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Robinson Plc

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FY2023 Annual Report · Robinson Plc
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  @robinsonpack
   robinson packaging

Visit us online at robinsonpackaging.com

Robinson plc, Field House, Wheatbridge,
Chesterfield, S40 2AB United Kingdom

This publication has been printed on Nautilus Superwhite
100% Recycled an FSC® certified paper from responsible
sources. This ensures that there is an audited chain of 
custody from the tree in the well-managed forest through 
to the finished document in the printing factory.

Platform
for
growth

Annual report 2023

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Welcome to the 
Robinson Group  
Annual report 2023.

Market conditions remained difficult in 
2023 with persistent high inflation and 
sharp increases in central bank interest 
rates across our countries of operation. 
The continuing cost-of-living crisis has 
impacted consumer buying habits and 
consequentially created volatility and 
uncertainty in customer demand.

In addition to the economic challenges, in October, we 
suffered severe flooding at our Chesterfield site and 
some damage was caused to facilities, materials and 
equipment.

Despite those headwinds, and thanks to the efforts of 
our people, we were able to improve profits, grow our 
sales pipeline, achieve surplus property sales and secure 
the return of the pension escrow account funds during 
the year. As a result, Robinson ended 2023 with a much 
stronger business.

We have continued to progress our sustainability goals 
which are integral to our strategy. Our pipeline of new 
projects will support a further increase in the ratio of 
recycled material content in 2024.

A new permanent Robinson CEO will be appointed in 
2024, they will join an organisation with a strong sales 
pipeline, an effective manufacturing platform and a 
loyal and committed workforce. As market conditions 
begin to improve, we are well placed to generate 
sustainable long-term value for our shareholders. 

Contents

Strategic report 
3  Our year in review
4 
6 
8 
10 
12 
16 
18 
20 
24 

 Chairman’s statement
 Chief Executive’s Report
 Robinson at a glance
 Our business strategy
 Guiding our sustainability journey
 How we create value
 Risks and opportunities
 Engaging with stakeholders
 Performance overview

Corporate governance
28 
 Corporate governance report
33  Directors’ remuneration report
36  Directors’ report

Financial statements
40    Group income statement and statement 

of comprehensive income
 Statement of financial position
 Statement of changes in equity
 Cash flow statement

41 
42 
43 
44    Notes to the financial statements
75 

 Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of Robinson plc

Additional information
80  Notice of Annual General Meeting
81  Form of proxy
82  Annual General Meeting attendance form

Our year in review

Sales 
decreased  
to £49.7m

Gross margin 
increased to   
19%

Adjusted EBIT* 
increased to 
£2.2m

£4.0m invested 
in net capital 
expenditure**

(2022: £50.5m)

(2022: 17%)

(2022: £2.0m)

(2022: £2.5m)

Dividend 
paid in the 
year 5.5p

(2022: 5.5p)

Pension escrow 
account funds 
of £3.3m 
returned to the 
Company

Paperbox operations 
and Group head 
office impacted 
by flooding due to 
Storm Babet

Property 
proceeds 
of £0.7m 
received

Five year summary

Revenue

Gross profit
% of revenue
Operating costs

Operating profit before exceptional items 
and amortisation of intangible assets

Exceptional items
Amortisation of intangible assets

Operating profit
Net finance costs

(Loss)/profit before taxation
Taxation
Dividends

Retained (loss)/profit

Net assets excluding pension asset after 
deduction of related deferred tax

Depreciation
EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, 
depreciation and amortisation)
Capital expenditure
Net debt
Operating profit % of revenue
Return on capital employed %
Basic (loss)/earnings per share

2019
£’000

35,085

7,492
21%
(4,971)

2,521

- 
(810)

1,711
(205)

1,506
(296)
(890)

320

2020
£’000

37,203

8,566
23%
(5,878)

2,688

- 
(809)

1,879
(127)

1,752
(343)
(890)

519

2021
£’000

45,954

7,750
17%
(6,525)

1,225

(43)
(957)

225
(373)

(148)
176
(898)

(870)

2022
£’000

50,529

8,764
17%
(6,731)

2,033

1,714
(947)

2,800
(507)

2,293
51
(898)

1,446

22,923

23,404

21,670

23,942

1,960

4,481
1,726
6,946
5%
7%
7.3p 

2,164

4,852
4,956
6,865
5%
8%
8.5p 

2,963

4,145
3,991
13,127
0%
4%
0.2p 

3,151

6,898
2,584
9,181
6%
6%
14.0p 

2023
£’000

49,670

9,631
19%
(7,420)

2,211

(1,116)
(990)

105
(765)

(660)
(160)
(898)

(1,718)

25,554

3,280

4,375
4,034
6,301
0%
6%
(4.9p) 

*  Operating profit before exceptional items and amortisation of intangible assets
** Net capital expenditure on plant and equipment, excluding operating leases capitalised under IFRS 16 

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  3 

Chairman’s 
statement

Robinson ended 2023 with a 
much stronger business. We 
improved adjusted operating 
profits*, achieved surplus 
property sales, and secured the 
return of the pension escrow 
account funds to reduce gearing 
and strengthen our balance 
sheet. 

We have largely renewed our 
manufacturing asset base, won 
important new business with 
leading FMCG customers and 
are now seeing sales volumes 
recover.

We have taken the necessary 
actions to make Robinson more 
resilient, more competitive, and 
more responsive. As market 
conditions begin to improve, 
we are well placed to generate 
sustainable long-term value for 
our shareholders.

Alan Raleigh  |  Chairman

Market conditions remained difficult in 2023 with persistent 
high inflation and sharp increases in central bank interest 
rates across our countries of operation. The continuing 
cost-of-living crisis has impacted consumer buying habits 
and consequentially created volatility and uncertainty in 
customer demand.

Performance in the first half of the year was impacted by 
lower sales volumes. Demand notably reduced across the 
premium products in our customers’ portfolio because 
of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. In addition to this 
general trend, a large UK customer experienced issues after 
making supply chain changes, which caused a substantial 
in-year reduction in sales with them. 

4  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Our strong customer relationships allowed us to increase 
sales prices to recover the majority of input cost increases 
and therefore protect gross margins, however, those 
increases were not sufficient to cover all the fixed operating 
cost increases.

In the second half of the year, plastics sales volumes 
recovered as large new projects came on stream. With a 
strong pipeline of further projects, we believe we have now 
passed the worst of the downturn. 

To secure competitive operating costs, we implemented 
a restructuring program in June which, together with 
increased sales volumes, helped to increase underlying 
profits in the second half.

We suffered flooding at our Chesterfield site in October 
and despite the substantial efforts of our employees, some 
damage was caused to facilities, materials and equipment. 
The flood halted production in our Paperbox business 
and impacted premises that are let to tenants whilst the 
clean-up and reinstatement of production equipment were 
carried out.

We have made important progress on raising our level of 
recycled material content in recent years, but at 18% in 
2023, we have not yet achieved our target of 30%. Our 
pipeline of new projects will support a further increase in 
this ratio and, excluding products for food, where there is 
restrictive legislation, we expect to achieve our goal in 2024.

We would like to thank our employees for their continued 
commitment and excellent contribution during the year, with 
a special mention for those in the Paperbox business that have 
expertly dealt with the aftermath of a serious flood event.

Financial and operating performance
Revenues were 2% lower than 2022. After adjusting for 
price changes and foreign exchange, sales volumes were 6% 
lower than 2022.

Gross margins of 19% (2022: 17%) were 2% above 2022, 
despite the operational gearing effect of 6% lower sales 
volumes and continued inflation in input costs.

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationOperating costs excluding exceptional items were 10% 
higher than in 2022. The restructuring program implemented 
in June resulted in exceptional costs of c.£0.4m and annual 
savings of c.£0.7m, of which £0.4m benefited 2023.

Operating profit before amortisation of intangible assets and 
exceptional items has increased to £2.2m (2022: £2.0m). 
After £0.7m restructuring and rationalisation costs and 
£0.1m of uninsured costs related to the flood in 
Chesterfield,  loss before tax was £0.7m (2022: profit £2.3m). 
Income of £3.3m from the return of the escrow account 
funds has gone through the statement of comprehensive 
income. 

Finance costs increased to £0.8m (2022: £0.5m) as a result 
of the sharp increases in market interest rates across our 
countries of operation, partially offset by the lower net 
debt during the year.

Cash generated by operations was £5.0m (2022: £7.6m). 
Working capital inflows normalised after a very strong year 
in 2022, which included improved payment terms with 
suppliers and customers.

Capital investment, financing, and pension
During the year, we invested a net £4.0m in property, plant 
and equipment, of which £2.3m was related to a previously 
communicated large new project in Denmark. Surplus property 
sales proceeds of £0.7m were received in May and £3.3m was 
received from the return of the pension escrow account in 
August. Consequently, net debt at 31 December 2023 was 
£6.3m (2022: £9.2m). With total credit facilities of £15m (2022: 
£19m), the necessary headroom is available for the Group to 
operate effectively. 

The IAS 19 valuation of our pension plan at 31 December 2023 
reported a surplus of £3.6m (2022: £7.0m). This surplus is not 
recoverable and so is not included in the Group’s assets.

In December 2022, the Robinson & Sons’ Limited Pension Fund 
(the “Scheme”) completed a buy-in of all the Group’s defined 
benefit pension scheme liabilities with a plan to complete a full 
buy-out within 12 months. A data cleanse exercise was 
completed, the administration and payroll functions were 
handed over to Legal and General Assurance Society Limited 
(“L&G”) from 1 August 2023 and a final balancing payment of 
£0.1m, was made by L&G to the Scheme on 19 February 
2024, completing the buy-in process. The surplus remaining in 
the Scheme, currently £3.6m, will be used to augment 
member benefits. We are pleased that this important buy-in 
transaction has de-risked the Group’s defined benefit pension 
obligations and we expect the final buy-out to be completed 
shortly.

Non-cash exceptional costs of £0.3m were incurred in 2023, 
including the costs of enhancing the benefits of active 
members and the expenses of moving towards buy-out. These 
costs are payable by the Scheme but accounted for in the 
Company under IAS19.

During the year, the Company reached agreement with the 
trustees of the Scheme for the funds held in the pension 
escrow account, totalling c.£3.3m, to be returned to the 
Group of which, £2.7m was already loaned to the Company. 
These funds have been received and used to reduce net 
indebtedness.

CEO position
Dr Helene Roberts resigned as CEO and a Director of the 
Company on 1 September 2023, at which point Sara Halton 
assumed responsibility as the Interim CEO for a transitional 
period whilst the Board conducts a search for a new CEO. 

We thank Helene again for her enormous contribution to 
the business.

The selection process for the new CEO is underway, and 
the Directors expect to make an announcement on the 
appointment of a permanent CEO in due course.

Property
We have continued to progress our surplus property disposal 
agenda during the year, with movement on two sites.

In May, the Group completed on the sale of part of the 
Walton Works surplus property, known as “Mill Lane”. 
Consideration of £0.7m was received in cash and used 
to reduce bank debt.

In August, the Group exchanged contracts for the sale of a 
further c.1.3 acres of the Walton Works surplus property. 
Completion is subject to satisfactory planning approval 
and is currently expected to take up to 18 months. The 
consideration payable on completion would be £1.5m 
in cash, with estimated Group costs of £0.4m. The net 
proceeds of £1.1m would be used by the Group to reduce 
current bank debt or to invest in the listed Walton Mill 
buildings to enhance their saleability.

Based on professional independent valuations and including 
the property transaction which is not yet completed, 
the Directors estimate that the current market value of 
the remaining surplus properties held by the Group is 
approximately £7.4m. 

Subject to the necessary planning approvals, we would 
expect further sales of surplus property in Chesterfield to 
be achieved in the next 12 months. The intention of the 
Group remains, over time, to realise value from the disposal 
of surplus properties and use the proceeds to reduce 
indebtedness and develop our packaging business.

Dividend
The Board proposes a final dividend of 3.0p per share to 
be paid on 21 June 2024 to shareholders on the register at 
the close of business on 7 June 2024. The ordinary shares 
become ex-dividend on 6 June 2024. This brings the total 
dividend declared for 2023 to 5.5p (2022: 5.5p).

Outlook
Following improved momentum in the second half of 2023, 
and reflecting the effect of new customer projects and 
the full year impact of cost savings, the Company expects 
revenue, and operating profit (before amortisation of 
intangible assets and any exceptional items), for the 2024 
financial year to be ahead of 2023. We remain committed 
in the medium-term to delivering above-market profitable 
growth and our target of 6-8% adjusted operating margin**.

Alan Raleigh 
Chairman 
21 March 2024

* Operating profit before exceptional items and amortisation of intangible assets
** Operating profit margin before exceptional items and amortisation of intangible assets

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  5 

Chief  
Executive’s 
Report

After a number of years of 
macro-economic and market 
challenges, Robinson has 
a strong sales pipeline, an 
effective manufacturing 
platform and a loyal and 
committed workforce. I am 
confident that the business is 
well placed for growth in sales 
and profits in the future.

Overall, revenue decreased by 2% year on year, with 
underlying volumes falling by 6%. In the first half of 
the year, we saw a volume reduction of 13% against 
2022, heavily weighted to our premium brand owner 
customers. By the second half, our success in new business 
development led to new projects and volumes were 1% 
higher than 2022 in that period.

Gross margins improved by 2% in the year as a result of: 
our successful sales price increase program, designed 
to ameliorate sharp rises in input costs; and significant 
reductions in resin prices through the year.

Operating costs excluding exceptional items in the first half 
were £7.4m (2022: £6.7m). The increase of £0.7m includes:

•  £0.3m of new roles brought into the business to improve 

our operational capabilities and support our efforts to grow 
sales volumes, including the major new project in Denmark;

Business unit performance 

•  £0.3m of inflation in wages and salaries in response to 

double digit market inflation and substantial mandatory 
minimum wage increases across our three countries of 
operation;

•  £0.2m related to property and insurance as the costs 
of maintaining, repairing and rebuilding premises have 
escalated, and the insurance market has hardened since 
the previous renewal; and

•  £0.2m due to the movement in foreign exchange rates.

Whilst most of these cost increases were anticipated, our 
efforts to increase sales prices to recover the inflation were 
insufficient to cover these operating cost increases. As a 
result, we implemented a restructuring program in June, 
which resulted in exceptional costs of c.£0.4m and annual 
savings of c.£0.7m, of which £0.4m benefited 2023.

In Poland, sales volumes increased by 3% over 2022, mainly 
due to new project wins with a fast-growing local producer 
of own label products in the personal care sector. Demand 
for air freshener devices and other discretionary products 
remained suppressed as the cost-of-living crisis continued 
through the year. Our recent investment in new technology 
for production of products with recycled material content 
was successful and the equipment is now at full capacity, 
additional expenditure in 2024 will support further growth in 
this area. Currency movements also increased Poland sales in 
the Group results by 5% (£0.9m) against the prior year.

2023

2022

UK
£'000

Poland
£'000

Denmark
£'000

Head 
office
£'000

Group
£'000

UK
£'000

Poland
£'000

Denmark
£'000

Head 
office
£'000

Group
£'000

Revenue

19,897

18,259

11,514

-

49,670

22,005

16,619

11,905

-

50,529

Operating profit before 
exceptional items and 
amortisation of intangibles

Operating profit margin 
before exceptional items and 
amortisation of intangibles

501

2,202

(70)

(422)

2,211

771

1,729

117

(584)

2,033

2.5%

12.1%

-0.6%

n/a

4.5%

3.5%

10.4%

1.0%

n/a

4.0%

Capital expenditure

364

1,338

2,332

–

4,034

1,135

643

795

11

2,584

6  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationIn Denmark, sales volumes reduced by 7% including the 
transfer of some production to our plants in Poland to 
be closer to the end customer. During the year we have 
successfully delivered a major new project for the Group’s 
largest customer which will deliver substantial sales growth in 
2024 and entry to the premium personal care sector for the 
plant. The implementation of this project and the management 
transition and development in the early part of the year 
created more costs than expected, which has weighed on 
2023 profits. As we refocus on the major customers and 
improve the operations, we expect improved profits to follow. 
Currency movements increased Denmark sales in the Group 
results by 2% (£0.2m) against the prior year.

In the UK Plastics business, sales volumes were reduced 
by 15%, of which 7% relates to reduced demand from a 
single customer. With volumes under pressure, the focus 
during the year has been on cost control, including the 
restructuring exercise carried out in June which will deliver 
substantial annual savings. New business wins will drive 
further investment in PET bottle production and provide 
confidence that 2024 will show improvement and provide 
a stable platform for future growth in our core sectors.

In the Paperbox business, sales volumes increased by 22% 
as our investment in new technology was beginning to 
attract potentially large new customers across our market 
sectors. The flood on 20 October 2023 had a devastating 
effect on the operations, impacting our ability to 
manufacture in the critical Christmas period for the luxury 
gifting market. Some finished goods, stored offsite, were 
saved from the worst effects and the management team 
were successful in outsourcing production to ensure that 
most customer orders were fulfilled on time.  Operations 
were finally restarted at close to full output in February 
2024 and the team continues to work on rebuilding the 
sales pipeline and customer confidence to grow the 
business and return to profitability in 2024.

Sustainability
Sustainability is central to our core values and delivery of 
the key priorities outlined in our strategy (see Page 10). 

We launched our Sustainability pledge in February 2021 and 
through practical application, we have successfully achieved 
our initial goals of zero percent waste to landfill and 100% 
recyclable products across all of our operations.

We have not yet met our target of 30% recycled material 
content in plastics although the ratio improved slightly in 
2023 to 18% (2022: 17%). Our growth in recycled content 
in recent years has been due to our partnerships with the 
major premium brand owner customers who have their own 
sustainability goals. As those customers volumes have reduced 
through the cost-of-living crisis, we have seen the opposite 
effect. Legislation in the UK and EU continues to restrict the 
use of mechanically recycled polypropylene material for food 
applications and this represents more than 40% of our plastic 
products. We’re working on new sales projects in the UK and 
Denmark which will increase the ratio of recycled content 
substantially in 2024.

Reducing the carbon footprint of our operations by reducing 
energy consumption continues to be a key strand of our 
sustainable approach. We continue to decommission old 
equipment and consolidate production on more modern 
energy efficient technology and will invest in new machinery 
when appropriate. We have removed plant-wide gas central 
heating systems and replaced them with heat-recuperation 

systems from production equipment, or with localized 
electric heaters to reduce carbon emissions. We have 
introduced evaporative air-cooling systems rather than 
traditional air conditioning, to improve the working 
environment and equipment cooling whilst keeping energy 
usage as low as possible. Energy monitoring systems are 
being used to identify areas for further improvement.

Operating with excellence
We are extremely disappointed to report nine lost-time 
accidents across the Group, which all occurred across 
two sites. The Health and Safety of our team is of 
paramount importance and we have heightened our focus 
on behavioural safety and a Group-wide approach to 
ensure Robinson standards are clearly understood.

We noted last year that we were in the process of 
implementing a Group approach to product quality, 
which I’m pleased to say has proved successful. Our 
customer-focused method includes enhanced internal 
processes for identifying non-conformity, leading 
to improved quality and better service and delivery 
performance. Total quality complaints were reduced by 
44% and significant complaints reduced by 88% in the year.

A new Group-wide manufacturing execution system was 
rolled out across all locations during the year. The system 
provides real-time production KPIs which we are now 
using to make data driven decisions for higher output and 
production efficiency. 

Our focus ahead
The actions taken in 2023 result in Robinson entering 2024 
with a more resilient and competitive business:

•  Organisational changes have reduced hierarchy, increased 
individual accountability and created opportunities for 
greater sharing of knowledge and experience across the 
Group. This will allow us to remain agile and responsive as 
a supplier;

•  Our close partnerships with major customers have led 

to the development of an enviable sales pipeline, which 
will lead to substantial growth opportunities in the next 
2 years; 

•  The work to develop surplus property proceeds of £0.7m 
and the return of the Pension Escrow Account funds 
of £3.3m has reduced net debt and provided funds for 
future investment in the packaging business; and

•  We believe that we have now passed the worst of the 
softness in sales which has negatively impacted the 
business since 2020. During 2024, as well as delivering 
new projects, we will continue to focus on improving our 
profitability across our operations as the effects of inflation 
subside and our premium brand owner customers 
respond to the new market situation.

A new permanent Robinson CEO will be appointed in 2024, 
they will join an organisation with a strong sales pipeline, an 
effective manufacturing platform and a loyal and committed 
workforce. I am confident that the business is well placed 
for growth in sales and profits under this new leadership.

Sara Halton 
Interim CEO 
21 March 2024

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  7 

Robinson at a glance

Our purpose is to go above and beyond to create a sustainable 
future for our people and our planet.

1839

End-to-end solution provider, from 
concept to manufacturing reality

More than 180 years 
of industry expertise

Our business
Robinson specialises in custom packaging 
with technical solutions for hygiene, 
safety, protection, and convenience. We 
manufacture injection and blow moulded 
plastic packaging and rigid paperboard 
luxury packaging.

346

Employing 346 people

Geographical reach into Northern 
& Eastern Europe and the UK

Markets we serve

Food & drink

Homecare

Personal care & beauty

Luxury gifts

Our customers include McBride, Persan, Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, SC Johnson & Unilever

How we work

Our core values and behaviours 

Honest

Agile 

Empowered

Engaged

We are 
refreshingly real, 
straightforward, 
and trusted by 
our customers

We are nimble 
and work 
responsively to 
keep on track, 
quickly bringing 
concepts to 
manufacturing 
reality

We are 
confident. 
Working with 
authority and 
competence 
to deliver our 
collective goals

We want 
our people 
to thrive, 
supporting 
them to realise 
their full 
potential

Geographical 
reach 
The location 
of our sites 
maximises 
our logistical 
reach to deliver 
cost-effective 
solutions

Sustainable 
focus 

Bringing 
customers 
sustainable 
solutions that 
align with 
Robinson values

Visit our website for  
more information

8  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
Our locations

1

2

3

4

5

Kirkby-in-Ashfield

Łódź

 Mińsk Mazowiecki

Chesterfield

Brørup

Robinson Plastic Packaging
Robinson Paperbox Packaging

Denmark

5

UK

4

1

Poland

3

2

Sustainability: Doing what we do, with the future of  
people and the planet in mind

Materials
Our suppliers 
extract and supply 
raw materials for 
our packaging, as 
well as provide us 
with energy, tools, 
equipment, and 
machinery

Products
We offer custom solutions and 
technical capabilities that deliver 
social and environmental benefits 
while protecting our customers’ 
products and the consumers 
who use them

Team
We invest in our people, 
helping shape their careers 
and support their safety, 
health, and wellbeing

Operations
We use innovative 
processes at all of 
our manufacturing 
plants and offices to 
reduce our impact 
on the planet

Customers
We partner with our 
customers, along with 
technical specialists, experts, 
and researchers, to design 
packaging with sustainability 
features and benefits built 
into the entire lifecycle

Transportation
We partner with our logistics 
providers to minimise transport 
through intelligent packaging 
design and taking advantage of 
our close locations to our key 
customers in the UK and Europe

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  9 

Our business strategy

Our strategy is to profitably grow ahead of the market, by providing 
excellent customer service as a long-term strategic partner, while 
creating a people-centric business aligned with our purpose. As 
we transition to a circular economy, sustainability is at the core of 
our work.

Our strategic priorities

Customer
first

OUR PURPOSE

Going above 
and beyond to 
create a sustainable 
future for our 
people and planet

Thriving
people

Sustainable
growth

Underpinned by operating responsibly and sustainably

Accountable and inclusive governance
We recognise the importance of our corporate social responsibility and effective governance to support the 
future for our shareholders and other stakeholders.

Our sustainability pledge
Long-term success for Robinson and our stakeholders relies on us being 
part of self-sustaining local economies, delivering social, environmental 
and economic value.

Read more on pages 12-15.

10  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationOur strategic priorities

Customer first

Our sustainability pledge

We continue to partner with our customers to help 
provide long-term value by protecting and showcasing 
their brands through our sustainable, fully functional 
custom packaging solutions. We take their concepts and 
turn them into commercial reality with speed and agility. 
We do this by:

•  providing excellent customer service and enabling 

our customers to serve their customers and the value 
chain effectively;

•  engaging our customers and becoming more relevant 

as a long-term strategic partner; and

•  creating mutual value for ourselves and our customers 

to drive sustainable growth.

Intelligence
We enable our customers to 
contribute to building a circular 
economy through Robinson’s 
sustainable products and 
services.

Transformation
We will drive shared 
commercial value and income 
streams beyond current 
business models, collaborating 
with our customers.

Sustainable growth 

Our sustainability pledge

We deliver on our promise to grow our revenue ahead 
of the market and achieve profitable growth, thereby 
generating long-term shareholder value. We do this by: 

•  doing the right things right through professional 
manufacturing operations, developing a superior 
performance-focused mindset of improvement and 
extracting capacity for regenerative growth; 

•  divesting surplus property and reinvesting into the 

business; and

•  improving financial performance and resilience, 

allowing us to invest in the business and helping our 
people thrive.

