10p per share) 

Ordinary 
shares 
£ 

Share 
premium 
£ 

Total 
£

At 31 March 2018 and 2019 

14,677,257 

1,467,726 

1,916,017 

3,383,743

16.  RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

A management charge is levied by PHSC plc to its subsidiary companies to reflect the central services it provides. 

Management charge from PHSC plc to subsidiary companies 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

415,000 

510,000

The  inter-company  balances  between  PHSC  plc  and  the  other  companies  within  the  PHSC  plc  group  are 
summarised below.

Amounts owed by group undertakings
B2BSG Solutions Limited 
In House the Hygiene Company Limited 
Inspection Services (UK) Limited 
Personnel Health & Safety Consultants Limited 
QCS International Limited 
Quality Leisure Management Limited 
RSA Environmental Health Limited 
SG Systems (UK) Limited 
Camerascan CCTV Limited 

Amounts owed to group undertakings
Adamson’s Laboratory Services Limited 
Personnel Health & Safety Consultants Limited  

59

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

22,435 
469,304 
1,449 
1,929 
5,823 
4,386 
1,849 
– 
229,701 

54,492
469,304
435
–
2,649
6,712
410
14,670
229,701

736,876 

778,373

5,000 
– 

454
188,596

5,000 

189,050

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

16.  RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES – continued

PHSC plc received dividends from subsidiaries as follows: 
Adamson’s Laboratory Services Limited 
Inspection Services (UK) Limited 
Personnel Health & Safety Consultants Limited 
QCS International Limited 
Quality Leisure Management Limited 
RSA Environmental Health Limited 

PHSC plc dividends were paid to directors as follows:
S A King 
N C Coote 
G N Webb MBE 

17.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Set out below are the company’s financial instruments:

Financial assets at amortised cost
Trade and other receivables 

Financial liabilities at amortised cost
Overdraft 
Trade and other payables 

Due within 1 year 
Due in over 1 year 

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

99,580 
25,000 
200,000 
200,000 
70,000 
30,000 

624,580 

31,894 
31,439 
194 

63,527 

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

15,950
15,722
97

31,769

31.3.19 
£ 

31.3.18 
£

755,241 

778,373

755,241 

778,373

620,631 
46,664 

1,105,005
237,882

667,295 

1,342,887

667,295 
– 

1,342,887
–

667,295 

1,342,887

Full details of the overdraft facility can be found in note 13.

The main risk arising from the company’s financial instruments is liquidity risk. The company seeks to manage this 
risk by ensuring sufficient liquidity is available from current banking facilities to meet foreseeable needs and to 
invest cash assets safely and profitably. This policy has remained unchanged from previous periods.

The  fair  values  of  the  company’s  financial  instruments  are  considered  not  to  be  materially  different  to  their 
book value.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
for the year ended 31 March 2019

18.  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

The company may be required to make estimates and assumptions concerning the future. These estimates and 
judgements are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are 
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom 
equal the related actual results. The principal areas where judgement was exercised are as follows:

Property, plant and equipment

The directors annually assess both the residual value of these assets and the expected useful life of such assets 
which is currently judged to be up to 4 years, based on experience.

Impairment of investments

An  impairment  of  investments  has  the  potential  to  significantly  impact  upon  the  company’s  statement  of 
comprehensive  income  for  the  year.  In  order  to  determine  whether  impairments  are  required  the  directors 
estimate  the  recoverable  amount  of  the  investment. This  calculation  is  based  on  the  director’s  expectations  of 
future volumes and margins based on forecast results to 31 March 2020 in perpetuity assuming a zero-growth rate. 

The cash flow projections:

• 

• 

are based on profits before tax and inter group management charges; and

have been discounted using a discount rate of 11%. The rate has been determined by calculating the Group’s 
weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 4% using the capital asset pricing model with a 7% risk factor 
added. 

19.  PARENT UNDERTAKING

There is no ultimate controlling party but the largest shareholder, Mr S A King owns 21.73% (2018 – Mr S A King 
21.73%) of the issued share capital of PHSC plc.

The parent company operates within the UK and its accounts may be obtained from the same registered office 
address as noted on page 2 of the Group accounts.

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is given that the annual general meeting of PHSC plc will be held at 10.00 am on Monday 30 September 2019 
at The  Old  Church,  31  Rochester  Road,  Aylesford,  Kent  ME20  7PR  to  consider  the  following  resolutions  of  which 
resolutions 1 to 6 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolution 7 will be proposed as a special resolution. 

1 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

To receive the annual report and audited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2019.

To declare a final dividend of 0.5p per ordinary share.

To re-elect Nicola Coote as a director.

To re-elect Lorraine Young as a director.

To reappoint Crowe UK LLP as auditor to the company to hold office until the conclusion of the next general 
meeting  at  which  accounts  are  laid  before  the  members  and  to  authorise  the  directors  to  determine  their 
remuneration.

