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SMARTSPACE SOFTWARE PLC  
Annual Report 
for the Year Ended 31 January 2022

Year Ended 31 January 2022 CONTENTS

HIGHLIGHTS

Our Customers and Partners..................................................................... 4

What we do ....................................................................................................... 5

Our History ......................................................................................................... 6

Our Customers ................................................................................................. 7

Key Highlights ................................................................................................... 8

STRATEGIC REPORT

Chairman’s statement ................................................................................... 9

Strategic report: Strategy and operational review ........................ 12

Strategic report: Financial review ..........................................................16

Strategic report: Principal risks ............................................................. 20

Strategic report: s172 statement ............................................................22

GOVERNANCE

Directors and Officers .................................................................................26

Company information and advisers .....................................................27

Remuneration report ...................................................................................28

Audit Committee report .............................................................................31

Corporate Governance report ................................................................33

Directors’ report ............................................................................................37

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Independent auditor’s report to the members of  

SmartSpace Software plc ........................................................................ 40

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income ................... 46

Consolidated balance sheet .....................................................................47

Consolidated statement of changes in equity ............................... 49

Consolidated statement of cash flows .............................................. 50

Notes to the consolidated financial statements .............................51

Parent Company balance sheet .............................................................93

Parent Company statement of changes in equity ....................... 94

Parent Company statement of cash flows........................................95

Notes to the Parent Company financial statements ................... 96

4

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report

OUR  C USTOMERS AND  PART NE RS

Customers

UK 

Australia 

ROW 

82%

9%

9%

Partners

UK 

APAC 

Americas 

65%

21%

14%  

Customers

USA 

UK 

Australia 

New Zealand 

Canada 

Netherlands 

36%

20%

18%

12%

5%

1%

Ireland 

Germany 

Singapore 

Italy 

ROW 

1%

1%

1%

1%

4%

OUR  OFFICES

SwipedOn

Space Connect

Anders & Kern

1/115 The Strand

Norderstedt House

Norderstedt House

Tauranga

New Zealand

James Carter Road

James Carter Road

Mildenhall

UK

Mildenhall

UK

Year Ended 31 January 2022 

5

WHAT  W E DO

SmartSpace Software Plc develops and sells SaaS software solutions to help clients manage their workspaces. 

We do this by offering cloud-based SaaS software solutions and complementary hardware to allow: 

  Desk booking

  Meeting room management

  Visitor management

  Analytics

We differentiate ourselves by offering products that are fast to deploy and easily configured by our customers or partners. 

OPERATING BUSINESS ES :

Products/
Services

SaaS Visitor Management 
Software (VMS) and desk 
management software 

SaaS Integrated Workplace 
Software

Distribution of Smart 
workplace solutions

Includes Meeting Room 
Booking, Desk Management 
& Visitor Management

Hardware & software sales

Meeting room, workplace 
sensors design and install

Market

Global

Global

UK

Small single-site business to 
multi-location Fortune 500 
businesses

Small to medium size 
businesses (up to 1500 
employees per location)

Sales Model

Direct

Channel

Channel

Deal size

Average ARR per client 
£1,000

Average ARR per client 
£7,500

Varies

Employees

34

21

12

Location

Tauranga, New Zealand

Mildenhall, UK

Mildenhall, UK

Austin, Texas

6
6

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report

OUR  HISTORY

2000

Started life as an AIM company called Coms with a business offering telecoms and IT 
infrastructure services.

2013

Acquired Redstone, a major provider of System Integration and IT managed service 
business, along with a number of other companies in the animation and telecoms sectors.  

2014

Developed our first software solution to help a client manage their desk utilisation.

2015

Restructured the group and divested or closed a number of subsidiaries, exited the 
telecoms market.

2016

Accelerated our investment in our space management software, acquired ConnectIB 
to enable us to scale our software development capability. Renamed Coms plc to 
RedstoneConnect plc with a focus on systems integration, managed services and a growing 
software division. 

2017

Acquired Anders & Kern, based in Mildenhall who had over 10 years’ experience in 
supplying meeting room management technology and implementation. 

2018

2019

June 2018 disposed of the systems integration and managed services divisions to focus on 
software specialising in space management.  
July 2018 renamed RedstoneConnect as SmartSpace Software plc. 
October 2018 acquired SwipedOn, a leading SaaS provider of  visitor management software.

November 2019 acquired Space Connect, a self-service SaaS workspace management platform

2020

August 2020 disposed of Enterprise software division to allow focus on SaaS sales to the 
SME and mid-market 

2021

Development of Space Connect partner network, first sales of Evoko Naso, and the launch 
of SwipedOn Desks

2022

April 2022 multi language variant of SwipedOn launched to South Korean market, first 
step in broadening the addressable market for SwipedOn

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual ReportYear Ended 31 January 2022 

7
7

OUR  CUSTO MERS

Year Ended 31 January 2022 8

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report

KEY  HIG HLIG HTS

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Total Group  
revenues up  

11%  

to £5.14m*  
(FY21: £4.63m)

Annual  
recurring revenue 
(“ARR”) up  

64%  

year on year to 
£4.94m (FY21: 
£3.02m) 

Gross margin 
on continuing 
operations strong  

at 71%  

(FY21: 72%)

Group  
Adjusted  
LBITDA of  

£2.49m  

(FY21: £2.12m)

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Recurring  
revenues up  

43%  

to £3.42m  
(FY21: £2.39m)

Loss  
per share 

8.91p  

(FY21: 7.54p)

Cash balance  
at the period end of  
£2.76m  
(FY21: £4.52m) and 
a net cash position 
of £2.38m  
  (FY21: £4.10m)

•  SwipedOn ARR increased by 57% year-on-
year to £4.23m (NZ$8.67m) at 31 January 
2022 (FY21: £2.70m)1

•  Space Connect ARR increased by 
291% year-on-year to £0.61m at 31 
January 2022 (FY21: £0.16m)

•  Monthly average revenue per user (“ARPU”) 
increased by 58% year on year to £75 (NZ$ 
154) at 31 January 2022 (FY21: £48)

•  SwipedOn locations increased to 7,076 at 

•  At 31 January 2022, Space Connect 
had 69 customers, an increase of  
56 new customers in the twelve 
month period

end 31 January 2022 (FY21: 6,741)

•  New partners signed during the 

•  Revenue churn at expected levels of 

10.9% (FY21: 6.8%) mainly from single site 
customers with lower value price plans and 
limited scope for upsell

year in key geographies including 
Poland, The Philippines, India, Ireland, 
Belgium, Canada and the USA

•  A+K revenue for the twelve 

months to 31 January 
2022 down 24% to £1.73m 
(FY21: £2.27m) due to the 
continued impact of the UK 
lockdown during the period

•  New complementary 

workspace technology 
product lines added to  
the portfolio

REVENUE

Recurring revenue

Non-recurring revenue

£3.0m

£2.5m

£2.0m

£1.5m

£1.0m

£0.5m

0

31 Jul 2019  
- H1 FY20

31 Jan 2020  
- H2 FY20

31 July 2020  
- H1 FY21

31 Jan 2021  
- H2 FY21

31 July 2021  
- H1 FY22

31 Jan 2022  
- H2 FY22

 
9

CH A IRMAN’S STATEMENT

OVERVIEW

I am pleased to report a period of strong organic 
revenue growth, especially when taking into account 
another year of challenging trading conditions for many 
businesses. Despite the considerable disruption caused 
by Covid-19, Group recurring revenue grew by 43% year 
on year, to £3.42m and contributed towards a total 
Group revenue of £5.14m, up 11% from the prior year. 
Growing recurring revenue is one of our key objectives 
and now accounts for 66% of Group revenue (2021: 
52%). Our LBITDA has increased by 18% to £2.49m as 
a result of higher staff costs as we establish the team 
needed for our growth plans. 

Growth in Average Revenue Per User (“ARPU”) has 
contributed significantly towards an overall growth 
in Annual Recurring Revenue (“ARR”) of 64% to 
£4.94m at 31 January 2022. With lockdowns and 
‘work from home’ (“WFH”) mandates in place our 
focus has been concentrated on expanding revenue 
from existing clients. By growing the value of each 
customer, with more customers on higher tier plans, 
more locations, and more ‘add-on’ software sales, 
we were able to achieve many of our key financial 
objectives for the year. 

The overall growth in Group revenue was achieved 
despite Anders & Kern (“A&K”) being severely 
impacted by ongoing Covid-19 restrictions in its UK 
customer base. This led to a fall in hardware revenues 
for A&K which was mitigated to the extent possible 
by utilising the UK Government Job Retention 
Scheme. Sales of our strategic partner’s meeting room 
panel (the “Evoko Naso”) were impacted by Covid-19 
as businesses across multiple markets in the US and 
Europe delayed hardware investment decisions, 
leading to significantly lower than expected revenues 
for this product. 

PEOPLE

The continued strength of the Group is due to the 
hard work and resilience of all the people who work 
for SmartSpace. I would like to thank the team for 
their contribution, especially for the commitment 
and focus they have shown throughout this year. We 
have continued to invest in employees who are being 
supported through professional training relevant to 
their functional areas, as well as other relevant role-
specific training. We recognise the importance of 
the right people to our business and therefore are 
pro-actively monitoring salary levels to ensure staff 
retention is managed.

Our priority during the Covid-19 
pandemic has been the health 
and safety of our employees. We 
minimised the risk of infection in our 
offices and worked from home when necessary. Our 
staff showed great flexibility and patience in dealing 
with these challenges. 

Last year we decided to re-locate all our software 
development to New Zealand, centralising 
development for the Group under the management of 
Matt Cooney, Group Chief Technology Officer (“CTO”). 
This task was completed by Autumn 2021. Whilst we do 
not expect to see financial synergies from this change 
the operational benefit will be significant. 

BOARD CHANGES 

In May 2021 Bruce Morrison and Diana Dyer Bartlett 
stepped down as directors of the Company to be 
replaced by Kris Shaw as Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) 
and Philip Wood as non-executive director (“NED”). 
Kris had been with SmartSpace for over two years 
before his appointment as CFO having worked closely 
with Bruce on both the acquisition of Space Connect 
and disposal of SmartSpace Global. The experience of 
working with both Bruce and Diana has provided Kris 
with the core foundations to be an excellent CFO.

With our increased focus on software offerings, there 
was a requirement that the role of the NED has direct 
experience of building fast growing international 
software businesses. We therefore appointed Philip 
Wood as an independent NED and Chair of the Audit 
Committee. Philip is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer 
and Chief Financial Officer of Aptitude Software 
Group plc, a specialist provider of powerful financial 
management software to large global businesses. The 
experience Philip brings in growing software businesses 
and mentoring finance teams is being hugely helpful 
to SmartSpace, as we move through our next phase of 
development as a global SaaS business.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Board will shortly be sending out a notice of 
the Annual General Meeting which once again will 
be fully open to all shareholders to attend. For 
those unable to attend I would urge shareholders to 
email any questions they may have to investors@
smartspaceplc.com and to send in proxies so their 
votes on the resolutions contained in the notice of 
meeting will be counted. 

Year Ended 31 January 2022 10

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AND OUTLOOK

Our intention is to become a profitable business and we 
have plans in place to transition SmartSpace through to 
cash generation. The board believes the Company has 
sufficient liquidity to complete this transition to cash 
generation towards the end of FY23.  

The global economy has entered a period of higher 
inflation with raised living costs and consequently 
higher wage expectations for both existing staff 
members and new hires. The majority of our customers 
are on contracts of one year or less allowing us to 
factor inflation into our price plans upon renewal.  

Recent investment activity within our sector values our 
SaaS peers on higher multiples than that commanded 
by SmartSpace. We intend to close this gap and build 
shareholder value by growing recurring revenues and 
delivering high quality cash generative earnings. With 
such a large addressable market for our products 
globally we are confident in our ability to capitalise on 
the opportunities open to us.

As we target strong revenue growth in all three 
divisions we intend to: 

•  Focus on entering new geographies, with a view to 
building our customer base in non-English speaking 
markets. Our recent launch into South Korea is a first 
step in this process. 

•  We will continue to prioritise revenue expansion 

opportunities from existing customers by growing 
customer accounts to include more locations. A key 
focus for growth will be to continue to build ARPU 
by selling SwipedOn Desks and other add-ons to new 
and existing customers. 

•  Build on the momentum achieved so far with the 

now well established Space Connect indirect partner 
network. 

•  Seek new technology offerings in the area of 
workplace optimisation for A&K to sell to its 
established channel partner customers. 

These actions combined with the already strong growth 
in recurring revenues are key to achieving our financial 
plans, allowing us to transition SmartSpace through to 
cash generation.  

Whilst Covid-19 has hampered sales of Evoko Naso to 
date, we remain optimistic about the prospects of this 
product, especially as customers return to the office 
and WFH mandates are lifted. The feedback on Naso 
from the Evoko partner network around the globe is 
very positive.

Our ambition and confidence for the year ahead 
remains high following a good start to the year. Our 
revenue, profitability and cash generation targets 
remain unchanged. As we continue to grow our high 
margin recurring revenues, we add financial strength 
to the business, and with such a large addressable 
market and well placed product set, we believe this can 
continue for the foreseeable future.

Guy van Zwanenberg 
Chairman

17 May 2022 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual ReportYear Ended 31 January 2022 
Year Ended 31 January 2022 

11
11

SPAC E CO NN EC T  C ASE  STU DY:   

BUPA

The opportunity and challenges

In 2019, when their Melbourne HQ became due for renovation, 
the leadership team decided the time had come to reimagine 
the way their employees could use the workspace. 

Kedar Viswanathan – Head of Technology for Employee 
Experience and Corporate Services* – takes up the story:

“Before the HQ renovation, the workplace model was very 
traditional. Everyone generally sat in the same place each day, 
and there was no booking process for desks. We knew the time 
was right to reimagine all that: to rethink how shared spaces and 
rooms were used, and to find the right technology to make it 
easy to manage”.

BUPA chose Space Connect to provide the tech solution 
they needed to enable an agile, easily managed workplace 
environment, based around room booking.

And then, in March 2020, Covid and lockdowns hit

“At that point” recalls Kedar, “we had to rethink everything - all 
over again!” As lockdowns in Australia perpetuated, remote 
working became ingrained.  By the end of the year the Bupa 
team were ready to begin bringing people back from remote 
working, and into the office. 

But the situation was highly fluid, with lockdown and workplace 
restrictions changing almost weekly. “Flexibility became 
incredibly important” says Kedar. “Because we had Space 
Connect, we were able to very quickly and easily reconfigure the 
entire working model to fit the restrictions around workspace 

The solution

Adapting to a highly fluid situation

Under the strict new Covid rules, BUPA needed to be able to 
tightly control desk usage and building capacity, and manage 
and report on who was in the workplace, where, and when. 

And they needed to be able to change the parameters,  
fast, as the rules changed.

Space Connect’s unique self-configuration features made  
all of this easy, including:

•  Self-reconfigurable, bookable desks

•  The admin ability to easily book and cancel desks on behalf of 

others

•  Realtime views of current and forward desk availability 

capacity”.

