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Prime People Plc

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FY2016 Annual Report · Prime People Plc
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Prime People Plc
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2016

2016

 Registered number: 1729887 

Prime People Plc 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2016 
________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Contents 

Page 

1 

3 

Chairman's statement  

Strategic report 

  9       

Report of the Directors 

 11 

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities  

 12       

Corporate governance 

 16       

Remuneration report 

 19 

 21 

 22 

 23 

 25 

 26 

 27 

 28 

 56 

 57 

Independent Auditor’s report 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

Consolidated statement of financial position 

Company statement of financial position 

Company statement of changes in equity 

Group and Company cash flow statement 

Notes to the financial statements 

Directors and Advisers 

Board of Directors 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Chairman's Statement  

Performance 

Cash Flow  

The  year  ended  31  March  2016  was  an 
encouraging  year  for  our  company,  as  it  was  for 
many professional recruitment businesses based in 
the  U.K.  Despite  the  global  economy  providing 
some  uncertainty  to  our  year  end,  our  clients 
continued to hire and competition for scarce talent 
supported demand. As the following report shows, 
the  Group  achieved  positive  revenue  growth  and 
improved its operating profit margin.  

I am pleased to report that we closed the year with 
Net  Fee  Income  (NFI)  of  £12.28m.  This  is  a 
20.16%  increase  on  last  year  (2015:  £10.22m). 
Despite  NFI  in  the  second  half  of  the  year  of 
£6.07m  being  2.23%  lower  than  the  first  half  of 
2016,  it  is  encouraging  to  see  a  second  half 
increase  over  the  comparable  period  in  2015  of 
16.21%. 

There  were  a  number  of  ‘standout’  performances, 
within  U.K.  property.  In  particular,  contract  and 
technical  recruitment  generated  improved  NFI.  It 
was  also  heartening  to  see  our  international 
businesses, 
exceed 
expectations in testing local conditions. 

notably  Hong  Kong, 

The  50.35%  increase  in  operating  profit  for  the 
year  from  £1.43m  in  2015  to  £2.15m  in  2016 
reflects the improvement in NFI and the continued 
drive  to  control  costs  and  increase  productivity 
across the Group. 

During the year NFI productivity per head rose to 
£103.49k  (2015:  £91k).  The  increase  is  due,  in 
part,  to  new  hires  contributing  to  performance 
sooner than expected. 

The  conversion  rate,  which  compares  operating 
profit  to  NFI,  increased  from  13.99%  to  17.50% 
due primarily to greater operational efficiency. 

The  ratio  of  NFI  derived  from  contract  as  against 
permanent placements has slightly increased in the 
year from 8:92 in 2015 to 9:91. This increase can 
be attributed to clients seeking flexibility in a full 
and competitive employment market. 

The Group continues to maintain a strong net cash 
position.  At  the  start  of  the  year  the  Group  had 
cash  of  £1.01m  which  had  slightly  decreased  to 
£0.95m  by  the  end  of  the  year.  The  decrease  is 
primarily  due  to  growth  in  the  contract  business, 
where NFI has grown by 43.04% to £1.13m (2015: 
£0.79m). 

Dividend 

During  the  year,  an  interim  dividend  of  1.75p  per 
share  (2015:  1.75p),  a  special  dividend  of  4.00p 
per  share  (2015:  4.00p)  and  a  second  interim 
dividend  of  3.09p  (2015:  0.00p)  were  paid  to 
shareholders.  As  previously  advised,  the  Board 
does not anticipate recommending a final dividend 
(2015:  3.09p).  This  will  result  in  a  total  dividend 
payment  of  8.84p  for  the  2016  financial  year 
(2015: 8.84p). 

Share Buy Back 

During the year no shares were purchased through 
the  Group’s  buyback  programme  (2015:  67,210 
shares purchased at a cost of £61,512). The Board 
will  be  seeking  shareholder  approval  for  renewal 
of  the  authority  to  repurchase  up  to  10%  (2015: 
10%)  of  the  Group’s  issued  share  capital  at  the 
Annual General Meeting. 

New Issue of Ordinary Shares 

During  the  year  the  Company  applied  for  96,250 
(2015:  127,499)  10p  newly  issued  shares  to  be 
admitted to trading on AIM in order to satisfy the 
exercise  of  options  granted  under  the  company’s 
share  option  scheme.  The  Admission  of  68,250 
took  place  on  21  September  2015,  and  the 
Admission  of  28,000  took  place  on  16  February 
2016. 

Board 

The  Board  has  continued  to  operate  corporate 
governance standards appropriate to an AIM listed 
company. 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Chairman's Statement (continued) 

On  27th  October  2015  Christopher  Heayberd 
retired  from  his  role  as  Finance  Director  after  20 
years  with  the  company.  The  Board  is  delighted 
that  Mr  Heayberd  will  continue  to  serve  the 
Company as a Non-executive Director. 

The  success  of  the  Group  is  dependent  on  having 
competent  and  committed  people  and  the  Board 
would  like  to  thank  all  the  members  of  our  staff 
for their hard work, commitment and contribution 
over the last year. 

Mrs Donka Zaneva-Todorinski was promoted and 
appointed  as Finance  Director  and  member  of  the 
Board  with  effect  from  27th  October  2015  in 
succession to Mr Heayberd. 

Although not required to do so, the Directors have 
resolved  that  they  will  retire  at  least  once  every 
three years and seek reappointment by shareholder 
at the next AGM. 

The  Board  has  a  fine  mix  of  skills,  experience, 
gender  and  backgrounds.  This  mix 
is  of 
considerable benefit to the business. 

People 

The  average  number  of  staff  increased  from  112 
last  year  to  124  this  year  and  we  anticipate  that 
headcount at the end of 2016 will increase again. 

The Group has a diverse cultural and ethnic profile 
within  the  business  and  at  the  end  of  2016  had 
global 52:48 male/female gender ratio. 

Current trading and outlook 

Following  three  years  of  buoyant  trading  in  the 
recruitment  sector,  we  anticipate  that  market 
conditions will be softer in the remainder of 2016. 
Current  activity  is  resilient  across  the  group  and, 
while  we  expect  some  slowing  in  our  mature 
vertical  markets,  we  are  confident  the  business  is 
well positioned to exploit available opportunities. 

Surveying 
the  business  environment,  we  are 
conscious  of  several  macro-economic  headwinds, 
including the UK referendum on EU membership, 
turbulent  emerging  markets  and  other  volatility 
that may affect our clients’ hiring plans.  However, 
the  Group  continues  to  find  opportunities  for 
expansion  and  has  successfully  incubated  new 
business  lines  over  the  past  twelve  months  while 
increasing  productivity  per  head  and  diversifying 
outside  the  UK.  We  will  continue  to  invest  in 
people  and  the  technology  that  allows  us  to 
improve shareholder returns by offering our clients 
innovative  approaches 
to  recruitment  and  a 
globally connected service. 

Robert Macdonald 
Executive Chairman 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Strategic Report 

Overview 

The  Group  provides  permanent  and  contract 
recruitment  services  to  selected,  niche  industry 
sectors. The built environment continues to be the 
Group’s  largest  market,  served  through  its  main 
subsidiary,  Macdonald  &  Company.  As  distinct 
brands, Prime Insight and Prime Energy serve the 
data  analysis  &  customer  insight  and  renewable 
energy & sustainability sectors respectively. 

Our  employees  are  vital  to  the  continued  success 
of the business and we invest heavily in them. As 
such, we take time to find and train the best talent 
that  shares  our  ambition  -  to  be  the  best,  not 
simply the biggest. In pursuit of this objective, the 
Group  made  several  strategic  hires  in  2016  and 
conducted successful graduate hiring programme.  

The  business  is  organised  into  teams  of  specialist 
consultants, each managed by a team leader who is 
responsible  for  performance  within  the  operating 
framework  approved  by  the  Board.  The  Group 
operates  a  policy  of  open  communication  in  the 
belief that its employees are best placed to suggest 
operational improvements and emergent strategies 
that will increase earnings. 

The Group is committed to managing its talent on 
merit  alone  and  provides  equal  opportunities  for 
all current and future employees. It gives full and 
fair  consideration  to  applications  for  employment 
from  disabled  persons,  where  a  disabled  person 
may adequately carry out the requirements of any 
position  within  the  physical  constraints  of  the 
Company’s offices. 

The  Group  has  two  locations  in  the  U.K.,  the 
London  head  office  and  Manchester.  It  has  fully 
staffed  offices  in  Hong  Kong  (established  in 
2007),  in  Dubai  (established  in  2008),  Singapore 
(established  in  2012),  and  a  franchise  in  South 
Africa (established in 2008). 

Both  Group  Revenue  and  NFI  were  up  in  2016 
which  in  turn  delivered  an  increased  operating 
profit of £2.15m (2015: £1.44m). 

3 

seekers’  expectations 

The U.K. had a good year overall, although in the 
third  quarter  our  clients’  confidence  stalled  while 
remained  bullish. 
job 
Performance  in  the  U.K.  was  driven  by  increased 
NFI  from  our  Technical  and  Contract  teams  as 
well  as  a  notable  performance  from  our  newly 
established Residential business. 

the  U.K.,  Hong  Kong  proved 

the 
Outside 
‘standout’  performer  and  made 
largest 
contribution to group NFI of all our business units. 

the 

Our  Middle  East  business,  based  in  Dubai,  also 
generated strong fee income, especially in light of 
negative  sentiment  linked  to  the  falling  price  of 
oil. Nevertheless, the Board continues to watch the 
region carefully and sets conservative expectations 
in an uncertain environment.  

Singapore  performed  slightly  below  expectations 
due to staff changes. However, the office finished 
the  year  strongly  and  we  have  confidence  in  the 
staff  structure  of  the  office  going  forward.  Our 
Prime  Insight  team  in  Singapore  has  grown,  with 
the  business  area  showing  signs  of  maturity  and 
we are expecting improved results from it in 2017. 

in 

the 

pursuit 

Cultivating 

of 
strong 

The  Board  remains  steadfast  in  its  pursuit  of 
sustainable  NFI  growth  and  cash  generation.  It 
will  continue  to  maintain  careful  control  on 
increased 
expenditure 
profitability. 
client 
relationships, investing in the best technology and 
employing  the  best  people  are  pillars  of  the 
Group’s  success.  To  this  end,  the  Board  has 
delegated  accountability  for  each  business  area  to 
a  newly  created  Operational  Management  Board, 
which  reports  to  the  Group  Executive  Directors. 
With  slow-moving  global  growth  and  a  world 
economy  increasingly  exposed  to  risk  it  is  more 
important  than  ever  that  we  stay  flexible,  able  to 
serve  our  clients  wherever  demand  may  be,  and 
individual  NFI 
that  we 
performance  against  costs.  Tight  management 
control  of  remuneration  and  expenditure,  together 
with  a  focus  on  improved  productivity  per  head 
and  conversion  ratios,  position  the  Group  to 
prosper. 

closely  monitor 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Strategic Report 

Regional Performance 

UK 

Revenue 
Net fee income (NFI) 
Operating profit 

 Operating profit as % of NFI 

Average number of employees 

2016 
£m 

16.25 
7.77 
1.53 

2015 
£m 

12.96 
6.53 
0.99 

                         19.69%                          15.16% 

84 

79 

The  UK  results  reported  in  2016  compare  well  to 
the performance of 2015. 

Revenue  increased  by  25.39%  to  £16.25m  (2015: 
12.96m)  with  an  increase  in  NFI  of  18.99%  to 
£7.77m (2015: £6.53m) 

Our  Technical,  Architecture  and  Real  Estate 
Finance teams delivered strong NFI growth during 
the  year.  This  together  with  additional  investment 
in  a  new  residential  team  contributed  to  the 
increase in operating profit as a percentage of NFI 
from 15.16% to 19.69%. 

reflected 

Market  conditions  fluctuated  throughout  the  year 
which  was 
improved  NFI 
performance in the first half of the year compared 
to 2015, and accounted for the majority of the NFI 
growth during the year. 

in  an 

NFI from our contract team was 18.60% higher in 
the  second  six  months  which  was  directly  driven 
by  increased  sales  volume  and  better  margins  in 
the current candidate-driven market. 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Strategic Report 

Asia 

Revenue 
Net fee income (NFI) 
Operating profit 

Operating profit as % of NFI 

Average number of employees 

NFI  grew  by  21.40% 
(2015: 
£2.99m).The  region  is  covered  by  our  offices  in 
Hong Kong and Singapore and represents 29.56% 
of Group NFI (2015: 29.26%). 

to  £3.63m 

 Rest of the World 

Revenue 
Net fee income (NFI) 
Operating profit 

Operating profit as % of NFI 

Average number of employees 

2016 
£m 

3.63 
3.63 
0.46 

12.67% 

33 

2015 
£m 

2.99 
2.99 
0.37 

12.37% 

32 

from 

region  has  benefited 

The 
increased 
through  staff  rationalisation  and 
productivity 
maturing business lines. Although the construction 
business in the region reached a ‘plateau’, the team 
now benefits from a better ability to serve markets 
in mainland China and the region. 

2016 
£m 

0.88 
0.88 
0.16 

18.18% 

7 

2015 
£m 

0.70 
0.70 
0.07 

10.00% 

7 

The region is covered by our offices in Dubai and 
South Africa. 

In  Dubai  our  consultant 
team  was  stable 
throughout  the  year  and,  despite  a  backdrop  of 
economic  conditions  affected  by  the  fall  in  oil 
price and regional political instability, we had a  

relatively  strong  year.  With  the  bulk  of  the 
business  focussed  on  the  Middle  East,  the  region 
delivered 26.17% growth in NFI and a conversion 
rate of 18. 18%.  