Regeneration
We extract maximum value 
from the resources we use in 
our operations, recovering and 
restoring materials at the end 
of their life.

Transformation
We will drive shared 
commercial value and income 
streams to regenerate business 
models for a circular economy.

Thriving people

Our sustainability pledge 

We continue to create a people-centric business, 
aligned to our purpose. We do this by: 

•  building a culture that puts people at the core, 
focusing on being socially inclusive and driving 
diversity in thinking and supporting safety, health and 
wellbeing;

•  investing in our people, enabling them to reach 

their full potential through our continuous training 
programmes, helping them shape their careers; and
•  engaging people in all aspects of our business and 

operations and assisting them to put our customers 
first.

Talent
We want our people to thrive, 
enabling our team to reach 
their potential in a culture that 
prioritises health and wellbeing.

Community
We deliver real social and 
environmental benefits to 
our people and the local 
communities in which we 
operate. 

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  11 

Guiding our  
sustainability journey

Our sustainability pledge helps bring our purpose to life  
- going above and beyond to create a sustainable future  
for our people and our planet. 

This underpins our business strategy and is focused on five pillars and  
15 ambitious commitments which are woven into the fabric of our business. 

We continue to drive towards a circular economy system with resilience, 
delivering social and environmental value for all as we transition into the green 
industrial revolution.

Find out more about our pledge at robinsonpackaging.com/sustainability

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|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

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Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Transformation

Intelligence

We will drive shared commercial value and 
income streams beyond current business 
models, collaborating with our customers 
and partners to regenerate local economies.

We will enable our customers to contribute 
to building a circular economy by applying 
purposeful design, using recycled content, 
and making our products recyclable.

To develop a circular economy for our products, we will 
focus on using materials in our packaging that are 

recyclable, and produced using the maximum amount of recycled 
material, without adversely affecting the functionality of the 
packaging.  We are developing the end market for recycled 
content with a mission to be part of self-sustaining local circular 
economies, delivering social, environmental, and economic value. 
Our goal is to re-use resources such as plastics and energy for as 
long as possible, with minimal waste.

We were a founding member of a consortium in Denmark that has 
delivered plastic packaging made from 100% Danish household-
sorted plastic waste; a local loop where plastic waste is being 
used as raw material for new packaging rather than going to 
incineration. As a result of this work and new business projects, 
approximately 50% of our HDPE packaging in Denmark is made 
from post-consumer recycled plastic.

10% virgin plastic reduction by the end of 2025

Since our base year of 2020 the overall volume of plastic processed 
by the Group has reduced by 20% and the amount of virgin material 
used has reduced by 29%, well ahead of the 2025 target date. This 
has been achieved by actions including “light-weighting” products 
and switching from virgin to recycled plastic. Key projects with 
Unilever in Denmark include bottles made from 100% recycled plastic 
which contributes substantially to the goal. We are also pleased that 
the large own label fillers which we serve in Poland are now taking 
bottles made from recycled plastic and we’ve increased usage there 
by more than 200 tonnes in the year.

  Maximum recycled content by the end of 2022: 
Minimum 30% in plastic / Maintain 100% in paperboard

Whilst we have made substantial progress, we are disappointed to 
have not yet achieved our ambition of 30% recycled content in our 
plastic products.

We reduced our range of processed plastics to those where 
recycled sources are widely available, these are Polyethene 
Terephthalate (PET), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and 
Polypropylene (PP). We have developed local sources of recycled 
HDPE in Denmark and Poland and PET in the UK and Poland. We 
can now manufacture packaging in HDPE and PET including up to 
100% post-consumer waste. 

In PP, approximately 40% of our plastic products are used for 
food applications. Legislation in the UK and EU restricts the use 
of mechanically recycled PP material in that sector. Due to excess 
demand, the market price of recycled material has historically 
been significantly higher than virgin and many of our customers 
have been hesitant to incur additional cost in the current economic 
situation. Prices have reduced recently, which we hope will help 
to stimulate further demand.

Despite the challenges we increased our overall % of post-consumer 
recycled material to 18% (2022: 17%). Over half of our material in 
Denmark comes from post-consumer waste or renewable sources 
rather than virgin material. We remain committed to 30% recycled 
content in our packaging and are identifying alternative competitive 
sources of material to support our customers. If we exclude sales of 
PP to the food sector, then we achieved 24% recycled content in 
2023 (2022: 22%).

All products fully recyclable by the end of 2022

All plastic and paperboard products that we place on the 
market are now widely recyclable. This was achieved through 
significant work in the UK and Poland to simplify the polymers 
we use, remove non-recyclable materials and ensuring that all our 
products can be detected in recycling plants, whilst maintaining 
our approach in Denmark and the UK rigid box operations.

SUPPORTING THE UN  
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

SUPPORTING THE UN  
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  13 

   
 
  
   
Regeneration

People

We will extract maximum value from 
the resources we use in our operations, 
recovering and restoring materials at the 
end of their life.

We want our people to thrive, enabling our 
teams to reach their potential in a culture 
that prioritises health and wellbeing.

Zero waste to landfill by the end of 2021 

We achieved our target of zero percent of our operational waste 
going to landfill by the first quarter of 2022 and maintained it 
throughout 2023. All Robinson sites are signatories to Operation 
Clean Sweep; an international initiative to reduce plastic pellet loss 
from manufacturing operations.

Net carbon positive by the end of 2030

We are committed to the decarbonisation of our operations and as 
we develop our roadmap, we are prioritising implementation of 6 high 
priority areas such as installation of new energy-efficient machines and 
production cells within our sites, aligning our investments for sustainable 
growth. We are focusing on measuring and reducing carbon emissions 
from our operations (see SECR report on page 26 for further details), 
and in parallel, we are investigating lower carbon sources of energy.

Improving building sustainability  

We recognise that our buildings were not built to modern sustainable 
standards, but we are developing a formalised sustainable building 
protocol for all sites and will implement improvement actions where 
possible and appropriate. Energy and carbon reduction measures 
for our buildings are integrated into our carbon management and 
equipment replacement programmes. Further work is needed to 
identify opportunities related to water consumption and improving 
the workplace environment to support employee welfare and 
wellbeing. The development of a refurbished unit at Kirkby-in-
Ashfield, in the UK, has provided opportunities for introducing a more 
carbon efficient approach, for example we have recently installed an 
evaporative air-cooling system which uses less energy than traditional 
air conditioning systems to improve the working environment. For 
the winter months, we now use technology to transfer latent heat 
produced from our operations to heat other areas of our facilities and 
reduce the amount of additional energy consumed through central-
heating systems, across all our factories.

  People development plan fully implemented by 
the end of 2023

This is a structured approach to support and develop our 
employees and teams, creating a great culture for our workforce. 
The plan focuses on several key areas including:

•  Employee engagement – on the back of an organisational 

survey, we have introduced a number of channels whereby 
employees are consulted on change and have the opportunity 
to input their views and actively be involved. We have rolled out 
short, actionable internal surveys with our people in 2023.

•  Enhanced employee communication – through the company 
intranet, on screens in communal production areas and face 
to face briefings, we continue to improve our employee 
communications across a number of channels.

•  Diversity plan – to ensure we bring in experience from a variety 

of perspectives, skills, and backgrounds.

•  Investing in people – development and training while creating 

career pathways to enable continued professional development 
and upskilling of our teams.

•  Rewards and recognition and the enhancement of employee 
benefits – which includes virtual access to a GP, life insurance 
and free counselling to support the health and well-being of 
our people.

 Champion employee health and wellbeing

We have implemented a social club across our UK operations which 
organises day trips, parties and gifts for employee members and 
their children. We also organise an annual Christmas Party for our 
employees and organise family days on site in Poland. 

 Zero accidents every year

We are extremely disappointed to report nine lost-time accidents 
across the Group, which all occurred across two sites. The Health 
and Safety of our team is of paramount importance and we have 
heightened our focus on behavioural safety and a Group-wide 
approach to ensure Robinson standards are clearly understood.

SUPPORTING THE UN  
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

SUPPORTING THE UN  
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

14  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
 
  
  
  
Community

We will deliver tangible social and environmental 
benefits to our communities, educating the next 
generation of change-makers and bringing more 
sustainable initiatives to the areas where we operate.

   Offer career-enhancing work experience and 
opportunities

We believe in investing in our future workforce and continue to 
offer internships, apprenticeships and take part in local career fairs in 
partnership with colleges and universities in the three countries where 
we operate. We are proud supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant in 
the UK, an employer recognition scheme designed to support veterans 
in gaining employment for the next stage in their career.

 Engage schools on the benefits of packaging and 
recycling

We hope to educate children on the benefits of sustainable packaging 
and the recycling imperative. During 2023 a group of 20 university 
students visited our UK sites, to understand our strategy and approach 
to sustainable packaging. In Poland, students and employees of local 
high schools were invited to attend a lecture on packaging safety 
on our sites. We plan to support and facilitate further educational 
opportunities in the future.

Giving back to communities every year

We continue to set up local community projects led by our production 
sites. Robinson supports causes through fund raising and sponsorship, 
and contributes specialist knowledge and skills to those in need. Some 
examples include:

•   We are working with a local charity to save an important heritage 

building in Chesterfield and to create a new centre for youth education 
and skills. Robinson will contribute a long-term lease or an asset transfer 
of the freehold and provide services and access to the site, whilst the 
charity seeks funding for redevelopment and community projects.

•   Our UK team supported the Leon’s Legacy charity, providing a 
donation in return for defibrillator awareness and training for all 
employees. We continued to support the Sheffield Children’s Hospital 
Trust, through their Snowflake campaign, producing gift boxes 
and providing specialist knowledge to the charitable trust. Our UK 
Welfare Officer supports past and present Robinson employees and 
pensioners, via telephone and home visits to vulnerable people.

•   In Poland we partner with the local volunteer fire brigades, our 

employees receive regular fire safety training and our donations are 
allocated to fire service equipment. We installed defibrillators at 
our sites and provided training to employees to support the local 
community in a life-threatening situation. Finally, we along with our 
employees supported Noble Gift, a national social program in Poland 
designed to help poor families in need.

•   Our team in Denmark supports the local orphanage through 

donations and fundraising events as well as being the main sponsor 
of a local annual running event, supporting health and wellbeing in 
the area. The team also employs local people who have fallen out 
of employment due to physical or mental constraints, supporting 
and mentoring them in their careers. 

SUPPORTING THE UN  
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  15 

 
  
  
How we create value

External drivers

What we 
depend on

Our business model

 Environmental 

sustainability  
Plastics use and waste, 
pollution, food waste, energy, 
and carbon emissions. 

Relationships

 Thriving 

people 
The engagement, skill, and 
efforts of our talented people.  

 Social and 
demographic 
changes
Changing role of packaging 
and attitudes to waste. 

 Supply 
partnerships
Materials and equipment 
procured from a limited 
number of partners.  

 Uncertain 

economic 
outlook 
Long-term impacts of Brexit 
and the ongoing cost-of-living 
crisis. 

 Regulation  
and legislation 
UK and European plastics 
legislation implemented from 
2022.

 Supply chain 

disruption 
Reliance on timely, high- 
quality raw materials.  

 Digitalisation 
and automation 
Rapidly advancing 
manufacturing techniques  
and technology.

 Expert groups 
and organisations 
Insights to policy, legislation, 
and market trends, and 
driving positive change. 

 Customers 
Integrated and mutually 
beneficial relationships with 
key customers.

Resources

 Natural 

resources
Renewable and non-
renewable materials.  

 Financial 

resources
Cash, equity, and debt to 
invest for the long-term.  

 Tangible 

assets
Physical assets such as 
manufacturing and office 
facilities as well as stock.

16  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

1

Supply chain

We partner with our 
suppliers and expert 
organisations to help 
us develop efficient 
processes and 
sustainable products.

2

Design and
manufacturing 
We use technical 
expertise to bring 
customer concepts 
to commercial 
reality with agility, 
while minimising 
environmental impact.

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
 
Our business model

Our people and expertise

We protect and develop our people to help 
them thrive and continue to deliver value to 
our business and our customers.

3

4

Customers

Consumers

We develop 
partnerships with 
and invest in our 
customers to 
ensure they can 
meet their own 
customers’ needs.

We provide 
packaging across 
our market sectors 
that is sustainable, 
protective, and 
functional.

5

Post-consumer recycled content

We aim to design closed-loop packaging 
– eliminating waste and pollution, keeping 
resources in the circular economy, and 
regenerating natural systems.

The value we 
create now

Our long-term 
impact

 Customers
Protection and differentiation 
of customer brands through 
sustainable, custom packaging 
solutions at speed and at a 
competitive price. 

 People

Motivated people achieving 
their full potential and taking 
action to improve their health 
and wellbeing. 

 Communities
Increased local employment 
and community engagement 
in plastics, packaging, and 
circular economies. 

 Environment
Reduction in food and product 
waste and climate mitigation. 

 Investors and 

shareholders
Profitable, sustainable 
growth, generating long-term 
shareholder value. 

 Consumers

Protective packaging 
for hygiene, safety, and 
convenience.

Creating inclusive 
and equitable 
employment
A diverse workforce with 
a culture that prioritises 
health and wellbeing, people 
development and employee 
growth with fair reward.  

Protecting  
our planet
Sustainable consumption 
with clear goals of zero waste 
to landfill and becoming net 
carbon positive.

Reducing plastic 
pollution
Packaging with the lowest 
possible plastic content, 
maximising recycled material 
and driving for improved 
recycling systems.

Partnership and 
collaboration
Collaboration on the 
regeneration of local 
economies, and education on 
the benefits of plastics and 
importance of recycling.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  17 

 
 
Risks and  
opportunities

Our approach to risk management 

Our principal risks 

The Board maintains a process and procedures for 
identifying and mitigating significant risks faced by the 
Group as follows:

The Board meets annually to identify risks and 
review strategy.

Risks are assessed across five categories: Strategic; 
Business continuity; Environment, Social & 
Governance; Operational; and Financial. From those 
categories, the Directors have identified those risks and 
opportunities that are deemed fundamental to the 
business due to their potential impact on the delivery of 
the Group’s long-term strategic goals.

 Static risk   

 Increased risk

Risks are assessed during the annual planning and 
budget process.

The Senior Executive Team records each risk, 
describing mitigation measures and any proposed 
future actions.

The status of the most significant risks is reviewed 
regularly at Senior Executive Team meetings.

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Low

Med
Impact

High

The Group’s Audit and Risk Committee assist the 
Board in monitoring risk management across the 
Group.

A   Investment 

B   Customers

C    Raw material supply 
and input prices

D   IT and digital security

F   People

E   Environment 

G   Supply continuity

Customer first

Sustainable growth

Thriving people

Pages 10 and 11: Our business strategy

Principal risk and impact

Mitigation

Key developments and opportunities

Strategic

A  Investment
Strategic choices for major investment projects 
create potential risks in business stability 
and continuity, culture, technology and 
change management. Failure to perform to 
expectations in these major projects could 
reduce business earnings and value.

B  Customers
The Group has a small number of key 
customers. The loss of a customer or worsening 
of terms could adversely affect results. 

We have limited power to drive price increases and 
to shape end-consumer demand. This can result in 
reduced revenues, volumes and profitability.

High quality project proposals and project 
management procedures. Target return on 
investment hurdles in place and regularly 
monitored. Post implementation reviews 
of major projects provide opportunity for 
learning and improvement.

Recently, the business has won more, larger 
projects with major customers, and it is 
anticipated that this trend will continue. 

It will be important to continuously improve 
all aspects of the execution of major 
investment projects.

Ensure the length of contracts is appropriate 
to specific capital investment. Build a broad 
customer base. 

Success with price increases outside of 
normal contracts in last three years to 
recover input cost inflation. 

Maintaining strong customer relationships 
including multi-level key contact points. 

New business won with existing and new 
customers in the period provides confidence 
that relationships remain strong.

18  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
Principal risk and impact

Mitigation

Key developments and opportunities

Business continuity

C   Raw material supply and input  

prices                                                   
Failure to receive timely, high-quality raw 
materials could impact our ability to meet 
customer demand. 

Secondary supply sources in place for some 
key materials. Where possible, contracts are 
structured to allow input cost recovery. 

Secondary suppliers implemented where 
possible, but lack of scale and inability to 
quickly change specifications restricts use. 

Market prices of electricity, plastic resin and 
other raw materials can fluctuate significantly, 
leading to higher costs and lower profitability.

Group Procurement Manager appointed, 
responsibilities include material and energy 
purchasing. 

After severe challenges in 2021, resin 
availability and price have improved due to 
lower market demand. 

Leverage of material supply from certain key 
blue chip customers.

Energy prices have receded from their peak 
at the beginning of the Ukraine conflict but 
have not returned to historic levels. 

D  IT and digital security

A breach of IT systems could result in the 
inability to operate systems effectively or the 
release of sensitive information.

Physical security of servers, anti-malware, 
internet monitoring, safe-use policies and 
regular employee training. 

Independent cyber maturity assessment 
performed in 2021, improvements made through 
2022 and 2023. 

Regular security review at Board level.

Working towards new assessment in the second 
half of 2024.

Environment, social & governance

E  Environment
Business impacts related to plastics and waste 
pollution, food waste, energy and carbon 
emissions resulting in climate change. 

New plastics legislation may increase costs 
and fees and could impact customer demand 
for plastic packaging.

Operational

F  People
Our success depends on the efforts and 
abilities of our people. High demand for 
skilled people in an economic climate of low 
unemployment may restrict our growth.

Select sustainable materials. 

Ensure sustainable operations and production. 

Active membership of trade bodies lobbying 
for the benefit of plastics and inputting to new 
or revised legislation. 

Designing products for recyclability. 

Close contact with customers on their own 
sustainability goals.

Reduced material content through innovation, 
design and technology. 

Now phased out non-recyclable products. 

Implemented local source of recycled 
material in Denmark and Poland creating 
circular plastics economies. 

Price differential between virgin and recycled 
material has reduced significantly during the 
year, encouraging wider adoption.

Frequent salary benchmarking and 
adjustment. 

Fair employment practices. 

Increased number of permanent rather than 
temporary employees. 

Improving gender pay gap. 

Appropriate length of notice period in 
contract for senior roles.

Supporting employees through cost-of-
living crisis with salary interventions where 
appropriate. 

Responded well to departure of two senior 
leaders during the year. 

New systems to be implemented to reduce 
overall reliance on individual people in 
specific roles.

Introduced “Family and Friends” recruitment 
scheme.

G  Supply continuity
Failure to supply customer orders due to 
fire, flood, loss of power or contaminated 
materials for example may result in additional 
costs and ultimately loss of reputation and 
customers. 

Multi-site operations provide some supply 
continuity. 

Insurance policies in place at appropriate 
levels for insurable risks. 

Crisis management plan in place and reviewed 
regularly for changes.

Serious flood in Chesterfield during the year. 

Successfully sub-contracted majority of 
customer orders through this period. 

Crisis management training and drills to be 
scheduled for other sites in 2024.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  19 

 
 
Engaging with  
stakeholders

Who and why? 

How we engaged

Outcomes and 
actions

Investors and 
banks

Employees

Access to capital is vital to our long-
term success. We must get buy-in to 
our strategic priorities from investors. 
We seek an investor base that is 
interested in long-term shareholding.

•  AGM.

•   Investor presentations and one-to-one 

meetings.

•   Feedback through the broker and 

nominated advisor.

•  Reports and results announcements.

•   Regular meetings with banks and 

funding providers.

We engage with employees to help 
build a healthy culture, empowering 
and enabling them to achieve their 
potential. In return, we expect 
low absenteeism and turnover 
rates, allowing us to maintain high 
efficiency and productivity.

•   Quarterly briefings with senior 

site management and employee 
consultative committees.

•   Strategy communication sessions with 

all employees.

•   Annual long-service dinner with the 

CEO.

•  Employee intranet.

•   Comprehensive induction and 

onboarding process.

•  Suggestion boxes.

Only a limited number of resin 

We rely on a small number of 

producers and machinery suppliers 

customers for a majority of our 

can supply the raw materials and 

revenue. Strong partnerships 

equipment that we need. 

are critical to understanding our 

customers’ markets and plans to 

ensure we can provide the best 

packaging solutions and services.

We are members of several trade 

and industry organisations to 

stay updated on related policy, 

legislation and trends within our core 

market sectors. We partner with 

organisations and consortiums to 

drive transformational innovation and 

societal changes. 

•   Regular meetings with suppliers to 

•   Regular operational and strategic 

•   Company memberships of industry 

build partnerships and trust.

review meetings with multidisciplinary 

bodies.

•  Supplier site audits.

•   Request for quotes and contract 

teams from our key customers.

•  Targeted social media campaigns.

•  Networking at industry events. 

•   Active participation in select 

negotiations.

•  Customer conferences and seminars.

workstreams ranging from lobbying to 

•   Conducted trials of alternative 

•  Packaging exhibitions and trade shows.

materials to mitigate supply risk.

•  Site audits and visits.

finding technical, sustainable solutions 

in packaging and our manufacturing 

operations.

•   Exploring recycled material 

opportunities on both local and global 

markets.

•   Refinanced a £4.5m commercial 

•   Management training programmes 

•   Established a group procurement 

•   Significant new business wins which 

•   Indirect lobbying through the British 

mortgage for three years to 2026 with 
HSBC Bank UK.

•   New lease funding in place for new 

project in Denmark with Sydbank A/S.

completed.

function to enhance volume 

started to come through in 2023, with 

Plastics Federation and Packaging 

•   First aid and defibrillator training 
completed for all employees.

•   Health weeks and physiotherapy 

consultations to raise awareness of 
personal health issues.

•   Conducted employee engagement 
survey and implemented follow up 
actions.

•   Signed UK Armed Forces covenant 

pledge.

•  Social club implemented.

•   Increased  internal  training  capability  to 
roll out new operator and fork lift truck 
education.

consolidation and buying strategy 

substantially more volume expected in 

Federation and consulting governments 

across the Group.

2024.

•   Aggregated volumes to deal directly with 

•   Commercial agreements that reflect 

material producers rather than brokers.

changing economic circumstances and 

reform. 

on forthcoming requirements, including 

the Extended Producer Responsibility 

•   Signatory to Operation Clean Sweep 

to reduce plastic pellet loss to the 

environment across all sites.

•   Participation in NEXTLOOPP project to 

develop and trial food-grade recycled 

polypropylene and establish a secure 

supply chain.

•   New local source of post-consumer 

business models.

recycled raw material implemented in 

•   Investment in appropriate technology 

Poland to reduce reliance on imports.

to support our customers and exploit 

•   Managed cost inflation by seeking 

new opportunities.

alternative levels of service or sources 

•   Alignment of our sustainability goals 

of supply where possible.

to meet changing customer and market 

demands.

•   Extended payment terms with some 

key suppliers to reduce working capital.

•   Maintained high quality standards of 

incoming materials, e.g. approved for 

ISO9001:2015 or BRC global standard 

for packaging materials.

20  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationSection 172 Statement

We communicate frequently with the people 
who most affect and are affected by our 
business. As required by Section 172(1 ) of 
the Companies Act 2006, we detail those 
engagements here. 

Suppliers

Customers

Expert  
organisations

How we engaged

Outcomes and 

actions

We seek an investor base that is 

interested in long-term shareholding.

•  AGM.

meetings.

•   Investor presentations and one-to-one 

•   Feedback through the broker and 

nominated advisor.

•  Reports and results announcements.

•   Regular meetings with banks and 

funding providers.

potential. In return, we expect 

low absenteeism and turnover 

rates, allowing us to maintain high 

efficiency and productivity.

•   Quarterly briefings with senior 

site management and employee 

consultative committees.

•   Strategy communication sessions with 

all employees.

•   Annual long-service dinner with the 

CEO.

•  Employee intranet.

•   Comprehensive induction and 

onboarding process.

•  Suggestion boxes.

mortgage for three years to 2026 with 

completed.

HSBC Bank UK.

•   First aid and defibrillator training 

•   New lease funding in place for new 

completed for all employees.

project in Denmark with Sydbank A/S.

Who and why? 

Access to capital is vital to our long-

We engage with employees to help 

term success. We must get buy-in to 

build a healthy culture, empowering 

our strategic priorities from investors. 

and enabling them to achieve their 

Only a limited number of resin 
producers and machinery suppliers 
can supply the raw materials and 
equipment that we need. 

We rely on a small number of 
customers for a majority of our 
revenue. Strong partnerships 
are critical to understanding our 
customers’ markets and plans to 
ensure we can provide the best 
packaging solutions and services.

We are members of several trade 
and industry organisations to 
stay updated on related policy, 
legislation and trends within our core 
market sectors. We partner with 
organisations and consortiums to 
drive transformational innovation and 
societal changes. 

•   Regular meetings with suppliers to 

•   Regular operational and strategic 

•   Company memberships of industry 

build partnerships and trust.

•  Supplier site audits.

•   Request for quotes and contract 

negotiations.

review meetings with multidisciplinary 
teams from our key customers.