“I would recommend 
Space Connect for its 
flexibility and simplicity 
- even when you need 
to re-model how desks 
and spaces are used”
Kedar Viswanathan, Head of Technology

12

STR ATEGIC REPORT:  STRAT E GY 
AND  O PERATIONAL  REVIEW

The Directors present their strategic report for the year 
ended 31 January 2022:

BUSINESS MODEL, PURPOSE AND 
STRATEGY

The Group’s business model is to provide Software 
as a Service (“SaaS”) workspace solutions including 
desk, meeting room, and visitor management products 
for small and medium sized enterprises (“SME”) and 
mid-market, enabling our international client base to 
optimise the use of their corporate real estate. The 
Group’s products are fast to deploy, easy to implement 
and configure making them ideally suited to SMEs but 
also larger companies in the market for simple but 
effective solutions for their space management. The 
Group also provides complementary hardware solutions 
which integrate with the Group’s software solutions.

The Board believes that technology driven changes in 
working practices continues to generate demand from 
all industry sectors. Covid-19 has accelerated the move 
towards hybrid working further increasing the need for 
technology to enable companies to control the use of 
meeting rooms and desks more effectively as well as 
manage visitors to their premises. The Board has set 
the following strategic priorities: 

•  to focus on delivering pure SaaS revenues where 

the Group is not overly exposed to one market or a 
particular customer;

•  to develop technology-led intellectual property to 

help businesses optimise use of their corporate real 
estate focussing on rooms, desks and visitors;

•  to develop new sales channels to market our 

software solutions by establishing a global network 
of channel partners;

•  to bring together the technologies of Space Connect 
and SwipedOn in order to offer a complete solution 
to both customer bases and therefore maximise 
revenue per user;

•  to continue with a strategy of both organic and 

acquisitive growth both in our domestic market and 
overseas; and

•  to deliver higher quality earnings which will, in turn, 

improve cash generation.

We believe as working practices change and businesses 
reconfigure their office real estate the market will 
gravitate towards greater use of technology to 

optimise how businesses operate. 
As employees demand hybrid 
working arrangements, and remote working becomes 
more prevalent, businesses will look for real estate 
efficiencies which will need technological solutions. 
Many businesses have indicated that they plan to 
reduce their real estate footprint whilst maintaining 
headcount. This change will stimulate demand for 
SmartSpace solutions which will allow employees 
to book desks for times they are in the office and to 
coordinate meetings between participants in the office 
and those working remotely. The strategy is to focus 
on developing our software to take advantage of the 
opportunities afforded by this fast-growing market.  

REVIEW OF THE BUSINESS

SwipedOn

We have continued our approach of growing revenue 
from existing customers by increasing ARPU, 
focusing on clients with the potential to use more 
of our products across multiple locations. Our sales 
team are incentivised to attract high value, multi-site 
customers who comprise an increasing proportion of 
our customer base and represent a higher proportion 
of our revenues. 

From February 2021 all new customers have been 
moved to our new price plans, and, progressively, 
we have implemented the price increase across 
our existing customer base. These new price plans 
reflect the investment we have made in the platform 
enhancing functionality over the last 18 months. 
Despite the increased prices, we maintain a significant 
price advantage over our competitors, and SwipedOn 
remains one of the most cost effective offerings in the 
market. The average ARPU of new customers for the 
year has been £90 (2021: £72). 

In implementing the price increase we anticipated an 
increase in customer churn. Encouragingly this was 
at levels lower than forecast and mainly occurred 
amongst our smaller, lower value, single site customers, 
who are often on the lowest value starter plans. 
Customer churn for the year averaged 15.6% whilst 
revenue churn was 10.9%. The average ARPU of 
churning customers was £51, significantly less than our 
new customer ARPU of £90.

The number of new SwipedOn customers in the year 
has been lower than historical rates. However as we 
target higher value customers with more locations, 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report13

and expand revenue from existing customers, our 
recurring revenue has continued to grow. The average 
CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost), which includes 
the costs of all sales and marketing staff as well as 
direct marketing costs, has increased due to digital 
marketing price inflation, in particular Google Ad words. 
The Company continually reviews the effectiveness 
of its marketing spend including the consideration of 
alternative delivery channels in order to optimise CAC. 

Net revenue retention measures revenue change 
from the customer base over a set period of time and 
includes the impact of churn, price increases, customer 
expansion and contraction, but does not include 
growth from new customers. As a result of the price 
increase SwipedOn’s NRR at 31 January 2022 was a 
very strong 130% (2021: 105%). Such a strong NRR is 
not expected in future periods but we will continue to 
aim to maintain NRR above 100%. 

Our recent launch into South Korea is our first step into 
new non-English speaking geographical markets. With 
less competition in these markets digital marketing 
costs are lower, therefore rebalancing the cost of 
acquisition back to historical levels. The launch into 
South Korea begins the process of broadening the 
addressable market for SwipedOn allowing us to open 
in other Far Eastern markets. 

It has taken 18 months of development to ensure the 
functionality in the SwipedOn platform is fully multi-
language, multi country and multi-location ready.  
To support the launch into South Korea there is a 
localised website https://www.swipedon.kr, along with 
a range of localised marketing collateral. The launch 
is supported by an in-country marketing agency with 
a digital marketing campaign that will focus on Naver, 
the dominant search engine in South Korea. Pre-sales 
and ongoing customer support will be handled in 
local language. 

 SwipedOn key  
 performance indicators 

31 Jan 2022  31 Jan 2021

Annual recurring revenue (ARR)    £4.23m 

£2.70m

Monthly average revenue  
per user (ARPU) 

Number of customers  

Number of customer locations 

Locations per customer 

£75 

4,700 

7,076 

1.51 

£48

4,735

6,741

1.42

Net Revenue Retention (NRR) 

130% 

105%

Space Connect

We have been focused on expanding our channel 
partner distribution network for Space Connect with 
new partners signed during the financial year in key 
geographies including Poland, The Philippines, India, 
Ireland, Belgium, Canada and the USA. Through these 
new partnerships, and our existing relationships with 
other partners such as Softcat, we have increased 
our ARR by 291% to £0.61m. The pipeline of new 
customer opportunities remains strong, reinforcing the 
momentum seen in the business and underpinning our 
confidence in the opportunity for Space Connect, its 
product capabilities and the potential market.

During the past year we have invested in the Space 
Connect platform including developing our own space 
mapping tool which allows faster on-boarding of new 
customers. The mapping tool also facilitates self-
provisioning by customers and replaces a third-party 
service provider, therefore reducing cost of sales. 

Sales of our strategic partner’s meeting room panel 
(the “Evoko Naso”) for which Space Connect receives 
both licence fees and SaaS revenues were below our 
expectations. This is a continued result of Covid-19, 
with offices in Evoko’s key markets not fully back 
to normal working capacity. As a result, many have 
delayed investment decisions for new hardware. The 
Board remains convinced by the medium-term growth 
opportunity for Naso and expects that once businesses 
return to normal, sales will accelerate. 

 Space Connect key  
 performance indicators 

31 Jan 2022  31 Jan 2021

Annual recurring revenue (ARR)    £0.61m 

£0.15m

Monthly average revenue  
per user (ARPU) 

Number of customers 

627 

69 

980

13

In order to meet our growth expectations for Space 
Connect we have built a strong team of software 
developers, sales staff and customer support. To 
maximise cost synergies we have created a unified 
helpdesk providing ‘follow the sun’ support for both 
Space Connect and SwipedOn customers. Whilst this 
has increased the overhead for Space Connect, and 
therefore losses, we believe this is the right foundation 
needed for future growth. 

Annual revenue churn 

10.9% 

6.9%

Anders & Kern

12 month average customer  
acquisition cost (CAC) 

£1,730 

£744

The third arm of the Group’s business is Anders & Kern 
(“A&K”), our specialist distributor and integrator of AV 
solutions such as meeting room booking solutions, 
workplace sensors and digital signage. A&K operates 
solely in the UK. The closure of offices and business 
premises during the various lockdowns and WFH 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
14

measures continued to impact order intake during 
FY22, therefore resulting in an EBITDA loss for the 
year. A&K’s network of 200 resellers contributes to the 
development of the market for both Evoko Naso and 
Space Connect in the UK. Our focus in A&K has been 
to pivot from its traditional market of Audio Visual 
to focus on workplace optimisation solutions. As a 
result, A&K has continued to add to its offering with 
new workspace technology product lines being added 
to its portfolio which often complement the Group’s 
software solutions.

Customer support for all three SmartSpace divisions 
is now being led by our newly appointed Group 
Customer Services Manager who is based in A&K’s 
Mildenhall premises. 

 Anders & Kern key  
 performance indicators 

Revenue 

31 Jan 2022  31 Jan 2021

£1.73m 

£2.16m

Gross margin * 

35% 

38%

* FY21 figures have been adjusted for zero margin A&K sales made 
to SmartSpace Global which was agreed as part of the disposal 
process. These sales amounted to £0.93m in FY21. 

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

The software development of Space Connect used to 
take place in the Ukraine. For a number of reasons we 
made decision to move all our software development to 
New Zealand. Our last developer in the Ukraine left us 
in October 2021 and all engineering of Space Connect 
takes place in New Zealand and a new offshoring 
base in Vietnam. This provides us with a flexible 
development resource that can be quickly stood-up for 
specific projects at a competitive price.

With the centralisation of software development 
headed by our Group CTO we are able to further 
converge the technologies of SwipedOn and Space 
Connect, offer greater opportunities for our staff to 
develop their skills, whilst also allowing the Group 
to benefit from a consistent approach to software 
development. New Zealand has had a strong focus 
on developing its software industry and as a result 
has a great talent pool to draw upon. Employment 
costs are competitive with other similarly developed 
jurisdictions. 

During the year we invested £1.56 million (2021: 
£1.30m) in maintaining and further enhancing our 
software solutions. This included the development of 
our mobile application for contactless sign-in, regional 
cloud hosting facilities, vaccine pass functionality, and 
internationalisation to allow full multi-lingual services.  

Space Connect completed the development of its 
in-house mapping tool which streamlines customer 

onboarding and reduces external costs. An updated 
version of Evoko Naso has been developed to improve 
and add to the functionality offered to customers. 
SwipedOn Desks was released during the year and is 
now generating new revenue for the Group. 

OUTLOOK

We have planned for a year of further strong growth in 
FY23 whilst ensuring our costs are tightly controlled. 
On a constant currency basis ARR has grown by a 
further 7% in the first quarter of FY23. Growth in ARR 
has predominantly been driven by the successful 
implementation of price increases in FY22, coupled 
with the expansion of existing customers, cross 
selling and new customer wins. We continue to see 
opportunities to make use of our products in new 
ways as demonstrated by the agreement with Thermo 
Fisher Scientific to support its school Covid-19 testing 
program in 570 locations. 

As demonstrated by our recent launch into South 
Korea, expansion into non-English speaking markets 
will be a key area of focus throughout the coming 
year. We see opportunity for growth from SwipedOn 
Desks which was launched in Autumn 2021 and has 
progressively built customer numbers and ARR. 

Hybrid working is fast becoming the expected norm 
in many parts of the world. Space Connect is ideally 
placed to take advantage of the technological demands 
of this change. We will continue to develop unique 
features that allow us to target and attract a greater 
share of the addressable market. We are encouraged 
by Evoko’s optimism in Naso and the feedback that 
has been received so far. We are optimistic on the 
opportunities from this product as workplaces reopen 
and businesses fit out new office spaces. 

The team at A&K are eager to make up for ground lost 
during the pandemic. We have new products available 
to be sold and with businesses gaining confidence that 
lockdown will not return we aim to return this business 
to pre Covid-19 revenue levels. 

Frank Beechinor 
Chief Executive Officer

17 May 2022

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
Year Ended 31 January 2022 
Year Ended 31 January 2022 

15
15

SPAC E CO NN EC T  C ASE  STU DY:   

TR AVIS PERKINS

The real estate opportunity and challenges

Travis Perkins (TP) is the largest builders’ merchants in the UK, 
with over 1700 branches and more than 20,000 employees, 
extensive real estate, and ‘more traditional’ cultural ways of 
working within those spaces. 

Post-lockdown in 2020, TP began their selection of a best-of-
breed solution to help their staff return to the workplace in a 
covid-secure and managed fashion, with full data insights and 
contact tracing.

Key to their requirements were that the 
solution needed to:

1  
2  
3  
4  
5  

Integrate with Google IDP for SingleSignOn (SSO)

Be easy to scale up and down across the portfolio

Control bookable stock and contact trace

Integrate with Google Calendar for room bookings

Be up and running in less than 2 months

Why Travis Perkins chose Space Connect

The TP team considered a number of vendors to deliver a proof 
of concept, working with their trusted IT partner, Softcat, to select 
the solution provider.

“In the midst of further Covid restrictions and market challenges, 
the scope of the project was fluid and changing” explains Charlie 
Craigs, Deputy Team Leader in the Collaborations team at Softcat. 

•  Lockdown 2.0 occurred and the pilot was altered and extended.

•  Changes in Google’s IDP configuration meant that the previous 
API integration needed to be updated and recoded as soon as 
possible.

“We knew the adaptability of the Space Connect solution and 
their team would enable us to deliver the smooth rollout that TP 
needed - despite the shifting scope”.

For Travis Perkins, that flexibility along with key, value-driving 
features, made Space Connect their first choice. Martin Gallaher, 
Programme Manager at Travis Perkins explains:

“The opportunity to not commit to a certain number of desks 
and locations was a huge benefit in choosing Space Connect. We 
have a great working relationship with Softcat. This, and Space 
Connect’s flexibility helped so much, as the project scope changed 
with the uncertainties of Covid.”

“Space Connect’s 
flexibility means 
the way we use the 
solution can continue 
to flex and evolve with 
our business ... with 
Space Connect we 
absolutely made the 
right choice”
Martin Gallaher, Programme Manager

The solution

1.   Space Connect reconfigured the google 
integration at pace for both SSO and 
Room booking 

2.  Travis Perkins rolled out with Space 

Connect desk booking across 6 locations 
nationwide.

3.  TP Group brand, City Plumbing, is rolling 

out with desk booking across 14 locations 
nationwide.

16

STR ATEGIC REPORT:   
F INA NCIAL REVIEW

OVERVIEW 

The Group has been successfully transformed from 
an Enterprise focused business to a SaaS focussed 
business with subsidiary companies at different stages 
of their life cycle. SwipedOn and A&K are established 
within their given sectors and are expected to continue 
to grow and provide positive contributions to the 
Groups cash flow in the coming year. Space Connect is 
at the start of its life cycle, selling a new SaaS product, 
which the Group is continuing to develop and invest in 
to generate growth in both revenues and cash flows. As 
with all businesses that are within an investment period 
the Group has made a loss after tax in the current 
reporting period of £2.56m (2021: £2.26m). This is in 
line with our expectations, and also a result of subdued 
growth principally caused by the effects of the response 
to the COVID 19 Pandemic. Growth returned to forecast 
rates within the group in the final half of the period and 
we believe that this growth will continue into the future. 