The  Board  are  positive  as  to  the  future  of  the 
the 
business  but  remain  conservative  as 
prospects in the region for the next twelve months. 

to 

Peter Moore 
Managing Director 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Strategic Report 

Financial Review 

Revenue 

The Group achieved a 24.68% increase in revenue 
to £20.76m (2015: £16.65m). 

Net Fee Income (NFI) 

NFI  comprises 
total  placement  fees  of 
permanent candidates and the margin earned in the 
placement of contract staff. 

the 

Overall  the  Group  delivered  a 20.16%  increase  in 
total  NFI  to  £12.28m  (2015:  £10.22m).  NFI  from 
to 
permanent  business 
£11.15m  (2015:  £9.44m).  Fees  from  our  contract 
business,  which  represents  9.20%  of  total  NFI 
(2015:  7.73%),  increased  to  £1.13  million  from 
£0.79m last year. 

increased  by  18.11% 

international  placements,  which 

NFI  from 
is 
included  in  our  permanent  business,  increased  by 
22.22% to £4.51m (2015: £3.69m). 

Administration Costs 

Administration  costs  for  the  year  increased  by 
15.25% to £10.13m (2015: £8.79m). The increase 
primarily related to higher staff costs, in line with 
fee income growth. 

Profit before Taxation 

Profit  before  taxation  increased  by  50.35%  to 
£2.15m (2015: £1.43m).   

Taxation 

The  taxation  charge  is  £0.46m  on  profit  before 
taxation  of  £2.15m  (from  ordinary  activities) 
which gives an effective tax rate of 21.40% (2015: 
21.53%).  The reasons for the difference from the 
standard  UK  corporation  tax  rate  of  20%  are 
detailed in note 7 of the accounts. 

Earnings per Share 

Basic  earnings  per  share  increased  by  49.14%  to 
13.84p  (2015:  9.28p).  The  diluted  earnings  per 
share,  taking  into  account  existing  share  options, 
increased by 50.06% to 13.52p (2015: 9.01p). 

Dividend 

An  interim  dividend  of  1.75p  (2015:  1.75p)  was 
paid on 27 November 2015 to shareholders on the 
register at close of business on 20 November 2015. 
A  special  dividend  of  4p  (2015:  4.00p)  was  also 

6 

paid on 27 November 2015 to all shareholders on 
the  register  on  20  November  2015.  Both  the 
interim and special second interim dividends were 
approved by the Board on 27 October 2015. 

A second interim dividend of 3.09p (2015: 0.00p) 
was paid on 25 March 2016 to all shareholders on 
the register on 18 March 2016. The second interim 
dividend  was  approved  by  the  Board  on  3  March 
2016. No final dividend is proposed for the current 
year. 

Balance Sheet 

Net assets at 31 March 2016 have slightly reduced 
to £13.42m (2015: £13.47m). 

Trade receivables at the year end, were up on last 
year  at  £2.71m  (2015:  £2.13m)  which  reflects  the 
increased  revenue  for  the  year.  The  credit  period 
taken  by  clients  increased  to  55  days  (2015:  38 
days). 

Treasury Management and Currency Risk 

Approximately  78.27%  of  the  Group’s  revenue  in 
2016 (2015: 77.82%) was denominated in Sterling.  
Consequently  the  Group  has  a  degree  of  currency 
exposure in accounting for overseas operations. 

Currently the Group policy is not to hedge against 
this  exposure  but  it  does  seek  to  minimise  the 
effect by converting into Sterling all cash balances 
in  foreign  currency  that  are  not  required  for  local 
short term working capital needs. 

The  Group  operates  a  centralised 
treasury 
function,  with  no  borrowing  facilities,  and  is 
confident  the  net  cash  within  the  Group  is 
sufficient 
foreseeable 
to  meet  current  and 
liabilities as they fall due.  

Cash Flow and Cash Position 

At  the  start  of  the  year  the  Group  had  cash  of 
£1.01m.  After  net  taxation  payments  of  £0.41m 
(2015:  £0.28m)  cash  generated  from  operations 
was £1.96m (2015: £1.27m). 

During  the  year  the  Group  spent  £0.97m  (2015: 
£0.17m)  on  its  CRM  systems  and  paid  dividends 
to shareholders of £1.95m (2015: £0.59m). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Strategic Report 

Financial Review 

A  final  dividend  for  2015  of  £0.38m  was  paid  in 
June  2015  and  an  interim  dividend  for  2016  of 
£0.70m  as  well  as  a  second  interim  dividend  of 
£0.38m  was  paid  in  November  2015  and  March 
2016 respectively.   

At 31 March 2016 the Group had cash of £0.95m. 

Measurements of performance in 2016 

Whilst the Group considers Net Fee Income (NFI) 
to  be  the  key  indicator  of  the  performance  of  the 
business  there  are  other  measures  which  were 
reported to senior management as follows: 

-  Conversion  ratio  (operating  profit  divided  by 
NFI) increased to 17.50% (2015: 13.99%) 
-  Productivity  (NFI  divided  by  total  average 
(2015: 

to  £99.03k 

increased 

headcount) 
£91.25k) 

-  Ratio  of  billing  headcount 

to 
headcount remained at 3.4 (2015: 3.4) 

support 

-  Percentage of NFI paid to staff 63.69% (2015: 

62.47%) 

These  key  performance  indicators  form  the  basis 
for reviewing the progress of the business. 

Principal Risks and Uncertainties 

Risk  management  is  an  important  part  of  the 
management  process  throughout  the  group.    The 
composition  of  the  Board  is  structured  to  give 
balance and expertise when considering the principal 
risks and uncertainties of the Group. 

The  Group’s  strategy  is  designed  to  allow  the 
business  to  grow  without  increasing  risk  beyond  an 
acceptable limit.  The profile of risks fluctuates from 
time  to  time  and,  whilst  the  Group  cannot  eliminate 
risk  altogether,  the  actions  being  taken  to  manage 
and control risks are intended to mitigate the effects 
on the business. According to latest industry surveys 
persistent 
the 
recruitment  profession  and  a  number  of  difficult  to 
predict  challenges  remain  of  concern  for  the  sector. 
The  Board 
risks  and 
uncertainties  facing  the  Group  on  a  regular  basis. 
The  Board’s  approach  is  to  ascertain  the  key  risks 
and  develop  plans  to  reduce  the  potential  effects  of 

slow  growth  continues  across 

the  principal 

reviews 

these  risks  on  the  business.  The  principal  risks 
identified are as follows: 

Dependence on Key People 
The sustainable success of the Group is dependent on 
the continued service of senior management and key 
people.  The  loss  of  the  services  of  the  senior 
management  and  other  key  people  could  have  a 
material  effect  on  the  business.  To  address  this,  the 
Group  has  put 
talent 
acquisition  function  and  invested  in  management 
information  systems, 
training  and  development 
programmes,  competitive  pay  structures  and  long 
term  remuneration  plans,  the  aim  of  which  is  to 
retain  the  key  employees.  The  Group  is  fortunate  to 
have  the  loyalty  of  the  senior  management  team 
which  allows  the  business  to  progress,  even  in 
uncertain markets.  

to  place  an 

internal 

in 

For  succession  planning,  and  to  facilitate  corporate 
management an Operational Management Board has 
been  established  which  has  the  responsibilities  for 
setting and delivering the performance of the Group 
and proposing where the business should be focused 
operationally. 

Competitors 
The  Group’s  focus  is  on  specialist,  niche  sectors 
where clients need expert knowledge and high levels 
of service. We concentrate on markets where there is 
a  shortage  of  supply  of  suitable  candidates  and 
opportunities  to  build  strong  and  fruitful  long-term 
relationships with clients. The Directors believe that 
the  Group  is  well  positioned  in  its  chosen  markets.  
Whilst  the  Group  seeks  to  continue  to  improve  its 
competitive  positions,  the  actions  of  current,  or 
indeed  potential,  competitors  may  adversely  affect 
the Group’s business. 

Strength of Property Markets 
The  market  for  built  environment  recruitment 
services,  from  which  the  Group  obtains  the  major 
part  of  its  revenue,  is  expected  to  be  unpredictable. 
Our  contract  business  remains  focused  in  the  public 
sector and has strengthened its position in the private 
sector. However speculations in the property market 
could  have  material  adverse  effect  on  profitability 
and  cash  flows  of  the  business.  The  Group  is  using 
business  models  that  evolve  to  operate  in  more 
innovative ways. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Strategic report 

Financial Review 

The  Group  seeks  to  maximise  this  potential  by 
understanding  its  position  in  the  market,  which  will 
ultimately  help  turn  further  challenges  into  potential 
opportunities. 

Macro economic factors 
Persistent  slow  growth  in  the  global  economy  has 
effects  that  trigger  reduced  output,  and  with  it, 
investment.  A  return  of  financial 
demand  and 
turmoil,  impairing  confidence  globally  in  the  next 
twelve  months  could  hamper  job  creation  in  our 
business  areas.  The  Board  sees  opportunities  for 
development  and  will  continue  to  invest  in  areas 
where growth can be delivered at acceptable levels of 
profitability, increasing cash generation and growing 
Group 
is  geographically 
diversified,  spanning  over  different  countries  which 
reduces the reliance on the success of any particular 
market. 

revenue.  The  Group 

Regulatory position 
The  increase  in  regulatory  scrutiny  and  demands  on 
compliance  are  having  an  effect  on  hiring.    The 
is  aware  of  continuing  challenges  as 
Group 
remains 
evolves, 
procurement 
committed  to  being  fully  compliant  in  each  of  the 
regions  in  which  it  operates.  In  order  to  reduce  the 
legal  and  compliance  risks,  fee  earners  and  support 
staff receive regular training and updates on changes 
in legal and compliance requirements. 

practice 

but 

Information Technology 
The Group is highly dependent on certain technology 
systems and the infrastructure on which they operate 
in order to maintain its client and candidate database. 
These systems rely on specific suppliers who provide 
the  technology  infrastructure  and  disaster  recovery 
solutions.  The  performance  of  these  suppliers  is 
continually monitored to ensure that the services are 
available and maintained. The Group is aware of the 
increasing  potential  challenges  to  data  integrity  and 
security  from  both  internal  and  external  sources. 
infrastructure  are 
Therefore, 
regularly 
ensure 
to 
appropriate  provision  of  functionality  and  resilience 
to support the business as it develops. The Group has 
appointed  a  senior  operational  manager  to  take  
specific  responsibility  for  the  evaluation  of  its 
Information  Technology  systems  to  ensure  that 
appropriate  and 
taken, 
reasonable 
particularly in respect of cyber-related threats. 

the  systems  and 
reviewed 

and  upgraded 

steps  are 

8 

of 

(2015: 

revenue 

22.16%) 

Foreign Exchange Risk 
The  Group’s  international  operations  account  for 
21.71% 
and 
approximately  19.85%  of  the  Group’s  assets  (2015: 
15.06%).  Consequently  the  Group  has  a  degree  of 
translation  exposure  in  accounting  for  overseas 
operations  and  expects  this  to  increase  in  line  with 
the  growth  of 
the  United 
Kingdom.  Currently,  the  Group’s  policy  is  not  to 
hedge  against  this  exposure.    However,  the  Group 
seeks  to  minimise  this  exposure  by  converting  into 
sterling  all  cash  balances  received 
in  foreign 
currency  that  are  not  required  for  local  short  term 
working  capital  needs.  The  Group  will  continue  to 
monitor its policies in this area. 

the  Group  outside 

Treasury Policies, Liquidity and Financial Risk 
Surplus funds are held to support short term working 
capital  requirements.  These  funds  are 
invested 
through  the  use  of  short  term  and  period  deposits, 
with  a  policy  of  maximising  fixed  interest  returns, 
whilst  providing  the  flexibility  required  to  fund  on-
going  operations  and  to  invest  cash  safely  and 
profitably.  It  is  not  a  Group  policy  to  invest  in 
financial derivatives. 

Although  the  financial  risks  to  which  the  Group  is 
exposed are currently considered to be minor, future 
interest  rate,  liquidity  and  foreign  currency  risks 
could  arise.  An  additional  bout  of  exchange  rate 
depreciations  in  emerging  market  economies  and  a 
sharp decline  in  capital  inflows could  force  a  rapid 
compression  of  domestic  demand.  The  Board  will 
continually  review  its  existing  policies  and  make 
changes as required to limit the financial risks of the 
business.  

Credit Risk Management 
Credit  risk  refers  to  the  risk  that  a  counterparty  will 
default  on  its  contractual  obligations  resulting  in 
financial loss to the Group. The principal credit risk 
arises  from  the  Group’s  trade  receivables.  Client 
credit  terms  and  cash  collections  are  managed 
carefully  and  cash  balances  and  cash  flow  forecast 
are  reviewed  weekly.  Monthly  credit  evaluation  is 
performed  on  the  financial  condition  of  accounts 
receivable  based  on  payment  history  and  third  party 
credit  references  with  appropriate  provisions  being 
made. 

Donka Zaneva-Todorinski 
Finance Director 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Report of the Directors for the Year Ended 31 March 2016 

The Directors submit their report and the audited Group financial statements of Prime People Plc for the year 
ended 31 March 2016. Prime People Plc is a public listed company, incorporated and domiciled in England 
and its shares are quoted on the AIM Market. 