•  Targeted social media campaigns.

•  Customer conferences and seminars.

•   Conducted trials of alternative 

•  Packaging exhibitions and trade shows.

materials to mitigate supply risk.

•   Exploring recycled material 

opportunities on both local and global 
markets.

•  Site audits and visits.

bodies.

•  Networking at industry events. 

•   Active participation in select 

workstreams ranging from lobbying to 
finding technical, sustainable solutions 
in packaging and our manufacturing 
operations.

•   Refinanced a £4.5m commercial 

•   Management training programmes 

•   Established a group procurement 

•   Significant new business wins which 

•   Health weeks and physiotherapy 

consultations to raise awareness of 

personal health issues.

•   Conducted employee engagement 

survey and implemented follow up 

•   Signed UK Armed Forces covenant 

actions.

pledge.

•  Social club implemented.

•   Increased  internal  training  capability  to 

roll out new operator and fork lift truck 

education.

started to come through in 2023, with 
substantially more volume expected in 
2024.

•   Commercial agreements that reflect 

changing economic circumstances and 
business models.

•   Investment in appropriate technology 
to support our customers and exploit 
new opportunities.

•   Alignment of our sustainability goals 

to meet changing customer and market 
demands.

function to enhance volume 
consolidation and buying strategy 
across the Group.

•   Aggregated volumes to deal directly with 
material producers rather than brokers.

•   New local source of post-consumer 

recycled raw material implemented in 
Poland to reduce reliance on imports.

•   Managed cost inflation by seeking 

alternative levels of service or sources 
of supply where possible.

•   Extended payment terms with some 

key suppliers to reduce working capital.

•   Maintained high quality standards of 
incoming materials, e.g. approved for 
ISO9001:2015 or BRC global standard 
for packaging materials.

•   Indirect lobbying through the British 
Plastics Federation and Packaging 
Federation and consulting governments 
on forthcoming requirements, including 
the Extended Producer Responsibility 
reform. 

•   Signatory to Operation Clean Sweep 
to reduce plastic pellet loss to the 
environment across all sites.

•   Participation in NEXTLOOPP project to 
develop and trial food-grade recycled 
polypropylene and establish a secure 
supply chain.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  21 

Principal Board decisions

The table below shows, for each principal decision taken during the period, how the interests of key stakeholders 
impacted were taken into account.

Restructuring of senior team

As a result of the inflationary 
pressures experienced over the 
previous two years, the Group 
implemented a restructuring 
program in June 2023, which, 
amongst other changes, resulted 
in part of the senior management 
team leaving the business. 

Principal decision

Return of pension escrow 
account funds
As a result of the buy-in of all the 
Group’s defined benefit pension 
scheme liabilities, the company 
was able to successfully negotiate 
with the Pension Fund trustees the 
return of the funds in the pension 
escrow account. This significantly 
reduced financial indebtedness in 
the year.

UK PET capacity investment

The Group will invest in new 
equipment to support a business 
growth opportunity in bespoke 
PET bottles in the UK in 2024. 
This project, which replicates an 
approach we applied in Poland 
previously, will provide revenue 
growth in 2024 and 2025. 

Lower fixed costs allow us to 
remain competitive in our pricing to 
customers. 

Reduction of debt and financial 
risk for the Group will allow greater 
focus on supporting customers.

Project extends Robinson capability 
in bespoke PET bottles in the UK, 
improving our offer to existing and 
new customers.

Employees will benefit from a 
more efficient and sustainable 
business.

Employees will benefit from 
a business with less financial 
indebtedness and risk.

Increased scale provides enhanced 
opportunities across the Group.

Exceptional costs of c.£0.4m 
were incurred to achieve annual 
savings of c.£0.7m, of which £0.4m 
benefitted 2023.

Net debt reduction of £3.3m 
during the year lowers interest cost 
and financial risk for the Group.

Increased profits from new 
business will benefit investors in 
the long term.

Possibility to produce PET bottles 
from 100% post-consumer recycled 
material on new highly energy 
efficient equipment, both key parts 
of the sustainability strategy.

Customers

Employees

Investors

Environment

22  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationPlatform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  23 

Performance  
overview

Key performance indicators 

We align our KPIs with our strategic priorities and sustainability pledge to monitor financial and non-financial 
performance and value creation:

Customer first

Sustainable growth

Thriving people

Pages 10 and 11: Our business strategy

Financial KPIs

Revenue growth

Our performance in 
our strategic priority of 
‘Customer first’.

Gross profit margin

Demonstrates the Group’s 
profitability from its 
manufacturing operations. 

Performance in 2023
Revenues decline of 2% in the year due to lower 
demand across the premium products in our portfolio 
because of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. After 
adjusting for price changes and foreign exchange, sales 
volumes in the underlying business are 6% lower than 
2022.

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

-2%

7%

6%

Goal
Above-market profitable growth.

24% (3% exc. acquisition)

10%

(1% exc. acquisition)

Performance in 2023
Gross margins were 2% above 2022 despite the 
operational gearing effect of 6% lower sales volumes 
and continued inflation in input costs. We were 
successful in recovering cost increases through 
increased selling prices across the Group, which along 
with a reduction in polymer resin prices, mitigated the 
impact of increased input costs on gross margins.

Adjusted operating margin*

Demonstrates the 
Group’s ability to turn 
revenue into profits.

Performance in 2023
Overall adjusted operating margins increased to 4.5% 
despite the lower sales volumes. The impact of a 
2% higher gross margin was offset by increases in 
operating costs due to inflation. We are expecting 
a substantial volume increase in 2024 which will 
support progress towards our medium-term goal of 
6-8% adjusted operating margin. 

Post-tax return on capital employed**

Pre-exceptional financial 
return from all of the 
capital invested in the 
business. A return higher 
than the Group’s weighted 
average cost of capital 
(5.2%) is satisfactory. 

Performance in 2023
The return on capital employed improved 
due to the higher profits and was slightly in 
excess of the cost of capital.

Working capital as a % of sales***

Revenue required 
to fund the working 
capital cycle.

Performance in 2023
Overall, the working capital was in line with the 
previous year. Higher trade receivables due to 
increased activity in the final quarter of the year 
were offset by lower inventory and higher trade 
payables.

24  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Goal

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Goal

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

21%

23%

17%

17%

19%

7.2%

7.2%

6-8%

15% in the medium term

2.7%

4.0%

4.5%

7.2%

7.8%

4.3%

6.1%

6.1%
6.1%

6.1%

26%

21% 

18%

14%

14%

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNon-financial KPIs

Lost time accidents per 100 employees

Provides a measure of the 
likelihood of an employee 
having an accident that 
results in time off work.

Performance in 2023
There were nine lost time accidents in the year, 
compared with five in 2022. The Health & Safety of 
our people is of paramount importance, and we are 
very disappointed with this performance. The incidents 
in 2022 and 2023 were concentrated in two locations 
and we have renewed our focus on behavioural safety, 
broadened the scope of some roles to cover the whole 
Group and enhanced a Group-wide safety forum which 
meets monthly to share best practice.

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Goal

0

Goal
The Group continues to target zero lost time 
accidents.

% average of post-consumer recycled content in packaging

1.00

1.38

2.10

2.37

2.60

Level of recycled 
material in our 
packaging products.

Performance in 2023
Overall usage of post-consumer recycled (PCR) 
material increased during the year despite a 
reduction in overall sales volumes to our premium 
brand owner customers, whose products are 
typically made from PCR material.

Mechanically recycled polypropylene (rPP) does 
not meet food-grade requirements and commercial 
volumes of chemically recycled food-grade rPP 
are currently limited. We are members of the 
NEXTLOOPP project to develop a supply chain of 
food-grade rPP from mechanical recycling.

New business wins which include 50% and 100% 
PCR and either commenced production in late 
2023 or early 2024 will have a substantial impact in 
future periods.

Goal
100% recycled content in Paperboard packaging 
and a minimum of 30% recycled content in Plastic 
packaging.

All products

2019

1% 

2020

2021

2022

2023

6% 

11% 

17% 

18% 

Excluding PP food packaging

2019

2% 

2020

2021

2022

2023

Goal

8% 

14% 

22% 

24%

30%

Recycled plastic consumed
Total plastic consumed

This shows our performance in plastic packaging. In 
paperboard, we have reached 100% recycled content. 
Our paper is made from sustainable sources and we are 
FSC certified.

Waste to landfill as a % of total waste

Amount of 
operational waste 
which is not recycled. 
Waste that is not 
recycled is sent to 
landfill.

Performance in 2023
We have implemented systems and processes to 
maximise our raw material efficiency, reuse our 
post-industrial waste and identify increased end 
markets to eliminate our waste to landfill. All our 
sites are signed up to the Operation Clean Sweep 
initiative to prevent plastic pellets from our 
operations entering the environment. We have 
achieved our goal of 0% of waste to landfill and 
we will seek to maintain that in the future.

Goal
Zero waste to landfill.

18% 

20%

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Goal

4%

0%

0%

0%

* 

 Operating profit (£105k) plus exceptional items (£1,116k) and amortisation of intangible assets (£990k), divided by revenue (£49,670k)

** 

 Operating profit (£105k) before exceptional items (£1,116k) and amortisation of intangible assets (£990k) less taxation (£160k) divided by the average, 
current year (£34,346k) and prior year (£33,123k), capital employed (net assets less net debt).

***   Inventory (£4,747k) plus trade receivables (£10,102k) minus trade payables (£7,681k) divided by revenue (£49,670k).

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  25 

Streamlined Energy and Carbon 
Reporting (SECR)

The SECR regulations require UK companies to report on 
their energy use and carbon emissions. The Group has 
voluntarily chosen to disclose its global emissions under the 
categories required by the regulations.

The Group reports Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in tonnes of 
carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e):

•  Scope 1 covers direct emissions: those that emanate 

directly from Group operations. This is principally natural 
gas burned for heating and fuel used in company owned 
vehicles.

•  Scope 2 covers indirect emissions: those generated by 

key suppliers, principally electricity.

•  Scope 3 covers other indirect emissions: those as a result 
of Group activities occurring from sources not owned or 
controlled by the Group in particular, such as emissions 
from business travel or employee-owned vehicles where 
the Group is responsible for the fuel purchase.

Group 2023

UK 2023

Poland 2023

Denmark 2023

kWh 
000's

23,353

1,184

421

tCO2e

9,447

217

97

kWh 
000's

8,235

1,112

67

tCO2e

1,705

204

16

kWh 
000's

10,119

72

242

tCO2e

6,932

13

54

kWh 
000's

4,999

-

112

24,958

9,761

9,414

1,925

10,433

6,999

5,111

0.82

0.19

0.49

0.09

1.39

0.42

tCO2e

810

-

27

837

0.28

0.07

Electricity

Gas

Transport

TOTAL
Intensity ratio (tonnes CO2e  
per tonne of plastic polymer)

Intensity ratio (tonnes CO2e  
per £’000 revenue)

Group 2022

UK 2022

Poland 2022

Denmark 2022

kWh 
000's

24,295

1,908

417

tCO2e

9,953

350

98

kWh 
000's

8,752

742

72

tCO2e

1,692

136

17

kWh 
000's

10,077

1,166

283

tCO2e

7,135

214

66

kWh 
000's

5,466

-

62

tCO2e

1,126

-

15

26,620

10,401

9,566

1,845

11,526

7,415

5,528

1,141

0.80

0.21

0.39

0.08

1.54

0.45

0.34

0.10

Electricity

Gas

Transport

TOTAL
Intensity ratio (tonnes CO2e  
per tonne of plastic polymer)

Intensity ratio (tonnes CO2e  
per £’000 revenue)

Electricity is the Group’s largest source of CO2e emissions, 
providing heat, light and power for premises, facilities and 
other plant and equipment. CO2e emission factors are 
fundamentally dependent on the source of electricity. 
Poland has a higher proportion of coal-fired power stations 
compared with the UK, with Denmark having the lowest due 
to the amount of renewable energy generated, in particular 
from wind power. As such, the CO2e emission factor per 
kWh for Poland is significantly higher than the UK and 
Denmark, resulting in higher CO2e emissions for this country. 
This emission factor in the UK increased from 2022 to 2023, 
whilst Poland and Denmark decreased.

Tonnes of CO2e per tonne of plastic polymer consumed 
and per £’000 of revenue are used as measures of intensity. 
The Group aims to reduce its total intensity over time and 
has a public GHG target to become net carbon positive 

26  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

by 2030. For the Group, the intensity ratio in 2023 was 
broadly equivalent to 2022, whilst the higher ratio in the UK 
is disappointing the main reason for this is the combination 
of lower production volumes and the amount of fixed 
infrastructure (e.g. for compressed air and chilling equipment) 
needed to operate the factory.

In 2020, we formed a team of energy and carbon 
management experts to focus on projects to form our 
roadmap to 2030, following the carbon hierarchy of energy 
and carbon reduction via improvements in technology 
and processes, onsite generation, and finally green energy 
procurement for those remaining emissions that we cannot 
eliminate. Over 30 projects were identified and we are 
systematically working through these to deliver a sustainable 
reduction.

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Group has invested in energy-saving initiatives in 2023, 
including:

•  Installation of energy analytics software and monitoring 
equipment on every moulding machine and item of 
ancillary equipment in one factory providing data 
for decision making and identification of areas for 
improvement. This will be rolled out to other factories in 
due course;

•  Installation of an evaporative air-cooling system which 

uses less energy than traditional air conditioning systems 
to improve the working environment in one refurbished 
factory in the UK;

•  Replacement of gas central heating systems for the 

factory and office areas with either heat provided by 
latent heat transfer systems from production equipment, 
or where this is not possible from electric heaters, saving 
significantly on overall energy usage;

•  Replacement of high-pressure air compressors with a 

low-pressure system and accompanying boosters where 
required to reduce energy consumption. All factories 
have been reviewed for leaks to further reduce energy 
used to generate compressed air;

•  Replacement of water chilling systems with new 

equipment which supports free cooling, utilising low 
external temperatures to bypass or reduce the load on 
the mechanical chiller, thereby reducing energy usage; 
and

•  Ongoing capacity and asset utilisation to become more 
energy efficient. 11 machines with an average age of 
29 years were disposed in 2023.

As energy providers continue to decarbonise, the 
associated emission factors will reduce thereby helping 
reduce our overall carbon emissions generated, in parallel 
with implementation of our energy and carbon projects. In 
addition, pressure is on machine and technology providers 

to continue to develop the best available technology with 
low carbon and energy at affordable prices with attractive 
payback periods. This will drive more opportunities for 
investment in Robinson.

Methodology note: the Group has implemented the UK 
government guidance on measuring and reporting GHG 
emissions, in line with DEFRA guidelines, using conversion 
units published in the UK Government GHG Conversion 
Factors for Company Reporting 2023. Emissions in Poland 
have been converted using rates from The National Centre 
for Emissions Management (KOBiZE) for 2023. Denmark 
emission conversion rates have been sourced from The 
Danish Energy Agency (Energistyrelsen), please note that 
the 2022 numbers have been restated to include conversion 
rates from the Energistyrelsen, previously the factors were 
sourced from the Energinet Environment Report 2020.

Electricity and gas: calculated from supplier invoices 
using metered kWh data. Gas data from Poland has been 
converted using UK rates as the KOBiZE does not report on 
these annually. 

Transport: calculated based on the volume of fuel 
purchased and mileage claims. The volume of fuel has been 
converted to kWh using the UK government conversion 
factors. For mileage claims, details of the vehicles were 
unknown; therefore, CO2e emissions were estimated based 
on typical car type and average fuel usage.

The strategic report was approved by the Board of 
Directors on 21 March 2024 and is signed on its behalf by:

Mike Cusick  
Director

21 March 2024

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson Annual report 2023 

|  27 

Corporate 
governance report

Board of Directors

Executive Directors

Sara Halton
Interim CEO

Appointed to  
the Board:  
January 2019

Mike Cusick
Finance Director

Appointed to  
the Board:  
January 2019

Non-executive Directors

Sara has held key senior executive positions 
at well-known British brands, including CEO 
of Molton Brown. She brings a wealth of 
experience in driving strategic growth for 
global brands. Sara is a Chartered Accountant 
having gained an MSc in Economics and 
Econometrics, and a BSc in Economics at the 
University of Southampton. 

Other roles:
Sara is a Non-executive Director of Roys 
of Wroxham an independent chain of retail 
outlets based in Norfolk and a Non-executive 
Director of the Crown Commercial Service 
which brings together policy, advice and 
direct buying; providing commercial services 
to the public sector and saving money for the 
taxpayer.

Other roles:
None.

A qualified management accountant, Mike 
joined Robinson in 2015. Previously he 
was Group Commercial Finance Director, 
responsible for the post-acquisition integration 
of the Madrox business in Poland, and new 
commercial systems across the Group. Prior 
to joining Robinson, Mike gained international 
financial experience during eight years in 
various finance roles at SIG plc, latterly as 
Financial Controller, Mainland Europe. Mike was 
appointed Finance Director on 1 January 2021.

Alan Raleigh
Independent  
Non-executive 
Chairman

Appointed to  
the Board:  
August 2015

After gaining a BSc (Hons) in Production 
Engineering and Production Management 
from Strathclyde University, Alan spent 
much of his career with Unilever plc holding 
a variety of senior positions in the UK, US 
and Japan. He was Executive Vice President, 
Personal Care Supply Chain until 2016.

Other roles:
Non-executive Director of Cloetta, a Swedish 
confectionery company listed on the 
Stockholm Stock Exchange. 

Committees:
Nomination (Chair), Audit & Risk (Chair), 
Remuneration

Guy Robinson
Non-executive Director

Appointed to  
the Board:  
January 1995

Guy has an honours degree in Mechanical 
Engineering and qualified as a Chartered 
Accountant at Coopers & Lybrand, working for 
them until he joined Robinson in 1985. He was 
appointed Finance Director in 1995, a position 
that he held until 1 January 2021 when he was 
appointed Property Director and then also 
Non-executive Director from 24 June 2021.

Other roles:
None.

Committees:
Remuneration (Chair), Nomination,  
Audit & Risk

28  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationChairman’s governance statement

The Group applies the Quoted Companies Alliance’s 
Corporate Governance Code (QCA Code).

As Chairman, it is my responsibility to ensure the 
Company complies with the QCA Code and, where the 
Company deviates from it, to explain why the Directors 
believe this to be in the best interests of the Company. 
In this section, we share the Company’s good corporate 
governance structure and, where our approach differs 
from the QCA Code, we provide an appropriate 

explanation. More information on our approach to the 10 
principles of the QCA Code can be found in the investor 
section on our website.

Governance structure
The Robinson Board recognises the importance of 
effective corporate governance in supporting the long-
term success and sustainability of the business.

Robinson plc Group Board 
Meets monthly 
Chaired by Alan Raleigh 
Responsible for developing the strategy and overall leadership of the Group within a robust framework of 
internal control and corporate governance. Monitors the culture, values and standards that are embedded 
throughout the business to deliver long-term sustainable growth for the benefit of our shareholders and other 
stakeholders.

Nomination Committee 
Meets at least twice per year 
Chaired by Alan Raleigh

Remuneration Committee 
Meets at least twice per year 
Chaired by Guy Robinson

Audit & Risk Committee 
Meets at least four times per 
year Chaired by Alan Raleigh

See page 31 for more information

See page 30 for more information

See page 31 for more information

Senior Executive Committee 
Meets monthly 
Chaired by Sara Halton 
Responsible for strategy execution, day-to-day operation of the business  
and all matters that have not been reserved for the Board.

Operating businesses

Board of Directors

The Company supports the concept of an effective 
Board leading the Group. The Board is responsible for 
approving Group policy and strategy with the aim of 
developing the business profitably, while assessing and 
managing the associated risks. The Directors are free to 
seek any further information they consider necessary. All 
Directors have access to independent professional advice 
at the Group's expense.

The Board reviews its performance as an integral part 
of each Board meeting and annually appraises the 
performance of each Director.

The Board has a written statement of its responsibilities 
and there are written terms of reference for the 
Nomination, Remuneration and Audit and Risk 
Committees. These are available for reference on the 
Robinson website.

The Board meets regularly on dates agreed each year 
for the calendar year ahead. The Board formally met 
12 times in 2023 and plans to meet 12 times in 2024 - 

additional meetings can be called as and when deemed 
necessary. A formal schedule of matters requiring 
Board approval is maintained covering such areas as 
strategy, approval of budgets, financial results, Board 
appointments and dividend policy. 

The Board currently consists of a Non-executive 
Chairman, a Non-executive Director, an Interim CEO, 
and a Finance Director. The Chairman of the Board is 
Alan Raleigh and the Group's business is run by the 
Interim CEO (Sara Halton) and the Finance Director 
(Mike Cusick). The Board considers that Alan Raleigh is 
independent, but Guy Robinson is not due to his length 
of service with the Company. The QCA’s guidelines state 
that the Board should have at least two independent 
non-executive Directors, and as such, the Company 
does not currently comply with this requirement. It 
is the Board’s view that because this is a short-term 
arrangement, whilst the Company conducts a search 
for a permanent CEO, it does not compromise overall 
corporate governance.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  29 

The Board has determined that, as a whole, it has a complementary set of skills and experience as follows:

Principal skills and experience

Board Member

Alan Raleigh

Sara Halton

Guy Robinson

Mike Cusick

Packaging 
industry

Manufacturing

✔✔✔

✔✔✔

✔✔

✔✔

✔

✔

✔✔

✔

Multi-
geography 
operations

✔✔✔

✔✔✔

✔✔✔

✔✔✔

Sustainability

Finance

Marketing

Property

✔✔

✔✔

✔

✔✔✔

✔✔✔

✔✔✔

✔

✔✔✔

✔✔

IT & 
cyber 
security

✔

✔

✔✔

Each Director keeps their skillset up to date by reading 
relevant publications and attending external training and 
personal development courses and workshops.

Sara Halton was appointed as the Senior Independent 
Director (SID) in September 2020, a role which she 
held until she was appointed as the Interim CEO on 
1 September 2023. Since that date, because Guy Robinson 
is not deemed to be independent, there has not been an 
appointed SID. 

The Company Secretary is responsible for ensuring that 
Board procedures are followed and for compliance 
with all applicable rules and regulations. Mike Cusick, 
who is also the Finance Director, performs the role of 
Company Secretary, providing an internal advisory role 
to the Board. The QCA’s guidelines state that the role of 
Company Secretary should not be held by an Executive 
Director, and as such, the Company does not currently 
comply with this requirement. It is the Board’s view 
that the size and complexity of the business does not 
necessitate a separate role of Company Secretary at 
present. Mike Cusick is supported and guided in this role 
by the Company’s legal advisors. This position will be 
kept under review by the Board.

Board evaluation and 
effectiveness

A formal external and independent review of the 
effectiveness of the Board was concluded during 
2020. The purpose was to perform a comprehensive, 
independent and objective evaluation of the 
effectiveness and performance of the Board and 
its three committees. The results are described on 
Pages 28 and 29 of the 2020 Annual Report. All of 
the actions proposed in the 2020 annual report have 
been completed. The Board expects to reperform that 
assessment every three to five years.

External advice

During the year the Board didn’t deem it necessary to 
commission any external advice.

Culture

Honesty and appropriate conduct are an integral 
part of the Robinson culture and values, and all our 
business activities. The Group undertakes regular 
review and monitoring of its policies in specific areas 
such as discrimination and harassment, anti-bribery 
and corruption, competition law, conflicts of interest 
and information security. The Company has a strong 
empowerment culture which continues to evolve, 
openness, fairness and transparency are valued. 
The Group strategy, values and behaviours were 
communicated to all employees as part of a “Big Picture” 
exercise in 2021 and are now delivered as part of a 
comprehensive induction plan for all new employees. 
The Group carried out a wide-ranging Organisational 
Culture Survey in 2020 and an employee engagement 
survey in 2023.

Committees of the Board

Remuneration Committee report

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Guy Robinson 
and includes Alan Raleigh. On behalf of the Board, the 
Committee reviews and approves the remuneration and 
service contracts (including benefits) of the Executive 
Directors and other senior staff.

The Committee meets at least twice, and as often as 
required, during the year and is responsible for:

•  establishing and maintaining formal and transparent 

procedures for developing policy on executive 
remuneration and for fixing the remuneration packages 
of individual Directors and monitoring and reporting 
on them;

•  determining the remuneration, including pension 

arrangements, of the Directors; and

•  determining the basis of Executive Director service 

agreements, having due regard for the interests of the 
shareholders.

30  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationThe Directors’ remuneration report includes the 
Directors’ remuneration and further detail on the work 
carried out during the year.

Alan Raleigh resigned from his role as the Committee 
Chair on 27 September 2023, from that point Guy 
Robinson has chaired the Committee.

Audit and Risk Committee report

The Audit and Risk Committee is chaired by Alan Raleigh 
and includes Guy Robinson. This Committee reviews 
the interim and preliminary announcement of final 
results and the annual financial statements prior to their 
publication. It is also responsible for the appointment or 
dismissal of the external auditors and for agreeing their 
fees. It keeps under review the scope and methodology 
of the audit and its cost effectiveness together with the 
independence and objectivity of the auditors. It meets 
with the auditors at least twice per year to agree the 
audit plan and review the results of the audit.