REVENUE

Overall revenue for the Group increased by 11% to 
£5.14m driven by a 43% increase in recurring revenues 
generated by the Group’s SwipedOn and Space Connect 
software products. Recurring revenues increased as a 
result of higher ARPU and customer locations. Revenue 
from the Group’s A&K division decreased by £0.55m as 
Covid-19 restrictions continued to impact this division. 

Recurring revenues  

- SwipedOn 

- Space Connect 

- Anders & Kern 

2022 

2021

£’000 

£’000

2,916 

2,124

373 

127 

119

151

Total recurring revenue 

3,416 

2,394

Non-recurring revenue 

- SwipedOn 

- Space Connect 

- Anders & Kern 

Total non-recurring revenue 

37 

85 

37

73

1,602  2,125

1,724  2,235

Total revenue 

5,140  4,629

The growth in recurring revenues for SwipedOn was 
generated by a 58% increase in average revenue per 
user (“ARPU”) to £75. SwipedOn focussed on selling 
more to its existing customers with 7% more customers 
on our highest priced tiers, and 6% increase in the 
number of paying locations per customer. A number 
of feature improvements also allowed us to apply a 
price increase to both new and existing customers 
whilst still remaining competitively priced. Covid-19 
continued to impact the business with increased churn 
from changing customer needs and business closures. 
Annual user churn for the year was 15.6% (2021: 11.3%) 
and revenue churn 10.9% (2021: 6.9%). These factors 
all contribute towards net revenue retention which 
increased to 130% for the year (2021: 105%). 

Space Connect focussed on building its recurring 
revenues by adding new customers through its partner 
network. Overall customer numbers increased from 13 
at the beginning of the year to 69 at the end. Revenues 
from the sale of the white label version of Space 
Connect through our partners meeting room booking 
panel were impacted by Covid-19 reducing demand 
for new meeting room panels. As businesses return to 
more normal routines we expect demand to return and 
revenues from this product to grow. 

A&K continued to see reduced revenues from the sale 
of its hardware offerings. Our A&K customer base is UK 
orientated selling workplace solutions and therefore the 
impact of lockdowns and work from home mandates 
was significant. As we exit the lockdown restrictions we 
expect normal level of sales for A&K to return.      

GROSS PROFIT

Gross profit margin was 71% (2021: 72% *) giving a total 
gross profit of £3.65m (2021: £2.65m). Gross margins 
from our SaaS business are 89% (2021: 91%) whilst A&K 
contributes a 35% margin (2021: 38%*). 

* FY21 figures have been adjusted for zero margin A&K sales made 
to SmartSpace Global which was agreed as part of the disposal 
process. These sales amounted to £0.93m in FY21. 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
  
 
 
17

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Administrative expenses have increased by 35% to 
£7.32m (2021: £5.42m) as detailed in the table below. 

2022   2021

£’000   £’000

consistently cashflow positive and expected to 
breakeven at an EBITDA level in the coming year. Space 
Connect remains loss making at an EBITDA level whilst 
it continues to build its customer base. A&K was loss 
making due to reduced sales as a result of Covid-19. 

Research and development 

1,563   1,319

TAXATION

Less capitalised development 

(340) 

(290)

Research and development costs  
not capitalised 

1,223   1,029

Staff and contractor costs excluding  
those relating to R&D 

3,030   2,267

Sales, general and administrative  
expenses 

1,921   1,605

Share based payment charge 

288  

150

Depreciation and amortisation 

666  

375

Reorganisation and transformation  
costs  

Total 

192  

-

7,320   5,426

Excluding share based payments, depreciation and 
amortisation, and reorganisation costs, administrative 
expenses have increased by £1.27m. This increase arose 
from increased expenditure on staff costs (£0.91m), 
marketing expenditure (£0.18m) and various other 
increased costs (£0.18m). Increased staff costs are 
largely contributed by the team we have put in place 
for Space Connect which has increased from 3 at the 
beginning of FY21, to 18 at the end of FY22. Inflation in 
digital advertising has led to the increased marketing 
expenditure during the year. 

Financial support amounting to £0.05m (FY21: £0.10m) 
from the UK Government through wage subsidy 
schemes was offset against staff costs. 

In the coming year we anticipate inflationary pressure 
on our cost base in all geographic regions. This 
is particularly strong in areas where we see skills 
shortages such as software development. The majority 
of our software contracts with customers are for a 12 
months or less therefore we will have an opportunity to 
pass on this inflationary burden when contracts are due 
for renewal. 

ADJUSTED LBITDA

Adjusted LBITDA is the loss for the year before 
net finance costs, tax, depreciation, amortisation, 
reorganisation and transactional items, impairment 
charges and share based payment charge. Adjusted 
LBITDA was £2.49m (FY21: £2.12m). Whilst SwipedOn 
made a LBITDA loss for the year, as ARR grows 
and customers pay annually in advance it is now 

The taxation credit of £1.11m results from the 
recognition of tax assets relating to losses incurred 
in the current year which will be utilised in future 
periods, together with a re-measurement of losses 
recognised in prior periods to the new rate of 
corporation tax. Due to a change in the main rate 
of UK corporation tax from April 2023 onwards tax 
losses have been recognised at a tax rate of 25% 
which is the rate expected to be in place when the 
losses are utilised. Losses recognised as assets in prior 
years have been re-measured based on this new rate 
of corporation tax resulting in a credit of £0.46m. 

FOREIGN EXCHANGE 

The Group sells its products throughout the world 
therefore revenues are received in a number of 
currencies, with pounds sterling (47%), US dollars 
(26%), Australian dollars (13%) and New Zealand dollars 
(6%) being the most common. Our administration 
costs are denominated in pounds sterling (40%), 
New Zealand Dollars (37%) and US Dollars (22%). 
Overall foreign currency revenue is closely matched to 
foreign currency costs therefore trading exposure to 
fluctuations in exchange rates is reduced. 

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies 
are mostly limited to our operations in New Zealand 
where working capital, deferred revenue, property 
plant and equipment, right of use assets and liabilities, 
deferred tax assets, and intangible assets are held 
in New Zealand Dollars. Net assets denominated in 
foreign currencies amount to £4.52m. The Group does 
not hedge this foreign currency exposure. 

Foreign exchange movements in the period resulted in 
a charge of £21,000 (2021: £13,000) to the profit and 
loss, and a charge of £0.34m (2021: credit £0.64m) to 
other comprehensive income. 

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The loss per share was 8.91p (FY21: loss per share 
7.54p). The adjusted loss per share which excludes 
the after-tax impact of exceptional items, share-based 
payments and the amortisation of intangible assets 
recognised on acquisition was 7.04p (FY21: loss per 
share 6.59p).  

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
  
18

INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

CASH FLOW

Intangible assets comprise £8.37m of goodwill (2021: 
£8.72m), £0.86m (2021: £0.88m) internally generated 
software, and £1.39m (2021: £1.62m) of other intangibles 
acquired as part of business combinations. Software 
development costs relating to both SwipedOn and 
Space Connect products amounting to £0.34m were 
capitalised. An amortisation charge of £0.55m was 
recorded against intangible assets; internally generated 
software is amortised over 3 years and intangible 
assets acquired through business combinations are 
amortised over 10 years. Intangible assets denominated 
in currencies other than pounds sterling decreased in 
value by £0.39m due to movements in exchange rates.   

FINANCIAL POSITION

Current tax receivables of £0.07m (2021: £0.10m) 
relate to tax credits which the Group receives for 
qualifying research and development activities. Cash 
reimbursement of these tax credits was received in 
February 2022. 

Contract liabilities of £1.77m (2021 £1.13m) relate to 
SaaS subscriptions received in advance by SwipedOn 
and Space Connect which are spread over the period to 
which they relate. 

Borrowings amount to £0.38m (2021: £0.40m) of 
which £0.36m (2021: £0.38m) relate to a mortgage 
on the Group’s freehold property in Mildenhall where 
A&K are based, together with a Covid-19 support loan 
provided by the New Zealand government of £0.03m 
(2021: £0.03m). The mortgage is due for repayment 
in January 2023 and therefore classified as a current 
liability. Management intends to extend the mortgage 
period when it comes due for repayment. The Covid-19 
support loan is interest free and will be repaid in FY23. 

Cash and cash equivalents decreased during the year 
by £1.76m (2021: increase £1.93m) due to a cash outflow 
from operating activities of £1.61m (2021: £1.44m). As 
we move into FY23 cash consumption is at lower levels 
than at the beginning of FY22 and further growth in 
recurring revenues for SwipedOn and Space Connect, 
combined with a return to profitability for A&K, is 
expected to transition the business to being cashflow 
positive by the end of the financial year. 

The net cash outflow from investing activities of 
£48,000 (2021: inflow £3.44m) includes the final 
£327,000 of disposal proceeds for SmartSpace Global 
Limited offset by investments in software development 
and property plant and equipment. Cash outflow 
from financing activities amounted to £79,000 (2021: 
outflow £86,000) as payments were made against the 
finance leases and property mortgage.

Our forecasts for revenue growth over the coming year 
mean that the Group has sufficient cash flow resources 
to continue operations until profitability is achieved. 

DIVIDEND POLICY

The Group reported a retained loss of £2.56m (FY21: 
loss of £2.26m), which has been transferred to reserves. 
At 31 January 2022, the Group had retained earnings of 
£9.16m (FY21: £11.70m). The Board considers that it is 
in shareholders’ best interests to retain resources in the 
Group.

Kristian Shaw 
Chief Financial Officer

17 May 2022

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual ReportCase Study

Since its inception in 1995, Lush has grown to 

become one of the most recognized names in 

the beauty industry. The core of their business 

is based on a refusal to accept the status quo 

and the belief that there had to be a better way 

to create natural, fresh cosmetics with a much 

smaller impact on the environment. 

Today, Lush is a household name with over 

10,000 employees around the globe and they 
have been a SwipedOn customer since 2019. 

Year Ended 31 January 2022 
Year Ended 31 January 2022 

We caught up with Joshua from the Digital 
Services team to find out why they chose 
SwipedOn over a number of other workplace 
sign in systems available and the benefits they 
have seen since implementing it.
LUSH
Read on to find out more.

SWIPEDON  CASE  STUDY:   

Today, Lush is a household name with over 10,000 employees 
around the globe and they have been a SwipedOn customer 
since 2019. 

Since its inception in 1995, Lush has grown to become one of 
the most recognized names in the beauty industry. The core 
of their business is based on a refusal to accept the status 
quo and the belief that there had to be a better way to create 
natural, fresh cosmetics with a much smaller impact on the 
environment. 

 Rolling out the SwipedOn 
sign in system completely 
streamlined the visitor 
management process. It 
gave us total visibility of our 
operations by knowing who 
was on the premises at all 
times. 

Before we started using SwipedOn, we had a paper visitor 
book where guests would write down their details. Our 
receptionist would then have to locate the correct host and 
notify them that their visitor was here. 

Tell us a little about your previous visitor management 
process? 

Challenge: Transforming the reception 

Solution

Why SwipedOn?

We know there are some different visitor & employee 
management solutions on offer, what was the main reason 
your company chose us? As mentioned, our top priority 
was to find a brand that fit well with our own business 
ethics & values. The fact that SwipedOn helps us reduce our 
environmental impact with less paper waste and also plants 
native trees for every new customer was what set SwipedOn 
apart from the other systems.

Challenges

•  Reduce paper wastage and manage data safely and 

securely. 

•  Paper visitor book sign in was a slow and manual process.

•  Provide a hygienic way for visitors & employees to sign in 

during the pandemic. 

Results

•  Reduced paper waste and smaller environmental impact.

•  A compliant way to manage visitor data with an intuitive 

system. 

•  Total visibility of what happening across different locations. 



LOCATION 

Dorset, UK



INDUSTRY 

Cosmetics



EMPLOYEES 

10,000 

Challenge 

Transforming 

the reception

Tell us a little about your previous     

visitor management process?

Before we started using SwipedOn, we had a 

paper visitor book where guests would write 

down their details. Our receptionist would then 

have to locate the correct host and notify them 

that their visitor was here.

What were the challenges you faced 
that drove the need to replace your 
What were the top priorities when 
paper visitor book?
you were looking for a visitor &        
One of our core values is that we believe ethical 
employee management solution?
practices should be business as usual and 
reducing our environmental impact is a large 
part of that.  

One of the most important things for us 
was finding a brand that aligned with our 
We were looking for a new system that would 
company’s digital ethics and at the same 
allow us to save on paper waste & improve 
time could provide a user-friendly and 
our data privacy practices for storing and               
easy-to-use way to manage our visitor 
destroying data when it is no longer needed.
experience.

You came to the right place, we’re 
continually voted easy-to-use 
by our customers! What results 
did you notice by implementing 
SwipedOn?

Rolling out the SwipedOn sign in            
system totally streamlined the visitor                
management process at Lush.

The system enables us to have total                
visibility of our operations by being able 
to monitor who is on the premises  across 
all our sites through a centrally managed 
portal.

Being able to 
“Rolling out the SwipedOn 
sign in system completely 
have locations set 
streamlined the visitor 
up differently is 
management process. It 
really helpful as 
gave us total visibility of 
our operations by knowing 
they have unique 
who was on the premises 
requirements.
at all times.”
Joshua, Digital Services

19
19

Solution
Why SwipedOn?

We know there are some different visitor & 
employee management solutions on offer, what 
was the main reason your company chose us? 

As mentioned, our top priority was to find a brand that fit 
well with our own business ethics & values. The fact that 
SwipedOn helps us reduce our environmental impact with 
less paper waste and also plants native trees for every new 
customer was what set SwipedOn apart from the other 
systems. 

Which SwipedOn features does Lush find most 
useful?

• 

• 

Easy visitor sign in

Employee in-out

•  Multi-location & roaming 

•  Customization

•  Custom visitor fields 

•  Remember visitors 

•  Auto sign out 

•  SwipedOn Pocket App

•  Contactless QR sign in 

•  Screening questions 

What a list! Is there any in particular that stand out 
or do they all play an important role in automating 
workplace management processes?

We use the sign in questions in our R&D environments to 
ensure that any site-specific health and safety requirements 
are adhered to.

Contactless / QR sign in is great for reducing the number of 
people that need to touch the tablet which also reduces the 
number of times the device needs to be cleaned.

The auto sign out feature is great for those employees and 
visitors who forget to sign out.

Multi-location & roaming are really useful for us as we have a 
number of different sites all within close proximity where we 
move around frequently. Being able to have different locations 
set up slightly differently is super helpful as they have different 
requirements.

We love the option to customize the branding and really make 
the system feel like it’s unique to us.

20

STR ATEGIC REPORT:  PRINC IPAL  RISKS

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

INFLATION

The Group could potentially be affected by a number 
of uncertainties and risks that are not wholly within its 
control. These uncertainties and risks, together with 
an explanation for how such uncertainties and risks 
are managed and the key mitigations available to the 
Group are described below.