Substantial Shareholders 

At 22 June 2016, other than the Director’s interests shown in the Directors’ remuneration report on page 16 
the  Company  had  been  notified  of  the  following  interests  disclosed  under  the  Disclosure  and  Transparency 
Rules:  

Number of 10p 
ordinary  shares 

Percent of issued 
share capital  
% 

Peter Hearn 

719,500 

              5.90 

The  mid  market  quotation  of  the  Company’s  shares  at  close  of  business  on  31  March  2016  was  96.5p.  The 
highest and lowest mid market quotations in the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 were 134p and 
92.5p.  

Going concern 

The Group has two revenue streams permanent and temporary recruiting.  The Group has experienced 24.68% 
revenue growth in 2016 which has been driven by growth in both the permanent and contract businesses. The 
permanent business, which is largely cash generative, has provided the working capital to support the growth 
in the contract side. 

The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval 
of  the  financial  statements.  After  reviewing  these  forecasts  and  having  made  appropriate  enquiries,  the 
Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue operating for the 
foreseeable  future.  The  Group  continues  to  adopt  the  going  concern  basis  when  preparing  the  financial 
statements. 

Environmental Policy 

The  Group  recognises  its  responsibilities  for  the  environment  and  gives  due  consideration  to  the  possible 
effects of its activities on the environment.  As such, our environmental impact comes from the running of our 
business generating carbon emissions through the consumption of gas and electricity, transport activities and 
commuting,  as  well  as  office  based  waste  such  as  paper  and  toners.    We  do  not  consider  that  the  Group’s 
activities have a major effect on the environment.  However, it is the Group’s aim to reduce the environmental 
impact  of  its  activities  and  to  operate  in  an  environmentally  responsible  manner.    We  are,  therefore, 
committed to the following principles to ensure the business operates in an environmentally sensitive manner: 

• 
• 
• 

Encouraging the re-use and re-cycling of products and waste from our offices 
Ensuring efficient use of materials and energy 
Purchasing environmentally friendly materials where appropriate 

Political Donations 

The Group made no political donations during the year (2015: Nil). 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Report of the Directors for the Year Ended 31 March 2016 

Workplace Pensions 

In  line  with  the  law  on  workplace  pensions  the  Group  continues  to  operate  a  defined  contribution  plan  and 
automatically enrols certain UK employees into NEST pension scheme. 

In  2016  the  Group  provided  contribution  to  defined  pension  schemes  on  behalf  of  two  of  its  executive 
directors, details of which are set out in the Remuneration Report on page 17. 

Capital Structure 

Details of the allotted and issued share capital are shown in note 17.  The Company has one class of ordinary 
shares which carry no right to fixed income and which represents 100% of the total issued nominal value of 
all share capital.  Each share carries the right to one vote at general meetings of the company. 

Details of employee share schemes are set out in note 17. 

Annual General Meeting (“AGM”)  

The AGM will be held on Wednesday 20 July 2016 at 11.00am at 2 Harewood Place, London, W1S 1BX.  All 
shareholders  are  encouraged  to  attend.  The  resolutions  to  be  put  forward  to  the  AGM  are  detailed  in  the 
Notice of AGM, which is being circulated separately to all shareholders. 

Authority to purchase own shares 

The  Directors  were  given  authority  at  last  year’s  AGM  to  purchase  through  the  market,  up  to  10%  of  the 
Company’s issued share capital, subject to certain restrictions on price. A request for renewal of the authority 
is included in the resolutions for this year’s AGM.   

During the year the company purchased nil shares (2015: 67,210 shares). 

Statement as to disclosure of information to auditors 

The Directors, who were in office on the date of approval of these financial statements have confirmed that, as 
far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditors are unaware.  The Directors 
have  confirmed  that  they  have  taken  appropriate  steps  to  make  themselves  aware  of  any  relevant  audit 
information and to establish that it has been communicated to the auditors. 

Auditor 

Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP has expressed its willingness to continue in office and a resolution to re-appoint 
the firm as Auditor and authorising the Directors to set their remuneration will be proposed at the forthcoming 
Annual General Meeting. 

By order of the Board 

Donka Zaneva- Todorinski 
Finance Director 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  preparing  the  Strategic  Report,  the  Directors'  Report,  the  Directors' 
Remuneration Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the 
Directors  have  elected  to  prepare  the  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  International  Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union (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 and profit or loss of the Company and Group for that period. In 
preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to: 

• 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

•  make judgments 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  a  going  concern  basis  unless  it  is  inappropriate  to  presume  that  the 

Group and Company will continue in business. 

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

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  the  maintenance  and  integrity  of  the  corporate  and  financial  information 
included on the Company’s website; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve the consideration of 
these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred 
in  the  accounts  since  they  were  initially  presented  on  the  website.  Legislation  in  the  United  Kingdom 
governing  the  preparation  and  dissemination  of  financial  statements  may  differ  from  legislation  in  other 
jurisdictions. 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Corporate Governance  

Statement by the Directors on Corporate Governance 

The Board of the Company is committed to achieving high standards of corporate governance, professional 
integrity  and  ethics.  The  Board  gives  due  regard  to  the  ‘UK  Corporate  Governance  Code’  published  by  the 
Financial Reporting Council and the Quoted Alliance (QCA) Corporate Governance Code for small and Mid-
Size  Quoted  Companies.  As  a  company  with  its  securities  admitted  to  trading  on  AIM,  the  company  is  not 
required  to  follow  the  UK  Corporate  Governance  Code,  however,  it  does  so  as  far  as  is    practicable  and 
appropriate for the nature and size of the Group, as further set out below. 

A statement of the Directors’ responsibilities in respect of the financial statements is set out on page 11.  

The Board has established two committees being the Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee each 
of which operates with defined terms of reference. 

  Membership of these committees as at the date of this report, the number of meetings held in 2016 and the 

attendance record are summarised in the table below: 

Directors 

Board 

Audit 
Committee 

Remuneration 
Committee 

Robert Macdonald – Executive Chairman 

6/6 (Chair) 

Peter Moore – Managing Director  

Donka Zaneva-Todorinski – Finance Director  

6/6 

4/6 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

Chris Heayberd – Non-Executive Director 

                  6/6 

                       N 

                       N 

John Lewis – Non-Executive Director  

Simon Murphy – Non-Executive Director  

6/6 

5/6 

1/1 

1/1 (Chair) 

1/1(Chair) 

1/1 

Below is a brief description of the role of the Board and its Committees, followed by a statement regarding 
the Group’s system of internal controls. 

The Board and its Operation 

The  Board  of  Prime  People  Plc  is  the  body  responsible  for  corporate  governance,  establishing  policies  and 
objectives, and reviewing the management of the Group’s resources. 

The  Board  consists  of  an  executive  Chairman,  Robert  Macdonald,  two  other  Executive  Directors  and  three 
Non-Executive Directors.  

Chris  Heayberd  retired  from  his  role  as  Finance  Director  on  27  October  2015  and  continued  to  serve  the 
Company  as  a  Non-Executive  Director.  Mrs  Donka  Zaneva-Todorinski  was  appointed  as  Finance  Director 
and member of the Board with effect of 27 October 2015 in succession to Mr Heayberd. 

The Non-Executive Directors are John Lewis, Simon Murphy and Chris Heayberd. They receive a fixed fee 
for their services and their interests in the shares of the Company are set out in the Remuneration Report on 
page 17. 

Biographical details for all the Directors are shown on page 57 and 58 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Corporate Governance  

The Board and its Operation (continued) 

The  Board  meets  at  least  five  times  each  year,  or  more  frequently  where  business  needs  require,  and  the 
Directors  receive  monthly  management  accounts  detailing  the  performance  of  the Group.    The  Board  has  a 
general responsibility for overseeing all day to day matters of the Company with specific responsibility for; 
reviewing  trading  performance;  resources  (including  key  appointments);  finding,  setting  and  monitoring 
strategy;  examining  acquisition  opportunities;  and  reporting  to  shareholders.    The  non-executive  Directors 
have a responsibility to ensure the strategies proposed by the executive Directors are fully considered and to 
bring their judgment to bear in this role. 

To  enable  the  Board  to  function  effectively  and Directors  to  discharge  their  responsibilities,  full  and  timely 
access is given to all relevant information.  In the case of Board meetings, this consists of a comprehensive set 
of papers, including monthly business progress reports and discussion documents regarding specific matters. 

Directors are free to, and regularly make further enquiries where they feel it is necessary and they are able to 
take independent professional advice as required at the Company's expense.  This is in addition to the access 
which every Director has to the Company secretary. 

The  Board  considers  itself  to  be  a  "small  board",  and  therefore  has  not  set  up  a  separate  Nomination 
Committee.  Appointments to the Board of both executive and non-executive Directors are based on approval 
by the full Board. 

Any  Director  appointed  during  the  year  is  required,  under  the  provisions  of  the  Company's  Articles  of 
Association,  to  retire  and  seek  reappointment  by  shareholders  at  the  next  Annual  General  Meeting.    The 
Articles also require that one-third of the Directors retire by rotation each year and seek reappointment at the 
Annual General Meeting. 

The Directors have resolved that they will retire at least once every three years even though not required by 
the Company's Articles. 

The  executive  Directors  abstain  from  any  discussion  or  voting  at  full  board  meetings  on  Remuneration 
Committee  recommendations  where  the  recommendations  have  a  direct  bearing  on  their  own  remuneration 
package.   

Remuneration of non-executive Directors is determined by the Board.  Non-executive Directors abstain from 
discussions concerning their own remuneration. 

The Company publishes a full annual report and financial statements which are available on the Prime People 
website, to shareholders on request and to other parties who have an interest in the Group's performance. 

All shareholders have the opportunity to put questions at the Company's Annual General Meeting. 

Audit Committee 

  The  Audit  Committee  comprises  the  two  non-executive  Directors  of  the  Company  and  is  chaired  by  Simon 
Murphy.  During  the  year  the  committee  met  once  which  was  considered  sufficient  by  both  committee 
members to deal with matters referred to it in the year.  By invitation, the meetings are also attended by the 
Finance Director. 

  The  Audit  Committee’s  principal  tasks  are  to  ensure  the  integrity  of  the  Company’s  Financial  Reporting 
process,  review  the  effectiveness  of  the  Group’s  internal  controls  including  risk  management,  review  the 
scope  of  the  work  of  the  external  Auditor  and  their  independence,  consider  issues  raised  by  the  external 
Auditor, review audit effectiveness and review the half-yearly and annual accounts focusing in particular on 
accounting policies and compliance and on areas of management judgement and estimates.  

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Corporate Governance  

Remuneration Committee 

The  Remuneration  Committee  comprise  the  two  non-executive  Directors  of  the Company  and  is  chaired  by 
John Lewis.  

The committee reviews the Group policy on the Executive Directors’ remuneration and terms of employment; 
makes recommendations on this; and also approves the provision of policies for the incentivisation of senior 
employees, including share schemes. 

The principal terms of reference of the committee are set out in the Remuneration Report on pages 16 to 18.  
The  report  also  contains  full  details  of  Directors'  remuneration  and  a  statement  of  the  Company's 
remuneration policy.  The committee meets when required to consider all aspects of the executive Directors' 
remuneration, drawing on outside advice as necessary. 

Internal Controls 

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  the  Group’s  system  of  internal  control  and  for  reviewing  its  effectiveness 
which, by its nature, can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or 
loss. 

  When  undertaking  their  review  the  Directors  have  considered  all  material  controls  including  operational, 

compliance and risk management, as well as financial. 

The Board has assessed the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control systems for the period 1 April 2015 
to the date of approval of the financial statements and believes it has the procedures in place to safeguard the 
Group’s assets and to ensure the reliability of information used within the business and for publication. 

Key elements of the system of internal control are as follows: 

Group Organisation 
The Board of Directors meets up to six times a year and more frequently when required focusing mainly on 
strategic issues, operational and financial performance. The Directors have in place an organisational structure 
with clearly defined levels of responsibility and delegation of authority. 

The Operational Management Board meets quarterly. It acts as a conduit between the Board of Directors and 
the  Group  subsidiaries  by  providing  information,  advice  and  guidance  to  all  staff.  It  has  responsibilities  for 
setting up, monitoring and control of the business operations globally.  
Annual Business Plan 
The Group has a comprehensive budgeting system with an annual budget approved by the Board. 

Monthly Forecasting 
The Group prepares monthly fee income forecasts by individual businesses which are compared to budget. 

Financial Reporting 
Detailed monthly reports are produced showing a comparison of results against budget, forecast and the prior 
year  with  performance  monitoring  and  explanations  provided  for  significant  variances.  Any  significant 
adverse variances are examined and remedial action taken where necessary. 

Capital Expenditure 
Capital expenditure requests are reviewed by the Board. Appropriate due diligence work will be carried out if 
a business is to be acquired. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Corporate Governance  

Internal Controls (continued) 

Levels of authority 

There are clear levels of authority, delegation and management structure. 

Risk Management 

The  Directors  and  operating  Company  management  have  a  clear  responsibility  for  identifying  risks  facing 
each of the businesses and for putting in place procedures to mitigate and monitor risks. Risks are assessed 
during the annual budget process, which is monitored by the Board, and the ongoing Group strategy process. 

  Whistleblowing Policy 

  The  Company  is  committed  to  maintaining  the  highest  ethical  standards  and  the  personal  and  professional 
integrity  of  its  employees,  suppliers,  contractors  and  consultants.  It  encourages  all  individuals  to  raise  any 
concerns that they may have about the conduct of others in the business or the way in which the business is 
run. The aim of the policy is to ensure that, as far as is possible, our employees are able to tell us about any 
wrong doing at work which they believe has occurred or is likely to occur. 