The primary function of the Committee is to assist 
the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities regarding the 
integrity of financial reporting, audit, risk management 
and internal controls. This comprises:

Committee activities during the year:

During the year, in addition to its audit responsibilities, 
the committee reviewed progress against the 
independent review of the cyber security maturity of 
the Robinson Group commissioned in 2021. A full tender 
process was also conducted for the external audit, 
which Mazars successfully retained. 

The significant issues considered by the Committee 
in the 2023 annual report together with significant 
estimates, judgements and audit risks are covered in the 
external audit report on page 75.

Sara Halton resigned from her role as the Committee 
Chair on 1 September 2023 when she became the 
Interim CEO, from that point Alan Raleigh has chaired the 
Committee.

Nomination Committee report

The Nomination Committee is chaired by Alan Raleigh and 
includes Guy Robinson. This Committee will meet at least 
twice per year and reviews the Board’s structure, size and 
composition. It is also responsible for succession planning 
for Directors and other senior executives.

•  monitoring and reviewing the Group’s accounting 

The key responsibilities of the Committee are:

policies, practices and significant accounting 
judgements; and reviewing the annual and interim 
financial statements and any public financial 
announcements and advising the Board on whether 
the annual report and accounts are fair, balanced and 
understandable.

In relation to the external audit:

•  approving the appointment and recommending the 

reappointment of the external auditor and its terms of 
engagement and fees;

•  considering the scope of work to be undertaken by 
the external auditor and reviewing the results of that 
work;

•  reviewing and monitoring the independence of the 
external auditor and approving its provision of non-
audit services;

•  monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the 

external auditor;

•  monitoring and reviewing the adequacy and 

effectiveness of the risk management systems and 
processes; and

•  assessing and advising the Board on the internal 
financial, operational and compliance controls.

•  assessing whether the size, structure and composition 

of the Board (including its skills, knowledge, 
experience, independence and diversity) continue to 
meet the Group’s business and strategic needs;

•  examining succession planning for Directors and other 
senior executives and for the key roles of Chairman of 
the Board and CEO; and

•  identifying and nominating for approval by the Board, 
candidates to fill Board vacancies as and when they 
arise, together with leading the process for such 
appointments.

Committee activities and Board changes during the year:

In May, the Committee supported the CEO in a review 
of the organisational design including the decision to 
restructure the Senior Executive team.

In June, following the resignation of Helene Roberts as 
CEO, the Committee formally recommended to the Board 
that Sara Halton fulfil the role of Interim CEO whilst they 
lead a search for a permanent CEO.

Finally, the committee reviewed the results of the 
Non-executive Directors 2022 appraisal process and 
concluded that the feedback had been very valuable and 
constructive.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  31 

Attendance at Board and Committee meetings

The Executive Directors work on a full-time basis within 
the business, except for the Interim CEO who works 
on average 13 days per month. The Chair is expected 
to devote on average three to four days per month 

and other Non-executive Directors two to three days 
per month to the Company. The attendance at formal 
scheduled meetings for the year was as follows:

2023

Board

Audit  
Committee

Remuneration  
Committee

Nomination  
Committee

Attendance*

Number of meetings

Alan Raleigh

Sara Halton

Guy Robinson

Helene Roberts

Mike Cusick

12

12

12

12

6

12

3

3

3

3

1

3

*Measured against meetings for which Directors were invited to attend.

2

2

2

2

1

1

2

2

2

2

1

2

100%

100%

100%

75%

100%

It is the view of the Audit and Risk Committee and 
the Board that due to the size and complexity of the 
business and prohibitive cost, an independent internal 
audit function is not currently a necessity for the 
Group. To gain appropriate assurance, the Committee 
place reliance on monthly management reports, annual 
updates from specific Group functions and where 
necessary will commission external reports on specific 
risk areas such as IT Security. The external audit is based 
on substantive test procedures but the auditor provides 
recommendations to the Audit and Risk Committee 
where their work identifies areas for improvement in 
internal control.

On behalf of the Board,

Alan Raleigh 
Chairman 
21 March 2024

Internal control

The Board recognises its responsibility for maintaining 
systems of internal control and reviewing their 
effectiveness.  

The Board has reviewed the operation and effectiveness 
of the Group’s system of internal financial control for the 
financial year up to the date of approval of the financial 
statements. The system of internal financial control 
is designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, 
assurance against material misstatement or loss. 

The principal elements of the Group’s systems of internal 
financial control include: 

•  a management structure and written procedures 

that clearly define the expected levels of authority, 
responsibility and accountability;

•  well-established business planning, budgeting and 

monthly reporting functions with timely reviews at the 
appropriate levels of the organisation;

•  a comprehensive system for investment appraisal and 

review; and

•  an Audit and Risk Committee that regularly reviews 
the relationship with and matters arising from the 
external auditors.

32  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationDirectors’  
remuneration  
report

On behalf of the Remuneration 
Committee, I am pleased to present 
the Directors’ remuneration report 
for the year. This report sets out 
the Company’s remuneration policy 
for the Directors and explains how 
this policy was applied during the 
financial year to 31 December 2023.

Remuneration policy 

Executive Directors’ remuneration packages are considered 
annually by the Committee in line with this policy.

Executive Directors
The remuneration policy has been designed to ensure 
that Executive Directors receive appropriate incentive 
and reward given their performance, responsibility and 
experience. When assessing this, the Committee seeks 
to ensure that the policy aligns the interests of the 
Executive Directors with those of the shareholders and 
links to the future strategy of the business.

The Company’s remuneration policy for Executive 
Directors is:

•  to consider the individual’s experience and the 

nature and complexity of their work in order to set 
a competitive base salary that attracts and retains 
individuals of the appropriate quality, while avoiding 
remunerating more than is necessary;

•  in the absence of changes in performance, 
responsibility or experience, to align annual 
adjustments in line with general adjustments to 
employees’ remuneration within the Group;

•  to link remuneration packages to the Group’s long-

term performance through both bonus schemes and 
share plans;

•  to set performance measures that are simple to 
understand, easy to measure, unambiguous and 
consistent with the Group’s future strategy and 
performance measures throughout the Group;
•  to set an appropriate balance between fixed and 

variable pay; and

•  to provide post-retirement benefits through pension 

arrangements and/or salary supplements.

Base salary
Base salary is normally reviewed annually in December. 
Within the review process, the Committee takes account 
of the profitability and ongoing progress of the Group 
and the individual’s contribution, as well as changes 
in responsibility and experience. Consideration is also 
given to the need to retain and motivate individuals with 
reference made to available information on salary levels 
in comparable organisations. To assist in this process, 
the Committee draws on the findings of external salary 
surveys and undertakes its own research as appropriate.

Annual performance incentive
The performance of Executive Directors is evaluated 
by the Committee with a view to ensuring that there 
is a strong link between performance and reward. 
The Executive Directors are eligible to receive, at the 
discretion of the Committee, an annual bonus capped 
at 70% of base salary excluding any salary supplements 
in lieu of pension contributions. Guy Robinson in his 
capacity as Property Director, is eligible to receive, 
at the discretion of the committee, an annual bonus 
linked to the net proceeds from the disposal of surplus 
property. The Committee considers the implementation 
of bonus awards based upon corporate financial 
targets and personal objective measures that align with 
the long-term interests of the shareholders and the 
Group’s three-year plan. Stretching and transparent 
but deliverable targets are put in place with a view to 
clearly link the motivation of individuals with the value 
drivers and attitude to risk of the business.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  33 

Pensions and other benefits
The Company makes a pension contribution of up to 
10% of base salary to Executive Directors, or where 
pension contributions are not appropriate, a salary 
supplement in lieu. Other benefits provided are a 
company car or car allowance, life assurance and private 
medical insurance.

Share awards
Executive Directors may, at the discretion of the 
Committee, be granted share option awards. The current 
scheme allows the granting of market-priced options, so 
the individual can only benefit if the shareholders have 
also benefited by an increase in the share price. 

Non-executive Directors
The remuneration of the Non-executive Directors is 
determined by the Board as a whole based on current 
practice in equivalent companies. The remuneration has 
not been adjusted for the last six years. The Committee 
has proposed and the Board has approved a 6% increase 
in salary, effective 1 January 2024. The Non-executive 
Directors do not receive any pension payments. With 
the exception of Guy Robinson in his capacity as 
Property Director, the Non-executive Directors do not 
participate in any incentive or share award scheme.

Wider employee considerations
Although it is not the Committee’s responsibility to set 
the remuneration arrangements across the Group, it is 
kept informed of these so it can ensure that the Directors’ 
remuneration policy is consistent with remuneration 
practices in the Group. The CEO is required to obtain 
the approval of the Committee for her proposals for 
the remuneration of her direct reports. They and other 
members of the management team can qualify for a 
bonus that largely follows the same structure and applies 
similar performance targets as for Executive Directors. 
These arrangements are reviewed by the Committee 
to ensure that Executive Directors and management are 
committed to achieving the same strategic goals.

Shareholder engagement 
The Committee seeks the views of shareholders on 
remuneration on an ongoing basis and they are invited 
to make contact with the Chairman of the Committee at 
any time should they wish to do so.

Remuneration Committee advice
In undertaking its responsibilities, the Committee takes 
independent external advice from a variety of sources 
and surveys but, in the present year, did not incur any 
cost in doing so.

Annual remuneration statement

The Directors received the following remuneration during the year:

2023

2022

Base
salary
£’000 

Other
benefits
£’000 

Bonus
£’000 

Pension
£’000 

Total 
£’000 

Base
salary
£’000 

Other
benefits
£’000 

Bonus
£’000 

Pension
£’000 

Total 
£’000 

Helene Roberts

Mike Cusick

Guy Robinson

Sara Halton

Alan Raleigh

Total

254 

140 

90 

128 

60 

672

29 

9 

3 

-

-

41 

- 

- 

69

-

-

69 

26 

14 

-

8

-

48 

309 

163 

162 

136 

60 

830 

244 

130 

102 

45 

60 

581 

49 

11 

18 

-

-

78 

- 

- 

9

-

-

9 

24 

13 

-

-

-

37 

317 

154 

129 

45 

60 

705 

In accordance with the terms of her contract, Helene 
Roberts was paid her salary and benefits until 
31 December 2023. As part of the transition, Sara Halton 
was paid as the Interim CEO from 22 June 2023.

In accordance with best practice, no Director is involved 
in the setting of his or her remuneration or performance 
incentives.

Other Benefits include a company car allowance, private 
medical insurance and IFRS 2 charge on share-based 
payments.

Helene Roberts received a pension allowance equivalent 
to 10% of basic pay. Mike Cusick is a member of a 
money purchase pension plan, and the Company 
contributes at a rate of 10% of salary. Sara Halton also 
receives a pension allowance equivalent to 10% of basic 
pay arising from her duties as Interim CEO.

The committee sought external comparison of Executive 
Directors’ and Non-executive Directors’ remuneration. 
Through multiple sources, the Board are satisfied that 
Board Remuneration is appropriate and comparable to 
other similar, listed organisations.

34  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
 
 
Annual performance incentive

Average pay

Details of the annual bonuses, based on performance in the year 
as a % of salary, achieved by the Executive Directors for the year 
ended 31 December 2023 are as follows: Helene Roberts nil% 
(2022: nil%), Sara Halton nil% (2022: nil%), and Mike Cusick nil% 
(2022: nil%).

Guy Robinson achieved a bonus of £68,845 (2022: £8,774) as a 
result of surplus property sales achieved.

The committee reviewed average salaries and average hourly 
pay rates across the Group by gender and geography. 
Overall, examination of the data confirms equality of pay for 
similar roles between females and males. 

However, there remains a historical gender imbalance in 
some parts of the business, including Sales & Distribution, 
Engineering, and some higher skilled Manufacturing roles, 
where there is a higher proportion of male employees. As a 
result, the mean pay of males across the Group is 1.2 times 
(2022: 1.1 times) higher than the mean pay of females.

The pay of our CEO in the year was 9.0 times (2022: 
9.0 times) greater than the average pay of all Group staff.

Directors’ share options

Details of outstanding share options on 0.5p ordinary shares are as follows:

Original 
grant

Unexercised 
options at  
31 Dec 2022 

Granted in 
the year 

Exercised  
in the  
year 

Lapsed or 
cancelled  
in the year 

Unexercised 
options at  
31 Dec 2023

Exercise 
price

Earliest 
date of 
exercise

Date  
of expiry

Helene Roberts

300,000 

300,000

300,000

300,000

Guy Robinson

67,494

67,494

Mike Cusick

58,000

58,000

Directors' 
share options

Other key 
managers

Total share 
options

725,494

725,494 

75,000

75,000

800,494

800,494

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(300,000)

(300,000)

-

-

118.5p 

17-Jul-23

16-Jul-30

118.5p 

17-Jul-25

16-Jul-30

-

-

67,494

58,000

202p 

08-Apr-17

07-Apr-24

130p 

12-May-20

11-May-27

(600,000)

125,494 

-

75,000

130p

12-May-20

11-May-27

(600,000)

200,494

200,494 options were exercisable at 31 December 2023 (2022: 200,494). The market value of the shares at 
31 December 2023 was 92.5p per share.

Directors shareholdings

The Directors together with their interests in 0.5p ordinary shares in Robinson plc, were as follows:

Guy Robinson

Alan Raleigh

Sara Halton

Mike Cusick

31 December 2023 

31 December 2022 

1,353,583

36,145

12,049

5,458

1,353,583

36,145

12,049

5,458

No Director had any interest in the shares of any other Group company.

Guy Robinson 
Remuneration Committee Chairman

21 March 2024

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  35 

 
 
 
Directors’ report

The Directors present their report and the audited financial 
statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2023. 
The financial statements of the Group and the Company have been 
prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in 
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

Results and dividends

A review of the Group’s performance for the year 
ended 31 December 2023 is included in the Chairman’s 
statement and in the Strategic report.

The Directors recommend a final dividend of 3.0p per 
share to be paid on 21 June 2024 to shareholders on 
the register at the close of business on 7 June 2024. 
Further details of dividend payments during the year are 
included in note 8 to the financial statements.

Directors and their interests

The Directors, who held office during the year, were 
Alan Raleigh, Sara Halton, Guy Robinson, Helene Roberts 
and Mike Cusick. The biographical details of all current 
Directors are included in the Corporate governance 
report.

likely to affect their interests. The Board will continue 
to review the effectiveness of communications to key 
stakeholders, including employees. Further details on 
engagement with key stakeholders during the period are 
provided in the Section 172(1 ) statement included in the 
Strategic report.

Employment of disabled persons

In accordance with Group policy, full and fair 
consideration is given to the employment of disabled 
persons, having regard to their aptitudes and abilities 
and the responsibility and physical demands of the 
job. Disabled employees are provided with equal 
opportunities for training and career development.

Financial risk management 
objectives and policies

Information on the Directors’ remuneration and service 
contracts is provided in the Directors’ remuneration 
report. The beneficial interests of the Directors in the 
share capital of the Company are shown in the Directors’ 
remuneration report.

Information on the Group’s financial risk management 
objectives, policies and activities, and on the exposure 
of the Group to relevant risks in respect of financial 
instruments, is set out in note 25 to the financial 
statements and in the Strategic report.

The Group maintains insurance cover to protect Directors 
in respect of their duties as Directors of the Group. 
During the year, none of the Directors had any material 
interest in any contract of significance in relation to the 
Group's business. In accordance with the Company’s 
articles of association, Alan Raleigh and Mike Cusick 
retire and offer themselves for re-election at the AGM. 
Further details concerning Directors are provided in the 
Corporate governance report.

Employee communication

The Directors recognise the need to ensure effective 
communication with employees. During the year, they 
were provided with financial and other information 
affecting the Company and its various operations 
by means of the employee intranet, briefings and 
newsletters. Consultative committees in the different 
areas of the Company enabled the views of employees 
to be heard and considered when making decisions 

Directors’ Indemnities

The Company has made qualifying third-party indemnity 
provisions for the benefit of its directors which were 
made during the year and remain in force at the date of 
this report.

Going concern

In determining whether the Group’s annual consolidated 
financial statements can be prepared on a going concern 
basis, the directors considered the Group’s business 
activities, together with the factors likely to affect its 
future development, performance and position; these 
are set out in the Strategic report. 

The Group has credit facilities with bankers HSBC Bank 
UK including a £3.0m commercial mortgage which 
expires in March 2026 and £5m of other short-term 
facilities which have recently been renewed for 12 

36  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationmonths to March 2025. The Group also has £0.9m of 
other commercial mortgages and £0.1m of other short-
term facilities in its overseas subsidiaries. The Group’s 
forecasts and projections, taking account of reasonably 
possible changes in trading performance, show that the 
Group should be able to operate within the level of its 
current facilities. 

As at the date of this report, the Directors have a 
reasonable expectation that the Company and Group 
have adequate resources to continue in business for 
the foreseeable future. Thus, they continue to adopt 
the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the 
annual financial statements. Further details are provided 
in note 34 to the accounts.

Future developments

See the Chairman’s statement for an update on future 
developments.

Subsequent events

There have been no events since the balance sheet date 
that would have had a material impact on the financial 
statements.

Capital structure

As set out in note 23 to the financial statements, the 
issued share capital of the Company is 17,687,223 
ordinary shares of 0.5p each of which 933,778 are held 
in treasury. There have been no changes to the issued 
share capital since the year end. There is only one class 
of shares in issue and there are no restrictions on the 
voting rights attached to these shares or the transfer of 
securities in the Company. Details of share options are 
set out in the Directors’ remuneration report. Persons 
with a shareholding of over 3% in the Company as at 
31 December 2023 were:

C W G Robinson

S J Robinson

R B Hartley

R A Shemwell

S C Shemwell

S E A Hardy

H G Shaw

J C Mansell

Total shares 

1,353,583

659,995

654,191

598,791 

534,091 

525,191 

515,191 

500,000 

%

8.1%

3.9%

3.9%

3.6%

3.2%

3.1%

3.1%

3.0%

Business relationships

Independent auditor

The remuneration of the auditor for the year ended 
31 December 2023 is disclosed in note 5 to the financial 
statements.

Branches outside the UK

The Company operates outside the UK through 
subsidiaries, it holds indirect investments in one unlisted 
company incorporated in Poland and one unlisted 
company incorporated in Denmark. Further details are 
provided in note 14 to the financial statements.

Details on how the Directors’ have had regard to the 
need to foster the Company’s business relationships 
with suppliers, customers and others, and the effect of 
that regard, including on the principal decisions taken, 
are provided in the Section 172(1 ) statement included in 
the Strategic report.

Energy and carbon reporting

A report on the Group’s energy usage and greenhouse 
gas emissions is provided in the Strategic report on 
page 26.

Annual General Meeting

The notice convening the Company’s 2024 AGM 
for 11:30 am on 9 May 2024 is set out in a separate 
document provided on page 80 and is available on the 
Group’s website at robinsonpackaging.com. The Annual 
report for the year ended 31 December 2023 is available 
from the Group’s website. 

Above & Beyond 

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 
|  Robinson annual report and accounts 2020 

|  37 
|  37 

 
Auditor

In the case of each of the persons who are Directors of 
the Company at the date of approval of this report: 

•  so far as each of the Directors is aware, there is 
no relevant audit information (as defined in the 
Companies Act 2006) of which the Company’s 
auditor is unaware; and 

•  each of the Directors has taken all the steps that they 
ought to have taken as a Director to make themselves 
aware of any relevant audit information (as defined) 
and to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware 
of that information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in 
accordance with the provisions of Section 418 of the 
Companies Act 2006.

Directors' responsibilities 
statement

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic 
report, Directors’ remuneration report, Corporate 
governance report, Directors’ 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 UK-adopted international accounting 
standards and applicable law. Under company law, the 
Directors must not approve the financial statements 
unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view 
of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or 
loss of the 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 UK-adopted international accounting 

standards have been followed subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in the financial 
statements;

•  provide additional disclosures when compliance 

with specific requirements in IFRS is insufficient to 
enable users to understand the impact of particular 
transactions, other events and conditions on the 
entity’s financial position and financial performance; 
and

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

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that are sufficient to show and 
explain the Company’s transactions and disclose, with 
reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position 
of the Company and enable them to ensure that the 
financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. 
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the 
Company, and hence, for taking reasonable steps for the 
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge: 

•  the financial statements, prepared in accordance 

with the relevant financial reporting framework, give 
a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial 
position and profit or loss of the company and the 
undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a 
whole;

•  the strategic report includes a fair review of the 

development and performance of the business and 
the position of the company and the undertakings 
included in the consolidation taken as a whole, 
together with a description of the principal risks and 
uncertainties that they face; and

•  the annual report and financial statements, taken as 
a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and 
provide the information necessary for shareholders to 
assess the company’s position, performance, business 
model and strategy.

On behalf of the Board,

Mike Cusick 
Director 
21 March 2024

38  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationPlatform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  39 

Financial statements

Group income statement and statement of comprehensive income

Note

2023 
£’000

2022 
£’000

1   

49,670

50,529

(40,039)

(41,765)

9,631

2  

(8,536)

1,095

(990)

105

40

(805)

(660)

(160)

(820)

p

(4.9)

(4.9)

12  

4  

5   

7  

9  

9  

8,764

(5,017)

3,747

(947)

2,800

–

(507)

2,293

51

2,344

p

14.0

14.0

Note

2023
£’000 

2022
£’000 

(820)

2,344

31  

289

(68)

3,290

(774)

2,737

44

3

527

574

3,311

2,491

180

(34)

–

–

146

176

(26)

481

631

777

3,121

Group income statement

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Operating costs

Operating profit before amortisation of intangible assets

Amortisation of intangible assets

Operating profit

Finance income - interest receivable

Finance costs

(Loss)/profit before taxation

Taxation

(Loss)/profit for the period

(Loss)/earnings per ordinary share (EPS)

Basic (loss)/earnings per share

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share

All results are from continuing operations.

Group statement of comprehensive income

(Loss)/profit for the period

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to the income statement:

Remeasurement of net defined benefit liability

Deferred tax relating to items not reclassified

Return of pension escrow

Deferred tax on pension escrow

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to the income statement:

Exchange differences on translation of foreign currency goodwill and intangibles

Exchange differences on translation of foreign currency deferred tax balances

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Other comprehensive income for the period

Total comprehensive income for the period

Notes 1 to 34 form an integral part of the financial statements.

40  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement of financial position as at 31 December

Group
2023
£’000

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

Note

Non-current assets

Goodwill

Other intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investments in subsidiaries

Deferred tax assets

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash at bank and on hand

Current tax asset

Assets classified as held for sale

Total assets

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Current tax liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Borrowings

Deferred tax liabilities

Amounts due to group undertakings

Provisions

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Share capital

Share premium 

Capital redemption reserve

Translation reserve

Revaluation reserve

Retained earnings

Equity attributable to shareholders

11  

12  

13  

14  

19  

15  

16  

25  

17 

18  

20  

20  

19  

22  

23  

24  

1,621

1,927

1,570

2,924

23,920

22,960

–

508

27,976

4,747

10,635

3,576

–

–

18,958

46,934

10,114

3,527

172

–

1,294

28,748

5,155

9,522

5,097

110

642

20,526

49,274

9,543

5,535

–

–

–

7,376

16,815

–

24,191

–

3,283

1,343

–

–

4,626

28,817

6,015

301

–

13,813

15,078

6,316

6,350

1,119

–

98

7,567

21,380

25,554

84

828

216

207

3,487

20,732

25,554

8,743

1,395

–

116

10,254

25,332

23,942

84

828

216

(367)

3,856

19,325

23,942

2,731

18

8,497

98

11,344

17,660

11,157

84

828

216

–

295

–

–

7,449

18,980

821

27,250

–

3,634

935

–

792

5,361

32,611

6,174

3,165

–

9,339

4,085

–

7,496

116

11,697

21,036

11,575

84

828

216

–

295

9,734

11,157

10,152

11,575

As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the parent Company’s income statement has not been included in these financial 
statements and its loss for the financial year after tax amounted to £2,276,000 (2022: profit £1,043,000). 