IMPACTS OF COVID-19

Working practices changed significantly since Covid-19 
allowing employees to work from home. It is not yet 
known to what extent businesses will return to office 
based working. The Board believes that a hybrid office 
and home working environment will become prevalent 
in the future which will require technology to manage. 
The Board therefore considers that the impact of 
Covid-19 is significantly mitigated. 

The global economy is experiencing a period of 
rising inflation which may be further exacerbated 
by disruption caused by the war in Ukraine. The 
most significant cost impact of rising inflation 
for SmartSpace will relate to our staff salaries. In 
order to retain our work force it will be important 
to appropriately address inflation in pay reviews. 
SmartSpace does not have significant levels of 
interest bearing debt and its contracts with customers 
are almost entirely 1 year or less, thereby allowing 
appropriate inflationary price increases to be applied. 
The Board therefore considers that the impact of 
inflation is mitigated to the extent possible.  

RELIANCE ON KEY PERSONNEL AND 
MANAGEMENT

The success of the Group will rely upon attracting and 
retaining the right calibre of talent and the loss of key 
staff would be detrimental to the Group. The Group 
operates an active talent and development programme. 
The Group continuously monitors and develops this 
programme to meet the ambitious requirements of 
the business and utilises a number of tools to retain 
its senior management including an annual bonus and 
long-term incentive plans.

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE AND 
COMPETITION

The pace of technological advancement in today’s 
world is apparent, affecting all aspects of life, and the 
Group’s products target a market which is evolving 
at a considerable pace. Failure to keep pace with 
innovation or to develop the wrong solutions could 
lead to a loss in revenue and increased development 
costs. We will continue to consult with our clients 
to understand their requirements and research the 
market to ensure we focus our product development 
programme on the most relevant software which 
is competitive in the global market. The risk should 
we fail to build upon recent investment in software 
is considerable, and therefore identifying increased 
product functionality and differentiation will ensure we 
manage and mitigate this risk.  

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report21

SALES AND CHANNEL DEVELOPMENT

GOING CONCERN

The Group continues to make losses as a result of 
its current lack of critical mass. The Board continues 
to ensure that its overhead base is balanced with its 
growth expectations to ensure there will be sufficient 
capital to support the Group until it becomes cash 
generative without further recourse to shareholders. On 
this basis, the Group’s accounts have been prepared on 
the going concern basis.

CONFLICT IN UKRAINE 

Our software development activities have previously 
relied on developers based in Ukraine, however this was 
terminated in October 2021. We have no customers, 
operations or suppliers based in Russia or Ukraine and 
therefore we are not directly exposed to risk from the 
current conflict in Ukraine or sanctions on Russia. 

Key to our future success will be developing successful 
channels to market. Productising our software offering 
is crucial to ensuring a successful channel strategy; 
ease of sale and installation are both key components 
to ensure partner adoption. Failure to develop channels 
to market is likely to impact our ability to scale the 
business. Recent and ongoing investment will ensure 
we have products to share with channel partners along 
with the necessary training and installation support.

ACCREDITATIONS AND INDUSTRY 
STANDARDS

Industry standards are constantly changing with 
data and cyber security being key concerns for most 
organisations. Ensuring the Group is planning and 
maintaining its accreditations will mitigate the risks 
associated with ever changing high standards of 
practice.  

IP PROTECTION

Our intellectual property is one of our key assets, and 
loss thereof could result in us losing our competitive 
advantage. Maintaining contractual disciplines and 
vetting who we choose to share any level of object 
or source code, product knowledge and wherewithal 
and general secrets of how we operate are constantly 
monitored and reviewed. Confidentiality is a key 
component to managing this risk and the Group has 
legally binding agreements to ensure this is robust and 
maintained.

Year Ended 31 January 2022 22

STR ATEGIC REPORT:  S172  STAT EMENT

This section serves as our section 172 statement and 
forms part of the Strategic Report and should be read 
in conjunction with the Corporate Governance Report. 

Under Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 the 
Directors have a duty to promote the success of 
the Group over the long term for the benefit of its 
shareholders as a whole, having regard to a range of 
other key stakeholders’ interests. The Directors must 
have regard (amongst other matters), to: 

•  the likely consequences of any decision in the long 

term; 

•  the interests of the Group’s employees; 

•  the need to foster the Group’s business relationships 

with suppliers, customers and others; 

•  the impact of the Group’s operations on the 

community and the environment; 

•  the desirability of the Group maintaining a reputation 

for high standards of business conduct; 

•  and the need to act fairly with members of the 

Company.

The Board is responsible for the overall direction 
of the Group. It focuses primarily upon strategic 
issues and is responsible for the Group’s long-term 
success. It sets the Group’s strategy, oversees the 
allocation of resources and monitors the performance 
of the Group, to ensure that the Group is structured 
appropriately for the challenges and opportunities of 
the future. In performing these duties, the Board is 
focused on the sustainability of the Group in the long 
term. The Board recognises the need for the Group 
to have effective engagement with, and encourage 
participation from, all key stakeholders to promote 
these long-term interests. 

Typically, in a company such as SmartSpace, the 
Directors fulfil their duties partly through a governance 
framework that delegates day-to-day decision 
making to the employees of the Company. The Board 
recognises that such delegation needs to be part of 
a robust governance structure which covers how we 
engage with our stakeholders and how the Board 
assures itself that the governance structure and 
systems of controls continue to be robust. 

The Chairman, with the assistance of the Company 
Secretary, sets the agenda for each Board meeting 
to ensure the requirements of Section 172 are 
always considered and met through a combination 
of the following:

•  Standing agenda points and papers considered at 
each meeting with the CEO and CFO presenting 
updates on the financial overview, operational 
progress, business development, strategic 
progress, and investor relations. The Board also 
considers relevant corporate governance and 
compliance matters.

•  Formal consideration of any factors which are 
relevant to major decisions taken by the Board 
throughout the year.

•  Review of topics through the risk management 

process and other standard Audit Committee and 
Remuneration Committee agenda items.

GROUP EMPLOYEES

A well-motivated and satisfied workforce is crucial to 
the success of the Group. It is therefore important that 
the Board are aware of and understand the opinions 
of our employees, taking these into account when 
making decisions. We encourage our employees to take 
part in professional development activities, and where 
appropriate, provide the resources to do so. Over 90% 
of our employees have been issued share options 
encouraging an awareness of the financial factors 
which determine the Groups success.    

CUSTOMER AND SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT

The Executive Directors hold regular meetings 
with the management of each operating subsidiary 
at which progress with customer relationships is 
reviewed. A monthly report is produced highlighting 
the key performance metrics for managing customer 
satisfaction being customer churn rate, support ticket 
levels, and net promoter score. Trends are analysed 
and the likely cause of those trends identified. Should 
concerns be made by customers the Group ensures 
that these are addressed as a matter of urgency. The 
monthly reports are tabled at Group board meetings 
and any issues highlighted by the CEO in his report.

Senior management of our operating subsidiaries 
communicate and meet with strategic partners on a 
regular basis. This is further supported by Executive 
Directors where this is appropriate. Meetings provide 
an opportunity for feedback from the partner, ensure 
that development priorities are properly addressed, and 
customer support remains at a high standard.

The relationships with Group’s key suppliers and 
partners are maintained by the management of 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report23

and truthfulness from our employees as a matter of 
course and Directors and employees are required at all 
times to act with integrity and good conscience. This 
requirement is set out in the employee handbook.

ENSURING WE ACT FAIRLY WITH ALL 
MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY

The Board ensures that the Group’s shareholders are 
treated equally and fairly, regardless of the size of their 
shareholding

or their status as a private or institutional holders. The 
Group provides clear and timely communications via 
the Group’s website and via a Regulatory News Service. 
All holders of Ordinary shares are eligible to receive 
dividend payments and to vote at general meetings of 
the Company.

each operating subsidiary. Regular engagement 
with key suppliers takes place to ensure that agreed 
service levels are being satisfactorily met, to develop 
constructive relationships, and where necessary 
proactively address any shortfalls. 

SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

The Board engages with its institutional shareholders 
through meetings held after financial reporting and 
trading updates. Since Covid-19 these meetings have 
taken place through video-conference facilities. Private 
shareholders are encouraged to engage with the Board 
at the Company’s AGM where the Board makes itself 
available for shareholders to ask questions. The Group 
also makes live interactive management presentations 
through the Investor Meet Company platform to 
current and prospective shareholders regardless of the 
number of shares they own.

ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WIDER 
COMMUNITY AND IMPACTS ON THE 
ENVIRONMENT

The Group considers its actions and the likely effect 
that they may have on the environment and seeks to 
mitigate any negative impact wherever practicable. We 
have included for the first time carbon emission data 
in this annual report (see page 38). Through various 
procedures the Group complies with health and safety 
and environmental legislation relevant to its activities. 

As part of our commitment to the environment we 
plant one tree for every new SwipedOn customer. 
These trees are located at 16 locations around New 
Zealand. We believe that protecting our environment 
is a job for all of us. Handled by a local charity, Trees 
that Count, we believe by planting native species trees 
we will help restore and enhance the environment, 
encourage biodiversity, clean air and waterways and 
make a difference to climate change. So far, we have 
funded over 6,000 trees.  

In addition, we also seek to support local charitable 
organisations in the markets we serve by providing our 
software free of charge or at a significant discount. 
Charities we have helped in this way include The 
Children’s Hospital Foundation and Leicestershire 
Search and Rescue. We positively encourage charities 
to approach us for support.

MAINTAINING A REPUTATION FOR HIGH 
STANDARDS OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

The Group has a culture which emphasises that 
business should be conducted honestly, fairly and 
with due respect for others. We expect honesty 

Year Ended 31 January 2022 24

OUR STAKEHOLDERS

Why we engage

Types of engagement undertaken

Issues relevant to the  
stakeholder group

Our people

•  Continual focus on the health and safety of all employees.

•  Personal 

The dedication of our people and 
their drive for results are the most 
significant contributors to our 
future success.

•  Regular performance reviews and staff surveys

•  Competitive remuneration strategy.

Customers

•  We provide customer support through our help desks 

Engaging with customers helps us 
to understand their needs, identify 
opportunities and challenges 
and plan the future direction and 
development of our software

and interaction with our customers through our account 
management.

•  We survey customers on their likely take up of add-on modules 

and functionality, and their views regarding development priorities.

development.

•  Remuneration 

strategy.

•  Health and safety.

•  Diversity and 

inclusion.

•  Customer 

satisfaction.

•  Innovation 

and product 
development.

•  We monitor our net promoter score to ensure we maintain the 

•  Product reliability.

highest standards in our products and services.

•  Product support.

•  We survey lost customers to identify areas for improvement.

Suppliers and partners

•  Regular interaction with our outsource partners including weekly 

•  Product 

Maintaining a flexible workforce 
through the use of contractors 
is vital to the success of the 
business. Consistent and reliable 
cloud service providers are a 
prerequisite for our business. 
Strong partnership agreements 
are important to distributing the 
Group’s products and creating 
integrations for customers 

Investors

Continued access to funding is 
vital to the performance of the 
business. We work to ensure 
our investors have a clear 
understanding of our strategy, 
performance and objectives

stand ups and the use of shared platforms such as Microsoft 
Teams, Microsoft Sharepoint and shared development tools such 
as Jira and Confluence.

development

•  Hosting

•  The Group uses Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services who 

are the market leaders providing the highest level of service. 

•  The Group regularly reviews its partners’ performance and terms 

and conditions

•  The Group’s Investor Relations Strategy managed by the CEO and 
CFO includes regular meetings with key and prospective investors.

•  Financial 

performance

•  The Company’s Annual Report provides an overview of the Group 
and regular announcements and press releases are published to 
provide updates on the Group’s performance and progress.

•  Governance and 
transparency

•  Directors’ 

•  The AGM provides shareholders with an opportunity to directly 

remuneration

engage with the Board. 

•  Board performance

•  The Group has signed up to use the Investor Meet Company 

platform to deliver live, interactive management presentations to 
current and prospective shareholders regardless of the number of 
shares they own.

•  There is an ongoing dialogue with the Company’s analysts to 

address enquiries and promote the business.

Communities

•  Planting of a tree for each new SwipedOn customer

We are committed to maintaining 
positive relationships with the 
communities in which we operate. 

•  Provision of free or discounted software to charities or not for 

profit organisations

•  Operational 
performance

•  Ethics

The Strategic Report, comprising the Strategy and Operational Review, Financial Review and Principal Risks was approved by 
the Board on 17 May 2022 and signed on its behalf by:

Frank Beechinor 
Chief Executive Officer

17 May 2022

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report25

GI VING BAC K 

  Giving back is part of our culture

  For every SwipedOn customer we 

sign we plant a tree

  So far we have we have planted 

over 6,700 native species trees in 
16 locations around New Zealand. 
The project is managed by Trees 
that Count, a local not for profit. 

  Supporting charitable 

organisations around the Globe

  We provide our software free or at 
a discount to selected charities.

6,700+ 

16+ 

Trees funded from 
customer subscriptions

Locations around 
New Zealand

Year Ended 31 January 2022 26

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report

DI REC TORS A N D OF FIC ER S

 Guy van Zwanenberg 
(Chairman) 

 Kris Shaw  
(Chief Financial Officer)  

Kris was appointed Group 
Chief Financial Officer 
on 27 May 2021. Kris is 
ACA qualified having 
started his career in audit 
practice, and subsequently 
working in a number of 
listed businesses. Prior to 
joining the Company, Kris spent seven years leading the 
finance team at Agrokultura AB, a Swedish listed agri-
business. He has been with SmartSpace since January 
2019 having joined as Financial Controller and taking a 
critical role in managing cashflow during the Covid-19 
pandemic, and the disposal of the Enterprise business.

 Philip Wood  
(Non-Executive Director)

Philip joined the Board 
on 27 May 2021 as 
an independent NED 
and Chair of the Audit 
Committee. Philip is 
currently the Deputy Chief 
Executive Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer of 
Aptitude Software Group plc, a specialist provider of 
powerful financial management software to large global 
businesses. Philip brings extensive public company 
experience having joined the Board of Aptitude 
Software Group plc (formerly known as Microgen 
plc) in 2007, having previously held the role of Group 
Finance Director at AttentiV Systems Group plc where 
he oversaw the group’s flotation onto AIM in 2004. The 
experience Philip brings in growing software businesses 
and mentoring finance teams will be hugely helpful to 
SmartSpace, as the Company moves through its next 
phase of development as a global SaaS business.