Dialogue with shareholders 

Many of those who continue to hold shares in the Company are, or have been, employed within the business.  
The  original  owners  of  Macdonald  &  Company  Group  still  hold  considerable  share  interests  and  retain  a 
strong interest in the company’s success and reputation. 

Robert Macdonald 
Chairman 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Remuneration Report 

The role of the Remuneration Committee 

The  Remuneration  Committee  met  once  this  year  and  comprises  John  Lewis  and  Simon  Murphy.  The 
Committee is chaired by John Lewis.  

The purpose of the Remuneration Committee is to review, on behalf of the Board, the remuneration policy for 
the  Chairman,  Executive  Directors  and  other  Senior  Executives  and  to  determine  the  level  of  remuneration, 
incentives  and  other  benefits,  compensation  payments  and  terms  of  employment  of  the  Executive  Directors 
and other Senior Executives. It seeks to provide a remuneration structure that strongly aligns the interests of 
management with those of shareholders. 

Remuneration Policy 

The main aim of the Committee is to attract, retain and motivate high calibre individuals with a compensation 
comprising of basic salary, incentives and rewards which are linked to the overall performance of the Group 
and which are comparable to pay levels in companies of similar size and in similar business sectors. 

Directors’ Service Contracts 

The Executive Chairman and Managing Director have service contracts which contain a notice period of one 
year  which  are  terminable  by  either  party  giving  one  years  notice.  The  service  contracts  also  contain 
restrictive covenants preventing them from competing with the Group for one year following the termination 
of  employment  and  preventing  both  Directors  from  soliciting  key  employees,  clients  and  candidates  of  the 
employing  Group  and  Group  companies  for  12  months  following  termination  of  employment.  There  are  no 
provisions  for  liquidated  damages  on  the  early  termination  of  any  of  the  Directors’  service  contracts,  nor 
provisions for mitigating damages. 

The Finance Director has a service contract which contains a notice period of 3 months which is terminable 
by either party giving 3 months notice. The service contract also contains restrictive covenants preventing her 
from  competing  with  the  Group  for  3  months  following  the  termination  of  employment  and  preventing  her 
from  soliciting  key  employees,  clients  and  candidates  of  the  employing  Group  and  Group  companies  for  3 
months  following  termination  of  employment.  There  are  no  provisions  for  liquidated  damages  on  the  early 
termination of any of the Directors’ service contracts, nor provisions for mitigating damages. 

Non-Executive Directors’ Remuneration and Terms of Services 

All  Non-Executive  Directors  have  letters  of  appointment  which  entitle  either  party  to  give  three  months 
notice.  The  remuneration  of  the  Non-Executive  Directors  is  determined  by  the  Board.  The    Non-Executive 
Directors do not receive any pension or other benefits, other than out of pocket expenses, from the Group, nor 
do they participate in any bonus schemes. 

The remuneration agreed by the Committee for the Executive Directors contains some or all of the following 
elements:  a  base  salary  and  benefits,  defined  pension  contributions,  an  annual  bonus  reflecting  Group  and 
individual performance and share options. 

Base Salary and Benefits  

The  Committee  establishes  salaries  and  benefits  by  reference  to  those  prevailing  in  the  employment market 
generally for Executive Directors of companies of comparable status and market value. Reviews of such base 
salary and benefits are conducted annually by the committee. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Remuneration Report 

Emoluments of Directors  

The  aggregate  emoluments  of  Directors  who  served  during  the  year  are  shown  in  the  table  below. 
Emoluments include management salaries, pension contributions, fees as Directors and benefits.  Emoluments 
shown are in respect of each Director's period in office during the year as a Board member of Prime People 
Plc, and include emoluments from the Company and its subsidiary undertakings. 

Notes 

Salaries 
and fees 

Benefits 

Pension 

2016 
Total  

£ 

£ 

£ 

£ 

2015 
Total 

£ 

Executive Chairman 

Robert Macdonald 

3 

114,391 

4,620 

21,000 

140,011 

118,635 

Executive Directors 

Peter  Moore  

1 & 3 

183,671 

10,344 

35,000 

229,015 

230,096 

Chris  Heayberd 

Donka Zaneva-
Todorinski 

Non-Executive Directors 

John Lewis 

Simon Murphy 

Chris Heayberd 

4 

5 

23,217 

3,010 

33,333 

284 

19,435 

19,435 

4 

14,038 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

26,227 

75,707 

33,617 

- 

19,435 

19,389 

19,435 

58,739 

14,038 

- 

407,520 

18,258 

56,000 

481,778 

502,566 

Notes to the emoluments:  

1.  Peter Moore is the highest paid Director, 
2.  Benefits include subscriptions, medical and travel allowance, 
3.  Executive Directors’ Pension Contribution to two executive directors was approved by the Board on 27 May 2015, 
4.  Chris Heayberd retired as Finance Director and moved to a Non-Executive role on 27 October 2015. The fees noted 

above cover the period to 1 November 2015 to 31 March 2016, 

5.  Donka Zaneva-Todorinski was appointed Finance Director and member of the Board on 27 October 2015. The fees 

shown in 2016 reflect the amount paid to her from the date of appointment to 31 March 2016. 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Remuneration Report 

Directors’ interests in shares 

Directors’ beneficial interest in the shares of the Company at 31 March 2016 was as follows: 

Ordinary  
shares of 10p  
each held at  
31 March  
2016 

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital at  
31 March  
2016 

Ordinary 
shares of 10p 
each held at 
31 March 
2015 

Percentage of  
issued share  
capital at  
31 March  
2015 

2,780,000 
2,907,721 
1,250 
1,019,000 
330,000 
24,000 

22.62% 
23.66% 
0.01% 
8.29% 
2.70% 
0.20% 

2,780,000 
2,907,721 
- 
1,088,500 
330,000 
24,000 

                        22.80%  
                        23.85% 
                          0.00% 
                          8.93% 
                          2.70% 
                          0.20% 

Robert Macdonald 
Peter  Moore  
Donka Zaneva-Todorinski 
John Lewis 
Simon Murphy 
Chris Heayberd 

Share option schemes 

As  at  31  March  2016  Directors’  options  on  ordinary  shares  of  10p  each  granted  under  the  Prime  People 
Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme, were as follows: 

Director 

Year of 
grant 

Exercise 
price 

Granted 

Number of 
options  
31 March 
2015 

Cancelled  Exercised   Number of  
options 
31 March 
2016 

Simon Murphy 
Donka Zaneva-
Todorinski 

2005/6 

57.7p 

84,234 

2013/14 
2014/15 

0.00p 
10.00p 

2,500 
30,000 

- 

- 
- 

2015/16 

58.00p 

- 

10,000 

(84,234) 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

(1,250) 
- 

- 

1,250 
30,000 

10,000 

Directors’ Insurance 

Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance is provided at the cost of the Group for all Directors and Officers. 

Annual Resolution 

Shareholders  will  be  given  the  opportunity  to  approve  the  Remuneration  report  at  the  Annual  General 
Meeting. 

John Lewis 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Independent Auditor’s Report  

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Prime People Plc 

We  have  audited  the  financial  statements  of  Prime  People  Plc  for  the  year  ended  31  March  2016  which 
comprise  Group  and  Parent  Company  Statements  of  Financial  Position,  the  Group  Statement  of 
Comprehensive  Income,  the  Group  and  Company  Cash  Flow  Statements,  the  Group  and  Parent  Company 
Statements of Changes in Equity and the related notes. 

The  financial  reporting  framework  that  has  been  applied  in  their  preparation  is  applicable  law  and 
International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRSs)  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union  and,  as  regards  the 
parent  Company  financial  statements,  as  applied  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  Companies  Act 
2006. 

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. 

Respective responsibilities of Directors and Auditor 

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities, the Directors are responsible for the 
preparation  of  the  financial  statements  and  for  being  satisfied  that  they  give  a  true  and  fair  view.  Our 
responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law 
and  International  Standards  on  Auditing  (UK  and  Ireland).  Those  standards  require  us  to  comply  with  the 
Auditing Practices Board's Ethical Standards for Auditors. 

Scope of the audit of the Financial Statements 

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient 
to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused 
by  fraud  or  error.  This  includes  an  assessment  of:  whether  the  accounting  policies  are  appropriate  to  the 
Company's circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of 
significant  accounting  estimates  made  by  the  Directors;  and  the  overall  presentation  of  the  financial 
statements. 

In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ 
Report, Chairman’s Statement, Financial Review, Corporate Governance and Remuneration Report to identify 
material  inconsistencies  with  the  audited  financial  statements  and  to  identify  any  information  that  is 
apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by us in the 
course of performing the audit. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies 
we consider the implications for our report.  

19 

 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Independent Auditor’s Report (continued) 

Opinion on Financial Statements 

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 2016 and of the Group‘s and parent Company’s profit for the year 
then ended; 

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;  

• 

• 

the  parent  Company  financial  statements  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRSs  as 
adopted by the European Union as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 
2006; and 

the  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  Companies 
Act 2006. 

Opinion on other Matter Prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 

In our opinion 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.  

Matters on which we are Required to Report by Exception 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to 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. 

Stacy Eden 
Senior Statutory Auditor 
For and on behalf of 
Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP 
Statutory Auditor 
St Bride’s House 
10 Salisbury Square 
London 
EC4Y 8EH 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income  
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

Note 

                                                         2016 
£’000 

Revenue 
Cost of sales 

2, 3 

 20,755 
(8,475) 

2015 
£’000 

16,647 
(6,425) 

Net fee income 
Administrative expenses 

Operating profit 

Finance income 

Profit before taxation 

Income tax expense 

Profit for the year 

Other comprehensive income 
Items that will or may be reclassified 
to profit or loss: 

Exchange profit/(loss) on translating 
foreign operations 

Other Comprehensive income 
for the year, net of tax 

Total comprehensive income for the 
year 

Attributable to: 

Equity shareholders of the parent 

Earnings per share 
Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 

4 

7 

9 

The above results relate to continuing operations 

21 

12,280 
(10,131) 

10,222 
(8,792) 

2,149 

1,430 

- 

6 

2,149 

1,436 

(459) 

(310) 

1,690 

1,126 

21 

21 

130 

130 

1,711 

1,256 

1,711 

1,256 

13.84p 
13.52p 

9.28p 
9.01p 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity  
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

Called 
up 
share 
capital 
£’000 

Capital 
Redemp- 
tion 
reserve 
£’000 

Treasury 
shares 

Share 
premium 
account 

Merger 
reserve 

Share 
option 
reserve 

Trans- 
lation 
reserve 

Retained 
Earnings 

Total 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

  1,207 

- 

- 

- 

- 

12 

- 

- 

- 

- 

9 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(143) 

7,109 

173 

120 

312 

5,636 

  14,423 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

42 

(62) 

142 

- 

- 

- 

(1,800) 

- 

48 

13 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

92 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1,126 

1,126 

130 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

130 

(1,800) 

38 

130 

- 

- 

- 

(142) 

60 

55 

(62) 

- 

(588) 

(588) 

  1,219 

9 

(21) 

5,370 

173 

212 

442 

6,070 

  13,474 

- 

- 

- 

10 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

88 

- 

- 

- 

1,690 

1,690 

21                             

- 

21 

- 

- 

- 

78 

- 

166 

11 

(1,946) 

(1,946) 

  1,229 

9 

(21) 

5,371 

173 

300 

463 

5,892 

  13,416 

At 1 April 
2014 

Profit for the 
year  
Other 
comprehensive 
income 

Capital 
reduction 

Adjustment  in 
respect of 
share schemes 

Issues of 
ordinary shares 

Shares issued 
from treasury 

Shares 
purchased for 
treasury 

Adjustment on 
share disposal 

Dividend 

At 31 March 
2015 

Profit for the 
year 
Other 
comprehensive 
income 

Adjustment  in 
respect of 
share schemes 

Issues of 
ordinary shares 

Dividend 

At 31 March 
2016 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position  
As at 31 March 2016 

Assets 
Non – current assets 
  Goodwill 
  Property, plant and equipment 

Current assets 
  Trade and other receivables 
  Cash at bank and in hand 

Total assets 

Liabilities 
Current liabilities 

  Trade and other payables 
  Current tax liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 
    Deferred tax liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

2016 
£’000 

9,769 
229 

9,998 

4,939 
953 

5,892 

2015 
£’000 

9,769 
316 

10,085 

4,538 
1,009 

5,547 

15,890 

15,632 

2,216 
249 

2,465 

9 

9 

1,958 
184 

2,142 

16 

16 

2,474 

2,158 

13,416 

13,474 

Note 

11 
10 

13 
21 

15 

16 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position  
As at 31 March 2016  

Note 

2016 
       £’000 

Capital and reserves attributable to the  
Company’s equity holders 
Called up share capital 
Capital redemption reserve fund 
Treasury shares 
Share premium account 
Merger reserve 
Share option reserve 
Translation reserve 
Retained earnings 

17 
18 
18 
18 
18 
18 
18 
18 

1,229 
9 
(21) 
5,371 
173 
300 
463 
5,892 

2015 
£’000 

1,219 
9 
(21) 
5,370 
173 
212 
442 
6,070 

Total equity 

13,416 

                    13,474 

The financial statements on pages 21 to 55 were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue 
on 22 June 2016 and are signed on its behalf by: 

R J G Macdonald 

D Zaneva-Todorinski 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Company Statement of Financial Position  
As at 31 March 2016 

Assets 
Non-current assets 

Investment in subsidiaries 

  Deferred tax asset 

Current assets 
  Trade and other receivables 
  Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets 