Notes 1 to 34 form an integral part of the financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 21 March 
2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

Sara Halton  
Director

Mike Cusick  
Director

Registered in England number 39811

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement of changes in equity

Group
At 1 January 2022

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transfer from revaluation reserve as a result of 

property transactions

Credit in respect of share–based payments

Dividends paid

At 31 December 2022

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transfer from revaluation reserve as a result of 

property transactions

Credit in respect of share-based payments

Dividends paid

At 31 December 2023

Company

At 1 January 2022

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transfer from revaluation reserve as a result of 
property transactions

Credit in respect of share–based payments

Dividends paid

At 31 December 2022

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transfer from revaluation reserve as a result of 
property transactions

Credit in respect of share-based payments

Dividends paid

At 31 December 2023

Share
capital
£’000

Share
premium
£’000

Capital
redemption
reserve
£’000

Translation
reserve
£’000

Revaluation
reserve
£’000

Retained
earnings
£’000

 84 

828 

216 

(998)

4,107 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

631 

631 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(251)

 – 

 – 

17,433 

2,344 

146 

2,490 

255 

45 

(898)

Total
£’000

21,670 

2,344 

777 

3,121 

4 

45 

(898)

84 

828 

216 

(367)

3,856 

19,325 

23,942 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

574 

574 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

(369)

 – 

 – 

(820)

2,737

1,917

369 

19 

(898)

(820)

3,311

2,491

 – 

19 

(898)

84 

828 

216 

207 

3,487 

20,732 

25,554 

Share
capital
£’000

Share
premium
£’000

Capital
redemption
reserve
£’000

Translation
reserve
£’000

Revaluation
reserve
£’000

Retained
earnings
£’000

 84 

828 

216 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

84 

828 

216 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

84 

828 

216 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

386 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(91)

 – 

 – 

295 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

295 

9,721 

1,043 

146 

1,189 

95 

45 

(898)

10,152 

(2,276)

2,737

461 

 – 

19 

(898)

9,734 

(898)

11,157 

Total
£’000

11,235 

1,043 

146 

1,189 

4 

45 

(898)

11,575 

(2,276)

2,737

461 

 – 

19 

The share premium account is the amount paid for shares issued in excess of the nominal value. The capital redemption reserve represents the 
amount by which the Company’s share capital has been diminished by the cancellation of shares held in treasury. The retained earnings 
reserve represents the accumulated realised earnings from the prior and current periods as reduced by losses and dividends from time to time. 
Exchange differences relating to the translation from the functional currencies of the Group’s foreign subsidiaries are brought to account by 
recognising those exchange differences in other comprehensive income and accumulating them in a separate component of equity under the 
header of translation reserve. The property revaluation reserve arises on the revaluation of land and buildings. Where revalued land or buildings 
are sold, the portion of the property revaluation reserve that relates to that asset, and is effectively realised, is transferred directly to retained 
earnings. Land and buildings are held at deemed cost.

42  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow statement 

Cash flows from operating activities

(Loss)/profit for the period

Adjustments for:

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Impairment of property, plant and equipment

Loss/(Profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment

(Profit)/Loss on disposal of assets held for sale

Amortisation of intangible assets

Finance income

Impairment of investment in subsidiaries

Finance costs

Taxation charged/(credited)

Other non-cash items:
 – Pension current service cost and expenses
 – Charge for share options

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital

Decrease in inventories

(Increase)/Decrease in trade and other receivables

Increase/(Decrease) in trade and other payables

Decrease in provisions

Cash generated by operations

Corporation tax paid

Interest paid

Net cash generated/(used) by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Interest received

Acquisition of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds on disposal of assets held for sale

Deferred consideration paid

Net cash (used)/generated in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Loans repaid

Loans drawn down

Loans granted to subsidiaries

Loans repaid by subsidiaries

Loans drawn down from subsidiaries

Net proceeds from sale and leaseback transactions

Proceeds from return of escrow

Capital element of lease payments

Dividends paid

Net cash (used)/generated in financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

Cash at bank and on hand

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

Notes 1 to 34 form an integral part of the financial statements.

Group
2023
£’000

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000 

Company
2022
£’000

Note

(820)

2,344

(2,276)

1,043

13

13

5

5

12

14

4

7

31

32

22

3,280

51

11

(58)

990

(40)

–

805

160

289

19

4,687

472

(938)

835

(18)

5,038

(210)

(826)

4,002

40

13

(4,034)

14

14

 8

26

700

–

(3,268)

(1,578)

1,359

–

–

–

–

585

(1,828)

(898)

(2,360)

(1,626)

5,097

105

3,576

3,576

3,576

3,151

–

(1,454)

(737)

947

–

–

507

(51)

180

45

4,932

36

671

1,951

(12)

7,578

(317)

(492)

6,769

–

(2,584)

2,600

975

(2,261)

(1,270)

73

–

–

117

–

(24)

723

295

(3)

289

19

(787)

–

350

(171)

(18)

(626)

–

(295)

(921)

24

–

–

700

–

724

82

–

(1,538)

(640)

–

(34)

296

260

(195)

180

45

(501)

–

1,156

151

(12)

794

–

(240)

554

–

(11)

2,515

975

–

3,479

(1,501)

(1,518)

(1,450)

440

–

–

–

439

–

(1,714)

(898)

(3,234)

2,265

2,775

57

5,097

5,097

5,097

–

(13)

1,448

1,057

–

585

–

(898)

661

464

935

(56)

1,343

1,343

1,343

–

(2,322)

–

1,250

–

–

–

(898)

(3,420)

613

319

3

935

935

935

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements

1  Segmental and revenue information

The Group’s internal reports about components of the Group, which are those reported to the Board of Directors, are based on geographical 
segments. Results were derived from assets and liabilities held in the following locations: 

2023

Revenue

Operating profit/(loss) before amortisation of intangible assets

Amortisation of intangible assets

Operating profit/(loss)

Finance income - interest receivable

Finance costs

(Loss)/profit before taxation

Taxation

(Loss)/profit for the period

Other segment information

Assets

Liabilities

Capital expenditure

Depreciation

Exceptional items

2022

Revenue

Operating profit/(loss) before amortisation of intangible assets

Amortisation of intangible assets

Operating profit/(loss)

Net finance costs

Profit/(loss) before taxation

Taxation

Profit/(loss) for the period

Other segment information

Assets

Liabilities

Capital expenditure

Depreciation

Exceptional items

UK
£’000

Poland
£’000

Denmark
£’000

UK head
office
£’000

Total
Group
£’000

19,897 

18,259 

11,514 

 – 

49,670 

226 

 – 

226 

29 

(115)

140 

(2)

138 

11,496 

(4,678)

364 

1,367 

(275)

2,147 

(774)

1,373 

1 

(112)

1,262 

(437)

825 

17,152 

(4,841)

1,338 

1,043 

 – 

(109)

(216)

(325)

 – 

(302)

(627)

81 

(1,169)

 – 

(1,169)

10 

(276)

(1,435) 

198

(546)

(1,237) 

1,095 

(990)

105 

40 

(805)

(660) 

(160)

(820) 

11,889 

(7,689)

2,332 

797 

 – 

6,397 

46,934 

(4,172)

(21,380)

 – 

73 

4,034 

3,280 

(841) 

(1,116) 

UK
£’000

Poland
£’000

Denmark
£’000

UK head
office
£’000

Total
Group
£’000

22,005 

16,619 

11,905 

 – 

50,529 

475 

 – 

475 

(88)

387 

12 

399 

12,816 

(5,766)

1,135 

1,347 

(296)

1,729 

(735)

994 

(38)

956 

(342)

614 

17,187 

(3,752)

643 

924 

 – 

117 

(212)

(95)

(121)

(216)

 – 

(216)

1,426 

 – 

1,426 

(260)

1,166 

381 

1,547 

3,747 

(947)

2,800 

(507)

2,293 

51 

2,344 

11,729 

(7,356)

7,542 

49,274 

(8,458)

(25,332)

795 

817 

 – 

11 

63 

2,010 

2,584 

3,151 

1,714 

The segment assets and liabilities presented above exclude intergroup balances and segment capital expenditure excludes intergroup transfers.
The UK - head office operating profit is after crediting external property rental and other income (see note 2).

Revenue by major customer
Revenues from the Group’s largest customer amounted to £8,299,000 (2022: £8,279,000); this is included in the UK, Poland and Denmark 
operating segments. No other customer contributed 10% or more to Group revenue.

44  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued

1  Segmental and revenue information (continued)

Revenue by geographic area
Revenue from external customers was derived from the following geographic areas:

United Kingdom

Poland

Denmark

Holland

Hungary

Belgium

Others within Europe

Others

2  Operating costs

Selling, marketing and distribution costs

Administrative costs

Property lease income

Exceptional items (see note 3)

Other income

Loss on foreign exchange

3  Exceptional items

(Loss)/Profit on disposal of land and buildings

Pension related costs

Flood related costs

Restructuring & rationalisation costs

Retranslation of deferred consideration payable

4  Finance costs

Interest on bank overdrafts and other short term financing

Interest on bank and other loans

Interest on leases

2023
£’000 

19,385 

14,183 

6,063 

4,933 

1,977 

767 

1,767 

595 

2022
£’000 

21,338 

12,554 

6,373 

4,947 

1,980 

810 

1,982 

545 

49,670 

50,529 

2023
£’000 

1,777 

6,001 

(266)

1,116

(118)

26 

8,536 

2023
£’000 

(25)

(313) 

(119)

(659)

 – 

(1,116)

2022
£’000 

1,337 

5,734 

(269)

(1,714)

(112)

41 

5,017 

2022
£’000 

2,168 

 – 

 – 

(404)

(50)

1,714 

2023
£’000 

2022
£’000 

118 

273 

414 

805 

101 

235 

171 

507 

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  45 

Notes to the financial statements continued

5  (Loss)/profit before taxation

The (loss)/profit before taxation has been stated after charging/(crediting):  

Cost of inventories (included in cost of sales)

Employee costs (see note 6)

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (see note 13)

  - owned

  - held under leasing arrangements

Amortisation of intangible assets (see note 12)

Impairment in respect of:

  - inventories (see note 15)

  - receivables (see note 16)

Loss/(gain) on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Gain on disposal of assets held for sale

Loss on foreign exchange movements

Fees payable by the Group to the Company's independent auditor, Mazars LLP, and its associates, were as follows:

Audit fees: 

  - for the audit of the UK companies

  - for the audit of the overseas companies

Total auditor's remuneration

Audit fees in respect of the Robinson pension plan (charged to the plan)

6  Employee information

2023
£’000 

37,973 

12,044 

1,944 

1,336 

990 

46 

175 

11

(58)

26 

85 

14 

99 

6 

2022
£’000 

39,785 

11,343 

1,812 

1,339 

947 

(14)

–

(1,454)

(737)

41 

70 

13 

83 

5 

The average monthly number of persons (including Directors) employed by the Group and Company during the year was: 

Number employed:

Manufacturing

Sales, general and administration

Total

Employee costs during the year amounted to:

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Pension costs

Share-based charges

Total

Group
2023

Group
2022

Company
2023

Company
2022

282 

64 

346 

£’000

10,320 

1,064 

641 

19 

305 

63 

368 

£’000

9,583 

1,029 

684 

47 

 – 

14 

14 

£’000

1,407 

121 

158 

19 

 – 

16 

16 

£’000

1,148 

145 

155 

45 

12,044 

11,343 

1,705 

1,493 

The pension costs above all relate to defined contribution plans. Directors’ emoluments are included in the above and are detailed further in 
the Directors’ remuneration report.

46  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
Notes to the financial statements continued

7  Taxation

Current corporation tax is calculated at 23.52% (2022: 19.00%) of the estimated assessable profit for the year. In addition, deferred tax of £nil 
(2022: £5,000) has been debited directly to equity in the year (see note 19). The tax charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit per 
the income statement as follows:

Current tax on profit for the year

Adjustments for current tax of prior periods

Total current tax charge

(Decrease)/increase in deferred tax assets

Increase/(decrease) in deferred tax liability

Total current deferred tax credit

Deferred tax charge recognised within other comprehensive income

Total tax charge/(credit)

(Loss)/profit before taxation

At the effective rate of tax of 23.52% (2022: 19.00%)

Items disallowable for tax

Depreciation on assets ineligible for capital allowances

Capital allowances for year in excess of depreciation

Profit on disposal

Chargeable gains

Prior year adjustments - deferred tax

Remeasurement of deferred tax for changes in tax rates

Non-taxable items

Losses carried forward

Other differences

Tax charge/(credit) for the year

2023
£’000 

2022
£’000 

357 

67 

424 

(81)

591 

510 

(774) 

160 

(660)

(155) 

420 

17 

(118)

(14)

 – 

27 

 – 

(30)

70 

(57)

160 

285 

(243)

42 

100 

(193)

(93)

–

(51)

2,293 

436 

48 

15 

(297)

(433)

40 

(2)

 – 

(9)

150 

1 

(51)

The total tax charge recognised in other comprehensive income in the year was £771,000 (2022: £26,000). There are unrecognised capital 
losses carried forward of £nil (2022: £nil). The Directors are not aware of any material factors affecting the future tax charge. Deferred tax 
balances have been provided at 25% in these accounts.

The Corporation Tax rate for the year ended 31 December 2023 was 23.52%. Deferred tax has been calculated for the UK based on the 
expected reversal dates of the temporary differences.

Total current tax expense related to Pillar Two income taxes was £nil (2022: £nil), and there is no exposure to Pillar Two income taxes as at 
31 December 2023.

8  Dividends

Ordinary dividend paid:  2021 final of 3.0p per share

2022 interim of 2.5p per share

2022 final of 3.0p per share

2023 interim of 2.5p per share

2023
£’000 

2022
£’000 

 – 

 – 

490 

408 

898 

490 

408 

 – 

 – 

898 

An interim dividend of 2.5p per ordinary share was paid on 13 October 2023 (2022: 2.5p). The Directors are proposing a final dividend of 3.0p 
for the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: 3.0p). Total dividends paid during the year, including the final dividend for 2022, were £898,000 
(2022: £898,000). No dividends have been paid between 31 December 2023 and the date of signing the financial statements.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  47 

Notes to the financial statements continued

9  Earnings per share

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share for continuing operations shown on the income statement is based on the loss 
after taxation of £820,000 (2022: profit £2,344,000) divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue, net of treasury shares of 
16,753,445 (2022: 16,753,445) and for diluted earnings per share of 16,753,445 (2022: 16,753,445) after the potentially dilutive effect of 
further shares issued through share options is applied.

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (thousands)

Effect of dilutive share option awards (thousands)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for calculating diluted earnings per share (thousands)

2023

2022

 16,753 

 16,753 

 –   

 –   

 16,753 

 16,753 

200,494 (2022: 800,494) share options were not included in the diluted earnings per share calculation as their effect is anti-dilutive in the 
periods presented. 

10  Property lease income

Receivable:

  - within one year

  - between one and two years

  - between two and three years

  - between three and four years

  - between four and five years

11  Goodwill

2023
£’000 

2022
£’000 

98 

46 

9 

 – 

 – 

153 

135 

98 

46 

10 

 – 

289 

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated, at acquisition, to the cash-generating units (CGUs) that are expected to benefit from 
that business combination. The goodwill balance includes amounts relating to the Madrox business in Poland, acquired in 2014, which forms a 
part of the Poland operating segment; and the Schela Plast business in Denmark, acquired in 2021, which forms a part of the Denmark 
operating segment. The goodwill arises as a result of the deferred tax liability created on the recognition of the customer relationship 
intangible assets.

Group

Cost

At 1 January 2022

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2022

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2023

Accumulated impairment losses

At 1 January 2022

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2022

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2023

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2023

At 31 December 2022

48  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

£’000

1,866 

66 

1,932 

72 

2,004 

352 

10 

362 

21 

383 

1,621

1,570

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued

11  Goodwill (continued)

The carrying value of goodwill in respect of all CGU’s is set out below. These are supported by value in use calculations in the year as 
explained below.

Denmark

Poland

2023
£’000 

474 

1,147 

1,621 

2022
£’000 

485 

1,085 

1,570 

The Group tests goodwill and the associated intangible assets annually for impairment, or more frequently if there are indications that an 
impairment may be required. The recoverable amounts of the CGUs are determined from value-in-use calculations. The key assumptions for 
these calculations are those regarding discount rates, sales and operating profit growth rates. The Directors estimate discount rates using 
pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money for the Group. In respect of the other assumptions, external 
data and management’s best estimates are applied. The Group performs goodwill impairment reviews by forecasting cash flows based upon 
the following year’s budget, which anticipates sales growth, and a projection of sales and cash flows based upon growth expectations over a 
further period of four years. The forecasts used in the annual impairment reviews have been prepared taking into account current economic 
conditions. After this period, the sales growth rates applied to the cash flow forecasts are no more than 2% (2022: 2%) in perpetuity. The base 
pre-tax rate used to discount the forecast cash flows is 5.7% (2022: 5.4%), which reflects the weighted average cost of capital for the Group. 
The Poland CGU uses a rate of 5.9% (2022: 5.6%) including a risk adjustment of 0.4% (2022: 0.4%) to reflect the higher risk associated with 
returns in Poland. The Denmark CGU uses a rate of 5.1% (2022: 4.9%) including a risk adjustment of -0.9% (2022: -1.0%) to reflect the lower 
risk associated with returns in Denmark. The carrying value of the Group’s CGUs remains supportable. The Group has conducted a sensitivity 
analysis on the impairment test of the CGU carrying value. The Directors believe that any reasonably possible change in the key assumptions 
on which the recoverable amount of goodwill is based would not cause the aggregate carrying amount to exceed the aggregate recoverable 
amount of the CGU.

12  Intangible assets 

Group

Cost

At 1 January 2022

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2022

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2023

Amortisation

At 1 January 2022

Charge for the year

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2022

Charge for the year

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2023

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2023

At 31 December 2022

The amortisation period for customer relationships acquired is 10 years.

The current average useful life of customer relationships is 5.7 years (2022: 5.5 years).

See note 11 for impairment assessment.

Customer relationships

£’000

9,494 

331 

9,825 

382 

10,207 

5,743 

947 

211 

6,901 

990 

389 

8,280 

1,927 

2,924 

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  49 

Notes to the financial statements continued

13  Property, plant and equipment

Group

Cost or deemed cost
At 1 January 2022
Additions at cost
Reclassified as held for sale
Disposals

Reclassified
Exchange movement
At 31 December 2022
Additions at cost
Disposals
Exchange movement
At 31 December 2023
Accumulated depreciation and impairment
At 1 January 2022
Charge for year
Disposals
Exchange movement
At 31 December 2022
Charge for year
Disposals
Impairment
Exchange movement
At 31 December 2023

Net book value
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022

Land and
buildings
£’000

Surplus
properties
£’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000 

Assets
 under
construction
£’000 

11,311 
145 
 – 
(1,456)

 – 
239 
10,239 
268 
 – 
243 
10,750 

3,289 
377 
(480)
66 
3,252 
370 
 – 
 – 
97 
3,719 

3,701 
 – 
(642)
 – 

 – 
 – 
3,059 
 – 
 – 
 – 
3,059 

290 
 – 
 – 
 – 
290 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
290 

35,535 
1,825 
 – 
(1,291)

263 
580 
36,912 
1,298 
(913)
656 
37,953 

22,966 
2,774 
(1,239)
346 
24,847 
2,910 
(902)
51 
552 
27,458 

890 
614 
 – 
(118)

(263)
16 
1,139 
2,468 
 – 
18 
3,625 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

Total
£’000 

51,437 
2,584 
(642)
(2,865)

 – 
835 
51,349 
4,034 
(913)
917 
55,387 

26,545 
3,151 
(1,719)
412 
28,389 
3,280 
(902)
51 
649 
31,467 

7,031 
6,987 

2,769 
2,769 

10,495 
12,065 

3,625 
1,139 

23,920 
22,960 

50  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements continued

13  Property, plant and equipment (continued)

Company

Cost or deemed cost
At 1 January 2022
Additions at cost
Reclassified as held for sale
Disposals
At 31 December 2022
At 31 December 2023

Accumulated depreciation and impairment
At 1 January 2022
Charge for year
Disposals
At 31 December 2022
Charge for year
At 31 December 2023

Net book value
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022

Land and
buildings
£’000

Surplus
properties
£’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000 

Assets
 under
construction
£’000 

5,201 
 – 
 – 
(1,456)
3,745 
3,745 

2,019 
75 
(480)
1,614 
65 
1,679 

6,297 
 – 
(792)
 – 
5,505 
5,505 

215 
 – 
 – 
215 
 – 
215 

2,066 
2,131 

5,290 
5,290 

84 
11 
 – 
 – 
95 
95 

60 
7 
 – 
67 
8 
75 

20 
28 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

– 
–

Total
£’000 

11,582 
11 
(792)
(1,456)
9,345 
9,345 

2,294 
82 
(480)
1,896 
73 
1,969 

7,376 
7,449 

The assets under construction relate to plant and machinery.

At 31 December 2023, had the land and buildings and surplus properties been carried at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and 
accumulated impairment losses, their carrying amount would have been approximately £6,083,000 (2022: £6,313,000); Company £950,000 
(2022: £1,269,000). After undertaking professional independent valuations in 2022, which were performed by Innes England Limited, the 
Directors consider the fair value of the surplus properties held by the Group equates to a market value of £7,368,000 (2022: £8,068,000).

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  51 

Notes to the financial statements continued

14  Investments in subsidiaries

Company

Cost

At 1 January 2022

Exchange differences

Loans granted

At 31 December 2022

Exchange differences

Loans granted

Loans repaid

At 31 December 2023

Amounts written off

At 1 January 2022

Written off in the period

At 31 December 2022

Written off in the period

At 31 December 2023

Net book value

At 31 December 2023

At 31 December 2022

Shares
in Group
undertakings
£’000

Loans
to Group
undertakings
£’000 

Total
£’000

1 

 - 

 - 

1 

 - 

 - 

-

1 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

1 

1 

19,724 

19,725 

59 

2,322 

22,105 

(7)

13 

(1,448)

20,663 

2,830 

296 

3,126 

723 

3,849 

59 

2,322 

22,106 

(7)

13 

(1,448)

20,664 

2,830 

296 

3,126 

723 

3,849 

16,814 

18,979 

16,815 

18,980 

The loans are classed as equity investments and repayment is neither planned nor likely in the foreseeable future. Provision has been made 
against the investment where there is an identified shortfall of net assets within the applicable subsidiary. Robinson Paperbox Packaging 
Limited made a loss during the year, impacted by the flood in October 2023.

Interests in Group undertakings

The Company has the following interest in subsidiaries, all of which are included in the consolidated accounts:

Name of undertaking

Robinson (Overseas) Limited

Robinson Paperbox Packaging Limited

Robinson Plastic Packaging Limited

Robinson Packaging Polska Sp z o.o

Robinson Packaging Danmark A/S

Walton Mill (Chesterfield) Limited

Walton Estates (Chesterfield) Limited

Lowmoor Estates Limited

Portland Works Limited

Robinson Plastic Packaging (Stanton Hill) Limited

Held

Directly

Directly

Directly

Indirectly

Indirectly

Directly

Directly

Directly

Directly

Directly

Country

England

England

England

Poland

Denmark

England

England

England

England

England

Activities

Intermediate holding company

Manufacture of paperboard packaging

Manufacture of plastic packaging

Manufacture of plastic packaging

Manufacture of plastic packaging

Property company

Dormant company

Dormant company

Dormant company

Dormant company

In each case, the Company’s equity interest is in the form of ordinary shares. The registered address of all the companies is Field House, 
Wheatbridge, Chesterfield, S40 2AB except for: Robinson Packaging Polska Sp z o.o, whose registered address is 238 Gen J Dabrowskiego, 
93-231 Łódź, Poland; and Robinson Packaging Danmark A/S whose registered office is Erhvervsvej 2, 6650 Brørup, Denmark. The percentage 
shareholding for all subsidiaries is 100%.

52  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements continued

15   Inventories

Raw materials, packaging and consumables

Work in progress

Finished goods and goods for resale

Group 
2023
£’000

2,904

29

1,814

4,747

Inventories are stated net of an allowance of £434,000 (2022: £583,000) in respect of excess, obsolete or slow-moving items.

Group 
2022
£’000

3,190

99

1,866

5,155

Group 
2022
£’000

(708)

111 

182 

(168)

(583)

Group 
2023
£’000

(583)

195 

135 

(181)

(434)

Group 
2023
£’000

10,430

(328)

10,102

 – 

313

 – 

220

10,635

 – 

10,635

Group 
2022
£’000

9,134

(159)

8,975

 – 

70

215

262

9,522

 – 

9,522

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

233

(75)

158

223

(75)

148

2,916

3,138

74

 – 

135

3,283

 – 

3,283

14

215

110

3,625

9

3,634

Movements in the allowance were as follows:

Inventory provision movements

At 1 January

Utilisation

Unused amount reversed

Increase in allowance

At 31 December

16  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables

Less: provision for impairment of trade receivables

Trade receivables - net

Receivables from subsidiaries

Other receivables

Social security and other taxes

Prepayments 

Trade and other receivables

Current tax assets

Total receivables

Trade terms are a maximum of 150 days credit. The average credit period taken is 74 days (2022: 66 days). Due to their short-term nature, the 
fair value of trade and other receivables does not differ from book value. The net impairment of trade receivables charged to the income 
statement was £175,000 (2022: £nil). There is no impairment of any receivables other than trade receivables. Trade receivables from one 
customer amounted to £1,562,000 at 31 December 2023 (2022: £1,056,000). 