Guy joined the Board on  
9 March 2015 as a Non-
Executive Director, a role 
which he maintained until 
June 2018 when he stepped 
into the Chairman’s role. 
Guy is also Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee and 
Nomination Committee and a member of the Audit 
Committee. Guy has more than 40 years’ experience 
in industry and practice. He qualified as a Chartered 
Accountant with Grant Thornton and then spent three 
years working with James Gulliver. Guy subsequently 
moved to become UK Finance Director of an American 
computer accessory company which was taken public 
in 1989. In 1991, he established his own interim financial 
management business and has since been involved in 
a number of SME businesses providing strategic and 
financial help. Guy joined Gamingking PLC in 1998 
on a part-time basis as Finance Director and became 
Company Secretary and Non-Executive Director in 
2006, remaining until May 2013. He joined Quixant plc 
as a Non-Executive in March 2013 as part of the float 
team. Guy is both a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered 
Accountants in England and Wales and a Chartered 
Director.

 Frank Beechinor  
(Chief Executive Officer)

Frank was appointed chairman 
of the Board on 10 July 2014 
and led the Board and led 
the business through its 
restructuring from what was 
then Coms plc. He became Chief 
Executive Officer in July 2018 
with the aim of leading SmartSpace 
Software plc to become a market leader in space 
management technology. He has significant corporate 
experience, particularly in the software industry and 
building SaaS businesses. Frank is a co-founder of 
Cadence Performance Ltd. Frank was previously 
founder and CEO of OneClick HR plc from 1997 to 2011 
and Non-Executive Chairman of dotDigital Group plc 
from May 2011 to March 2019.

Year Ended 31 January 2022 

27

COM PANY  IN F ORM ATION   
AND A DVISERS

REGISTERED OFFICE

Norderstedt House 
James Carter Road, 
Mildenhall, 
Bury St. Edmunds, 
IP28 7RQ

Company Number

5332126

COMPANY ADVISERS

Nominated adviser and broker

N+1 Singer
Bartholomew Lane
London
EC2N 2AX

Auditor

RSM UK Audit LLP
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors
170 Midsummer Boulevard
Milton Keynes
MK9 1BP

Registrar

Share Registrars Limited 
3 The Millennium Centre 
Crosby Way 
Farnham 
Surrey 
GU9 7XX

Banker

Santander UK Plc
Bootle Centre
Bridle Road
Bootle 
L30 4GB

 
28

REMU NERATION REPORT

THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

REMUNERATION PACKAGE

The Company’s remuneration policy is the responsibility 
of the Remuneration Committee which comprised Guy 
van Zwanenberg (Non-Executive Chairman), Diana 
Dyer Bartlett (Non-Executive Director until 27 May 
2021), and Philip Wood (Non-Executive Director from 
27 May 2021) during the year.

GENERAL POLICY

The Company’s policy is to provide remuneration 
packages for Executive Directors which aims to attract 
and retain high quality executives and which link their 
reward to the Group’s performance.

There are four components to the remuneration 
package, namely base salary and benefits, bonus, 
pension arrangements and long-term incentive 
arrangements:  

•  The base salaries of the Executive Directors were 

set at levels considered to be appropriate when they 
entered into service agreements with the Company. 
The base salaries are reviewed by the Remuneration 
Committee annually and any increases are awarded 
having regard to performance and salary levels 
in comparable organisations. Benefits which may 
include car allowance and private health insurance 
are not pensionable.

•  The Executive Directors are entitled to a discretionary 
bonus provided the Company achieves its targets for 
the financial year.

•  The Company contributes to money purchase 

pension arrangements, and private medical insurance 
and death in service benefit are also provided.

•  The Company has established an unapproved share 

option scheme and an Enterprise Management 
Incentive (EMI) share option scheme in which the 
Directors may participate.

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION 

The remuneration of the Directors who held office during the year was:

Salary and  
fees 

Taxable 
benefits 

Long-term 
incentive 
schemes 

Pension 
related 
benefits 

Compensation 
for loss of 
office 

Total 

2022 

2021 

2022 

2021 

2022 

2021 

2022 

2021 

2022 

2021 

2022 

2021

£’000  £’000  £’000  £’000  £’000  £’000  £’000  £’000 

£’000 

£’000  £’000 

£’000

Guy van Zwanenberg 

60 

60 

Frank Beechinor 

220 

220 

Kristian Shaw 

Philip Wood 

Bruce Morrison 

Diana Dyer Bartlett 

94 

27 

90 

13 

- 

- 

150 

40 

- 

19 

8 

- 

7 

- 

- 

19 

- 

- 

12 

- 

2 

90 

15 

- 

48 

- 

2 

63 

- 

- 

3 

4 

Total 

504 

470 

34 

31 

155 

72 

- 

- 

4 

- 

4 

- 

8 

- 

2 

- 

- 

7 

- 

9 

- 

- 

- 

- 

40 

- 

40 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

62 

62

329 

304

121 

27 

-

-

189 

172

13 

44

741 

582

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29

SHARE OPTIONS AWARDED DURING THE YEAR 

The following share options were awarded to the Directors during the year: 

 Director 

Scheme 

Instrument 

Number of ordinary  
shares of 10p each 

Exercise 
price 

Grant 
date 

Expiry 
date

Frank Beechinor 

EMI scheme 

Share Option 

154,535 

137.5p 

22/09/2021 

22/09/2031

Frank Beechinor 

LTIP scheme 

Share Option 

184,415 

137.5p 

22/09/2021 

22/09/2031

Kristian Shaw 

EMI scheme 

Share Option 

125,000 

137.5p 

22/09/2021 

22/09/2031

The options have an exercise price of 137.5p per share, vest three years from the date of grant and once vested are 
exercisable at any time up to ten years after the date of grant. These new options do not carry any performance 
conditions.

The Directors held the following outstanding options at 31 January 2022: 

 Director 

Instrument 

Number of ordinary  
shares of 10p each 

Exercise 
price 

Grant 
date 

Expiry 
date

Guy van Zwanenberg 

Share Option 

30,000 

92.0p 

11/12/2015 

11/12/2025

Frank Beechinor 

Frank Beechinor 

Frank Beechinor 

Kristian Shaw 

Kristian Shaw 

Share Option 

Share Option 

Share Option 

Share Option 

Share Option 

100,000 

92.0p 

11/12/2015 

11/12/2025

323,943 

94.0p 

17/10/2018 

17/10/2028

338,950 

137.5p 

22/09/2021 

22/09/2031

125,000 

137.5p 

22/09/2021 

22/09/2031

50,000 

92.5p 

23/10/2020 

23/10/2030 

None of the Directors had any beneficial interest in the shares of any subsidiary companies.

The movement on Directors’ share options during the year is set out below:

2022 

2021

Number   Weighted average 
exercise price 

Number  Weighted average 
 exercise price

Outstanding at start of year 

Granted during the year 

Forfeited during the year 

Options in place upon appointment 

Ceasing to be a director 

Outstanding at end of year 

Exercisable at end of year 

Exercised during year 

875,000  

463,950  

(226,057) 

50,000  

(195,000) 

967,893  

102,502  

-  

93.33p 

137.5p 

94.0p 

92.5p 

92.3p 

114.5p 

93.6p 

- 

750,000 

125,000 

- 

- 

- 

93.47p

92.50p

-

-

-

875,000 

93.33p

- 

- 

-

-

There have been no further options granted since the end of the financial year. 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30

SHARE OPTIONS AMENDED AND FORFEITED DURING THE YEAR 

The performance criteria relating to certain options granted to Frank Beechinor and Guy van Zwanenberg in prior 
periods were amended by extending the qualifying period to meet share price targets. The deadline to meet the share 
price targets was extended by two years to 17 October 2023 and the number of options that shall vest is as follows.  A 
share based payment charge of £160,000 will be recognised over the two year extension period, of which £28,000 was 
recognised in the current period. 

Average share price achieved 
in any 90 calendar day period 
following the Date of Grant and 
ending on 17 October 2023

Number of 94 pence 
options held by  
Frank Beechinor  
that shall vest 

Number of 92 pence 
options held by  
Frank Beechinor  
that shall vest 

Number of 92 pence 
options held by  
Guy van Zwanenberg 
that shall vest

250 pence 

350 pence 

450 pence 

500 pence 

Total 

45,448 

65,331 

65,331 

65,332 

241,442 

15,385 

23,077 

23,077 

23,076 

84,615 

4,615

6,923

6,923

6,923

25,384

A further 226,057 options held by Frank Beechinor where share price performance conditions were not met by the 
deadline of 17 October 2021 were forfeited. 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
31

AUDIT COMMITTEE  REPORT

Upon his commencement as a director of the 
Company on 27 May 2021, Philip Wood was 
appointed the chair of the Audit Committee, 
replacing Diana Dyer Bartlett who resigned on 
the same day. Guy van Zwanenberg is the second 
member of the Committee. Both Philip Wood and 
Guy van Zwanenberg have recent and relevant 
financial experience by virtue of their senior financial 
roles and both hold a professional accountancy 
qualification.  The Audit Committee has a number 
of responsibilities set out in its terms of reference, 
which were last reviewed and updated in April 2019. 
The responsibilities include reviewing the annual and 
interim reports, discussing findings from the external 
auditors, considering the suitability and effectiveness 
of the internal control processes, recommending 
the appointment and remuneration of the auditor, 
and considering any non-audit services to be 
provided by the auditor, and determining the Group’s 
whistleblowing and anti-bribery policies. There were 
two audit committee meetings during the year 
both of which were attended by all members of the 
Committee at that time. Executive Directors and the 
Group’s auditors may be invited to attend all or part 
of any meetings. The Committee also meets with the 
Group’s external auditor without the presence of the 
Executive Directors. 

RSM UK Audit LLP were appointed as auditors for 
the first time for the year ended 31 January 2020 and 
were re-appointed at the Company’s annual general 
meeting on 7 July 2021. The audit engagement 
partner is named Richard Bartlett-Rawlings. 

MEETINGS AND BUSINESS

In advance of the audit of the Group’s financial 
statements, the Audit Committee met to review the 
audit plan as presented by RSM UK Audit LLP. The 
plan set out the proposed scope of work, the audit 
approach, materiality and identified areas of audit 
risk and was compliant with the Ethical Standards for 
Auditors issued by the Financial Reporting Council. 
Prior to commencing its audit work, RSM UK Audit 
LLP confirmed in writing the safeguards in place 
to ensure its independence and objectivity and the 
Committee discussed how the auditor proposed to 
demonstrate its professional scepticism in the audit 
process. The auditor’s quality control processes were 
also discussed. Audit fees are disclosed in note 22 to 
the consolidated financial statements. RSM UK Audit 
LLP did not provide any non-audit services in the 
year or since the period end. 

At its meeting to discuss the annual report and financial 
statements, the Audit Committee confirmed that in its 
opinion, the annual report and financial statements, 
taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable. 
The Audit Committee noted that the financial 
statements had been prepared consistently, with no 
significant changes in accounting policies compared 
with the previous year. 

The Group reports a number of alternative performance 
measures which are not in accordance with the 
reporting requirements of IFRS. These include Loss for 
the year before net finance costs, tax, depreciation, 
amortisation, reorganisation and transactional items, 
impairment charges and share based payment charge 
(“LBITDA”), annual recurring revenue (“ARR”), and 
monthly average revenue per user (“ARPU”). The 
Audit Committee has reviewed these to ensure they 
are appropriate and that in each case the reason for 
their use is clearly explained; where possible they are 
reconciled to the equivalent IFRS figure; and they are 
not given prominence over the equivalent IFRS figure.

In reviewing and making its recommendation that the 
Annual Report and Financial Statements be approved 
by the Board, the Audit Committee has taken into 
consideration the following significant issues and 
judgement areas:

(a) Carrying value of goodwill and other intangible 
fixed assets

At 31 January 2022 the carrying value of goodwill 
and other intangible assets was £10,619,000 (2021: 
£11,222,000). The Audit Committee reviewed in 
detail the judgements taken in the impairment 
review performed to determine whether there was 
any indication that those assets had suffered any 
impairment. The Audit Committee considers the 
key judgements in the impairment review to be the 
discount rate and revenue growth rates used in the 
Value in Use calculations. Following a review of the 
impact of the sensitivities performed by management 
on the discount rate and revenue growth rate in 
the Value in Use calculations, the Audit Committee 
considered that the calculations performed together 
with the key judgements and estimates were 
reasonable and no impairment charge was required.

(b) Going concern

As the Group’s software businesses build their SaaS 
customer bases the Group continues to be loss making. 
The losses incurred are controlled, predictable and 

Year Ended 31 January 2022 32

planned to allow the business to continue to grow. 
In the short term the Group will continue to be loss-
making. As reported in the Strategic Report, SwipedOn 
has continued to grow despite the worldwide 
disruption caused by Covid-19 and is now consistently 
generating cash. Space Connect has made significant 
growth to its customer base and recurring revenues 
but is not yet cash generative. The Audit Committee 
has considered the Group forecasts which underpin 
the presumption that the accounts should be prepared 
under the going concern principle. In particular it has 
considered a scenario whereby the SaaS business does 
not exceed its historic growth rates in the next twelve 
months together with the mitigations available to the 
Group. On this basis, the Audit Committee was able to 
advise the Board that it was reasonable to prepare the 
accounts on a going concern basis.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL 
CONTROLS 

The Audit Committee has responsibilities for 
reviewing the Group’s risk management and internal 
controls. It reviewed the Group’s risk register which 
includes the measures to manage risk and mitigations 
and the summary of principal risks set out in the 
Strategic Report. 

INTERNAL AUDIT

The Audit Committee considered whether an 
internal audit function was required and concluded 
that, owing to the Group’s size, this was not 
appropriate at this stage.

EXTERNAL AUDITOR

In its review of the effectiveness of the audit process, 
the Committee considered:

•  the auditor’s fulfilment of the agreed audit plan;

•  the level and effectiveness of challenge provided by 

the auditor;

•  the audit quality control arrangements, including 

the stages of review of the Annual Report, the time 
spent by the audit partner and whether any issues 
identified during the audit had been dealt with on a 
timely basis;

•  the changes to the auditor’s audit approach and 

work which demonstrated the auditor’s professional 
scepticism; and

•  the report arising from the audit itself.

The Committee was satisfied with the auditor’s 
independence and the effectiveness of the audit 
process, together with the degree of diligence and 
professional scepticism brought to bear and that the 
auditor provided effective independent challenge in 
carrying out its responsibilities. 

RSM UK Audit LLP have indicated their willingness 
to continue to act as auditor to the Company for 
the forthcoming year and a resolution for their re-
appointment will be proposed at the Annual General 
Meeting, as well as a resolution to seek approval of the 
auditor’s remuneration.

Philip Wood 
Chairman, Audit Committee

17 May 2022

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report33

CO R PORATE GOVERNANCE  RE PORT

COMPLIANCE WITH CORPORATE 
GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES

As an AIM listed company the Board recognises the 
importance of applying sound corporate governance 
principles in managing the Group. The Group adopted 
the QCA Corporate Governance Code (“the “QCA 
code”) on 28 September 2018 as a benchmark to 
measuring our performance against good governance 
principles. This report shows how we apply the QCA 
Code’s 10 guiding principles in practice.

1. Establish a strategy and business model which 
promote long-term value for shareholders

The business model and strategy of the Group are set 
out in the strategic report on pages 12 to 14.