Liabilities 
Current liabilities 
  Other payables 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves attributable to the  
Company’s equity holders 
  Called up share capital 
  Capital redemption reserve fund 
  Treasury shares 
  Share premium account 
  Merger reserve 
  Share option reserve 
  Retained earnings 

Note 

12 
16 

13 
21 

15 

17 
18 
18 
18 
18 
18 
18 

2016 
£’000 

11,176 
- 

11,176 

14 
633 

647 

2015 
£’000 

10,876 
1 

10,877 

499 
446 

945 

11,823 

11,822 

959 

959 

213 

213 

10,864 

11,609 

1,229 
9 
(21)   

5,371 
173 
300 
3,803 

1,219 
9 
(21) 
5,370 
173 
15 
4,844 

Total equity 

10,864 

11,609 

The financial statements of Prime People Plc, Company Number 1729887 were approved by the Board and 
authorised for issue on 22 June 2016 and are signed on its behalf by: 

R J G Macdonald  

D Zaneva-Todorinski 

25 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Company Statement of Changes in Equity  
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

Company 

Called 
up 
share 
capital 
£’000 

Capital 
Redemp- 
tion 
reserve 
£’000 

Treasury 
shares 

Share 
premium 
account 

Merger 
reserve 

Share 
option 
reserve 

Retained 
earnings 

Total 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

At 1 April 2014 

1,207 

9 

(143) 

7,109 

173 

32 

5,018 

  13,405 

Total 
comprehensive 
income for the 
year 

Issue of 
ordinary shares  

Capital 
reduction 

Adjustment in 
respect of share 
options 

Shares issued 
from treasury 

Shares 
purchased for 
treasury 
Adjustment on 
share disposal 

Dividend 

At 31 March 
2015 

Total 
comprehensive 
income for the 
year 

Issue of 
ordinary shares  

Adjustment in 
respect of share 
options 
Investment in 
Subsidiaries 

Dividend 

At 31 March 
2016 

- 

12 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1,219 

- 

10 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

9 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

42 

- 

- 

- 

(62) 

142 

- 

- 

48 

(1,800) 

- 

13 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

539 

- 

- 

539 

102 

(1,800) 

(17) 

17 

- 

13 

(62) 

- 

- 

        (142) 

- 

        (588) 

(588) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(21)   

5,370 

173 

15 

4,844 

  11,609 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

890 

890 

- 

11 

(15) 

15 

- 

        300 

       300 

- 

(1,946) 

(1,946) 

1,229 

9 

(21) 

5,371 

173 

300 

3,803 

10,864 

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Group and Company Cash Flow Statement 
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

Cash generated from (used 
in) underlying operations 

Note 

20 

Group 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

Company 
2016 
£’000 

2,369 

685 

1,278 

Income tax paid 

(411)   

(276)   

(6)   

2015 
£’000 

(436) 

(10) 

Net cash from/(used by) 
operating activities 

Cash flows from investing 
activities 
Net interest received 
Net purchase of property, 
plant and equipment 
Dividend received 

Net cash (used in)/from 
investing activities  

Cash flows from financing 
activities  
Capital reduction 
Issue of ordinary share capital 
Shares issued from treasury 
Shares purchased for treasury 
Dividend paid to shareholders 

Net cash used in financing 
activities  

Net (decrease)/ increase in 
cash and cash equivalents  
Cash and cash equivalents at 
beginning of the year 

Effect of foreign exchange 
rate changes 

Cash and cash equivalents at 
the end of the year 

1,958 

409 

1,272 

(446) 

- 

(97) 
- 

6 

(156) 
- 

- 

- 
850 

6 

- 
550 

(97) 

(150) 

850 

556 

- 
11 
- 
- 

(1,946)   

(1,800)   
72 
42 
(62)   
(588)   

- 
11 
- 
- 

(1,946)   

(1,800) 
72 
42 
(62) 
(588) 

(1,935) 

(2,336) 

(1,935) 

(2,336) 

(74) 

(2,077) 

1,009 

2,962 

18 

130 

187 

446 

 - 

(2,226) 

2,672 

- 

21 

953 

1,009 

633 

446 

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

1   Nature of Operations 

Prime People Plc (‘the Company’) and its subsidiaries (together ‘the Group’) is an international recruitment 
services organisation with offices in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region from 
which  it  serves  an  international  client  base.  The  Group  offers  both  permanent  and  contract  specialist 
recruitment consultancy for large and medium sized organisations.  

The  Company  is  a  public  limited  Company  which  is  quoted  as  an  AIM  Company  and  is  incorporated  and 
domiciled in the UK. The address of the registered office and the principal place of business is 2 Harewood 
Place, London W1S 1BX. The registered number of the Company is 1729887. 

2   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 

Basis of Preparation 

The  financial  statements  of  Prime  People  Plc  consolidate  the  results  of  the  Company  and  all  its  subsidiary 
undertakings.  As  permitted  by  Section  408  of  the  Companies  Act  2006,  the  profit  and  loss  account  of  the 
Company has not been included as part of these financial statements. The amount of profit after tax and before 
dividends dealt with in the financial statements of the parent is £890,249 (2015: profit £537,595). The financial 
statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. 

The  consolidated  financial  statements  of  Prime  People  Plc  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with 
International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (“IFRS”)  as  endorsed  by  the  European  Union  and  also  comply 
with  IFRIC  interpretations  and  Company  Law  applicable  to  Companies  reporting  under  IFRS.  The 
consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  under  the  historical  cost  convention  modified  as 
necessary so as to include any items at fair value, as required by accounting standards.   

The  consolidated  financial  statements  for  the  year  ended  31  March  2016  (including  comparatives)  are 
presented in GBP ‘000. 

The accounting polices applied by the Group in these consolidated financial statements are the same as those 
applied by the Group in its consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 31 March 2016 and 
are described below.  

International Accounting Standards (IAS/IFRS) and Interpretations in issue but not yet EU approved 

At  the  date  of  authorisation  of  these  financial  statements,  certain  new  standards,  amendments  and 
interpretations to existing standards have been published by the IASB but are not yet effective. These have not 
been adopted early by the Group and the initial assessment indicates that either they will not be relevant or 
will not have a material impact on the Group: 

Standards 
• 
• 
• 
• 

IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Accounts (Issued January 2014, effective date 1 January 2016) 
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Issued May 2014, effective date 1 January 2018) 
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (Issued July 2014, effective date 1 January 2018) 
IFRS 16 Leases (Issued January 2016, effective date 1 January 2019)   

Amendments (Effective date for all amendments listed is 1 January 2016) 

•  Amendments  to  IFRS  10,  IFRS  12  and  IAS  28:  Investment  Entities  –  Applying  the  Consolidation 

Exception (Issued December 2014) 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

2   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) 

International Accounting Standards (IAS/IFRS) and Interpretations in issue but not yet EU approved 
(continued) 

Amendments (Effective date for all amendments listed is 1 January 2017) 

•  Amendments to IAS 12: Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses (Issued January 

2016) 

•  Amendments to IAS 7: Disclosure Initiative (Issued January 2016) 

•  Clarifications to IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Issued April 2016, effective date 

1 January 2018) 

International  Accounting  Standards  (IAS/IFRS)  and  Amendments  (and  EU  adopted)  but  not  yet 
effective 

•  Amendments to IAS 1: Disclosure Initiative (Issued December 2014) 
•  Amendment to IAS 27: Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements (Issued August 2014) 
• 

 Amendments  to  IAS  16  and  IAS  38:  Clarification  of  Acceptable  Methods  of  Depreciation  and 
Amortisation (Issued May 2014) 

•  Amendments  to  IFRS  11:  Accounting  for  Acquisitions  of  Interests  in  Joint  Operations  (Issued  May 

2014) 

•  Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41: Bearer Plants (Issued June 2014) 

The directors do not expect the adoption of the Standards and Interpretations listed above will have a material 
impact on the financial statements of the Group in future periods, except for disclosure of IFRS 15 that may 
have  an  impact  on  revenue  recognition  and  related  disclosures.  Beyond  the  information  above  it  is  not 
practicable  to  provide  a  reasonable  estimate  of  the  impact  of  IFRS  15  until  a  detailed  review  has  been 
completed. 

Consolidation 

Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has the power to govern the financial and operating policies, 
generally  accompanying  a  shareholding  of  more  than  one  half  of  the  voting  rights.  Subsidiaries  are  fully 
consolidated  from  the  date  on  which  control  is  transferred  to  the  Group.  They  are  de-consolidated  from  the 
date that control ceases.  

Business  combinations  are  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, plus costs directly attributable to the acquisition. 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  and  balances  on  transactions  between  Group  companies  are  eliminated  in 
preparing the consolidated financial statements.  

Accounting  policies  of  subsidiaries  have  been  changed  where  necessary  to  ensure  consistency  with  the 
policies adopted by the Group. 

Going Concern 

The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval 
of the financial statements and have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate 
resources  to  continue  in  operational  existence  for  the  foreseeable  future.  Thus,  they  continue  to  adopt  the 
going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

2   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) 

Revenue recognition 

a)  Revenue 

Revenue, which excludes value added tax (“VAT”), constitutes the value of services undertaken by the Group 
from its principal activities, which are recruitment consultancy and other ancillary services. These consist of: 

-  Revenue  from  contract  placements,  which  represents  amounts  billed  for  the  services  of  contract  staff, 

including the salary of these staff. This is recognised when the service has been provided; 

-  Revenue  from  permanent  placements,  which  is  based  on  a  percentage  of  the  candidate’s  remuneration 
package  and  is  derived  from  both  retained  assignments  (income  recognised  on  completion  of  defined 
stages  of  work)  and  non-retained  assignments  (income  recognised  at  the  date  an  offer  is  accepted  by  a 
candidate,  a  start  date  has  been  agreed  but  employment  has  not  yet  commenced).  The  latter  includes 
revenue  anticipated  but  not  invoiced  at  the  balance  sheet  date,  which  is  correspondingly  accrued  on  the 
balance sheet within prepayments and accrued income. A provision is made against accrued income based 
on  past  historical  experience  for  possible  cancellations  of  placements  prior  to,  or  shortly  after,  the 
commencement of employment; and 

- 

Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective 
interest rate applicable. 

b)  Cost of Sales 

Cost  of  sales  consists  of  the  salary  cost  of  contract  staff  and  costs  incurred  on  behalf  of  clients,  principally 
advertising costs. 

c)  Net Fee Income 

Net  fee  income  represents  revenue  less  cost  of  sales  and  consists  of  the  total  placement  fees  of  permanent 
candidates, the margin earned on the placement of contract candidates and the margin on advertising income. 

d)  Foreign Currency Translation 

(i)   Functional and Presentation Currency 

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of 
the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (‘the functional currency’). The consolidated 
financial statements are presented in Sterling, which is the Company’s functional and presentation currency. 

(ii)  Transactions and Balances 

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at 
the  dates  of  the  transactions.  Foreign  exchange  gains  and  losses  resulting  from  the  settlement  of  such 
transactions  and  from  the  translation  at  year-end  exchange  rates  of  monetary  assets  and  liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

2   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) 

d)   Foreign Currency Translation (continued) 

(iii) Group Companies 

On  consolidation  the  results  and  financial  position  of  all  the  Group  entities  that  have  a  functional  currency 
different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows: 

•  assets and liabilities for each year end presented are translated at the closing rate of that year end;  

• 

income and expenses for each statement of comprehensive income are translated at average exchange 
rates; and 

•  all resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income. 

e) 

Intangible Assets 

(i)  Goodwill 

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the net 
identifiable assets of the acquired subsidiary/associate at the date of acquisition. Goodwill on acquisitions of 
subsidiaries is included in ‘intangible assets’.  

As permitted by the exception in IFRS1 ‘First time adoption of International Reporting Standards’, the Group 
has  elected  not  to  apply  IFRS3  ‘Business  combinations’  to  goodwill  arising  on  acquisition  that  occurred 
before the date of transition to IFRS.  

Separately  recognised  goodwill  is  reviewed  annually  for  impairment  and  carried  at  cost  less  accumulated 
impairment  losses.  Impairment  losses  on  goodwill  are  not  reversed.  Determining  whether  goodwill  is 
impaired requires an estimation of the value in use of the cash-generating units to which goodwill has been 
allocated. The value in use calculation requires the entity to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise 
from the cash generating unit and a suitable discount rate in order to calculate present value. 

(ii) Computer Software 

Computer software acquired by the Group is stated at cost. These costs are amortised to write the cost off in 
equal annual instalments over three years.  

f)  Property, Plant and Equipment 

All  property,  plant  and  equipment  are  stated  at  historical  cost  less  accumulated  depreciation  less  provisions 
for impairment. Depreciation is provided on all property, plant and equipment using the straight-line method 
at  rates  calculated  to  write  off  the  cost  less  estimated  residual  values  over  their  estimated  useful  lives,  as 
follows: 

•  Leasehold improvements over the expected period of the lease. 
•  Furniture, fittings and computer equipment 25% – 33% 

The gain or loss arising on disposal or retirement of an asset is determined by comparing the sales proceeds 
with the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised as income. 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

2   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) 

g) 

Impairment of Assets 

Assets that have an indefinite useful economic life are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for 
impairment. Assets that are subject to amortisation are reviewed 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 carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount 
is  the  higher  of  an  asset’s  fair  value  less  costs  to  sell  and  value  in  use.  For  the  purposes  of  assessing 
impairment,  assets  are  grouped  at  the  lowest  levels  for  which  there  are  separately  identifiable  cash  flows 
(cash-generating units).  

h)  Taxation 

The tax expense represents the sum of the current tax expense and deferred tax expense. 