THAT, in substitution for any existing such authority, the directors be generally and unconditionally authorised in 
accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 to exercise all the powers of the company to allot shares 
in the company or to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares in the company up to a 
total nominal amount of £489,242 during the period commencing on the date of the passing of this resolution and 
expiring at the conclusion of the annual general meeting in 2020 or on 30 September 2020, whichever is earlier, 
but so that the authority shall allow the company to make before the expiry of this authority offers or agreements 
which would or might require shares to be allotted, rights to be granted or securities to be converted after such 
expiry and notwithstanding such expiry the directors may allot shares, grant rights or convert securities under 
such offers or agreements. 

Special resolutions

7. 

THAT, subject to and conditional upon the passing as an ordinary resolution of resolution number 6 set out in the 
notice of this meeting the directors be empowered under section 570 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) to allot 
equity securities (as defined in section 560 of the Act) for cash; under the authority conferred by resolution 6 above 
as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall be limited to:

(a) 

 the allotment of equity securities in connection with a rights issue, open offer or other offer of securities in 
favour of the holders of ordinary shares on the register of members at such record date(s) as the directors may 
determine where the equity securities respectively attributable to the interests of the ordinary shareholders 
are proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the respective numbers of ordinary shares held by them on any 
such record date(s), subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the directors may deem necessary 
or expedient to deal with fractional entitlements or legal or practical problems arising under the laws of any 
overseas territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange or by virtue of shares being 
represented by depositary receipts or any other matter whatever; and 

(b) 

 the allotment (otherwise than under sub-paragraph (a) above) of equity securities and/or the sale and transfer 
of shares held by the company in treasury (as the directors shall deem appropriate) to any person or persons 
up to an aggregate nominal amount of £293,545,

such power to expire at the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the company in 2020 or, if earlier, on 
30 September 2020, unless such power is varied, revoked or renewed prior to such time by the company in general 
meeting by special resolution; except that the company may before such expiry make offers or agreements which 
would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and notwithstanding such expiry the 
directors may allot equity securities under such offers or agreements.

By order of the board

SGH Company Secretaries Limited 
Secretary 

22  August 2019 

Registered Office:
The Old Church
31 Rochester Road
Aylesford
Kent ME20 7PR

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (continued)

Notes 

Right to attend, speak and vote 

1. 
If you want to attend, speak and vote at the AGM you must be on the company’s register of members at 6.00pm on 26 September 2019. This will allow us to 
confirm how many votes you have on a poll. Changes to the entries in the register of members after that time, or, if the AGM is adjourned, 48 hours before 
the time of any adjourned meeting, shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend, speak or vote at the AGM.

Appointment of proxies 

2. 
If you are a member of the company you may appoint one or more proxies to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, speak and vote at the meeting. 
You may only appoint a proxy using the procedures set out in these notes and in the notes on the proxy form, which you should have received with this 
notice of meeting. 

A proxy does not need to be a member of the company but must attend the meeting to represent you. Details of how to appoint the chair of the meeting 
or another person as your proxy using the proxy form are set out in the notes on the form. If you wish your proxy to speak on your behalf at the meeting 
you will need to appoint your own choice of proxy (not the chair) and give your instructions directly to them.

You may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the AGM provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share 
or shares which you hold. If you wish to appoint more than one proxy you may photocopy the proxy form or alternatively you may contact the company 
secretary.

Appointment of proxy using hard copy proxy form

3. 
The notes to the proxy form explain how to direct your proxy how to vote on each resolution or withhold their vote.  A vote withheld is not a vote in 
law, which means that the vote will not be counted in the calculation of votes for or against the resolution. If you do not indicate on the proxy form how 
your proxy should vote, they will vote or abstain from voting at their discretion. They will also vote (or abstain from voting) as they think fit in relation to 
any other matter which is put before the meeting.

To appoint a proxy using the proxy form, the form must be completed and signed and received by the company secretary at Shakespeare Martineau, 6th 
Floor, 60 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0HR no later than 48 hours (excluding non-working days) before the meeting.  Any proxy forms (including any 
amended proxy appointments) received after the deadline will be disregarded.

The completed form may be returned by any of the following methods:

• 

• 

Sending or delivering it to the company secretary, Shakespeare Martineau, 6th Floor, 60 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0HR

Scanning it and sending it by email to shaun.zulafqar@shma.co.uk

If the shareholder is a company, the proxy form must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer or attorney.  Any power of 
attorney or any other authority under which the proxy form is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the 
proxy form.

Appointment of proxy by joint members

4. 
In the case of joint holders, where more than one joint holder purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment submitted by the most senior holder will 
be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint holders appear in the company’s register of members in respect of the 
joint holding (the first-named being the most senior).

Changing your instructions

5. 
To change your proxy instructions simply submit a new proxy appointment using the methods set out above. The amended instructions must be received 
by the company secretary by the same cut-off time noted above. Where you have appointed a proxy using a hard copy proxy form and would like to 
change the instructions using another hard copy proxy form, please contact the company secretary on 020 7264 4546. If you submit more than one valid 
proxy form, the one received last before the latest time for the receipt of proxies will take precedence.