The Group’s strategy and business model are 
developed by the Chief Executive Officer and his senior 
management team and approved by the Board. The 
management team, led by the Chief Executive Officer, 
is responsible for implementing the strategy and 
managing the business at an operational level.

The Group’s immediate key strategic priorities to drive 
future growth are as follows:

•  to focus on delivering pure SaaS revenues where 
the Group is not overly exposed to one market or 
customer;

•  to develop technology-led intellectual property to 

help companies optimise use of their corporate real 
estate focussing on rooms, desks and visitors;

•  to develop new sales channels to market our 

software solutions by establishing a global network 
of channel partners;

•  to bring together the technologies of Space Connect 
and SwipedOn in order to offer a complete solution 
to both customer bases and therefore maximise 
revenue per user from our customer lists;

•  to continue with a strategy of both organic and 

acquisitive growth both in our domestic market and 
overseas; and

•  to deliver higher quality earnings which will, in turn, 

improve cash generation.

An evaluation of the potential risks and uncertainties of 
the Group is set out on pages 20 to 21.

2. Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs 
and expectations

The Group seeks to maintain a regular dialogue with 
both existing and potential shareholders in order 
to communicate the Group’s strategy and progress 
and to understand the needs and expectations of 
shareholders.

Beyond the annual general meeting, the Chief 
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and, where 
appropriate, other members of the Board and senior 
management team meet with investors and analysts to 
obtain feedback regarding the market’s expectations of 
the Group.

The Group’s investor relations activities encompass 
dialogue with both institutional and private investors.

Private shareholders – the main forum for private 
shareholders to engage with the Board is at the 
Company’s AGM where the Board makes itself available 
for shareholders to ask questions. The notice of AGM 
is sent to shareholders at least 21 days before the 
meeting is due to be held. At the meeting, shareholders 
vote on each resolution and the meeting is advised of 
the number of proxy votes for, against and withheld 
on each resolution. The outcome of the AGM is 
subsequently announced via RNS and published on the 
Company’s website.

Institutional shareholders – the Directors consider 
that it is important that its institutional shareholders 
understand the business and that their expectations 
are in accordance with those of the Board. Members 
of the Board engage with institutional shareholders 
following the announcement of the annual and interim 
results explaining the results and the Board’s vision 
for the future. These meetings are arranged by the 
Company’s FCA regulated nominated adviser and 
broker, who will follow up with investors following the 
meetings and provide anonymised feedback to the 
Board. Additionally, ad hoc meetings are attended 
as requested by existing and potential institutional 
investors.

The Board will consider all feedback received from 
shareholders whether at the AGM, during face-to-
face meetings with institutional investors, or from its 
nominated adviser following those meetings. It reviews 
analysts’ notes to ensure they accord broadly with the 
Board’s expectations.

The Group also endeavours to maintain a dialogue 
and keep shareholders informed through its public 
announcements and Company website. SmartSpace’s 
website provides not only information specifically 

Year Ended 31 January 2022 34

relevant to investors (such as the Group’s Annual 
Report and investor presentations) but also regarding 
the nature of the business itself with considerable detail 
regarding the services it provides and the manner in 
which it carries on its business.  

3. Take into account wider stakeholder and social 
responsibilities and their implications for long-term 
success

The Group is aware of its corporate social 
responsibilities and the need to maintain effective 
working relationships across a range of stakeholder 
groups, which include the Group’s employees, partners, 
customers, suppliers, and regulatory authorities. The 
Group’s operations take account of the requirement 
to balance the needs of all of these stakeholder 
groups while maintaining focus on the Board’s primary 
responsibility to promote the success of the Group 
for the benefit of its members as a whole. The Group 
endeavours to take account of feedback received 
from stakeholders, making amendments to working 
arrangements and operational plans where appropriate 
and where such amendments are consistent with the 
Group’s long-term strategy.

The Group considers its actions and the likely effect 
that they may have on the environment and seeks to 
mitigate any negative impact wherever practicable. 
Through the various procedures and systems it 
operates, the Group complies with health and safety 
and environmental legislation relevant to its activities.

4. Embed effective risk management, considering 
both opportunities and threats, throughout the 
organisation

The Board approves an annual budget which identifies 
the opportunities to develop the Group’s business 
as well as the resources required to implement its 
strategy. The Board reviews progress against budgets 
and forecasts on a regular basis to ensure the Group’s 
performance is on target or actions identified if it is not. 
It also evaluates the impact of key risks and assesses 
the resources required to mitigate such risks.

The Board is responsible for the systems of risk 
management and internal control and for reviewing 
their effectiveness. The internal controls are designed 
to manage rather than eliminate risk and provide 
reasonable but not absolute assurance against material 
misstatement or loss. Through the activities of the 
Audit Committee, the effectiveness of these internal 
controls is reviewed annually.

A summary of the principal risks and uncertainties 
facing the Group as well as mitigating actions are 
described in the strategic report on pages 20 to 21. 
The Group maintains insurance cover as part of its risk 
management programme.

The senior management team meet at least monthly to 
consider new risks and opportunities presented to the 
Group, making recommendations to the Board where 
necessary.

5. Maintain the Board as a well-functioning, 
balanced team led by the Chair

SmartSpace’s Board consists of four directors, two of 
whom are non-executive directors. On an annual basis 
each Director seeks re-election at the annual general 
meeting.

The Group does not have a director designated as 
a Senior Independent Director. In light of the size of 
the Board, and the Group’s stage of development, the 
Board does not consider it necessary to appoint a 
Senior Independent Director.

Directors’ biographies are set out on page 26.

The Board is responsible to the shareholders for the 
proper management of the Group and meets at least 
ten times a year to set the overall direction and strategy 
of the Group, to review technological, operational and 
financial performance and to advise on management 
appointments. Executive directors are employed on 
a full-time basis whilst non-executive directors are 
required to attend board and committee meetings, and 
are encouraged to be involved in specific workshops, 
meetings or seminars in line with their areas of 
expertise. All key operational and investment decisions 
are subject to board approval as required by the 
Company’s schedule of matters reserved for the Board.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report35

A summary of board and committee meetings held in the year ended 31 January 2022, and directors’ attendance records, 
is set out below:

Board Meetings 

Audit Committee Meetings 

Remuneration Committee Meetings

Guy van Zwanenberg 

Frank Beechinor 

Kristian Shaw 

Philip Wood 

Diana Dyer Bartlett 

Bruce Morrison 

10 / 10 

10 / 10 

6 / 6 

6 / 6 

4 / 4 

4 / 4 

The Board adheres to the QCA Code’s recommendations 
that a Board should have at least two independent 
non-executive directors. Both Non-Executive directors 
are regarded as independent under the QCA Code’s 
guidance for determining such independence.

The Non-Executive directors are remunerated by way 
of an agreed monthly fee. In 2015 Guy van Zwanenberg 
was granted share options under the Company’s 
Unapproved Share Option Scheme, at a time when 
the Company had trading difficulties and required 
substantial board intervention but had limited funds. 
The options are not deemed to be significant enough 
to impact his independence and were granted following 
a shareholder consultation process. 

6. Ensure that between them, the Directors have 
the necessary up-to-date experience, skills and 
capabilities

The Board considers its Directors to have experience 
in areas critical to the long-term future success of the 
Group, covering a deep understanding of technology, 
corporate strategy, finance and investment. The 
Directors’ biographies are set out on page 26. Where 
required the Board undergoes training in areas needed 
to carry out their duties. 

The Board regularly reviews the composition of the 
Board to ensure that it has the necessary breadth and 
depth of skills to support the ongoing development 
of the Group. Guy van Zwanenberg has served on the 
Board for a number of years and the Board is starting 
the process of developing a succession plan.

7. Evaluate board performance based on clear 
and relevant objectives, seeking continuous 
improvement

Currently there is no formal board performance 
evaluation procedure, but the Board does discuss 
its operational efficiency as well as that of individual 
Directors on a regular basis. As the business grows, 
consideration will be given to adopting a more formal 
process.

2 / 2 

n.a. 

n.a. 

1 / 1 

1 / 1 

n.a. 

4 / 4

n.a.

n.a.

2 / 2

2 / 2

n.a.

8. Promote a corporate culture that is based on 
ethical values and behaviours

The Board seeks to maintain the highest standards 
of integrity in the conduct of the Group’s operations. 
An open culture is encouraged within the Group, with 
regular communications to staff regarding the Group’s 
progress. The senior management team regularly 
monitors the Group’s cultural environment and seeks to 
address any concerns that may arise from time to time. 
The Group has in place a whistleblowing policy which 
is reviewed on a regular basis. All staff are made aware 
of their responsibilities regarding market abuse and 
registers are maintained relating to insiders.   

The Group is committed to providing a safe 
environment for its staff and all other parties for which 
the Group has a legal or moral responsibility. 

These core beliefs are reinforced by senior 
management at town hall and other similar meetings. 

9. Maintain governance structures and processes 
that are fit for purpose and support good decision 
making by the Board

The Board has overall responsibility for promoting 
the success of the Group. The Executive Directors 
have day-to-day responsibility for the operational 
management of the Group’s activities. The Non-
Executive directors are responsible for bringing 
independent and objective judgement to board 
decisions.

There is a clear separation of the roles of Chief 
Executive Officer and Non-Executive Chairman. The 
Chairman is responsible for overseeing the running 
of the Board, ensuring that no individual or group 
dominates the Board’s decision-making and ensuring 
the Non-Executive directors are properly briefed 
on matters. The Chairman has overall responsibility 
for corporate governance matters in the Group. The 
Chief Executive Officer has the responsibility for 
implementing the strategy of the Board and managing 
the day-to-day business activities of the Group. The 
Company Secretary is responsible for ensuring that 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
36

Board procedures are followed, and applicable rules 
and regulations are complied with.

The Board has established Audit, Remuneration and 
Nominations Committees with formally delegated 
duties and responsibilities, and which comprise Non-
Executive directors only, with executive directors 
attending by invitation. The reports of the Audit and 
Remuneration committees are set out on pages 28 to 
32.

Philip Wood chairs the Audit Committee, Guy van 
Zwanenberg chairs the Remuneration Committee and 
the Nominations Committee.

The Audit Committee normally meets twice a year 
and at other times if necessary. The Audit Committee 
recommends the appointment, scope and fees of the 
external auditor, discusses issues that arise from the 
audit, reviews the reports of the external auditors and 
internal control procedures and considers any financial 
statements before their publication. The external 
auditor attends meetings as required by the Audit 
Committee to consider any issues arising from the audit 
and the auditor’s work. The audit partner meets the 
Audit Committee without the Executive Directors being 
present at least once a year.

The Remuneration Committee, which meets as 
required, but at least once a year, agrees the terms and 
conditions, including annual remuneration, of Executive 
Directors and reviews such matters for other senior 
personnel including their participation in long term 
incentive schemes. It also supervises the Company’s 
share incentive schemes and sets performance 
conditions for share options granted under the 
schemes.

The Nominations Committee meets periodically as 
required.

10. Communicate how the Group is governed 
and is performing by maintaining a dialogue with 
shareholders and other relevant stakeholders

The Group places a high priority on regular 
communications with its various stakeholder groups 
and aims to ensure that all communications concerning 
the Group’s activities are clear, fair and accurate. The 
Company’s website is regularly updated, and users can 
register to be alerted when announcements are posted 
onto the website.

The Group’s financial reports, regulatory news 
announcements and notices of general meetings, 
can be found in the investor relations section of the 
Company’s website.

The Group provides detailed results of shareholder 
voting on its website.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report37

DIRE C TORS’ REPORT

The Directors present their Annual Report on the 
affairs of the Group, together with the financial 
statements and independent auditor’s report for 
the year ended 31 January 2022. The corporate 
governance report on pages 33 to 36 forms part of 
this report. The Company’s full name is SmartSpace 
Software plc (“the Company”), company number 
05332126. SmartSpace Software plc is a public 
limited company, listed on the AIM market of The 
London Stock Exchange and domiciled in the United 
Kingdom. The address of its registered office is given 
on page 27.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

During the year the Group’s principal activities were 
the development and sale of software products 
together with the sale and installation of audio-visual 
hardware products. The Group’s software activities 
are all cloud based. 

RESULTS AND DIVIDEND

The results for the year are set out in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income on 
page 46. The Directors do not recommend payment 
of a dividend (2021: £nil).

REVIEW OF THE BUSINESS

A review of the business of the Group, together 
with comments on future developments is given in 
the Strategic Report including a description of the 
principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group on 
pages 12 to 21.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Expenditure on research and development amounted 
to £1,563,000 in 2022 (2021: £1,319,000) out of which 
£340,000 was capitalised under IAS 38 “Intangible 
Assets”. The Group intends to continue to invest 
in the development of its SwipedOn and Space 
Connect software platforms to further enhance their 
capabilities. In the opinion of the Directors these 
investments will maintain and generate significant 
revenues in future years.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

Details of the Group’s financial risk management 
objectives and policies are set out in note 13 to the 
financial statements.

GOING CONCERN

The Group’s business activities and performance, and 
the financial position of the Group, its cash flows and 
borrowing facilities, together with the factors likely 
to affect its future development, performance and 
position, are explained in the Strategic Report. Analysis 
of the Group’s key risks is also set out in the Strategic 
Report. Further information regarding the assessment 
of going concern is in note 23 to the consolidated 
financial statements.

After making appropriate enquiries, the Directors 
consider that the Company and the Group have 
adequate resources to continue in operational existence 
for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing 
the financial statements.

DIRECTORS

The Directors who held office during the year were as 
follows:

Guy van Zwanenberg   

  Non-Executive Chairman 

Frank Beechinor 

  Chief Executive

Kristian Shaw 
Appointed 26 May 2021

Philip Wood 
Appointed 26 May 2021

Bruce Morrison    
Resigned 26 May 2021

Diana Dyer Bartlett   
Resigned 26 May 2021

  Chief Financial Officer 

  Non-Executive Director 

  Chief Financial Officer 

  Non-Executive Director 

DIRECTORS’ INDEMNITIES

The Directors have been granted an indemnity 
from the Company to the extent permitted by 
law in respect of liabilities incurred as a result of 
their office which remains in force at the date of 
this report. The Company maintains directors’ and 
officers’ liability insurance.

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
38

RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

In accordance with principles of the QCA Code all 
Directors are retiring and seeking re-election at the 
annual general meeting. 

EMPLOYMENT MATTERS

The Group places considerable value on the 
involvement of its employees and has continued to 
keep them informed on matters affecting them as 
employees and on the various factors affecting the 
performance of the Group. This is achieved through 
formal and informal meetings. Covid-19 has required 
our employees to adapt quickly to home working, 
and in certain circumstances being furloughed. As 
lockdowns have eased formal procedures have been 
put in place to allow a return to a Covid-19 secure 
workplace. 

The Group operates an EMI and LTIP share option 
scheme which is open to all employees. 