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit as reported 
in the statement of comprehensive income because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or 
deductible  in  other  years  and  it  further  excludes  items  that  are  never  taxable  or  deductible.  The  Group’s 
liability  for  current  tax  is  calculated  using  tax  rates  that  have  been  enacted  or  substantially  enacted  by  the 
balance sheet date. 

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between 
the  tax  bases  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  their  carrying  amounts  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements. 
Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates and laws 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. 

i)  Leased Assets and Obligations 

All of the Group’s leases are operating leases and the annual rentals are charged to profit and loss on a straight 
line basis over the lease term. 

The benefit of rent free periods received for entering into a lease is spread evenly over the lease term. 

j)  Pension Costs 

The  Group  operates  defined  contribution  pension  scheme.  The  Group  adopts  the  minimum  legally  required 
employer  contribution  rate  of  1%  of  qualifying  earnings  and  up  to  the  maximum  earning  threshold  for 
automatic enrolment for 2015-16, as set by the Pension Regulator. 
The  assets  of  the  scheme  are  held  separately  from  those  of  the  Group  in  independently  administered 
workplace  pension  -NEST.  The  pension  costs  charged  to  the  income  statement  represent  the  contributions 
payable by the Group to Nest during the year.  

The Pension liabilities at the Balance Sheet date represent employer and employee pension contributions, that 
are payable to the pension provider by the 22nd date of each month. 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

2   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) 

k)  Segmental Reporting 

IFRS8 requires operating segments to be identified on the basis of internal reports that are regularly reviewed 
by the Board of Directors to allocate resources to the segment and to assess their performance. 

l)  Financial instruments 

Financial assets and liabilities are recognised in the Group’s balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to 
the contractual provision of the instrument.  

m)  Financial assets 

The  Group’s  financial  assets  comprise  cash  and  various  other  receivable  balances  that  arise  from  its 
operations. Trade receivables, loans and other receivables that have fixed or determinable payments that are 
not  quoted  in  an  active  market  are  classified  as  loans  and  receivables.    Loans  and  receivables  are  initially 
measured  at  fair  value  and  subsequently  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective  interest  rate  method,  less  any 
impairment.  Interest  income  is  recognised  by  applying  the  effective  interest  rate,  except  for  short-term 
receivables when the recognition of interest would be immaterial. 

Financial  assets  are  assessed  for  impairment  at  each  balance  sheet  date,  and  are  impaired  where  there  is 
objective  evidence  that,  as  a  result  of  one  or  more  events  that  occurred  after  the  initial  recognition  of  the 
financial asset, the estimated future cash flows of the investment have been impacted. 

The carrying amount of the financial asset is reduced by the impairment loss directly for all financial assets 
with the exception of trade receivables, where the carrying amount is reduced through the use of an allowance 
account.  When a trade receivable is considered uncollectible, it is written off against the allowance account. 
Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited against the allowance account. Changes 
in the carrying amount of the allowance account are recognised in the profit or loss account. If in a subsequent 
period the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decreases can be related objectively to an event 
occurring after the impairment was recognised, the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed through 
profit  and  loss  to  the  extent  that  the  carrying  amount  of  the  financial  asset  at  the  date  the  impairment  is 
reversed does not exceed what the amortised cost would have been had the impairment not been recognised. 

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  includes  cash  in  hand  and  bank  deposits  that  are  readily  convertible  to  a known 
amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. Bank overdrafts are classified with 
current liabilities in the statement of financial position. 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

2   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) 

n)  Financial liabilities and equity 

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are initially measured at fair value and are classified according to 
the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. Financial liabilities are subsequently measured at  
amortised  cost.  The  Group’s  financial  liabilities  comprise  trade  payables,  borrowings,  bank  overdrafts  and 
other payable balances that arise from its operations. They are classified as ‘financial liabilities measured at 
amortised cost’. 

o)  Share-Based Compensation 

The Group operates equity-settled share-based compensation plans. 

The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognised as an 
expense. The total amount to be expensed over the vesting period is determined by reference to the fair value 
of the options granted, excluding the impact of any non-market vesting conditions (for example, profitability 
and sales growth targets). At the balance sheet date the number of outstanding options is adjusted to reflect 
those options that have been granted during the year or have lapsed in the year. 

p)  Dividend Distribution 

A  final  dividend  distribution  to  the  Company’s  shareholders  is  recognised  as  a  liability  in  the  Group’s 
financial  statements  in  the  period  in  which  the  dividends  are  approved  by  the  Company’s  shareholders. 
Interim dividend distributions are recognised in the period in which they are approved and paid. 

q)  Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting 
estimates and judgements. It also requires management to exercise judgement in the process of applying the 
Company’s accounting policies. 

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

In particular, information about significant areas of estimation uncertainty and critical judgements in applying 
accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amount recognised in the financial statements 
are described below: 

Revenue Recognition 

Revenue  from  permanent  placements  is  recognised  when  a  candidate  formally  accepts  an  offer  of 
employment, a start date has been agreed, but employment has not commenced. A ‘fall-through’ provision is 
made by management, based on historical experience, for the proportion of those placements where the offer 
of  employment  is  not  taken  up.  Management  have  reviewed  the  past  assumptions  made  with  respect  to  the 
‘fall-through’ provisions and consider that they remain reasonable. The fall through provision is estimated at 
20.02% of those offers where employment has yet to commence (2015: 16.5%). The Directors consider that a 
change in the range of possible outcomes, or sensitivity, would not have a material impact on the business.    

Goodwill Impairment 

The Group’s determination of whether goodwill is impaired requires an estimation of the value in use of the 
cash  generating  units  to  which  goodwill  is  allocated.  This  requires  estimation  of  future  cash  flows  and  the 
selection of a suitable discount rate details of which are disclosed in note 11. 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

2   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued) 

q)  Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements (continued) 

Trade Receivables 

There is uncertainty regarding customers who may not be able to pay as their debts fall due.  In reviewing the 
appropriateness  of  the  provisions  in  respect  of  recoverability  of  trade  receivables,  consideration  has  been 
given to the ageing of the debt and the potential likelihood of default, taking into account current economic 
conditions.  Details  of  the  total  amount  of  receivables  past  due  and  the  movement  in  allowance  for  doubtful 
debts are disclosed in note 13. 

3    Segment Reporting 

a)  Revenue and Net Fee Income, by Geographical Region 

UK 

Asia 

Rest of World 

          Revenue 

        Net fee income 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

16,249 

12,957 

7,774 

6,532 

3,626 

2,992 

3,626 

2,992 

880 

698 

880 

698 

20,755 

16,647 

12,280 

10,222 

All revenues disclosed by the Group are derived from external clients and are for the provision of recruitment 
services.  The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as the Group’s accounting policies 
described  in  note  2.    Segment  profit  before  taxation  represents  the  profit  earned  by  each  segment  after 
allocations of central administration costs.  

b)  Revenue and Net Fee Income, by Classification 

Permanent 
-UK 
-Asia 
-Rest of World 

Contract (UK) 

Total 

          Revenue 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

         Net fee income 
2015 
£’000 

2016 
£’000 

6,653 
3,626 
880 

5,760 
2,992 
698 

6,645 
3,626 
880 

5,747 
2,992 
698 

9,596 

7,197   

1,129   

785 

20,755 

16,647 

12,280 

10,222 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

3    Segment Reporting (continued) 

c)  Profit before Taxation by Geographical Region 

UK 

Asia 

Rest of World 

Operating Profit 

Net finance income 

Profit before taxation 

2016 
£’000 

1,527 

460 

162 

2015 
£’000 

993 

370 

67 

2,149 

1,430 

- 

6 

2,149 

1,436 

Operating profit is the measure of profitability regularly reviewed by the Board, which collectively acts as the 
Chief  Operating  Decision  Maker.  Consequently,  no  segmental  analysis  of  interest  or  tax  expenses  are 
provided. 

Segment  operating  profit  is  the  profit  earned  by  each  operating  unit  and  includes  inter  segment  revenues 
totalling £0.71m (2015 £0.64m) for the UK, and charges of £0.60m (2015 £0.53m) for Asia and £0.11m (2015 
£0.11m) for the rest of the world. 

d)  Segment Assets and Liabilities by Geographical Region 

UK 

Asia 

Rest of World 

Total 

  Total non-current assets 
2015 
£’000 

2016 
£’000 

      Total liabilities 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

9,962 

10,023   

1,441   

1,309 

27 

9

50   

12   

910   

121   

687 

162 

9,998 

10,085 

2,472 

            2,158 

The analysis above is of the carrying amount of reportable segment assets, liabilities and non-current assets.  
Segment assets and liabilities include items directly attributable to a segment and include income tax assets 
and liabilities.  Non-current asset include property, plant and equipment and computer software. 

36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

4  Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 

Profit for the year  is arrived at after charging: 

Depreciation  
Operating lease rentals  

- owned assets 
- land and buildings  
- other operating leases 

Loss/(profit) on disposal of fixed assets 
Exchange rate loss 
The analysis of auditors remuneration is as follows: 
Audit of company  
Audit of subsidiaries  

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

188 
487 
- 
- 
33 

21 
23 

170 
471 
- 
1 
1 

12 
31 

Total audit fees 
Tax compliance services (i.e. related to assistance with corporate tax returns) 
Advisory Services (related to FRS102 transition) 

44 
- 
                   4 

43 
2 
               - 

Total fees 

5  Directors’ emoluments 

Emoluments for qualifying services 

Highest paid Director: 
Emoluments for qualifying services 

48 

45 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

482 

503 

482  

503 

229  

230 

Details of Directors’ emoluments and interests, which form part of these financial statements, are provided in 
the Director’s Remuneration report on pages 16 to 18. 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

6  Employees  

Group 

The  average  monthly  number  of  employees  of  the  Group  during  the  year, 
including Directors, was as follows: 

Consultants 
Management and administration 
Temporary staff 

Company 

The  average  monthly  number  of  employees  of  the  Company  during  the 
year, including Directors, was as follows: 

2016 
Number 

2015 
Number 

91 
26 
7 

84 
25 
3 

124 

112 

2016 
Number 

2015 
Number 

Management 

5 

5 

Staff  costs  for  all  employees,  including  Directors,  but  excluding  contract  staff  placed  with  clients  are  as 
follows and have been included in Administration expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income:  

Group 

Wages and salaries 
Social security costs 
Pension contributions 
Share option charge  

Remuneration of key management 

Short term employee benefits (excluding social security costs) 
Share based payments 

Key management includes executive Directors and senior divisional managers.

38 

2016 
£’000 

6,984 
598 
73 
166 

2015 
£’000 

5,744 
500 
12 
130 

7,821 

6,386 

2016 
£’000 

1,090 
35 

2015 
£’000 

765 
24 

1,125 

789 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

7 

Taxation on Profits on Ordinary Activities 

a)  Analysis of tax charge in the year 

Current tax 
UK Corporation tax 
UK tax under/(over) provided in previous years 
Foreign tax 
Foreign tax over provision in prior years 

Total current tax 

Deferred tax  
Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Total charge on profit for the year 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

375 
- 
87 
(4) 

278 
(21) 
52 
- 

458 

309 

1 

1 

459 

310 

UK  corporation  tax  is  calculated  at  20%  (2015:  21%)  of  the  estimated  assessable  profits  for  the  year.   
Taxation for other jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions. 

b)  The  charge  for  the  year  can  be  reconciled  to  the  profit  per  the  consolidated  statement  of 

comprehensive income as follows:  

Profit before taxation 

Tax  at  UK  corporation  tax  rate  of  20%  (2015:  21%)  on  profit  on  ordinary 
activities  
Effects of: 
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes  
Capital allowances for the period less than depreciation 
Tax losses not utilised/utilised 
Tax rate differences 
Temporary differences recognised  
Overprovision in prior years 

Total current tax 

Deferred Tax 
Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Tax charge for the year 

39 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

2,149 

1,436 

430 

302 

8 
11 
21 
(19) 
19 
(4) 

466 

16 
2 
19 
(20) 
11 
(21) 

309 

(7) 

1 

459 

310 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

8  Dividends 

Special second interim dividend for 2015: 4.00p per share 
Final dividend for 2015: 3.09p per share (2014: 3.09p per share) 
Interim dividend for 2016: 1.75p per share (2015: 1.75p per share) 
Special dividend for 2016: 4.00p per share 
Second Interim dividend for 2016: 3.09p per share 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

488 
376 
212 
490 
380 

1,946 

- 
376 
212 
- 
- 

588 

A special second interim dividend of 4p was paid subsequent to shareholders on the register at the close of 
business  on  27  March  2015.  The  special  second  interim  dividend  was  approved  by  the  Board  on  17  March 
2015 and was paid on 2 April 2015.  

A final dividend of 3.09p for 2015 was proposed, the dividend was paid on 26 June 2015 to shareholders on 
the register on 12 June 2015.  

An interim dividend of 1.75p (2015: 1.75p) was paid on 27 November 2015 to shareholders on the register at 
the close of business on 20 November 2015. The interim dividend was approved by the Board on 7 November 
2015. 

A special dividend of 4.00p was paid on 27 November 2015 to shareholders on the register on 20 November 
2015.  

A second interim dividend of 3.09p paid on 25 March 2016 to shareholders on the register on 18 March 2016. 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

9 

Earnings per share 

Earnings per share are calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted 
average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year. 

Fully diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares by 
existing share options assuming dilution through conversion of all existing options. 

Earnings  and  weighted  average  number  of  shares  from  continuing  operations  used  in  the  calculations  are 
shown below. 