Trade receivables are regularly reviewed for bad and doubtful debts. An allowance has been made for estimated credit losses from trade 
receivables as follows:

At 31 December 2023

Expected loss rate

Gross carrying amount (£'000)

Credit loss allowance (£'000)

At 31 December 2022

Expected loss rate

Gross carrying amount (£'000)

Credit loss allowance (£'000)

More than
 30 days
 past due

More than
 90 days
 past due

More than
 120 days
 past due

More than
 210 days
 past due

Total

 – 

606 

 – 

 – 

25 

 – 

50%

100%

41 

21 

130 

130 

10,430 

151 

More than
 30 days
 past due

More than
 90 days
 past due

More than
 120 days 
past due

More than
 210 days
 past due

 – 

344 

 – 

 – 

14 

 – 

50%

100%

33 

17 

67 

67 

Total

9,134 

84 

Current

 – 

9,628 

 – 

Current

 – 

8,676 

 – 

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  53 

Notes to the financial statements continued

16  Trade and other receivables (continued)

In addition to the credit loss allowance, the provision for impairment of trade receivables includes additional specific provisions for estimated 
irrecoverable debts of £72,000 (2022: £30,000) and credit note provisions of £105,000 (2022: £45,000).

Management have assessed the probability of default on receivables from subsidiaries, it is not considered that there has been a significant 
increase in credit risk since the loan was first advanced. Therefore an expected credit loss has not been recognised.

Movement in the allowance for doubtful debts

At 1 January

Utilisation

Unused amount reversed

Increase in allowance

At 31 December

Group
2023
£’000

(159)

6 

36 

(211)

(328)

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

(218)

59 

157 

(157)

(159)

(75)

 – 

 – 

 – 

(75)

(2)

–

–

(73)

(75)

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses (ECLs), which uses a lifetime expected loss allowance 
for all trade receivables. To measure the ECLs, trade receivables have been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and the days 
past due. The expected loss rates are based on the payment profiles of sales over a period of 36 months before 31 December 2023 or 
31 December 2022 and the historical credit losses experienced within this period. The historical loss rates are adjusted to reflect current and 
forward-looking information on macroeconomic factors affecting the ability of the customers to settle the receivables, including a review of 
most recent credit ratings for our key customers. Trade receivables are written off where there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. 
Indicators that there is no reasonable expectation of recovery include, among others, the failure of a debtor to engage in a repayment plan 
with the Group and a failure to make contractual payments for a period greater than 365 days past due. Trade receivables are measured at 
amortised cost.

17  Assets classified as held for sale

Property held for sale at 1 January

Reclassified from property, plant & equipment

Disposals

Property held for sale at 31 December

Group
2023
£’000

642

 – 

(642) 

 – 

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

238

642

(238) 

642

792

 – 

(792) 

 – 

335

792

(335)

792

The Group owns several properties which were previously used in its trading business, but are now surplus to its current business needs. 
Those assets which were currently being marketed for sale and for which a sale was anticipated in the next 12 months were classified as assets 
held for sale. During the year an asset previously held for sale was disposed, this was part of the UK head office operating segment.

18  Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Amounts due to subsidiaries

Social security and other taxes

Other payables

Accruals

Group
2023
£’000

7,681

 – 

949

686

798

Group
2022
£’000

7,238

 – 

969

442

894

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

220

5,099

123

67

506

214

5,099

129

60

672

10,114

9,543

6,015

6,174

The carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates to their fair value. The Group has financial risk management policies in place to 
ensure that all payables are paid on a timely basis. The average credit period taken is 60 days (2022: 44).

54  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
Notes to the financial statements continued

19  Deferred taxation

The deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the Group and movements thereon during the current and prior reporting period are as 
follows:

Group

At 1 January 2022

Charge to income

Charged through other comprehensive income

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2022

Charge to income

At 31 December 2023

Company

At 1 January 2022

Charge to income

Charged through other comprehensive income

At 31 December 2022

Charge to income

At 31 December 2023

Deferred tax liability

Deferred tax asset

Accelerated
tax
depreciation
£’000

Short-term
 temporary 
differences
£’000

Fair value
 gains
£’000

Losses
£’000

Total
£’000

541 

100 

 – 

 – 

641 

(81)

560 

51 

4 

 – 

55 

1 

56 

(148)

(157)

 – 

11 

(294)

402

108

(724)

7 

 – 

(717)

667 

(50)

35 

 – 

(5)

 – 

30 

–

30 

17 

 – 

(5)

12 

–

12 

(240)

(36)

 – 

 – 

(276)

189 

(87)

 – 

(171)

–

(171)

171 

 – 

188 

(93)

(5)

11 

101 

510

611

(656)

(160)

(5)

(821)

839 

18 

Group
2023
£’000

1,119 

(508)

611 

Group
2022
£’000

1,395 

(1,294)

101 

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

18 

 – 

18 

 – 

(821)

(821)

Deferred tax has been provided at 25% in the UK, country specific rates have been used for overseas subsidiaries. Certain deferred tax 
liabilities have been offset. The above is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset) for financial reporting purposes. The Directors 
consider that the Group will generate sufficient taxable profits in future years with which to recover the deferred tax asset.

The Group is continuing to assess the impact of the Pillar Two income taxes legislation on its future financial performance.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  55 

Notes to the financial statements continued

20  Borrowings

Group

Company

Borrowings may be analysed as follows:

Current
 liabilities
£’000

Non-current
liabilities
£’000

Total
liabilities
£’000

Current
 liabilities
£’000

Non-current
 liabilities
£’000

Total
 liabilities
£’000

At 31 December 2023

Bank and other loans

Lease liabilities

Total

At 31 December 2022

Bank and other loans

Lease liabilities

Total

Bank and other loans are repayable as follows:

Bank and other loans

  - within one year

  - due after one and within two years

  - due after two and within five years

  - due after five years

2,158

1,369

3,527

3,674

1,861

5,535

3,542

2,808

6,350

4,967

3,776

8,743

5,700

4,177

9,877

8,641

5,637

14,278

Group
2023
£’000

2,158

351

2,581

610

5,700

301

 – 

301

3,165

 – 

3,165

2,731

 – 

2,731

4,085

 – 

4,085

3,032

 – 

3,032

7,250

 – 

7,250

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

3,674

4,136

154

677

8,641

301

301

2,430

 – 

3,032

3,165

4,085

 – 

 – 

7,250

Bank overdraft and other short-term credit facilities are repayable on demand and bear interest at a rate that varies with the local base 
interest rates. They are secured by charges over certain of the Group’s properties. The total of undrawn facilities at 31 December 2023 was 
£5.1m (2022: £6.1m).

Bank and other loans include £3.9m (2022: £5.5m) of commercial mortgage agreements, which are denominated in Sterling and Danish Krone 
and the £nil (2022: £2.7m) loan from the Pension Escrow Account (see note 31 for more details) denominated in Sterling. The average 
remaining term is 3.7 years (2022: 2.9 years). For the year ended 31 December 2023, the average effective borrowing rate was 7.6% (2022: 
4.7%). The loans are secured by a charge over certain of the Group’s properties. There are financial covenants which apply to some of the 
bank loans, the Group complied with these throughout the year.

The Group leases certain plant and machinery under finance lease and hire purchase contracts, which are denominated in Sterling, Euros, 
Danish Krone and Polish Zloty. The average remaining lease term is 3.4 years (2022: 3.9 years). For the year ended 31 December 2023, the 
average effective borrowing rate was 3.4% (2022: 3.1%). Lease liabilities are secured on the assets to which they relate. The carrying amount 
of the Group’s lease obligations approximates to their fair value.

21  Leasing

Leased assets where the Group is a lessee
Property, plant and equipment includes the following amounts relating to leased assets where the Group is a lessee: 

Group
2023
£’000

6,604

6,604

1,369

2,808

4,177

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

7,033

7,033

1,861

3,776

5,637

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

 –

Group

Right-of-use assets

Plant and machinery

Lease liabilities

Current

Non-current

Additions to right-of-use assets during the year amounted to £456,000 (2022: £961,000). 

56  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued

21  Leasing (continued)

The Group income statement includes the following amounts relating to leased assets: 

Depreciation charge on right-of-use assets

Plant and machinery

Interest expense (see note 4)

Leases are repayable as follows:

Group

Amounts payable under lease contracts:

  - within one year

  - after one and within five years

  - after five years

Less: future finance charges

Present value of lease obligations

Group
2023
£’000

1,336

1,336

414 

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

1,339

1,339

171 

 –

 –

 –

 – 

 –

 –

Minimum lease
payments

Present value of minimum 
lease payments

2023
£’000

1,450

2,634

314

4,398

(221)

4,177

2022
£’000 

1,948

3,423

526

5,897

(260)

5,637

2023
£’000

1,369

2,505

303

4,177

2022 
£’000

1,861

3,264

512

5,637

Sale and leaseback transactions 
In the normal course of business, the Group constructs plant and machinery assets over a period of time, typically six to nine months. In some 
cases after commissioning of the asset, it may be subject to a sale and hire purchase transaction, whereby the Group sells the asset to a 
finance provider and commits to paying monthly lease rentals for a period of time before re-assuming ownership. In 2023, there was one 
transaction of this type raising £355,000 (2022: £439,000) before deposit payments. No gain or loss was recognised on this transaction during 
the period.

Due to the fact that the lessor is a financial institution, these arrangements do not meet the definition of a sale in IFRS 15,  and as such, the 
amounts received from the financial institution are instead accounted for as a financial liability under IFRS 9. 

Leased assets where the Group is a lessor 
The Group leases various properties to tenants with rentals payable monthly or quarterly in advance. Lease payments for some contracts 
include RPI/CPI increases, but there are no other variable lease payments that depend on an index or rate. Although the Group is exposed to 
changes in the residual value at the end of the current leases, the Group typically enters into new operating leases and, therefore, will not 
immediately realise any reduction in residual value at the end of these leases. The Group carrying value of properties subject to operating 
leases is £3,127,000 (2022: £3,792,000), only part of which is occupied by tenants. Property lease income is disclosed in note 2, and minimum 
receipts under property leases are disclosed in note 10.

22  Provisions for liabilities

Group and Company

At 1 January 2022

Movement in year

At 31 December 2022

Movement in year

At 31 December 2023

Post-retirement benefits
£’000

128

(12)

116

(18)

98

The Group provides medical insurance to certain retired employees and to a Non-executive Director on retirement. A provision has been made 
to meet this liability. The principal assumptions used in determining the required provisions are a discount rate of 5.2% per annum, medical 
cost inflation of 10% per annum and individual life expectancy assumptions. Based on those assumptions, the provision is expected to be 
utilised over 27 years.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  57 

 
Notes to the financial statements continued

23  Called up share capital

Authorised:

70,000,000 ordinary shares of 0.5p each

Allotted, called up and fully paid (ordinary shares of 0.5p):

17,687,223 shares (2022: 17,687,223)

Held in Treasury: 933,778 shares (2022: 933,778)

Net issued share capital: 16,753,445 shares (2022: 16,753,445)

2023
£’000

2022
£’000

350

350

88

(4)

84

88

(4)

84

The Company has one class of ordinary share that carries no right to fixed income. There are no special rights or restrictions associated with 
these ordinary shares. The shares held in treasury arise from the buy-back of shares in 2004 and have not been cancelled as they are being 
used to satisfy share options and other future issues of shares. 

24  Retained earnings
An amount of £200,000 included in the retained earnings of the Company relates to the revaluation of property held in its subsidiaries and is 
not distributable.

25  Risk management objectives and policies

The Group and the Company are exposed to market risk through their use of financial instruments and specifically to credit risk and foreign 
currency risks, which result from the Group’s operating activities and the Company’s investing activities. The Group’s risk is managed in close 
co-operation with the Board of Directors and focuses on actively securing the Group’s short to medium-term cash flows by minimising the 
exposure to financial markets. Robinson does not engage in the trading of financial assets for speculative purposes nor does it write options. 
The most significant financial risks to which the Group is exposed are described below. See also below for a summary of the Group’s financial 
assets and liabilities by category.

Summary of financial assets and financial liabilities by category 
The carrying amounts of financial assets and liabilities as recognised at 31 December of the reporting periods under review may also be 
categorised as follows:

Group
2023
£’000

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

Financial assets measured at amortised cost

Trade receivables

Other receivables

Amounts due from subsidiaries

Cash at bank and on hand

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost

Trade payables

Other payables

Accrued expenses

Amounts due to group undertakings

Bank overdrafts

Bank and other loans

Lease liabilities

Net financial assets and liabilities

Non-financial assets and liabilities

Total equity

10,102 

8,975 

313 

 – 

3,576 

13,991 

70 

 – 

5,097 

14,142 

(7,681)

(7,238)

(686)

(798)

 – 

 – 

(5,700)

(4,177)

(442)

(894)

 – 

 – 

(8,641)

(5,637)

158 

74 

2,916 

1,343 

4,491 

(220)

(67)

(506)

148 

14 

3,138 

935 

4,235 

(214)

(60)

(672)

(13,596)

(12,595)

 – 

 – 

(3,032)

(7,250)

 – 

 – 

(20,791)

(16,556)

28,131 

11,575 

(19,042)

(22,852)

(17,421)

(5,051)

30,605 

25,554 

(8,710)

(12,930)

32,652 

23,942 

24,087 

11,157 

All financial assets and financial liabilities noted in the above table are measured at amortised cost. 

Cash at bank and on hand, bank overdrafts and bank and other loans largely attract floating interest rates. Accordingly, management considers 
that their carrying amount approximates to fair value.

Lease liabilities may attract floating interest rates or fixed interest rates implicit in the lease rentals and their fair value has been assessed 
relative to prevailing market interest rates, management considers that their carrying amount approximates to fair value.

58  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional information 
 
Notes to the financial statements continued

25  Risk management objectives and policies (continued)

Foreign currency risk

Transaction risk 
Foreign currency transaction risk arises on sales and purchases denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the entity that 
enters into the transaction. Group transactions are primarily in Sterling, Polish Zloty, Danish Krone or Euros. The magnitude of these 
transactional exposures is relatively low for the Group as sales and purchases are typically matched by currency; and commercial contracts 
include escalators for currency movements on raw materials. The Group does not typically hedge transactional currency risk with derivative 
instruments, but exchange rate movements are regularly monitored.

Translation risk 
Foreign currency translation risk arises on consolidation in relation to the translation into Sterling of the results and net assets of the Group’s 
non-UK subsidiaries.

The currency profile of net assets was as follows:

Net assets by currency

Sterling

Polish Zloty

Danish Krone

Euro

Others

Total

Group
2023
£’000

13,763 

9,581 

2,404 

(211)

17 

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

8,745 

11,162 

4,257 

(185)

(37)

11,155 

11,449 

1 

 – 

1 

 – 

2 

 – 

124 

 – 

25,554 

23,942 

11,157 

11,575 

The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 10% increase and decrease in Sterling against the relevant foreign currencies. The 
sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items at the period end. A positive number below 
indicates an increase in profit and other equity where Sterling weakens 10% against the Euro, Polish Zloty and Danish Krone.

Currency impact on financial instruments

+10%

-10%

+10%

-10%

+10%

-10%

Profit or loss for the year

Equity

19 

19 

(23)

(23)

(68)

(68)

83 

83 

484 

484 

(592)

(592)

Euro

Polish Zloty

Danish Krone

Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value of, or future cash flows associated with, a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes 
in market interest rates. The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on its floating rate borrowings. The interest rate profile of the Group’s 
interest-bearing financial assets and financial liabilities was as follows:

Floating rate

Bank and other loans:

  - pension escrow loan

  - commercial mortgages

  - unactivated leases

Lease liabilities

Cash at bank and on hand

Fixed rate

Bank and other loans:

  - commercial mortgages

Lease liabilities

Total

Group
2023
£’000

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

 – 

(3,032)

(1,808)

(1,188)

3,576

(2,452)

(861)

(2,988)

(3,849)

(6,301)

(2,700)

(4,550)

(459)

(1,922)

5,097

(4,534)

(932)

(3,715)

(4,647)

(9,181)

 – 

(3,032)

 – 

 – 

1,343

(1,689)

 – 

 – 

 – 

(2,700)

(4,550)

 – 

 – 

935

(6,315)

 – 

 – 

 – 

(1,689)

(6,315)

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  59 

 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements continued

25  Risk management objectives and policies (continued)

Interest payable on bank overdrafts and floating rate loans is based on base rates and short-term interbank rates. At 31 December 2023, the 
weighted average interest rate payable on bank overdrafts was nil% (2022: nil%). At 31 December 2023, the weighted average interest rate 
payable on bank and other loans was 7.6% (2022: 4.7%). At 31 December 2023, the weighted average interest rate receivable on cash at bank 
and in hand was nil% (2022: nil%).

On the assumption that a change in market interest rates would be applied to the interest rate exposures that were in existence at the balance 
sheet date an increase/decrease of 100 basis points in market interest rates would decrease/increase the Group’s profit before tax by £60,000 
(2022: £96,000), and the Company’s profit before tax by £30,000 (2022: £73,000).

Credit risk 
Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group.

The Group has three types of financial assets that are subject to the ECL model: trade receivables, other receivables, and cash at bank and in 
hand. Disclosure regarding ECLs on trade receivables is provided in note 16. While other receivables and cash at bank and on hand are also 
subject to the requirements of IFRS 9, the identified impairment loss was immaterial. The Group’s cash balances are managed such that there is 
no significant concentration of credit risk in any one bank or other financial institution. Management monitors the credit quality of the 
institutions with which it holds deposits. The Group continuously monitors defaults (for debts beyond due date) of customers and 
incorporates this information into its credit risk controls. External credit ratings and reports on customers are obtained and used. The Group’s 
policy is to deal only with creditworthy customers. The Group’s management considers that all the above financial assets that are not 
impaired for each of the reporting dates under review are of good credit quality, including those that are past due. In respect of trade and 
other receivables, the Group is not exposed to any significant credit risk exposure to any counterparty or group of counterparties having similar 
characteristics.

At 31 December 2023, the maximum exposure to credit risk (excluding intercompany balances in the Company) was as follows:

Trade and other receivables:

  - Trade receivables

  - Other receivables

Cash at bank and on hand

Total

Liquidity risk analysis

Group
2023
£’000

10,430

313

10,743

3,576

14,319

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

9,134

70

9,204

5,097

14,301

233

74

307

1,343

1,650

223

14

237

935

1,172

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities. The Group’s 
borrowing facilities are monitored against forecast requirements and timely action is taken to put in place, renew or replace credit lines. The 
Group manages its liquidity needs by carefully monitoring cash outflows due in day-to-day business. The Group’s liabilities have contractual 
maturities that are summarised below:

Within 
one year
£’000

After one 
and within
five years
£’000

After five 
years
£’000

7,681

1,484

2,158

6

1,450

12,779

 – 

 – 

2,932

20

2,634

5,586

 – 

 – 

610

25

314

949

Total
£’000

7,681

1,484

5,700

51

4,398

19,314

Group

At 31 December 2023

Trade payables

Other financial liabilities

Bank and other loans:

  - principal

  - interest

Minimum lease payments

60  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued

25  Risk management objectives and policies (continued)

Group

At 31 December 2022

Trade payables

Other financial liabilities

Bank and other loans:

  - principal

  - interest

Minimum lease payments

Company

At 31 December 2023

Trade payables

Other financial liabilities

Bank and other loans:

  - principal

  - interest

Amounts owed to subsidiaries

Company

At 31 December 2022

Trade payables

Other financial liabilities

Bank and other loans:

  - principal

  - interest

Amounts owed to subsidiaries

Within 
one year
£’000

After one 
and within
five years
£’000

After five 
years
£’000

7,238

1,336

3,674

6

1,948

14,202

 – 

 – 

4,290

22

3,423

7,735

 – 

 – 

677

30

526

1,233

Within 
one year
£’000

After one 
and within 
five years
£’000

After five 
years
£’000

220

573

301

 – 

5,099

6,193

214

732

3,165

 – 

5,099

9,210

 – 

 – 

2,731

 – 

 – 

2,731

 – 

 – 

4,085

 – 

 – 

4,085

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

8,497

8,497

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

7,496

7,496

Total
£’000

7,238

1,336

8,641

58

5,897

23,170

Total
£’000

220

573

3,032

 – 

13,596

17,421

214

732

7,250

 – 

12,595

20,791

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  61 

Notes to the financial statements continued

26  Group capital and net debt

The Group's capital comprises total equity and net debt. The Group’s capital management objectives are:

•  to ensure the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern; and
•  to provide an adequate return to shareholders by pricing products commensurately with the level of risk.

The Group monitors capital based on the carrying amount of equity and net debt. The Group manages the capital structure and adjusts it in 
light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. The Directors aim to maintain an efficient capital 
structure with a relatively conservative level of debt-to-equity gearing so as to ensure continued access to a broad range of financing sources 
that provide them sufficient flexibility in pursuing commercial opportunities as they arise.  In order to maintain its capital structure, the Group 
may adjust the dividends paid to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

The Group's capital was as follows:

Total equity

Net debt

Capital

Gearing (average net debt / average capital)

Movements in Group net debt were as follows:

Cash at bank and on hand

Bank and other loans

Lease liabilities

Net debt

Cash at bank and on hand

Bank and other loans

Lease liabilities

Net debt

Movements in Company net debt were as follows:

Cash at bank and on hand

Bank and other loans

Net debt

Cash at bank and on hand

Bank and other loans

Net debt

62  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

2023
£’000 

25,554

6,301

31,855

24%

At 31 
December 
2022
£’000

5,097

(8,641)

(5,637)

(9,181)

At 31 
December 
2021
£’000

2,775

(9,651)

(6,251)

(13,127)

At 31 
December 
2022
£’000

935

(7,250)

(6,315)

At 31 
December 
2021
£’000

319

(8,700)

(8,381)

Exchange 
movements
£’000

Non-cash 
movement
£’000

105

22

7

134

–

2,700

(375)

2,325

Exchange 
movements
£’000

Non-cash 
movement
£’000

57

(51)

(177)

(171)

–

– 

(923)

(923)

Exchange 
movements
£’000

Non-cash 
movement
£’000

(56)

–

(56)

–

2,700

2,700

Exchange 
movements
£’000

Non-cash 
movement
£’000

3

– 

3

–

–

–

2022
£’000 

23,942

9,181

33,123

33%

Cash 
flows
£’000

(1,626)

219

1,828

421

Cash 
flows
£’000

2,265

1,061

1,714

5,040

Cash 
flows
£’000

464

1,518

1,982

Cash 
flows
£’000

613

1,450

2,063

2021
£’000 

21,670

13,127

34,797

23%

At 31 
December 
2023
£’000

3,576

(5,700)

(4,177)

(6,301)

At 31 
December 
2022
£’000

5,097

(8,641)

(5,637)

(9,181)

At 31 
December 
2023
£’000

1,343

(3,032)

(1,689)

At 31 
December 
2022
£’000

935

(7,250)

(6,315)

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued

27  Capital commitments

Contracted but not provided in these financial statements

28  Assets pledged as security

Group
2023
£’000

714

Group
2022
£’000

1,842

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

 – 

 – 

The carrying amounts of assets pledged as security (excluding intercompany balances in the Company) for current and non-current 
borrowings are:

Current

Floating charge:

  - Cash and cash equivalents

  - Trade and other receivables

First mortgage:

  - Assets classified as held for sale

Total current assets pledged as security

Non-current

First mortgage:

  - Land and buildings

  - Surplus properties

Lease liabilities:

  - Plant and equipment

Floating charge:

  - Plant and equipment

Total non-current assets pledged as security

Total assets pledged as security

Group
2023
£’000

Group
2022
£’000

Company
2023
£’000

Company
2022
£’000

2,727

5,887

 – 

8,614

3,543

2,769

6,312

6,604

6,604

4,802

4,802

17,718

26,332

2,884

6,009

642

9,535

3,592

2,769

6,361

7,033

7,033

3,838

3,838

17,232

26,767

1,343

367

 – 

1,710

2,067

5,290

7,357

 – 

 – 

19

19

935

497

792

2,224

2,131

5,290

7,421

–

–

28

28

7,376

9,086

7,449

9,673

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  63 

Notes to the financial statements continued

29  Contingent liabilities

There were contingent liabilities at 31 December 2023 in relation to cross guarantees of bank overdrafts and leases given by the Company on 
behalf of other Group undertakings. The amount guaranteed at 31 December 2023 was £1,314,000 (2022: £1,922,000). The Directors have 
considered the fair value of the cross guarantee and do not consider this to be significant.

30  Related parties

Transactions took place in the normal course of business between the Company and its subsidiaries during the year as follows:

Charges by the Company to its subsidiaries:

–  Rent

–  Management charges

–  Interest

Other charges (including costs incurred by the Company on behalf of its subsidiaries 
and subsequently recharged to them)

Charges by the subsidiaries to the Company (mainly costs incurred by them on behalf 
of the Company and recharged to it)

Net balances due from subsidiaries outstanding at the year end

£8,423,000 of the net charges in 2023 related to UK subsidiaries (2022: £8,207,000).