Termination of proxy appointments

6. 
In order to revoke a proxy instruction, you will need to inform the company by sending a signed hard copy notice clearly stating your intention to revoke 
your proxy appointment to the Company Secretary, Shakespeare Martineau, 6th Floor, 60 Gracechurch Street, London EC3V 0HR.  Alternatively you may 
send the notice by email to shaun.zulafqar@shma.co.uk. In the case of a member which is a company, the revocation notice must be executed under its 
common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer or attorney.  Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the revocation notice is signed 
(or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the revocation notice.

In either case, your revocation notice must be received by the company no later than 48 hours (excluding non-working days) before the meeting. If your 
revocation is received after the deadline, your proxy appointment will remain valid. However, the appointment of a proxy does not prevent you from 
attending the meeting and voting in person. If you have appointed a proxy and attend the meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automatically 
be terminated.

Communications with the company

7. 
Except as provided above, members who have general queries about the meeting should telephone the company secretary on 020 7264 4546 (no other 
methods of communication will be accepted). You may not use any electronic address provided either in this notice of general meeting; or any related 
documents, to communicate with the company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.

Issued shares and total voting rights

8. 
As at 5.00 pm on the day immediately prior to the date of posting of this notice of meeting, the company’s issued share capital comprised 14,677,257 
ordinary shares of 10p each. Each ordinary share carries the right to one vote at a general meeting of the company and, therefore, the total number of 
voting rights in the company at that time was 14,677,257.

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at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)
to be held on Monday 30 September 2019

Please read carefully the notice of meeting, the accompanying notes and the explanation of the business to 
be transacted at the AGM (contained in the directors’ report) before completing this form.

As a member of PHSC plc you have the right to attend, speak at and vote at the AGM. If you cannot or do not 
wish to attend the AGM but still want to vote you can appoint someone to attend the AGM and vote on your 
behalf. That person is known as a “proxy”. You can use the proxy form to appoint the chair of the meeting 
or someone else, as your proxy. Your proxy does not have to be a member of the company.

I/We …………………………………………………………………………. (FULL NAME IN BLOCK CAPITALS)

being a member(s) of PHSC plc, appoint the chair of the meeting or ….........………………………………....

…………………..................................….. (see note 1) as my/our proxy to attend and, on a poll, to vote for 
me/us and on my/our behalf as indicated below at the AGM and at any adjournment (see notes 2, 3 and 4).

Please clearly mark the boxes below to instruct your proxy how to vote.

FOR 

AT 
AGAINST  WITHHELD  DISCRETION

VOTE 

RESOLUTIONS 

1.  To receive the report and accounts 

2.  To declare a final dividend 

3.  To re-elect Nicola Coote as a director 

4. 

 To re-elect Lorraine Young as a director 

5. 

 To reappoint the auditors and authorise  
the directors to set their fees 

6.  To authorise the directors to allot shares 

7.  To disapply pre-emption rights 

Signature(s) ………………………………......…..….....................….. (see note 5)   Date …………………..……………

Notes:

1) 

2) 

3) 

4) 

5) 

6) 

 If you wish to appoint as a proxy someone other than the chair of the meeting, please delete the words “The chair of the meeting” 
and insert the name of the other person (who need not be a member of the company). All alterations made to the proxy form must 
be initialled by the signatory.

 The  completion  and  return  of  the  proxy  form  will  not  prevent  you  from  attending  the AGM  and  voting  in  person  should  you 
subsequently decide to do so.

 If you wish your proxy to cast all of your votes for or against a resolution you should insert an “X” in the appropriate box. If you 
wish your proxy to cast only some votes for and some against insert the relevant number of shares in the appropriate box. In 
the absence of instructions your proxy may vote or abstain from voting as they think fit on the specified resolutions, and, unless 
instructed otherwise, may also vote or abstain from voting as they think fit on any other business (including on a resolution to 
amend a resolution, to propose a new resolution or to adjourn the meeting) which may properly come before the meeting.

 The “Vote Withheld” option is provided so that you can instruct your proxy to abstain from voting on a particular resolution. A “Vote 
Withheld” is not a vote in law and will not be counted in the calculation of the proportion of the votes “for” or “against” a resolution. 
The “At Discretion” option is provided so that you can give discretion to your proxy to vote or abstain from voting on a particular 
resolution as they think fit.

 The proxy form must be signed by the shareholder or their attorney. Where the shareholder is a corporation the signature must be 
under seal or that of a duly authorised representative. In the case of joint holders, anyone may sign the form. The vote of the senior 
joint holder (whether in person or by proxy) will be taken to the exclusion of all others, seniority being determined by the order 
in which the names appear in the register of members for the joint shareholding.

 To be valid, this proxy form and any power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed or a certified copy of such 
authority,  must  be  deposited  with  the  company  secretary,  Shakespeare  Martineau,  6th  Floor,  60  Gracechurch  Street,  London 
EC3V 0HR no later than 48 hours (excluding non-working days) before the time of the AGM or any adjournment.

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PHSC plcJob No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 660067

PHSC plcJob No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 660068

PHSC plcJob No: 40344Proof Event: 4Black Line Level: 0Park Communications Ltd Alpine Way London E6 6LACustomer: PHSC plcProject Title: Annual Report & Accounts 2019T: 0207 055 6500 F: 020 7055 6600