The Group has continued to give full and fair 
consideration to applications made by disabled 
persons, having regard to their respective aptitudes and 
abilities, and to ensure that they benefit from training 
and career development programmes in common with 
all employees. The Group has continued its policy of 
employee involvement by making information available 
to employees through the medium of frequent staff 
meetings, together with personal appraisals and 
feedback sessions.

organisational boundary has been determined using an 
equity share approach. 

 Year ended 31 January 2022 

Location based   Market based

tCO2e 

Intensity ratio: tCO2e /  
employee 

Intensity ratio: tCO2e /  
£1m revenue 

22.1 

0.33 

4.3 

21.6

0.32

4.2

OUR CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES 

Our tree planting initiative in New Zealand whereby 
we plant 1 tree for each new customer contributes 
towards carbon sequestration. The 6,000+ trees we 
have planted so far will over a 50 year time frame 
absorb approximately 1,300 tCO2 equating to 26 
tonnes per year. 

Covid-19 has brought new ways of working, enforcing 
remote meetings and delivery of solutions to 
customers. The benefit of reduced travel for the 
environment, employees and customers is clear and will 
remain after the pandemic has ended. 

The use of cloud based hosting for our software 
significantly reduces the carbon emissions when 
compared to the alternative of self-hosting. Our cloud 
computing suppliers (Microsoft Azure and Amazon 
AWS) have committed to minimising their carbon 
footprint through the use of renewable energy.

ENVIRONMENT 

SHARE CAPITAL

The board have considered our impacts and 
contribution to climate change together with risks and 
opportunities that it poses us as a business. We have 
measured our scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 
which are presented on both a location and market 
based approach. We measure our intensity ratio taking 
into account both number of employees and on a 
revenue basis. As this is the first year of reporting such 
information no comparative information is available. 

Scope 1 emissions include direct emissions from 
operations which is limited to fuel used to heat our 
building in Mildenhall and by vehicles owned by 
Anders + Kern. Scope 2 emissions include indirect 
emissions from the generation of electricity which we 
have purchased to maintain our operations. This is 
therefore electricity we consume in our Tauranga and 
Mildenhall offices. The location based methodology 
calculates emissions based on the average energy 
generation emission factor for the country of 
consumption. The market based approach takes into 
account any contractual agreements to purchase 
energy with specific attributes and in the absence of 
such agreements uses a residual fuel mix factor. Our 

Details of the Company’s share capital are disclosed in 
note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Details of the use of financial instruments by the 
Company and its subsidiary undertakings are disclosed 
in note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual 
Report and the financial statements in accordance with 
applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare group 
and company financial statements for each financial 
year.  The Directors have elected under company law 
are required by the AIM Rules of the London Stock 
Exchange to prepare the Group financial statements in 
accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting 
Standards and have elected under company law to 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report39

prepare the Company financial statements in accordance 
with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards.

The Group and Company financial statements are 
required by law and international accounting standards 
in conformity with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006 to present fairly the financial position of the 
Group and the Company and the financial performance 
of the group. The Companies Act 2006 provides in 
relation to such financial statements that references 
in the relevant part of that Act to financial statements 
giving a true and fair view are references to their 
achieving a fair presentation.

Under company law the directors must not approve the 
financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 
group and the Company and of the profit or loss of the 
Group for that period. 

2022 was 72.5 pence (31 January 2021: 127.5 pence). At 
16 May 2022, being the latest practicable date before 
the signing of this document, the closing mid-market 
share price was 70.0 pence.

PUBLICATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company’s financial statements will be 
made available on the Company’s website www.
smartspaceplc.com. The maintenance and integrity of 
the website is the responsibility of the Directors. The 
Directors’ responsibility also extends to the financial 
statements contained therein. Shareholders who would 
like to receive a copy of the financial statements by 
post, should apply to the Company Secretary at the 
Company’s registered office.

In preparing each of the Group and Company financial 
statements, the directors are required to:

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

a.  select suitable accounting policies and then apply 

them consistently;

b.  make judgements and accounting estimates that are 

reasonable and prudent;

c.  state whether they have been prepared in 

accordance with international accounting standards 
in conformity with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006.

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

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

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information 
included on the Company’s website.

Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the 
preparation and dissemination of financial statements 
may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

The Company’s Annual General Meeting will be held on 
5 July 2022. 

AUDITOR

So far as the Directors are aware, there is no relevant 
audit information (as defined by section 418 of the 
Companies Act 2006) of which the Company’s auditor 
is unaware, and each director has taken all the steps that 
he ought to have taken as a director in order to make 
himself aware of any relevant audit information and to 
establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of that 
information.

In accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 
2006, a resolution proposing that RSM UK Audit LLP 
be re-appointed as auditor will be put to the Annual 
General Meeting.

STRATEGIC REPORT

The Company has chosen in accordance with Companies 
Act 2006, s.414C(11) to set out in the Company’s 
strategic report information required by Large and 
Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and 
Reports) Regulations 2008, Sch. 7 to be contained 
in the directors’ report. It has done so in respect of 
financial risk management objectives and policies, future 
developments and stakeholder engagement.

The Report of the Directors was approved by the Board 
on 17 May 2022.

LISTING

The Company’s ordinary shares have been traded on 
London’s AIM Market since 6 September 2006. N+1 
Singers are the Company’s Nominated Adviser and 
Broker. The closing mid-market share price at 31 January 

By order of the Board

Kristian Shaw 
Company Secretary

17 May 2022

Year Ended 31 January 2022 40

I ND EPENDENT AUDITOR’S RE PORT  TO  TH E 
MEM BERS OF SMARTSPACE   SO FTWARE   PLC

•  the parent company financial statements have been 
properly prepared in accordance with UK-adopted 
International Accounting Standards and as applied in 
accordance with the Companies Act 2006; and

•  the financial statements have been prepared in 

accordance with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006.

BASIS FOR OPINION

We conducted our audit in accordance with 
International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs 
(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities 
under those standards are further described in 
the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the 
financial statements section of our report. We are 
independent of the group and 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 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.

OPINION

We have audited the financial statements of 
Smartspace Software PLC (the ‘parent company’) 
and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year 
ended 31 January 2022 which comprise the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income, 
the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated 
statement of changes in equity, the consolidated 
statement of cash flows, the parent company 
balance sheet, the parent company statement of 
changes in equity, the parent company statement 
of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, 
including significant accounting policies. The 
financial reporting framework that has been 
applied in their preparation is applicable law and 
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 January 2022 and of the group’s loss 
for the year then ended;

•  the group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with UK-adopted 
International Accounting Standards;

Summary of our audit approach

Key audit matters

Group

•  Goodwill impairment

•  Going concern

Parent Company

•  Going concern

Materiality

Group

•  Overall materiality: £111,000 (2021: £101,000)

•  Performance materiality: £83,500 (2021: £75,900)

Parent Company

•  Overall materiality: £40,000 (2021: £42,100)

•  Performance materiality: £30,000 (2021: £31,500)

Scope

Our audit procedures covered 99% of revenue, 99% of total assets and 99% of 
loss before tax.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report41

KEY AUDIT MATTERS

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the 
group 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. These matters were addressed 
in the context of our audit of the group and parent company financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion 
thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. 

Impairment of goodwill under IAS 36

Key audit matter 
description

The Group currently holds significant goodwill balances (£8.4m) relating to the subsidiary 
entities. Management have assessed the recoverable amounts of the cash generating units 
(CGUs) to which these balances are allocated through using cash flow forecasts and discounted 
cash flow models, each of which require a high degree of management judgement, and 
consequently an elevated level of auditor effort

The accounting policy in respect of goodwill and intangible assets is in note 23(p) and the 
disclosures are in note 9(c).

How the matter  
was addressed in 
the audit

In auditing the recoverable amount of the cash generating units to which goodwill and intangible 
assets are allocated we have performed the following procedures over management’s value in 
use calculations:

•  Challenged the reasonableness of assumptions used through both assessing the discount rate 

applied, historical growth rates and also assessing the performance of the businesses post year 
end;

•  Reviewed management’s ability to accurately forecast performance through comparison of 

historic performance against forecast;

•  Performed sensitivity analysis to understand and take account of reasonably possible outcomes;

•  Consulted with an auditor’s valuation expert; 

•  Performed tests to assess the integrity and mechanical accuracy of the underlying model; and

•  Reviewed the disclosures relating to the impairment review.

•  In relation to the goodwill attributable to the Space Connect CGU we made our own estimate 

of the recoverable amount based on revenue growth rates historically observed

•  Challenged management to consider the outcome if the perpetuity were removed, and the 

product’s life were limited to 10 years.

Key observation: As a result of performing the procedures above management revised their model.

Going concern basis of accounting

Key audit matter 
description

We consider going concern to be a key audit matter because the Group has been impacted 
by the Covid -19 pandemic and has incurred an operating loss of £3,357,000 for the year to 
31 January 2022 and a net cash outflow of £1,614,000.

How the matter  
was addressed in 
the audit

The accounting policy in respect of going concern is in note 23(a) of the financial 
statements.

Management have prepared forecasts covering a period of at least 12 months form the date 
of approval of these financial statements.

In auditing the going concern basis of accounting we:

•  Obtained an understanding of management’s going concern evaluation;

•  Assessed the information used in the going concern assessment for consistency with 

management’s plan and information obtained through our other audit work;

•  Challenged the reasonableness of assumptions used through both assessing the historical 

growth rates and the performance of the businesses post year end;

•  Reviewed management’s ability to accurately forecast performance through comparison of 

historic performance against forecast;

•  Performed sensitivity analysis to understand and take account of reasonably possible 

outcomes; and

•  Performed tests to assess the integrity and mechanical accuracy of the underlying model.

Year Ended 31 January 2022 42

OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY

When establishing our overall audit strategy, we set certain thresholds which help us to determine the nature, timing 
and extent of our audit procedures. When evaluating whether the effects of misstatements, both individually and 
on the financial statements as a whole, could reasonably influence the economic decisions of the users we take into 
account the qualitative nature and the size of the misstatements. Based on our professional judgement, we determined 
materiality as follows:

Overall materiality

£111,000 (2021: £101,000)

£40,000 (2021: £42,100)

Group

Parent company

Basis for determining overall 
materiality

Rationale for benchmark 
applied

5% of adjusted losses “LBITDA”

3% of expenditure

LBITDA considered to be 
appropriate benchmark as key 
KPI reported in the consolidated 
financial statements.

Expenses taken to ensure 
appropriate consideration of 
costs.

Performance materiality

£83,500 (2021: £75,900)

£30,000 (2021: £31,500)

Basis for determining 
performance materiality

Reporting of misstatements to 
the Audit Committee

75% of overall materiality

75% of overall materiality

Misstatements in excess of £5,000 
and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warranted 
reporting on qualitative grounds. 

Misstatements in excess of £2,000 
and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warranted 
reporting on qualitative grounds. 

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT

The group consists of 9 components, located in the following countries;

•  United Kingdom

•  USA

•  Australia

•  New Zealand

The coverage achieved by our audit procedures was:

Number of 
components

Revenue

Total assets

Loss before tax

Full scope audit

Specific audit procedures

Total

5

1

6

99%

1%

99%

1%

99%

1%

100%

100%

100%

Analytical procedures at group level were performed for the remaining 3 components. 

Of the above, full scope audits for 1 component and specific audit procedures for 1 component were undertaken by 
component auditors.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report43

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. For an 
explanation of how we evaluated management’s 
assessment of the group’s and parent company’s 
ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis 
of accounting, please see the going concern key 
audit matter.

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 or 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

OTHER INFORMATION

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

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

We have nothing to report in this regard

OPINIONS ON OTHER MATTERS 
PRESCRIBED BY THE COMPANIES ACT 
2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the 
course of 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 the light of the knowledge and understanding 
of the group and the parent company and their 
environment obtained in the course of the audit, we 
have not identified material misstatements in the 
Strategic Report or the Directors’ Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the 
following matters 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 pages 38 to 39, 
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.

Year Ended 31 January 2022 regulatory frameworks that the group and parent 
company operate in and how the group and 
parent company are complying with the legal and 
regulatory frameworks;

•  inquired of management, and those charged with 
governance, about their own identification and 
assessment of the risks of irregularities, including 
any known actual, suspected or alleged instances 
of fraud;

•  discussed matters about non-compliance with 

laws and regulations and how fraud might occur 
including assessment of how and where the 
financial statements may be susceptible to fraud.

All relevant laws and regulations identified at a 
Group level and areas susceptible to fraud that 
could have a material effect on the financial 
statements were communicated to component 
auditors.  Any instances of non-compliance with 
laws and regulations identified and communicated 
by a component auditor were considered in our 
audit approach.

44

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE 
AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE AUDIT WAS 
CONSIDERED CAPABLE OF DETECTING 
IRREGULARITIES, INCLUDING FRAUD

Irregularities are instances of non-compliance with 
laws and regulations.  The objectives of our audit 
are to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence 
regarding compliance with laws and regulations 
that have a direct effect on the determination of 
material amounts and disclosures in the financial 
statements, to perform audit procedures to help 
identify instances of non-compliance with other 
laws and regulations that may have a material 
effect on the financial statements, and to respond 
appropriately to identified or suspected non-
compliance with laws and regulations identified 
during the audit.  

In relation to fraud, the objectives of our audit 
are to identify and assess the risk of material 
misstatement of the financial statements due 
to fraud, to obtain sufficient appropriate audit 
evidence regarding the assessed risks of material 
misstatement due to fraud through designing 
and implementing appropriate responses and to 
respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud 
identified during the audit.  

However, it is the primary responsibility of 
management, with the oversight of those charged 
with governance, to ensure that the entity’s 
operations are conducted in accordance with the 
provisions of laws and regulations and for the 
prevention and detection of fraud.

In identifying and assessing risks of material 
misstatement in respect of irregularities, including 
fraud, the group audit engagement team and 
component auditors: 

•  obtained an understanding of the nature of 

the industry and sector, including the legal and 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report45

The most significant laws and regulations were determined as follows:

Legislation / Regulation 

 Additional audit procedures performed by the Group audit engagement team included: 

UK-adopted International 
Accounting Standards 
and Companies Act 2006

Review of the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation; 
and

Completion of disclosure checklists to identify areas of non-compliance.

Tax compliance 
regulations

Inspection of advice received from external tax advisors; and

Review of the tax computation used to calculate the tax provision. 

The areas that we identified as being susceptible to material misstatement due to fraud were:

Risk 

 Audit procedures performed by the audit engagement team:

Revenue recognition

Testing was completed on a sample basis to test whether revenue transactions 
were recorded in the correct period.

Testing was completed using data analytics to recalculate the revenue recognised 
on contracts with performance obligations satisfied over time.

Transactions posted to nominal ledger codes outside of the normal revenue 
cycle were identified and investigated for contracts with performance obligations 
satisfied at a point in time.

Management override  
of controls 

Testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; 

Assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are 
indicative of a potential bias; and

Evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual 
or outside the normal course of business.