Profit for the year and earnings used in basic and diluted earnings per share 

2016 
£’000 

1,690 

2015 
£’000 

1,126 

Number 

Number 

Weighted average number of shares used for basic earnings per share  
Dilutive effect of share options 

12,211,950 
290,730 

    12,131,633 
           362,117 

Diluted weighted average number of shares used for diluted earnings per 
share 

12,502,680 

12,493,750 

Basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings per share 

Pence 

13.84p 
13.52p 

Pence 

9.28p 
9.01p 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

10  Property, Plant and Equipment 

Group  

Cost 
At 1 April 2014 
Additions 
Disposals  
Exchange difference 

At 1 April 2015 
Additions 
Disposals  
Exchange difference 

At 31 March 2016 

Depreciation  
At 1 April 2014 
Provision for the year 
Disposals  
Exchange rate loss 

At 1 April 2015 
Provision for the year 
Disposals  
Exchange rate gain 

At 31 March 2016 

Net book value  
At 31 March 2016 

At 31 March 2015  

At 31 March 2014 

Total 

£’000 

896 
168 
(20) 
13 

1,057 
97 
(44) 
8 

1,118 

568 
170 
(7) 
10 

741 
188 
(44) 
4 

889 

229 

316 

328 

Fixtures, 
fittings and 
equipment  
£’000 

Motor 
vehicles 

£’000 

20 
- 
(20) 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

6 
1 
(7) 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

14 

876 
168 
- 
13 

1,057 
97 
(44) 
8 

1,118 

562 
169 
- 
10 

741 
188 
(44) 
4 

889 

229 

316 

314 

42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

11   Goodwill 

Cost 
At 1 April 2014, 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016 

£’000 

9,769 

The total carrying value of goodwill is £9.77m, which relates to the acquisition of the Macdonald & Company 
Group  of  companies  in  January  2006,  has  been tested for  impairment  with  the  recoverable  amount  being 
determined from value in use calculations. 

The recoverable amount is determined on a value in use basis utilising the value of cash flow projections.  The 
first year of the projections is based on detailed budgets prepared and approved by management. Subsequent 
years are based on extrapolations.  

The key assumptions in calculating the value in use is that the Group will meet its budgeted growth in net fee 
income  of  11.89%  in  the  year  to  31  March  2017.    After  the  end  of  the  period  covered  by  the  budget  a  5% 
growth  rate  is  applied.    This  growth  rate  represents  the  average  rate  of  growth  in  the  markets  in  which  the 
Group  operates.  A  discount  rate  of  9%  has  been  applied  which  represents  the  weighted  average  costs  of 
capital for the Group. In the last two years, operating profit achieved exceeded budgeted operated profit by 
approximately 20.38%. 

Based upon this analysis the asset has not been impaired since the ‘recoverable amount’ (being the greater of 
the net realisable value and the value in use) is in excess of its carrying amount by £15.28m.  A number of 
potential  sensitivities  have  been  considered  and  these  would  indicate  impairment  in  the  carrying  value  of 
goodwill if the discount rate were to be increased to 25.2% or if the operating profit reduced to £1.1m with no 
future growth or if the growth rate were to be decreased to 15.5%. 

12 

Investments 

Company 

Cost 

At 1 April 2014, 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2015 

Increase in investment in subsidiaries from share option 
reserve charge  

As at 31 March 2016 

Shares in  
subsidiary  
undertakings 
£’000 

10,876 

300 

11,176 

The share option reserve relates to employee share option arrangements provided to employees of the Group 
subsidiary companies. 

43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

12 

Investments (continued) 

The  following  are  subsidiary  undertakings  at  the  end  of  the  year  and  have  all  been  included  in  the 
consolidated financial statements: 

Country of 
incorporation 

  Principal  
   activity 

England and Wales 

Holding Company 

England and Wales 

Recruitment 

England and Wales 

Recruitment 

Macdonald & Company 
Group Limited 

Macdonald & Company 
Property Limited 

Macdonald and Company 
Freelance Limited 

Macdonald & Company 
(Overseas) Limited 

England and Wales 

Macdonald & Company Ltd 

Hong Kong 

Ru Yi Consulting Limited 

Hong Kong 

Macdonald and Company 
Pte Limited 

Singapore 

Macdonald & Company Pty Ltd 

Australia 

Macdonald & Company  
Recruitment Proprietary Ltd 

South Africa 

The Prime Organisation Ltd 

England and Wales 

Dormant 

Recruitment 

Dormant 

Recruitment 

Dormant 

Dormant 

Dormant 

For all undertakings listed above, the country of operation is the same as its country of incorporation. 
The Group holds 100% of all classes of issued share capital. The percentage of the issued share capital held is 
equivalent to the percentage of voting rights for all companies. 

44 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

13  Trade and other Receivables 

Current 
Trade receivables 
Allowance for doubtful debts 
Other receivables 
Prepayments and accrued income 

   Group  

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

Company  

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

2,706 

 (40)   
69 
2,204 

2,126 
(102)   
578 
1,936 

4,939 

4,538 

- 
- 
- 
14 

14 

- 
- 
4 
495 

499 

At  31  March  2016,  the  average  credit  period  taken  on  sales  of  recruitment  services  was  55  days  (2015:  38 
days)  from  the  date  of  invoicing.    An  allowance  of  £40,000  (2015:  £102,000)  has  been  made  for  estimated 
irrecoverable amounts. Due to the short-term nature of trade and other receivables, the Directors consider that 
the carrying value approximates to their fair value.   

Prepayments and accrued income principally comprise amounts to be billed for permanent placements with a 
start date within three months from the start of the new financial year. 

The Group does not provide against receivables solely on the basis of the age of the debt, as experience has 
demonstrated  that  this  is  not  a  reliable  indicator  of  recoverability.    The  Group  provides  fully  against  all 
receivables where it has positive evidence that the amount is not recoverable. 

The ageing of trade receivables at the reporting date was: 

Not past due 
Past due 0-30 days 
Past due 30-90 days 
Past due more than 90 days 

Gross trade 
receivables 
2016 
£’000 

Provisions 

2016 
£’000 

Gross trade 
receivables 
2015 
£’000 

1,607 
630 
469 
                    - 

2,706 

33 
- 
7 
- 

40 

1,635 
322 
100 
69 

2,126 

  Provisions 

2015 
£’000 

24 
- 
9 
69 

102 

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

13  Trade and other Receivables (continued) 

Movement in allowance for doubtful debts: 

1 April 2015 
Impairment losses recognised 
Amounts written off as uncollectable 
Amounts paid by the client  
Impairment losses reversed 

2016 
£’000 

102 
40 
(97) 
        (5) 
              - 

2015 
£’000 

38 
100 
(11) 

                 - 

(25) 

31 March 2016 

40 

102 

14  Financial Instruments 

Group 

Company 

Note 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

Financial assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

13 

           4,087 
              953 

       4,538  
       1,009 

5 
633 

499 
446 

Cash is held either on current account or on short term deposits at floating rates of interest determined by the 
relevant bank's prevailing base rate. 

           5,040    

5,547 

638 

945 

Financial liabilities 
Current 
Trade and other payables 

Group 

Company 

Note 

2016 
£’000 

        2015 
£’000 

        2016 
£’000 

     2015 
£’000 

    15  

452  

478 

452 

478 

2 

2 

13  

13 

The Group has not renewed its borrowing facilities with Barclays Bank Plc as the Board consider that the net 
cash within the Group is sufficient to meet existing and foreseeable liabilities as they fall due. 
There is no material difference between the book values of the Group's financial assets and liabilities and their 
fair values. 

The Group and the Company do not hold any derivative financial instruments. 

46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the financial statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

15  Trade and other Payables 

      Group  

    Company  

Current 
Trade payables 
Other payables 
Amount owed to subsidiary 
undertakings 
Taxation and social security 
Accruals and deferred income 

2016 
£’000 

267 
185 

                  - 
664 
1,100 

2015 
£’000 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

239 
239 

- 
567 
913 

1 
- 

923 
9 
26 

959 

12 
1 

145 
8 
47 

213 

2,216 

1,958 

Due  to  the  short-term  nature  of  the  trade  and  other  payables,  the  Directors  consider  that  the  carrying  value 
approximates to their fair value.  Trade payables are generally on 30–60 day terms.  No payables are past their 
due date. 

16  Deferred Tax Liability 

Group 

At 1 April 2014 
Charge to income 

At 31 March 2015 
Credit to income 

At 31 March 2016 

Company (Asset) 

At 1 April 2013, 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2015 

Charge to income 

At March 2016 

47 

Accelerated 
depreciation 
£’000  

Total 

£’000 

15 
1 

16 
(7)   

9 

15 
1 

16 
(7) 

9 

Accelerated 
depreciation 
£’000 

1 

Total 

£’000 

1 

(1)    

           (1) 

- 

            - 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

17  Share Capital 

ALLOTTED CALLED UP  
Ordinary shares of 10p each 
Fully paid as at 1 April 2015 
Fully paid shares issued 
Unpaid shares issued 

2016 

           2015 

     Number 

£’000 

Number 

        £’000 

 12,193,949 
          3,000 
        93,250 

          1,219 
                 1 
                 9 

 12,066,500 
      127,449 
                 - 

          1,207 
               12 
                 - 

At 31 March 2016 

  12,290,199 

1,229 

  12,193,949 

           1,219 

The Company has one class of ordinary shares which carries no right to fixed income and which represents 
100% of the total issued nominal value of all share capital.  

Each share carries the right to one vote at general meetings of the company.  No person has any special rights 
of control over the company’s share capital and all its issued shares are fully paid. 

Pursuant  to  shareholder  resolutions  at  the  AGM  of  the  Company  on  14  July  2015,  the  Company  has  the 
following authorities during the period up to the next AGM. 

- 

- 

- 

- 

to issue new/additional ordinary shares to existing shareholders through a rights issue up to a maximum 
nominal amount of £406,465, representing one third of the then issued share capital of the Company; 

to  issue  new/additional  ordinary  shares  to  new  shareholders  up  to  a  maximum  nominal  amount  of 
£406,465 representing one third of the issued shares capital of the Company 

to allot equity securities for cash, without the application of pre-emption rights, up to a maximum nominal 
amount of £60,970 representing 5% of the then issued share capital of the Company; and 

to  purchase  through  the  market  up  to  10%  of  the  Company’s  issued  share  capital,  subject  to  certain 
restrictions on price. 

Shareholders will be asked to renew these authorities at the AGM in 2016 on 20 July 2016. 

Capital Risk Management 

The Group manages its capital to ensure that it will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising 
returns  to  shareholders  through  the  optimisation  of  debt  and  equity  balances.  The  capital  structure  of  the 
Group consists of cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent comprising 
issued capital reserves and earnings. 

The  Group  manages  the  capital  structure  and  makes  adjustments  to  it  in  the  light  of  changes  to  economic 
conditions and risks. In order to manage capital the Group has continued to consider and adjust the level of 
dividends paid to shareholders and also made purchases of its own shares which are held as Treasury Shares. 
As part of its strategy of seeking to optimise the Group’s debt and equity balance the Group also considers the 
appropriate level of external borrowing and, as disclosed in Note 14, has taken the decision not to renew its 
borrowing facilities with Barclays Bank. 

48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

17   Share Capital (continued) 

Employee Share Schemes 

The Company operates two share options schemes. 

Enterprise Management Incentive Share Option Scheme 

At  31  March  2016  the  following  options  had  been  granted  and  remained  outstanding  in  respect  of  the 
Company’s ordinary shares: 

Year of 
grant 

Exercise 
Price 
Pence 

Exercise 
Period 

 2005/6 
2008/9 

2009/10 

57.50 
2007-2015* 
20.77  2011-2016* 
31.50  2014-2019* 
42.00  2013-2018 

Number of 
options 
31 March  
2015 
84,234 
48,000 
100,000 
11,000 

Granted 

Exercised 

Forfeited  

- 
- 
- 
                 - 

- 
- 
- 
(3,000) 

-  

  (84,234) 
- 
      - 

Number of 
Options  
31 March 
2016 
- 
48,000 
100,000 
           8,000 

2011/12 

68.00  2014-2019 

3,000 

- 

- 

- 

3,000 

2013/14 

         Nil 
         Nil 

2016-2021 
2019-2021 

104,250 
         96,250 

- 
                 - 

 (83,250) 
 (10,000) 

(2,000) 
          (5,000) 

19,000        
81,250 

2014/15 

10.00 
10.00 

2016-2021 
2019-2021 

187,500 
350,500 

- 
- 

- 
- 

(3,000) 
(10,000) 

184,500 
340,500 

2014/15 

10.00 
10.00 
     58.00 
     58.00 

2017-2022 
2020-2022 
2017-2022 
2020-2022                            

20,000 
30,000 
        52,000 
      103,000 

- 
- 
                   - 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

20,000 
30,000 
         52,000 
       103,000 

Total 2016 

984,734 

205,000 

(96,250) 

(104,234) 

989,250 

Weighted  average  exercise  price 
2016 (pence) 

15.27p 

46.29p 

1.31p 

0.48p 

19.64p 

Total 2015 

637,734 

548,000 

(136,000) 

(65,000) 

984,734 

Weighted  average  exercise  price 
2015 (pence) 

27.86p 

10.00p 

54.84p 

11.62p 

15.27p 

*These options have fully vested 

There  were  989,250  options  outstanding  at  31  March  2016  (2015:  984,734)  which  had  a  weighted  average 
price per share of 19.64p (2015: 15.27p). The options vest over a period of two to five years conditional upon 
the option holders continued employment with the Company. 