2023 
£’000

2022 
£’000

442  

700  

–  

577

921

–

7,492  

7,055

8,634  

8,553

35  

140

6,134  

9,522

Note 29 discloses cross guarantees between the Company, its subsidiaries and finance providers in relation to bank overdrafts and leases. This 
is considered to have minimal value.

Details of transactions between the Group and other related parties are disclosed below:

Post-employment benefit plans 
Contributions amounting to £2,000 (2022: £12,000) were payable by the Company to a pension plan established for the benefit of its 
employees. At 31 December 2023, £nil (2022: £1,000) in respect of contributions due was included in other payables. An amount of 
£2,700,000 previously loaned to the Company was cancelled on return of the Pension Escrow Funds to the Company. In 2023, Robinson plc 
incurred and recharged expenses of £71,000 (2022: £63,000) on behalf of the pension plan and charged £52,000 (2022: £33,000) in respect 
of administration services provided to the plan.

Compensation of key management personnel 
For the purposes of these disclosures, the Group and Company regards its key management personnel as the Directors, including  
Non-executive Directors. Compensation payable to key management personnel in respect of their services to the Group was as follows:

Short-term employee benefits

IFRS 2 share option charge

31  Employee benefit obligations

2023
£’000 

811  

19  

830  

2022
£’000 

664

41

705

The Group operates a defined contribution plan for UK employees, which is held in a separate Mastertrust arrangement from the Robinson & 
Sons Limited Pension Fund. This plan receives contributions to the members' pension pots from the Group and members. Polish employees 
are members of a pay-as-you-go plan based on notional defined contribution accounts, run by the Polish state-owned Social Insurance 
Institution. In Denmark, employees and the company contribute to independently managed defined contribution plans. The Group's 
obligations in respect of these plans are limited to the contributions. The expense is recognised in the current Income statement. The rest of 
this note relates to the Group's UK defined benefit plan (the "Plan").

The Robinson & Sons Limited Pension Fund is a defined benefit plan, which was closed to new members in 1997 and provides benefits to 
members in the form of a guaranteed pension for life. The level of benefits is based on each member’s salary and pensionable service prior to 
leaving the Plan. Benefits receive statutory revaluation in deferment. Once in payment, pension increases are applied, the majority of which 
are linked to inflation (subject to floors and caps).

64  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued

31  Employee benefit obligations (continued)

The Plan's assets are held separately from the Group in a trust fund. The fund is looked after by Trustees on behalf of the members. The 
assets are invested to meet the benefits promised. Under the normal course of events, actuarial valuations are undertaken every three years to 
confirm whether the assets are expected to be sufficient to provide the benefits. If there is a shortfall, a recovery plan is put in place under 
which the Group is required to pay additional contributions over a period of time, as agreed with the Trustees. The last triennial actuarial 
valuation was at 5 April 2020, which indicated the fund was in deficit. The funding position was reassessed based on rolled forward asset 
values and market conditions as of 30 October 2020, the date of signing the recovery plan. The scheme at that date had a funding surplus. 
The Trustees and the Company have therefore agreed that the Company is not required to pay contributions. The next full valuation is due as 
at 5 April 2023, and is due for completion within 15 months of that date.

In December 2022, the Plan completed a buy-in of all the pension liabilities. Following completion, the Plan’s liabilities are matched by an 
insurance policy and the Group no longer bears any investment longevity, inflation or interest rate risk associated with the Plan. As the Group 
was already benefitting from a contribution holiday there was no immediate benefit to cashflow from the buy-in transaction. A data cleanse 
exercise was completed, the administration and payroll functions were handed over to Legal and General Assurance Society Limited (“L&G”) 
from 1 August 2023 and a final balancing payment of £0.1m, was made by L&G to the Plan on 19 February 2024, completing the buy-in 
process. The surplus remaining in the Plan, currently £3.5m, will be used to augment member benefits. 

The accounting disclosures are based on different assumptions from the Plan’s funding assumptions. This is because: 

i) the funding and accounting valuations may be carried out at different dates and so are based on different market conditions; and 
ii)  the funding assumptions are determined by the Trustees who must include margins for prudence. The accounting assumptions are 

determined by the Group Directors in accordance with accounting standards, which are different from funding regulations.

The IAS 19 value placed on the pension benefit obligation has been determined by rolling forward from previous results, making adjustments 
to reflect benefits paid out of the Plan, and for differences between the assumptions used at this year end and the previous year end.

Amounts recognised in statement of financial position

Fair value of plan assets

Liability value (present value of funded obligation)

Surplus

Unrecognised assets due to asset ceiling

Net asset

2023
£’000

2022
£’000

45,195  

46,585

(41,640)  

(39,560)

3,555  

7,025

(3,555)  

(7,025)

–  

–

The main reason for the deterioration in the balance sheet position since last year is that during the year, the Company reached agreement 
with the trustees of the Scheme for the funds held in the pension escrow account, totalling c.£3.3m, to be returned to the Group (of which, 
£2.7m was already loaned to the Company). 

The surplus is not recognised in the Group balance sheet, on the basis that future 'economic benefits' are not available in the form of reduced 
future contributions or a cash refund. 

The amounts recognised in the balance sheet and the movements in the defined benefit obligation over the year are as follows:

Change in funded defined benefit obligation (DBO)

DBO at beginning of year

Service cost

Interest on DBO

Employee contributions

Past service costs

Remeasurement - actuarial loss/(gain) from financial items

Remeasurement - actuarial (gain)/loss from demographic items

Benefits paid

DBO at end of year

2023
£’000

2022
£’000

39,560  

55,852

20  

1,829  

2  

145

118

1,038

12

-

3,264  

(15,916)

(257)  

(2,923)  

1,030

(2,574)

41,640  

39,560

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  65 

 
 
Notes to the financial statements continued

31  Employee benefit obligations (continued)

Change in Plan assets

Fair value at beginning of year

Employee contributions

Interest income on Plan assets

Impact of interest on asset ceiling

Remeasurement - actuarial loss

Benefits paid

Expenses paid

Fair value at end of year

Asset return

Interest income on Plan assets (expected return)

Impact of interest on asset ceiling

Remeasurement - actuarial loss

Actual return on Plan assets

The following amounts were recognised in the income statement:

Income statement

Current service cost

Expenses

Net interest cost

Impact of interest on the asset ceiling

Past service costs due to plan amendments/curtailments/settlements

Total cost recognised in the income statement

The following amounts were recognised in the statement of other comprehensive income:

Remeasurement DBO - actuarial loss/(gain) from financial items

Remeasurement DBO - actuarial (gain)/loss from demographic items

Remeasurement Plan assets - actuarial loss on assets

Effect of asset limitation and minimum funding requirement

Total gain not recognised in other comprehensive income

2023
£’000

2022
£’000

46,585  

69,051

2  

2,164  

(335)  

(174)  

12

1,287

(249)

(20,880)

(2,923)  

(2,574)

(124)  

(62)

45,195  

46,585

2023
£’000

2,164  

(335)  

(174)  

2022
£’000

1,287

(249)

(20,880)

1,655  

(19,842)

2023
£’000

2022
£’000

20  

124  

(335)  

335

145  

289  

118

62

(249)

249

–

180

3,264  

(15,916)

(257)  

1,030

174  

20,880

(3,470)  

(289)  

(6,174)

(180)

Cumulative actuarial losses recognised in other comprehensive income

10,823  

11,112

Reconciliation of prepaid/(accrued) pension cost

Net periodic pension cost

Impact of limit on net assets

Remeasurements - actuarial losses not recognised in other comprehensive income

Prepaid/(accrued) at end of year (IAS)

Change in asset ceiling + additional liability IFRIC14

Asset not recognised at beginning of year

Changes in unrecognised asset due to asset ceiling

Asset not recognised at end of year

289  

(3,470)  

3,181  

–  

180

(6,174)

5,994

–

7,025  

13,199

(3,470)  

3,555  

(6,174)

7,025

66  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued 

31  Employee benefit obligations (continued)

Key assumptions used were:

Discount rate at beginning of year

Discount rate at end of year

RPI inflation

CPI inflation

Salary inflation

Expected return on assets

Mortality (average)

Mortality improvements

The average life expectancy of a pensioner is as follows:

Life expectancy of 45 year old man at the age of 65 years

Life expectancy of 45 year old woman at the age of 65 years

Life expectancy of 65 year old man at the age of 65 years

Life expectancy of 65 year old woman at the age of 65 years

2023 

2022 

2023 

2022

Weighted average
4.80%  

4.34%  

1.9%  

4.8%  

4.34%  

4.8%  

4.8%  

3.18%  

2.18%  

n/a  

4.34%  

S3PXA  

4.8%

3.1%

2.1%

3.4%

4.8%

S3PXA

  CMI2022[1%]   CMI2020[1%]

2023 

22.4  

25.0  

21.5  

23.9  

2022

22.9 

25.5 

22.0 

24.3 

Sensitivity to assumptions
Following the purchase of the buy-in policy, any change to the assumptions used in the disclosures would impact the insured liability and 
insured asset by the same amount. As such, there is no impact on the surplus as a result of changing the assumptions.

Pension Escrow Account 
Following the actuarial valuation carried out in April 2002, it was clear that there was no need for the employer to pay contributions into the 
Plan for existing members. The Group had nonetheless paid employer contributions set aside in the Group’s financial statements since the 
actuarial valuation in April 2002, together with money purchase contributions between 2005 and 2017, into an escrow account.

It was previously considered likely that the escrow account funds would be returned to the Plan, and therefore, in 2022 it was disclosed as an 
asset of the Plan. Following the purchase of the buy-in policy, the Company reached agreement with the trustees of the Plan for the funds 
held in the escrow account, totalling c.£3.3m, to be returned to the Group (of which, £2.7m was already loaned to the Company). 

Asset class allocation

The major categories of Plan assets are as follows:

Annuities

Other

Cash

Weighted average duration of the Plan (years)

Expected contributions in the following period

2023

92.1%  

-  

7.9%  

100%  

11  

–  

2022

84.9%

7.0%

8.1%

100%

12

–

As at the last actuarial valuation (5 April 2020), the present value of the DBO included £2.6m in respect of active members, £7.1m in respect 
of deferred members and £47.2m in respect of pensioners.

Risk exposure 
Through its defined benefit pension plan, the Group is exposed to a number of risks, the most significant of which are detailed below:

Asset volatility 
The Plan liabilities are calculated using a discount rate set with reference to corporate bond yields; if Plan assets underperform this yield, this 
will create a deficit. The Plan now holds the majority of its asset investments in an annuity policy, movements in the discount rate will largely 
be matched by movements in the value of the policy. The Group remains exposed to asset volatility in its cash investments.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  67 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements continued

31  Employee benefit obligations (continued)

Changes in bond yields 
A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase Plan liabilities, although this should now be offset by an increase in the value of the Plans’ 
holdings in the annuity policy.

Interest & Inflation risks 
The Plan is exposed to interest and inflation rate risks. The Plan investment in an annuity policy hedges the risk to funding associated with the 
impact of changes in long-term interest rates and inflation expectations on the Plan’s technical provisions.

Life expectancy 
The Plans’ obligations are to provide benefits for the life of the member, so increases in life expectancy will result in an increase in the Plans’ 
liabilities. This risk is hedged by the Plans’ investment in an annuity policy.

32  Share-based payments

During the year ended 31 December 2023, the Group had five share-based payment arrangements under two schemes. There were no 
options granted during the year.

The Enterprise Management Incentive Plan 2004 (EMI Plan 2004) is part of the remuneration package of the Executive Directors of the 
Company. Options under this scheme will vest in accordance with a timescale over 36 months if certain performance criteria are met. Upon 
vesting, each option allows the holder to purchase one ordinary share at the stated price. If the option holder leaves the employment of the 
Company, the option is forfeited.

The Incentive Plan 2016 is part of the remuneration package of the Executive Directors and other senior managers of the Company. Options 
under this scheme will vest in accordance with a timescale over 36 or 60 months if certain performance criteria are met. Upon vesting, each 
option allows the holder to purchase one ordinary share at the stated price. If the option holder leaves the employment of the Company, the 
option is forfeited.

Fair values for the share option schemes have been determined using the Black-Scholes model. The expected volatility is based on historical 
volatility over the past three years. The expected life is the average expected period to exercise. The risk-free rate of return is the yield on 
zero-coupon UK government bonds of a term consistent with the assumed option life.

A reconciliation of option movements over the year to 31 December 2023 is shown below:

Outstanding at 31 December 2021

Outstanding at 31 December 2022

Lapsed

Outstanding at 31 December 2023

Exercisable at 31 December 2023

Exercisable at 31 December 2022

EMI Plan 
2004 

67,494  

67,494  

 – 

Weighted 
average 
price (p)

202.0  

202.0  

Incentive 
Plan 2016 

733,000  

733,000  

(600,000)

67,494  

202.0  

133,000  

67,494  

67,494

202.0  

133,000  

202.0

133,000

Weighted
average
price (p)

120.6

120.6

(118.5)

130.0

130.0

130.0

The range of exercise prices for options outstanding at the end of the period is 118.5p to 202.0p. The weighted average contractual life of 
options at the end of the period is 2.3 years (2022: 6.5 years).

The total charge in the year ended 31 December 2023 relating to employee share-based payment plans, in accordance with IFRS 2, was 
£19,000 (2022: £45,000). All of which was related to equity-settled share-based payment transactions.

33  Contingent asset

There was a contingent asset at 31 December 2023 in relation to the Pension Escrow Account of £nil (2022: £3,244,000). The Company 
reached agreement with the trustees of the Plan for the funds held in the escrow account to be returned to the Group, of which £2,700,000 
was already loaned to the Company. This has been recognised as income through the Group Statement of Comprehensive Income. Further 
details are provided in note 31.

68  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued

34  Accounting policies

Robinson plc is a company, limited by shares, incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006. The consolidated and 
Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards in conformity with 
the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. All standards and interpretations that have been issued and are effective at the year end have 
been applied in the financial statements. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention adjusted for the 
revaluation of certain properties.

Consolidation 
The Group’s financial statements consolidate the financial statements of Robinson plc and all its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are consolidated 
from the date on which control transfers to the Group and are included until the date on which the Group ceases to control them. 
Transactions and year end balances between Group companies are eliminated on consolidation. All entities have coterminous year ends. The 
Group obtains and exercises control through voting rights. Investments in subsidiary undertakings are accounted for in accordance with IAS 27 
Separate Financial Statements and IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements and are recognised at cost less impairment.

Revenue 
The Group manufactures and sells a range of plastic and paperboard packaging to its customers. Revenue is recognised when control of the 
products is transferred, being when the products are delivered to the customer, and there is no unfulfilled performance obligation that could 
affect the customer’s acceptance of the products. Delivery occurs when the products have been shipped to the specific location, the risks of 
obsolescence and loss have been transferred to the customer, and either the customer has accepted the products in accordance with the 
sales contract, the acceptance provisions have lapsed, or the Group has objective evidence that all criteria for acceptance have been satisfied. 
Products are sometimes sold with retrospective volume rebates based on aggregate sales over a 12-month period. Revenue from these sales is 
recognised based on the price specified in the contract, net of the estimated volume rebates. Accumulated experience is used to estimate and 
provide for the rebates, using the expected value method, and revenue is only recognised to the extent that it is highly probable that a 
significant reversal will not occur. A rebate liability (included in trade and other payables) is recognised for expected volume rebates payable 
to customers in relation to sales made until the end of the reporting period. No element of financing is deemed present as the sales are made 
with credit terms that are considered within the range of normal industry practice. A receivable is recognised when the goods are delivered, as 
this is the point in time that the consideration is unconditional because only the passage of time is required before the payment is due.

Foreign currencies 
Assets and liabilities of overseas subsidiaries are translated into Sterling, the functional currency of the parent Company, at the rate of 
exchange ruling at the year end. The results and cash flows of overseas subsidiaries are translated into Sterling using the average rate of 
exchange for the year as this is considered to approximate to the actual rate. Exchange movements on the restatement of the net assets of 
overseas subsidiaries and the adjustment between the income statement translated at the average rate and the closing rate are taken directly 
to other reserves and reported in other comprehensive income. All other exchange differences arising on monetary items are dealt with 
through the consolidated income statement. On disposal of a foreign subsidiary the accumulated exchange differences in relation to the 
operation are reclassified into the income statement.

Exceptional items 
Exceptional items are material either individually or, if of a similar type, in aggregate and which, due to their nature, being outside the normal 
course of business or the infrequency of the events giving rise to them, are presented separately to assist users of the financial statements in 
assessing the underlying trading performance and trends of the Group’s businesses either year-on-year or with other businesses.

Examples of exceptional items include, but are not limited to, the following:
 •   restructuring and other expenses relating to the integration of an acquired business and related expenses for reconfiguration of the Group’s 

activities;

 •   gains/losses on disposals of businesses;
 •   acquisition-related costs, including adviser fees incurred for significant transactions, and adjustments to the fair values of assets and 

liabilities that result in non-recurring charges to the income statement; 
 •   Profit/loss on disposal of material property, plant and equipment; and
 •   costs arising because of material and non-recurring regulatory and litigation matters.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  69 

Notes to the financial statements continued

34  Accounting policies (continued)

Property, plant, and equipment 
Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost less a provision for depreciation and impairment losses. Depreciation is calculated to write 
off the cost less estimated residual values of the assets in equal instalments over their expected useful lives. No depreciation is provided on 
freehold land or surplus properties. Surplus properties are stated at cost; they are not being depreciated as they are surplus and not currently 
in use and the value is therefore not being consumed. Depreciation is provided on other assets at the following annual rates:

Buildings

Plant and machinery

4% - 20% per annum

5% - 33% per annum

Residual values and estimated useful lives are re-assessed annually.

Assets under construction are not depreciated until they are ready for use. 

Inventories 
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, including related overheads, and net realisable value. Cost comprises direct materials and, where 
applicable, direct labour costs and the overheads incurred in bringing items to their present location and condition. Inventories are valued on a 
first in, first out basis. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred 
in marketing, selling and distribution.

Trade and other receivables 
Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for goods sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business. They are 
recognised initially at the amount of consideration that is unconditional. The Group holds the trade receivables with the objective of collecting 
the contractual cash flows, and therefore, measures them subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision 
for impairment. A provision for impairment of trade receivables is established based on the ECL. The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified 
approach to measuring ECLs that uses a lifetime expected loss allowance for all trade receivables, which are grouped based on shared credit 
risk characteristics and the days past due. The amount of the provision is recognised in the balance sheet within trade receivables. Movements 
in the provision are recognised in the profit and loss account in administrative expenses. Any change in their value through impairment or 
reversal of impairment is recognised in the income statement.

Investments  
Fixed asset investments in subsidiaries are shown at cost less provision for impairment.

Cash and cash equivalents 
For the purpose of presentation in the statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, demand deposits with banks, 
and other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are 
shown within current liabilities in the statement of financial position.

Trade and other payables 
These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the end of the financial year that are unpaid. The 
amounts are unsecured and are usually paid within 60 days of recognition. Trade and other payables are presented as current liabilities unless 
payment is not due within 12 months after the reporting period. They are recognised initially at their fair value and subsequently measured at 
amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Borrowings 
Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost. 
Any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption amount is recognised in profit or loss over the period of 
the borrowings using the effective interest method. Borrowings are removed from the balance sheet when the obligation specified in the 
contract is discharged, cancelled, or expired. Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer 
settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period. Borrowings include bank overdrafts, bank and other loans, and 
lease liabilities.

70  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued

34  Accounting policies (continued)

Taxation 
Current income tax assets and/or liabilities comprise obligations to, or claims from, fiscal authorities relating to the current or prior reporting periods 
that are unpaid/due at the reporting date. Current tax is payable on taxable profits, which may differ from profit or loss in the financial statements. 
Calculation of current tax is based on the tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting period.

Deferred taxation is provided on taxable and deductible temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial 
statements and their corresponding tax bases. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available 
against which temporary differences can be utilised or that they will reverse. Deferred tax is measured using the tax rates expected to apply when 
the asset is realised, or the liability settled based on tax rates enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date. Deferred tax assets and 
liabilities are recognised where the carrying amount of an asset or liability on the reporting date differs from its tax base except for differences arising 
on investments in subsidiaries where the Group can control the timing of the reversal of the difference, and it is probable that the difference will not 
reverse in the foreseeable future. Changes in deferred tax assets or liabilities are recognised as a component of tax expense in the income statement, 
except where they relate to items that are charged directly to other comprehensive income (such as the revaluation of land or relating to transactions 
with owners) in which case the related deferred tax is also charged or credited directly to other comprehensive income. Current tax is the tax 
currently payable on taxable profit for the year.

Employee benefits 
The retirement benefit asset and/or liabilities recognised in the statement of financial position represents the fair value of defined benefit Plan 
assets less the present value of the DBO, to the extent that this is recoverable by means of a contribution holiday, payment of money 
purchase contributions and expenses from the Plan calculated on the projected unit credit method. Operating costs comprise the current 
service cost plus expenses. Finance income comprises the expected return on Plan assets less the interest on Plan liabilities. Actuarial gains or 
losses comprising differences between the actual and expected return on Plan assets, changes in Plan liabilities due to experience and changes 
in actuarial assumptions are recognised immediately in other comprehensive income. Pension costs for the money purchase section represent 
contributions payable during the year.

Goodwill 
All business combinations are accounted for by applying the purchase method. Goodwill arising on consolidation represents the excess of the 
cost of the acquisition over the Group’s interest in the fair value of identifiable assets (including intangible assets) and liabilities of the business 
acquired. Goodwill is not amortised but is reviewed for impairment at least annually. On the disposal of a CGU, the attributable amount of 
goodwill is included in the determination of the profit or loss on disposal. Goodwill recorded in foreign currencies is retranslated at each period 
end. Any movements in the carrying value of goodwill as a result of foreign exchange rate movements are recognised in the Statement of 
comprehensive income. 

Other intangible assets 
Intangible assets with finite useful lives that are acquired separately are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated 
impairment losses. Amortisation is recognised in the profit for the year on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The estimated 
useful life and amortisation method are reviewed at the end of each reporting period, with the effect of any changes in estimate being 
accounted for on a prospective basis. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives that are acquired separately are carried at cost less 
accumulated impairment losses. Intangible assets acquired in a business combination and recognised separately from goodwill are initially 
recognised at their fair value at the acquisition date (which is regarded as their cost). Subsequent to initial recognition, intangible assets 
acquired in a business combination are reported at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses, on the same basis 
as intangible assets that are acquired separately. Intangible assets recorded in foreign currencies are retranslated at each period end. Any 
movements in the carrying value of intangible assets as a result of foreign exchange rate movements are recognised in the Statement of 
comprehensive income.

Impairment of non-financial assets 
Goodwill, other intangible assets and property, plant and equipment are tested for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate 
that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Additionally, goodwill is subject to an annual impairment test whether or not there are 
any indicators of impairment. An asset is impaired to the extent that its carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, which represents the 
higher of the asset’s value-in-use and its fair value less costs of disposal. An asset’s value-in-use represents the present value of the future 
cash flows expected to be derived from the continued use of the asset. Fair value less costs of disposal is the amount obtainable from the sale 
of the asset in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties, less the costs of disposal. Where it is not possible to 
estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the recoverable amount is determined for the cash-generating unit (CGU) to which the 
asset belongs. Goodwill does not generate cash flows independently of other assets and is, therefore, tested for impairment at the level of 
the CGU or group of CGUs to which it is allocated. Value-in-use is based on estimates of pre-tax cash flows discounted at a pre-tax discount 
rate that reflects the risks specific to the CGU to which the asset belongs. Impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss. Impairment losses 
recognised in previous years for assets other than goodwill are reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the 
asset’s recoverable amount, but only to the extent that the carrying amount of the asset does not exceed its carrying amount had no 
impairment been recognised in previous years. Impairment losses recognised in respect of goodwill cannot be reversed.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  71 

Notes to the financial statements continued

34  Accounting policies (continued)

Leased assets 
The Group as a lessee 
The Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the commencement date of the contract for all leases conveying the right to 
control the use of an identified asset for a period of time, with the exception of short-term leases and leases for which the underlying asset is 
of low-value. The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, and subsequently, at cost less any accumulated depreciation and any 
accumulated impairment losses and adjusted for any remeasurement of the lease liability. If the lease transfers ownership of the underlying 
asset to the Group by the end of the lease term or if the cost of the right-of-use asset reflects that the Group will exercise a purchase option, 
the Group depreciates the right-of-use asset from the commencement date to the end of the useful life of the underlying asset on a straight-
line basis. Otherwise, the Group depreciates the right-of-use asset from the commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of 
the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term on a straight-line basis.

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments not paid at that date. Lease payments are discounted using 
the Group’s incremental borrowing rate or the rate implicit in the lease contract. The lease liability is subsequently remeasured to reflect lease 
payments made.

Short-term and low-value leases are recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

The Group as a lessor 
Rental income from operating leases is recognised on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease.