49 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

17     Share Capital (continued) 

The  conditions  applying  to  those  options  which  are  fully  vested  have  been  achieved.  The  number  of 
outstanding options that will vest is dependent on the achievement of a number of key performance measures 
of the group, measured at a regional and consolidated level for the financial years 2015 and 2016.  The fair 
value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the share options is charged to the profit 
and  loss  account  over  the  vesting  period  of  the  share  option,  based  on  the  number  of  options  which  are 
expected to become exercisable.   

Option pricing model used 
Weighted average share price at grant date (in pence) 
Exercise price (in pence) 
Fair value of options granted during the year 
Expected volatility (%) 
Risk-free interest rate (%) 
Expected life of options (years) 

2016 
Black-Scholes  
           116.00 
         10 & 58 
           104.81 
               30.0 
4.0 
2 & 5 

2015 

  Black-Scholes  
85.00 
10 
76.45 
                14.0 
4.0 
2 & 5 

Expected  volatility  was  determined  by  reference  to  historical  volatility  of  the  Company’s  share  price. 

The  share  based  payment  expense  recognised  within  the  income  statement  during  the  period  was  £0.17m 
(2015: £0.13m). 

50 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

18    Reserves 

Capital Redemption Reserve Fund 

The capital redemption reserve relates to the cancellation of the Company’s own shares. 

Treasury Shares 

At 31 March 2016, the total number of ordinary shares held in Treasury and their values were as follows:   

2016 

2015 

Number 

£’000 

Number 

£’000 

As at 1 April 2015 
Shares purchased for treasury 
Shares issued from treasury 
Equity  reclassification  on  disposal  of 
treasury shares 

21,276 
- 
- 

- 

21   
-   
- 

- 

35,000 
67,210 
(80,934) 

- 

As at 31 March 2016 

21,276 

21  

21,276 

Nominal value 

Market value 

2 

21 

143 
62 
(42) 

(142) 

21 

2 

23 

The maximum number of shares held in treasury during the year was 21,276 shares representing 0.2% of the 
called-up  ordinary  share  capital  of  the  Company  (2015:  54,050  representing  0.4%  of  the  called-up  ordinary 
share capital of the Company). 

Merger Reserve 

The merger reserve represents the fair value of the consideration given in excess of the nominal value of the 
ordinary shares issued to acquire subsidiaries.  

Share Option Reserve 

The  reserve  represents  the  cumulative  amounts  charged  to  profit  in  respect  of  employee  share  option 
arrangements where the scheme has not yet been settled by means of an award of shares to an individual. 

Share Premium Account 

The balance on the share premium account represents the amounts received in excess of the nominal value of 
the ordinary shares. 

51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

18    Reserves (continued) 

Translation Reserve 

The foreign currency translation reserve comprises all presentation foreign exchange differences arising from 
translation  of  the  financial  statements  of  foreign  operations  into  the  presentation  currency  of  the  Group 
accounts. 

Retained Earnings 

The balance held on this reserve is the accumulated retained profits of the Group. 

19  Operating Lease Commitments 

As  at  31  March  2016  the  Group  was  committed  to  making  the  following  total  payments  in  respect  of  non-
cancellable operating leases: 

leases  which 

Non-cancellable  operating 
expire: 
Within one year 
Within one to two years 
Within two to five years 
After five years  

Land 
and 
buildings 
2016 
£’000 

Land 
and  
buildings 
2015 
£’000 

448   
408   
660   
602   

474 
432 
374 
829 

2,118   

2,109 

The Group leases various offices under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. The leases have varying 
terms as disclosed above. 

52 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016 

20  Reconciliation of Profit Before Tax to Net Cash Inflow from Operating Activities 

Group 
2016 
£’000 

2015  
£’000 

Company 
2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000 

Profit before taxation 

       2,149 

1,436 

50 

Adjust for: 
Depreciation 
Share based payment expense 
Net finance income 

188 
166 
- 

170 
130 
          (6) 

- 
- 
- 

(6) 

- 
- 
(6) 

Operating cash flow before changes in working capital 

  2,503 

1,730 

50 

(12) 

(Increase)/decrease in receivables 
Increase/(decrease) in payables 

           (401) 
             267 

   (1,003) 
        (42) 

484 
744 

(489) 
65 

Cash generated from / (used by) underlying operations 

2,369 

685 

1,278 

(436) 

21  Analysis of Cash less overdrafts 

Group 

At 1 April 

  Cash flow 

At 31 March 

Cash at bank and in hand 

Total cash 

Company 

Cash at bank and in hand 

Total cash 

2015     
£’000 

1,009 

£’000 

(56) 

1,009 

(56) 

2016             
£’000 

953 

953 

At 1 April 
2015 
£’000 

446 

446 

Cash flow 

£’000 

187 

187 

At 31 March 
2016  
£’000 

633 

633 

53 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

22  Financial Risk Management 

The  Board  of  Directors  has  overall  responsibility  for  the  risk  management  policies  that  are  applied  by  the 
business to identify and control the risks faced by the Group. 

The Group has exposure from its use of financial instruments to foreign currency risk, credit risk and liquidity 
risk. 

Foreign Currency 

The  Group  publishes  its  consolidated  financial  statements  in  Sterling.    The  functional  currencies  of  the 
Group’s main operating subsidiaries are Sterling, the Singapore Dollar, the Hong Kong Dollar and the UAE 
Dirham. 

The  Group’s  international  operations  account  for  approximately  21.72%  (2015:  22.16%)  of  revenue  and 
approximately  19.85%  (2015:  15.06%)  of  the  Group’s  assets  and  consequently  the  Group  has  a  degree  of 
translation exposure in accounting for overseas operations. 

Currently the Group’s policy is not to hedge against this exposure but it does seek to minimise this exposure 
by  converting  into  sterling  all  cash  balances  in  foreign  currency  that  are  not  required  for  capital  monetary 
needs.  The settlement of intercompany balances held with foreign operations is neither planned nor likely to 
occur  in  the  foreseeable  future.  Therefore,  exchange  differences  arising  from  the  translation  of  the  net 
investments are recognised in Other Comprehensive income. 

Credit Risk 

The Group’s principal financial assets are bank balances, trade and other receivables. The Group’s credit risk 
is  primarily  in  respect  of  trade  receivables.  Credit  risk  refers  to  the  risk  that  a  client  will  default  on  its 
contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. The Group does not have any significant credit 
risk exposure to any individual client. At the year end no customer represented more than 6.82% (2015: 6%) 
of the total balance of trade receivables. 

In  reviewing  the  appropriateness  of  the  provisions  in  respect  of  recoverability  of  trade  receivables, 
consideration  has  been  given  to  the  ageing  of  the  debt  and  the  potential  likelihood  of  default,  taking  into 
account current economic conditions. 

It is the Directors’ opinion that no further provision for doubtful debts is required.  

Liquidity Risk 

The Group manages it liquidity risk by maintaining adequate cash and or credit facilities to meet forecast cash 
requirements  of  the  Group.  Management  monitors  its  forecasted  cash  flow  requirements  at  a  Group  level 
based on monthly returns made by the Group’s operating units. 

The Group has no financial liabilities other than short term trade payables and accruals as disclosed in note 
16, all due within one year of the year end. 

The Group has net funds of £0.95m (2015: £1.01m) which the Board consider are more than adequate to meet 
future working capital requirements and to take advantage of business opportunities. 

54 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Notes to the Financial Statements 
For the year ended 31 March 2016  

23  Related Party Transactions 

Prime  People  Plc  provides  various  management  services  to  its  subsidiary  undertakings.  These  services  take 
the  form  of  centralised  finance  and  operations  support.  The  total  amount  charged  by  the  Company  to  its 
subsidiaries during the year is £205k (2015: £240k). The balance owed to the subsidiary undertakings at the 
year end is £923k (2015: £145k). 

The  Company  also  provides  corporate  guarantees  on  the  subsidiary  bank  accounts.  At  31  March  2016 
amounts overdrawn by subsidiary bank accounts were £222,350 (2015: nil). 

The  Directors  receive  remuneration  from  the  Group,  which  is  disclosed  in  the  Directors’  Remuneration 
Report.  As  shareholders,  the  Directors  also  received  dividends  in  the  year  from  the  Company  amounting  to 
£605,384 (2015: £339,048). 

55 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Directors and Advisers 

Directors 

Robert Macdonald     
Peter Moore 
Donka Zaneva-Todorinski  
Chris Heayberd         
John Lewis OBE       
Simon Murphy           

(Executive Chairman) 
(Managing Director) 
(Finance Director) 
(Non-Executive Director) 
(Non-Executive Director) 
(Non-Executive Director) 

Secretary and Registered Office 

Donka Zaneva-Todorinkski, 2 Harewood Place, London, W1S 1BX. 

Registered Number 

1729887 

Stockbrokers & Nominated Advisers 

Cenkos Securities Plc, 6.7.8 Tokenhouse Yard, London, EC2R 7AS 

Solicitors 

Eversheds, One Wood Street, London, EC2V 7WS. 

Auditor 

Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP, St Bride’s House, 10 Salisbury Square, London, EC4Y 8EH 

Principal Bankers 

Barclays Bank Plc, Corporate Banking, 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP 

Registrars 

Neville Registrars Limited, Neville House, Laurel Lane, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 3DA. 

56 

 
 
 
 
 
 
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Board of Directors 

Directors' Biographies 

Robert Macdonald - Executive Chairman  

Robert has held senior positions within the recruitment industry since 1973 when he founded Reuter Simkin 
Limited,  a  recruitment  business  in  both  the  legal  and  property  sectors.  Reuter  Simkin  had  both  Kleinwort 
Benson  Development  Capital  and  Charterhouse  Development  Capital  as  investors.  After  the  sale  of  Reuter 
Simkin in 1989, he acquired shares in and was Chairman of two other recruitment companies one of which 
acquired  the  legal  business  of  Reuter  Simkin  in  the  West  of  England  from  PSD  in  1992  and  traded  as 
Macdonald & Company. In 1994, he established Macdonald & Company as a specialist property recruitment 
consultancy in London. Lead by Robert and Peter Moore, Macdonald & Company Group Ltd completed the 
reverse takeover of Prime People Plc in January 2006. 

Peter Moore MRICS - Managing Director 

Peter graduated from the Royal Agricultural University and then worked with Strutt & Parker from 1992 to 
1995,  qualifying  as  a  Charted  Surveyor  in  1994.  He  joined  Macdonald  &  Company  in  1995  and  was 
appointed Managing Director in 1996. Under Peter’s management Macdonald & Company became the largest 
and  most  respected  real  estate  focused  recruitment  provider  in  the  market  and  the  RICS’s  preferred 
recruitment  partner.  Lead  by  Robert  Macdonald  and  Peter  Moore,  Macdonald  &  Company  Group  Ltd 
completed the reverse takeover of Prime People Plc in January 2006. Since then Peter has been instrumental 
in  developing  Prime  People  into  a  global  specialist  recruitment  business  spanning  real  estate,  energy  & 
environmental and insight & analytics. 

Donka Zaneva-Todorinski ACCA – Finance Director 

Donka qualified with a Business Administration and Finance Degree from St Paul’s College in 2007. She has 
been a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since December 2013. Donka began her 
professional career in 2003 and since has held accounting positions in the recruitment, media and publishing 
industries.  She  joined  Macdonald  &  Company  in  2011  as  a  Management  Accountant.  In  2013  Donka  was 
promoted to be Financial Controller and was then appointed to the Board of Prime People as Finance Director 
in October 2015. She is a member of the Finance & Management Faculty of ICAEW. 

Chris Heayberd BA ACA – Non-executive Directors 

Chris qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1980 and after that date held a number of financial positions in a 
broad range of industries. Since 1989 his main focus has been the business services sector. This included 4 
years as Finance Director of PSD Group plc, during which time the company was admitted to trading on the 
London Stock Exchange. Chris joined the Board of Prime People in June 1995 and for a period of five years 
combined the role of Finance Director with other business interests. In May 2005 he took up a full time role as 
Finance  Director  of  Prime  People  retiring  from  this  post  in  2015  but  remaining  on  the  Board  in  a  non-
executive capacity. 

John Lewis OBE LLB (Hons) - Non-executive Director 

John is a solicitor (Non Practising) and a consultant to Eversheds LLP (solicitors). Previously he served as a 
partner  in  Lewis  Lewis  &  Co  which  became  part  of  Eversheds  after  a  series  of  mergers.  John  is  currently 
Chairman  of  Photo-Me  International  Plc  and  several  private  companies.  He  has  served  as  Chairman  of 
Cliveden  Plc  and  Principal  Hotels  Plc  and  as  deputy  Chairman  of  John  D  Wood  &  Co  Plc,  retiring  in  each 
case when the Company was sold. 

57 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PRIME PEOPLE PLC 

Board of Directors 

Simon Murphy BSc ACA - Non-executive Director 

Simon qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand. He was previously a Managing Director 
in the global investment banking division of HSBC. He was Chief Executive of Prime People from May 2005 
until the acquisition of Macdonald & Company Group Ltd.  He is Chief Financial Officer of Battersea Power 
Station  Development  Company  and  a  Director  of  a  number  of  private  companies  including  OPD  Group 
Limited an investment company with holdings in a number of recruitment businesses. 

58 

 
 
 
 
 
Prime People Plc
2 Harewood Place  Hanover Square  
London W1S 1BX 
T:  +44 (0) 20 7318 1785  
F:  +44 (0) 870 442 1737 
E:  connect@prime-people.com 
W: prime-people.co.uk