Provisions  
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that the 
Group will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The amount recognised as 
a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the balance sheet date, taking into account the 
risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated to settle the present 
obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows (when the effect of the time value of money is material). When some 
or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are expected to be recovered from a third party, a receivable is recognised as an 
asset if it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received and the amount of the receivable can be measured reliably.

Land & buildings 
Land and buildings held for use in the production or supply of goods or services, or for administrative purposes, are stated in the balance sheet at 
their deemed cost, being the fair value at the date of transition to IFRS less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent 
accumulated impairment losses. Any revaluation increase arising on the revaluation of such land and buildings prior to deemed cost being 
adopted was credited to the properties revaluation reserve, except to the extent that it reversed a revaluation decrease for the same asset 
previously recognised as an expense, in which case the increase was credited to the income statement to the extent of the decrease previously 
expensed. A decrease in carrying amount arising from the revaluation of such land and buildings was charged as an expense to the extent that it 
exceeds the balance, if any, held in the properties revaluation reserve relating to a previous revaluation of that asset. Depreciation on revalued 
buildings is charged to income. On the subsequent sale or scrappage of a previously revalued property, the attributable revaluation surplus 
remaining in the properties revaluation reserve is transferred directly to retained earnings.

Freehold land is not depreciated.

Surplus properties 
The Group owns several properties, which were previously used in its trading businesses, that are now surplus to its current business needs. 
There is an active plan to sell these properties as and when market conditions allow. For the purposes of these financial statements, these 
properties have been included under the heading ‘Surplus properties’.

Non-current assets held for sale 
Non-current assets are classified as held for sale if their carrying amount will be recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than 
through continuing use and a sale is considered highly probable. They are measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less 
costs to sell.

An impairment loss is recognised for any initial or subsequent write-down of the asset to fair value less costs to sell. A gain is recognised for 
any subsequent increases in fair value less costs to sell of an asset, but not in excess of any cumulative impairment loss previously recognised. 
A gain or loss not previously recognised by the date of the sale of the non-current asset is recognised at the date of derecognition.

Non-current assets are not depreciated or amortised while they are classified as held for sale. Interest and other expenses attributable to the 
liabilities of a disposal group classified as held for sale continue to be recognised. Non-current assets classified as held for sale are presented 
separately from the other assets in the balance sheet.

72  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationNotes to the financial statements continued

34  Accounting policies (continued)

Share-based payments 
The fair value at the date of grant of share options is calculated using the Black Scholes pricing model and charged to the income statement 
on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the award. The charge to the income statement takes account of the estimated number of 
share options that will vest. The corresponding credit to an equity settled share-based payment is recognised in equity. If vesting periods or 
other non-market vesting conditions apply, the expense is allocated over the vesting period based on the best-available estimate of the 
number of share options expected to vest. Estimates are subsequently revised if there is any indication that the number of share options 
expected to vest differs from previous estimates. 

Any cumulative adjustment prior to vesting is recognised in the current period. No adjustment is made to any expense recognised in prior 
periods if share options ultimately exercised are different from those estimated on vesting. Further details are given in the Directors’ report.

Going concern 
In determining whether the Group’s annual consolidated financial statements can be prepared on a going concern basis, the Directors 
considered the Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance, and position; these 
are set out in the Strategic report. 

The Group holds £3.9m of commercial mortgages which are committed to at least March 2026, and £5.1m of other short-term facilities that 
are to be renewed annually. The Group will meet its day-to-day working capital requirements through its short-term credit facilities of £5.1m. 
The forecasts used to assess the going concern assumption were approved by the Board. As a result of the ongoing market uncertainty 
including the cost-of-living crisis and the conflict in Ukraine, the Directors have performed a detailed stress test to confirm that the business 
will be able to operate for at least the following 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements. This involves assessing the 
headroom against available credit facilities and financial covenants in a stressed scenario, the assumptions used for this test are as follows:

•  5% reduction in planned revenues;
•  1% reduction in planned gross margins;
•  5% increase in planned fixed costs; 
•  suspension of dividend payments to shareholders; and
•  continued availability of existing credit facilities from the Group’s finance providers.

The following actions and events haven’t been included in the assumptions but would improve headroom against facilities:

•  a moratorium on uncommitted, non-essential capital expenditure; and
•  future sales of surplus property.

As at the date of this report, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and Group have adequate resources to continue 
in business for the foreseeable future. Thus, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial 
statements.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the Group’s financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the 
reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the reporting date. However, 
uncertainty about the assumptions and estimates could result in outcomes that could require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of 
the asset or liability affected in the future.

The Directors consider the following to be the critical judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty made in preparing these financial 
statements that, if not borne out in practice, may affect the Group’s results during the next financial year.

Critical judgements 
1) Non recognition of the pension asset 
The Plan’s assets are held separately from the Group in a trust fund. The fund is looked after by Trustees on behalf of the members. The last 
triennial actuarial valuation was at 5 April 2020, which indicated the fund was in deficit. The funding position was reassessed based on rolled 
forward asset values and market conditions as of 30 October 2020. The scheme at that date had a funding surplus. The surplus is not 
recognized in the Group balance sheet, on the basis that future ‘economic benefits’ are not available in the form of reduced future 
contributions or a cash refund.

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  73 

Notes to the financial statements continued

34  Accounting policies (continued)

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

1) Pensions and other post-employment benefits 
The cost of defined benefit pension plans and other post-employment benefits is determined using actuarial valuations. The actuarial valuation 
involves making assumptions about discount rates, expected rates of return on assets, mortality rates and future pension increases. Due to the 
long-term nature of these plans, such estimates are subject to significant uncertainty. The level of uncertainty has reduced during the year 
following the purchase of a buy-in contract. The irrecoverable surplus is based on estimates of the recoverable surplus. These are based on 
expectations in line with the underlying assumptions in the valuation and current circumstances. Further details can be found in note 31.

2) Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets 
The Group tests goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment annually for impairment, or more frequently if there are 
indications that an impairment may be required. Determining whether goodwill is impaired requires an estimation of the value in use of the 
CGUs 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 CGU and a suitable discount rate in order to calculate present value. Further details on this process are set out in note 11. 

Amendments to IFRSs that are mandatorily effective for the current year 
The adoption of the following mentioned standards, amendments and interpretations in the current year have not had a material impact on 
the Group’s/Company’s financial statements.

Effective date – periods beginning on or after

IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts (including the June 2020 and December 
2021 Amendments to IFRS 17)

Amendments to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements and IFRS 
Practice Statement 2 Making Materiality Judgements—Disclosure of 
Accounting Policies

Amendments to IAS 12 Income Taxes—Deferred Tax related to Assets 
and Liabilities arising from a Single Transaction

Amendments to IAS 12 Income Taxes— International Tax Reform — 
Pillar Two Model Rules

Amendments to IAS 8 Accounting Polices, Changes in Accounting 
Estimates and Errors—Definition of Accounting Estimates

1 January 2023

1 January 2023

1 January 2023

1 January 2023

1 January 2023

The adoption of the following mentioned standards, amendments and interpretations in future years are not expected to have a material 
impact on the Group’s/Company’s financial statements.

Amendments to IAS 1 - Classification of Liabilities as Current or 
Non-current

Amendments to IAS 1 - Non-current Liabilities with Covenants

Amendments to IAS 7 and IFRS 7 - Supplier Finance Arrangements

Amendments to IFRS 16 - Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback

1 January 2024

1 January 2024

1 January 2024

1 January 2024

Effective date – periods beginning on or after

Comment on standards effective from 1 January 2023
Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for 31 December 2023 reporting periods 
and have not been early adopted by the Group. These standards are not expected to have a material impact on the entity in the current or 
future reporting periods and on foreseeable future transactions.

74  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationIndependent auditor’s report to 
the members of Robinson plc

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Robinson Plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 
31 December 2023 which comprise group income statement and statement of comprehensive income, the group and company statement of 
financial position, the group and company statement of changes in equity and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of 
material accounting policies. 

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and UK-adopted international accounting 
standards and, as regards the parent company financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

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 December 2023 and of the group’s profit for 

the year then ended;

•   have been properly prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards and as regards the parent company 

financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and

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

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities 
under those standards are further described in the “Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements” section of our report. 
We are independent of the group and the parent company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the 
financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applied to SME listed entities and we have fulfilled our other ethical 
responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate 
to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation 
of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Our audit procedures to evaluate the directors’ assessment of the group’s and the parent company's ability to continue to adopt the going 
concern basis of accounting included but were not limited to:

•   Undertaking an initial assessment at the planning stage of the audit to identify events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the 

group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern;

•  Obtaining an understanding of the relevant controls relating to the directors’ going concern assessment;
•  Evaluating the directors’ method to assess the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern;
•  Reviewing the directors’ going concern assessment, which incorporated severe but plausible scenarios;
•  Evaluating the key assumptions used and judgements applied by the directors in forming their conclusions on going concern; and
•  Reviewing the appropriateness of the directors’ disclosures in the financial statements.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or 
collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 
twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

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Independent auditor’s report to the members of Robinson plc continued

Key audit matters

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

Key Audit Matter

How our scope addressed this matter

The group’s accounting policy in respect of revenue recognition is set 
out in the accounting policy notes on page 69. A segmental analysis 
of revenue is presented in Note 1 of the financial statements. 
Revenue is a material balance for Robinson PLC and represents the 
largest balance in the group income statement and therefore, 
requires significant audit effort. The transactional value around the 
year end is also material. An error in this balance could significantly 
affect users’ interpretation of the financial statements. There is a risk 
of fraud or error in revenue recognition due to the potential to inflate 
revenues in the current period. We therefore consider revenue 
cut-off to be a key audit matter.

Our response 
Our procedures over revenue recognition included, but were not 
limited to: 
•   Obtaining an understanding of the processes and controls over the 
recognition of revenue and performing walkthrough procedures to 
validate that controls were appropriately designed and 
implemented.

•   Substantive testing of a sample of revenue transactions around the 
year end to ensure they were accounted for in the correct period 
and in accordance with the revenue accounting policy and the terms 
and condition of sale.

•   Performing a review of a sample of material cash receipts pre and 
post year end to provide additional comfort that revenue around 
the year end was appropriately recognised in the correct period.
•   Work undertaken by component auditors was reviewed by the 

Group audit team to ensure that sufficient and appropriate evidence 
had been obtained over revenue recognition and procedures 
performed had been completed appropriately and in line with 
group audit instructions which are consistent with those described 
above.

Our observations 
Our work, and that of the component auditors, performed in relation 
to controls over the recognition of revenue confirmed that the controls 
in place were designed and implemented effectively. Based on our 
work, and that of the component auditors, performed on transactions 
around the year end revenue was appropriately recognised in the 
correct period.

Our application of materiality and an overview of the scope of our audit

The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for materiality. These, together 
with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures on 
the individual financial statement line items and disclosures and in evaluating the effect of misstatements, both individually and on the financial 
statements as a whole. Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:

Group materiality

Overall materiality

How we determined it

Rationale for benchmark applied

£744,000

The overall materiality level has been determined with reference to 
a benchmark of Group revenue.

In our view, revenue is the most relevant measure of the underlying 
performance of the group and therefore, has been selected as the 
materiality benchmark. The percentage applied to this benchmark 
is 1.5%.

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Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationIndependent auditor’s report to the members of Robinson plc continued

Performance materiality 

Reporting threshold

Parent company materiality

Overall materiality

How we determined it

Rationale for benchmark applied 

Performance materiality

Reporting threshold

Performance materiality is set to reduce to an appropriately low level 
the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected 
misstatements in the financial statements exceeds materiality for 
the financial statements as a whole.

We set performance materiality at £521,000, which represents 80% 
of overall materiality.

In determining performance materiality, we considered the following 
factors:

•  The financial reporting process and significant journal adjustments;

•  The strength of the control environment;

•  The transparency and quantity of transactions;

•   Whether errors have been detected in prior audits, and whether 

they have been recurring; and

•  Whether management have previously been willing to correct errors.

We agreed with the directors that we would report to them 
misstatements identified during our audit above £22,000 as well 
as misstatements below that amount that, in our view, warranted 
reporting for qualitative reasons.

£392,000

The overall materiality level has been determined with reference to 
a benchmark of its net assets.

In our view, net assets are the most relevant measure of the underlying 
performance of the company, given the nature of the operations of 
the company and therefore, has been selected as the materiality 
benchmark. The percentage applied to this benchmark is 3.00%.

Performance materiality is set to reduce to an appropriately low level 
the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected 
misstatements in the financial statements exceeds materiality for the 
financial statements as a whole.

We set performance materiality at £274,000, which represents 80% 
of overall materiality.

In determining performance materiality, we considered the following 
factors:

•  The financial reporting process and significant journal adjustments;

•  The strength of the control environment;

•  The transparency and quantity of transactions;

•   Whether errors have been detected in prior audits, and whether 

they have been recurring; and

•  Whether management have previously been willing to correct errors.

We agreed with the directors that we would report to them 
misstatements identified during our audit above £8,000 as well as 
misstatements below that amount that, in our view, warranted 
reporting for qualitative reasons.

As part of designing our audit, we assessed the risk of material misstatement in the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and 
then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks. In particular, we looked at where the directors made subjective 
judgements, such as assumptions on significant accounting estimates.

We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed sufficient work to be able to give an opinion on the financial statements as 
a whole. We used the outputs of our risk assessment, our understanding of the group and the parent company, their environment, controls, 
and critical business processes, to consider qualitative factors to ensure that we obtained sufficient coverage across all financial statement 
line items.

Our group audit scope included an audit of the group and the parent company financial statements. Based on our risk assessment, Robinson 
Plastic Packaging Limited, Robinson Paperbox Packaging Limited, Robinson (Overseas) Limited and Portland Works Limited within the group 
were subject to full scope audit performed by the group audit team. Robinson Packaging Polska SP z.o.o and Robinson Danmark A/S were 

Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  77 

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Robinson plc continued

also subject to a full scope audit undertaken by component auditors, Mazars Poland and Deloitte Denmark respectively. The group audit team 
directed and reviewed the work of the component auditor to gather sufficient and appropriate evidence in order to support the opinion on 
the consolidated financial statements.

At the parent company level, the group audit team also tested the consolidation process and carried out analytical procedures to confirm our 
conclusion that there were no significant risks of material misstatement of the aggregated financial information.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report 
thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information 
and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the 
financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such 
material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in 
the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other 
information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

•   the information given in the strategic report and the directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared 

is consistent with the financial statements; and

•  the strategic report and the directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, 
we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, 
in our opinion:

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

branches not visited by us; or

•  the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
•  certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of Directors

As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 38, the directors are responsible for the preparation of 
the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine 
is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a 
going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors 
either intend to liquidate the group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements  

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance 
but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. 
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected 
to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. 

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, 
outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. 

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Strategic report | Corporate governance | Financial statements | Additional informationIndependent auditor’s report to the members of Robinson plc continued

Based on our understanding of the group and the parent company and their industry, we considered that non-compliance with the following 
laws and regulations might have a material effect on the financial statements: employment regulation, health and safety regulation.

To help us identify instances of non-compliance with these laws and regulations, and in identifying and assessing the risks of material 
misstatement in respect to non-compliance, our procedures included, but were not limited to:

•   Inquiring of management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, as to whether the group and the parent company is in 

compliance with laws and regulations, and discussing their policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations;

•  Inspecting correspondence, if any, with relevant licensing or regulatory authorities;
•   Communicating identified laws and regulations to the engagement team and remaining alert to any indications of non-compliance 

throughout our audit; and

•  Considering the risk of acts by the group and the parent company which were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. 

We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the preparation of the financial statements, such as: tax legislation, 
pension legislation, the Companies Act 2006. 

In addition, we evaluated the directors’ and management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial 
statements, including the risk of management override of controls, and determined that the principal risks related to posting manual journal 
entries to manipulate financial performance, management bias through judgements and assumptions in significant accounting estimates, in 
particular in relation to revenue recognition (which we pinpointed to the cut-off assertion) and significant one-off or unusual transactions. 

Our audit procedures in relation to fraud included but were not limited to:

•  Making enquiries of the directors and management on whether they had knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;
•  Gaining an understanding of the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud;
•  Discussing amongst the engagement team the risks of fraud; and
•  Addressing the risks of fraud through management override of controls by performing journal entry testing.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of 
irregularities including fraud rests with management. As with any audit, there remained a risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may 
involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal controls.

The risks of material misstatement that had the greatest effect on our audit are discussed in the “Key audit matters” section of this report. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website 
at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of the audit report

This report is made solely to the company’s members as a body in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. 
Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an 
auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other 
than the company and the company’s members as a body for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Alistair Wesson (Senior Statutory Auditor) 

for and on behalf of Mazars LLP 
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor  
58 The Ropewalk 
Nottingham 
NG1 5DW

Date: 21 March 2024

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|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

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Strategic report 

|  Corporate governance 

|  Financial statements 

|  Additional information

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Robinson plc (Company) will be held 
at Peak Edge Hotel, Darley Road, Stone Edge, Chesterfield S45 0LW  
on Thursday 9 May 2024 at 11:30 am  
for the following purposes:

Resolutions

Notes

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions which 
will be proposed as ordinary resolutions:

1.   To receive the Company’s annual accounts and the strategic, 

directors’ and auditor’s reports for the year ended 31 December 
2023.

A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to 
appoint one or more proxies to attend and, on a poll, vote in his or 
her stead. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. The 
appointment of a proxy will not preclude a shareholder from 
attending and voting in person at the meeting.

2.   To declare a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2023 

of 3p per ordinary share in the capital of the Company, to be paid 
on 21 June 2024 to shareholders whose names appear on the 
register at the close of business on 7 June 2024.

3.   To reappoint Alan Raleigh as a Director of the Company who 

retires by rotation.

4.   To reappoint Mike Cusick as a Director of the Company who 

retires by rotation.

5.   To reappoint Mazars LLP as auditors of the Company and to 
authorise the Directors to determine their remuneration.

To transact any other ordinary business of an Annual General 
Meeting.

On behalf of the Board,

Mike Cusick 
Director   
10 April 2024

Registered Office: Field House, Wheatbridge, Chesterfield, 
Derbyshire, S40 2AB
Registered in England and Wales No. 00039811

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|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

A Form of Proxy is enclosed. When appointing more than one proxy, 
complete a separate proxy form in relation to each appointment. 
Additional proxy forms may be obtained by contacting the 
Company's registrar or the proxy form may be photocopied. State 
clearly on each proxy form the number of shares in relation to which 
the proxy is appointed.

To be valid, Forms of Proxy must be deposited at the Registered 
Office of the Company not less than 11.30 am on 7 May 2024 (or if 
the meeting is adjourned, not less than 48 hours (excluding any part 
of a day that is not a working day) before the time appointed for the 
adjourned meeting). 

A member which is a corporation may authorise one or more persons 
to act as its representative(s) at the meeting. Each such 
representative may exercise (on behalf of the corporation) the same 
powers as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual 
member, provided that (where there is more than one representative 
and the vote is otherwise than on a show of hands) they do not do 
so in relation to the same shares.

Only those members in the register of members of the Company as 
at close of business on 7 May 2024 or, if the meeting is adjourned, in 
the register of members as at close of business on the date which is 
two working days before the date of any adjourned meeting, shall 
be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting in respect of the 
number of shares registered in their name at that time. Changes to 
entries in the register of members after that time shall be disregarded 
in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote (and the 
number of votes they may cast) at the meeting.

Voting on all resolutions will be on a show of hands unless a poll is 
duly requested.

The following documents will be available for inspection during 
normal business hours at the Registered Office of the Company from 
the date of this notice until the time of the meeting. They will also be 
available for inspection at the place of the meeting from at least 
15 minutes before the meeting until it ends:

1.  Copies of the service contracts of the executive directors.

2.   Copies of the letters of appointment of the non-executive 

directors.

Biographical details of all those directors who are offering themselves 
for reappointment at the meeting are set out on page 28 of the 
annual report and accounts.

Form of proxy

For use at the Annual General Meeting of Robinson plc (Company) convened for 9 May 2024 and any adjournments thereof.

I/We, (see note 1) (block capitals please) 

of

being a member of Robinson plc hereby appoint the Chairman of the Meeting* or (see note 2) 

or (see note 2) failing him/her 

(name)

(address)

(name/address)

(name/address)

as my/our proxy to attend and vote in my/our name(s) and on my/our behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to 
be held at Peak Edge Hotel, Darley Road, Stone Edge, Chesterfield S45 0LW at 11.30 am on 9 May 2024 and at any 
adjournment thereof.

This form is to be used in respect of the resolutions mentioned below as indicated. Where no instructions are given, the proxy may 
vote as he/she thinks fit or abstain from voting.

Resolutions:

1.  To receive the Directors’ report 
and financial statements for the 
year ended 31 December 2023

2.  To declare a final dividend of 

3p per ordinary share

3.  To reappoint Alan Raleigh as 

a Director

4.  To reappoint Mike Cusick as 

a Director

5.  To reappoint Mazars LLP as 

auditor of the Company and 
to authorise the Directors to 
determine their remuneration

* For

* Against

* Withheld

* For

* Against

* Withheld

* For

* Against

* Withheld

* For

* Against

* Withheld

* For

* Against

* Withheld

*  Please delete whichever is not desired or leave blank to allow your proxy to choose.

Signature(s):

Dated:

Notes
1. 

 The names of all registered holders should be stated 
in block capitals.

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

 If it is desired to appoint a proxy other than the 
Chairman of the meeting, his/her name and address 
should be inserted, the reference to the Chairman 
deleted and the alteration initialled.

 A member entitled to attend and vote at the 
meeting is entitled to appoint one or more proxies 
to attend and, on a poll, vote in his or her stead.  
A proxy need not be a member of the Company. 
Completion and return of the form of proxy will not 
preclude a member from attending and voting in 
person at the meeting if they wish to. If a member 
does attend the meeting in person, their proxy 
appointments will be automatically terminated.

 In the case of joint holders, the signature of any one 
holder is sufficient, but the names of all joint holders 
must be stated. The vote of the senior who tenders 
a vote whether in person or by proxy will be 
accepted to the exclusion of the other votes of joint 
holders. For this purpose, seniority will be in the 
order in which the names appear in the register 
of members for the joint holding.

 In the case of a corporation, this form of proxy must 
be executed under its common seal or signed on its 
behalf by its duly authorised officer, attorney 
or other person authorised to sign.

 Unless otherwise indicated, or upon any matter 
properly before the meeting but not referred to 
above, the proxy may vote or abstain from voting 
as he/she thinks fit.

 To be valid, Forms of proxy must be deposited at 
the Registered Office of the Company, Field House, 
Wheatbridge, Chesterfield S40 2AB, no later than 
11.30 am on 7 May 2024 (or, if the meeting is 
adjourned, not less than 48 hours (excluding any 
part of a day that is not a working day) before the 
time appointed for the adjourned meeting).

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|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023 

|  81 

 
 
 
 
Strategic report 

|  Corporate governance 

|  Financial statements 

|  Additional information

Annual General Meeting attendance form

Annual General Meeting 
Thursday 9 May 2024

The Board very much hopes that you will be able to attend this year’s Annual General Meeting, which will be held at Peak Edge Hotel, 
Darley Road, Stone Edge, Chesterfield S45 0LW at 11:30 am on 9 May 2024.

To assist with catering and arrangements, it would be helpful if you would complete and return this attendance form.

If you are appointing a proxy, then please ask your proxy to complete and return the form.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.

Me 

My proxy

From:

Full Name in CAPITALS please 

I shall be attending the AGM  

I shall be staying for the buffet lunch 

Please tick the appropriate boxes.

Signature

Date

Please return this form to:

Mike Cusick 
Robinson plc 
Field House 
Wheatbridge 
Chesterfield 
S40 2AB 
UK

82  

|  Platform for growth 

|  Robinson plc Annual report 2023

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors and Advisors

Directors 
Alan Raleigh Non-executive Chairman 
Sara Halton Non-executive Director and Interim Chief Executive
Guy Robinson Non-executive Director
Helene Roberts Chief Executive (resigned 1 September 2023)
Mike Cusick Finance Director 

Registered Office 
Field House, Wheatbridge, Chesterfield, S40 2AB 

Nominated Adviser/Broker 
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited 1 Bartholomew Close, London, 
EC1A 7BL 

Solicitor
DLA Piper UK LLP 1 St Paul’s Place, Sheffield, S1 2JX 

Auditor
Mazars LLP Park View House,  
58 The Ropewalk, Nottingham NG1 5DW

Tax Adviser
Azets 12 Kings Street, Leeds, LS1 2HL 

Registrar
Neville Registrars Ltd Steelpark Rd, Halesowen, B62 8HD 

Banker
HSBC 1 Bond Court, Leeds, LS1 2JZ 

The Company is incorporated in England, registered no. 39811

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Visit us online at robinsonpackaging.com

Robinson plc, Field House, Wheatbridge,  
Chesterfield, S40 2AB United Kingdom

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Annual report 2023