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

USE OF OUR REPORT 

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

Richard Bartlett-Rawlings FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
For and on behalf of RSM UK Audit LLP, Statutory Auditor

Chartered Accountants 
The Pinnacle, 170 Midsummer Boulevard 
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 1BP

18 May 2022 

Year Ended 31 January 2022 46

CO NSOLIDATED STATEMENT   
OF  COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Note 

Year ended . 

Year ended   

  31 January 2022 .  31 January 2021

£’000 . 

£’000

Continuing operations 

Revenue from contracts with customers 

4 

Costs of sale of goods 

Costs of providing services 

Gross profit 

Administrative expenses 

Net impairment losses on financial and contract assets 

Other income 

Operating loss 

Adjusted LBITDA* 

Reorganisation and transactional items 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Impairment of financial asset 

Share based payment charge 

Operating loss 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Loss before tax 

Taxation 

Loss for the year after tax 

Loss for the year from discontinued operations 

Loss for the year 

Other comprehensive income 
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: 

13(b) 

5 

3(b) 

6(e) 

6(a) 

6(a) 

13(b) 

6(b) 

6(d) 

6(d) 

7 

6(f) 

10(c) 

5,140  

(1,068) 

(427) 

3,645  

(7,320) 

(14) 

36  

(3,653) 

(2,493) 

(192) 

(114) 

(552) 

(14) 

(288) 

4,629

(1,695)

(283)

2,651

(5,426)

(72)

130

(2,717)

(2,120)

-

(103)

(272)

(72)

(150)

(3,653) 

(2,717)

1  

(26) 

(3,678) 

1,114  

(2,564) 

- 

(2,564) 

1

(27)

(2,743)

612

(2,131)

(124)

(2,255)

-

643

643

Revaluation of property, plant and equipment 

9(a) 

73  

Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: 

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 

Total other comprehensive (loss) / income 

(339) 

(266) 

Total comprehensive loss attributable to the owners of the group 

(2,830) 

(1,612)

Basic loss per share 

Continuing operations 

Discontinued operations 

Total 

Diluted loss per share 

Continuing operations 

Discontinued operations 

Total 

20 

20 

20 

20 

(8.91p) 

0.00p  

(8.91p) 

(8.91p) 

0.00p  

(8.91p) 

(7.54p)

(0.44p)

(7.98p)

(7.54p)

(0.44p)

(7.98p)

* Loss for the year from continuing operations before net finance costs, tax, depreciation, amortisation, reorganisation and transactional items, 
impairment charges and share based payment charge.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
CO NSOLIDATED BALANCE  S HE E T

Note 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

47

ASSETS 

Non-current assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Right-of-use assets 

Intangible assets 

Deferred tax assets 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 

Inventories 

Contract assets 

Trade and other receivables  

Other financial assets at amortised cost 

Current tax receivable 

Prepayments 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

LIABILITIES 

Non-current liabilities 

Borrowings 

Lease liabilities 

Total non-current liabilities 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Contract liabilities 

Other tax liabilities 

Borrowings 

Lease liabilities 

Total current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

NET ASSETS 

9(a) 

9(b) 

9(c) 

9(d) 

9(e) 

4(b) 

8(a) 

8(b) 

9(f) 

8(c) 

8(e) 

9(b) 

8(d) 

4(b) 

8(e) 

9(b) 

751 

94 

10,619 

2,465 

13,929 

203 

5 

399 

- 

70 

163 

2,758 

3,598 

17,527 

- 

41 

41 

1,379 

1,774 

127 

383 

67 

3,730 

3,771 

13,756 

683

156

11,222

1,389

13,450

89

4

550

328

101

114

4,516

5,702

19,152

355

110

465

826

1,129

341

58

63

2,417

2,882

16,270

continued overleaf

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48

CO NSOLIDATED BALANCE  S HE E T  (continued)

EQUITY 

Capital and reserves attributable to equity shareholders 

Share capital 

Share premium 

Other reserves 

Retained earnings 

Total equity 

10(a) 

10(a) 

10(b) 

10(c) 

2,894  

3,839  

(2,133) 

9,156  

13,756  

2,826

3,830

(2,087)

11,701

16,270

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 17 May 2022. 

They were signed on its behalf by:

Kristian Shaw 
Chief Financial Officer

SmartSpace Software plc, Company Number: 5332126

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
49

Total

£’000

CO NSOLIDATED STATEMENT   
OF  CHANGES IN EQUITY

Note 

Share  
capital 

Share 
premium  

Other  
reserves  

Retained  
earnings  

At 31 January 2020 

Loss for the year 

Other comprehensive income for the year 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Transactions with owners in their capacity  
as owners: 

Share-based payment expense  
- continuing operations 

Share-based payment expense  
- discontinued operations 

At 31 January 2021 

Loss for the year 

Other comprehensive loss for the year 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Transactions with owners in their capacity  
as owners: 

£’000 

2,826 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

19 

19 

- 

- 

- 

Issue of ordinary shares as consideration for a  
business combination  

10(b) 

67 

Issue of ordinary shares to option holders 

Lapsed share options 

Exchange difference 

Share-based payment expense 

1 

- 

- 

- 

19 

19 

£’000 

£’000  

£’000  

3,830 

(2,832) 

13,956  

17,780

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-  

(2,255) 

(2,255)

643  

643  

-  

643

(2,255) 

(1,612)

150  

(48) 

- 

- 

150

(48)

- 

- 

- 

- 

9 

- 

- 

- 

-  

(2,564) 

(2,564)

(266) 

-  

(266)

(266) 

(2,564) 

(2,830)

(67) 

(3) 

(16) 

(4) 

310  

-  

3  

16  

-  

-  

-

10

-

(4)

310

2,826 

    3,830  

(2,087) 

11,701  

16,270

At 31 January 2022 

2,894 

3,839 

(2,133) 

9,156  

13,756

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
50

CO NSOLIDATED STATEMENT  OF   
C ASH FLOWS

Cash from operating activities 

Cash consumed by operations 

Interest received 

Interest paid 

Income taxes received 

Note 

Year ended   

Year ended  

31 January 2022   31 January 2021

£’000  

£’000

11 

(1,614) 

(1,791)

1   

(26) 

28   

1  

(42)

394  

Net cash outflow from operating activities 

(1,611) 

(1,438)

Cash flows from investing activities 

Payments for property, plant and equipment 

Payment of software development costs 

Proceeds from disposal of subsidiary (net of cash disposed) 

Net cash from investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Proceeds from issues of share capital (net of issue costs) 

Proceeds from borrowings 

Repayment of borrowings 

Principal elements of lease payments 

Net cashflow from financing activities 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents 

8(e) 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year 

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year 

8(c) 

(36) 

(340) 

327   

(49) 

10   

-   

(27) 

(62) 

(79) 

(1,739) 

4,516   

(19) 

2,758   

(44)

(682)

4,167  

3,441  

-  

31  

(19)

(98)

(86)

1,917  

2,587  

12  

4,516  

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and other short-term highly liquid investments with maturity of three 
months or less, as adjusted for any bank overdrafts.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOT ES TO THE CONSOLIDAT ED   
F INA NCIAL STATEMENTS

51

The operating board primarily uses an adjusted 
measure of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation 
and amortisation (EBITDA) to assess the performance 
of the operating segments.  However, the operating 
board also receives information about the segments’ 
revenues and assets on a monthly basis. Information 
about segment revenue is disclosed in note 4.

3(b) Adjusted LBITDA

Adjusted LBITDA excludes discontinued operations 
and the effects of significant items of income and 
expenditure which might have an impact on the quality 
of earnings, such as reorganisation and transactional 
costs and impairment of assets. It also excludes the 
effects of equity-settled share-based payments.

Year ended 31   Year ended 31 
January 2021
January 2022  

£’000  

£’000

Software 

  Space Connect 

  SwipedOn 

Hardware 

(1,082) 

(164) 

  Anders & Kern 

(118) 

Central operating costs 

(1,129) 

Total adjusted EBITDA 

(2,493) 

(646)

(195)

(84)

(1,195)

(2,120)

1. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE 
CURRENT REPORTING PERIOD

The financial position and performance of the Group 
was particularly affected by the following events 
and transactions that happened during the reporting 
period:

•  The continuing global Covid-19 pandemic which 

impacted revenue and costs in the Group’s 
operations. 

2. GENERAL INFORMATION

SmartSpace Software plc is a company incorporated 
and domiciled in England and Wales under the 
Companies Act 2006 and listed on the AIM market 
of The London Stock Exchange. The address of the 
registered office is given on page 27. 

The principal activities of the Company is the 
investment in businesses engaged in the development 
and sale of workspace technology solutions. 

The financial statements are presented in pounds 
sterling as that is the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which the Group operates. Foreign 
operations are included in accordance with the policies 
set out in note 23.

3. OPERATING SEGMENTS

3(a) Description of segments and principal 
activities

The Group’s operating board, consisting of the Chief 
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer examines 
the Group’s performance from a product perspective 
and has identified three reportable segments of its 
business:

SwipedOn - based in New Zealand provides the 
sale and support of self-service visitor management 
software to customers throughout the world. 

Space Connect - based in the UK provides the sale and 
support of self-service space management software 
through a network of partners, distributors and resellers 
to customers throughout the world

Anders & Kern - based in the UK makes sales of 
hardware and related integration services to customers 
in the UK.

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
52

3(c) Segmental financial performance 

 Year ended 31 January 2022 

Revenue from contracts with customers 

Costs of sale of goods 

Costs of providing services 

Gross profit 

Administrative expenses 

Impairment losses on financial and contract assets 

Other income 

Operating loss  

Adjusted LBITDA* 

Reorganisation and transactional items 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Impairment of financial assets 

Share based payment charge 

Operating loss 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Loss before tax 

Taxation 

Loss after tax 

 Year ended 31 January 2021 

Space  
Connect  

Swiped  
On  

Central  
Anders   operating  
costs  
 & Kern  

Total

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000

458  

(1) 

(64) 

393  

2,953  

1,729  

(18) 

(1,049) 

(284) 

2,651  

(79) 

601  

-  

-  

-  

-  

5,140

(1,068)

(427)

3,645

(1,927) 

(3,134) 

(874) 

(1,385) 

(7,320)

(3) 

-  

(1,537) 

(1,082) 

-  

(6) 

(431) 

(3) 

(15) 

(1,537) 

-  

-  

(11) 

36  

(458) 

(164) 

-  

(79) 

(100) 

(11) 

(104) 

(458) 

1  

(11) 

-  

-  

(273) 

(118) 

(83) 

(22) 

(21) 

-  

(29) 

-  

-  

(14)

36

(1,385) 

(3,653)

(1,129) 

(2,493)

(109) 

(7) 

-  

-  

(192)

(114)

(552)

(14)

(140) 

(288)

(273) 

(1,385) 

(3,653)

-  

(12) 

-  

(3) 

1

(26)

(1,537) 

(468) 

(285) 

(1,388) 

(3,678)

446  

98  

58  

512  

1,114

(1,091) 

(370) 

(227) 

(876) 

(2,564)

Space  
Connect  

Swiped  
On  

Central  
Anders   operating  
costs  
 & Kern  

Total

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000

Revenue from contracts with customers 

192  

2,161  

2,271  

Costs of sale of goods 

Costs of providing services 

Gross profit 

Administrative expenses 

Impairment losses on financial and contract assets 

Other income 

Operating loss  

Adjusted LBITDA* 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Impairment of financial assets 

Share based payment charge 

Operating loss 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Loss before tax 

Taxation 

Loss after tax 

1  

(4) 

(16) 

(1,680) 

(196) 

189  

1,949  

(83) 

508  

5  

-  

-  

5  

4,629

(1,695)

(283)

2,651

(1,011) 

(2,441) 

(648) 

(1,326) 

(5,426)

-  

-  

(822) 

(646) 

(3) 

(171) 

-  

(2) 

(18) 

130  

(380) 

(195) 

(66) 

(80) 

(18) 

(21) 

-  

-  

(54) 

-  

(72)

130

(140) 

(1,375) 

(2,717)

(84) 

(22) 

(21) 

-  

(13) 

(1,195) 

(2,120)

(12) 

-  

(54) 

(114) 

(103)

(272)

(72)

(150)

(822) 

(380) 

(140) 

(1,375) 

(2,717)

- 

(102) 

(924) 

832  

(92) 

1  

(12) 

(391) 

16  

(375) 

-  

(12) 

-  

99  

1

(27)

(152) 

(1,276) 

(2,743)

46  

(282) 

612

(106) 

(1,558) 

(2,131)

* (Loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations before net finance costs, tax, depreciation, amortisation, reorganisation and transactional items, 
impairment charges and share based payment charge.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3(d) Segment assets

Space Connect 

SwipedOn 

Anders & Kern 

Segment assets 

Unallocated assets 

Total assets 

53

 31 January 2022 

Segment 
assets 

Additions to non- 
current assets* 

31 January 2021
Segment  Additions to non-  

assets 

current assets*

£’000 

5,360 

6,533 

2,653 

14,546 

2,981 

17,527 

£’000 

146 

224 

32 

402 

- 

402 

£’000 

4,884 

6,687 

2,640 

14,211 

4,941 

19,152 

£’000

294

64

12

370

7

377

*Other than contract assets and deferred tax assets

For the purpose of monitoring segment performance and allocating resource between segments, the Group’s Chief 
Executive Officer monitors the tangible, intangible and financial assets attributable to each segment. All assets are 
allocated to reportable segments with the exception of cash held by the Parent Company, other financial assets (except for 
trade and other receivables) and tax assets. Goodwill has been allocated to reportable segments as described in note 9(c). 

The total of non-current assets other than deferred tax assets broken down by location of assets is shown as follows:

UK 

Australia 

New Zealand 

Total assets 

3(e) Segment liabilities

  31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

5,878 

- 

5,586 

11,464 

£’000

6,124

3

5,934

12,061

Segment liabilities are measured in the same way as in the financial statements. These liabilities are allocated based on the 
operations of the segment.

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

Space Connect 

SwipedOn 

Anders & Kern 

Segment liabilities 

Unallocated 

Total liabilities 

£’000 

524 

2,018 

865 

3,407 

364 

3,771 

£’000

171

1,460

996

2,627

255

2,882

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
54

3(f) Revenue by customer geographical location

 Year ended 31 January 2022 

UK 

USA 

Australia 

New Zealand 

Canada 

Sweden 

Rest of the world 

Total 

 Year ended 31 January 2021 

UK 

USA 

Australia 

New Zealand 

Canada 

Sweden 

Rest of the world 

Total 

Space  
Connect 

Swiped 
On 

£’000 

£’000 

266 

2 

93 

- 

- 

82 

15 

440 

1,340 

566 

311 

173 

- 

123 

Anders 
 & Kern 

£’000 

1,729 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

458 

2,953 

1,729 

Space  
Connect 

Swiped 
On 

£’000 

£’000 

34 

- 

135 

- 

- 

23 

- 

304 

974 

475 

214 

151 

- 

43 

Anders 
 & Kern 

£’000 

2,213 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

58 

192 

2,161 

2,271 

Central 

£’000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Central 

£’000 

5 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

5 

4. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

4(a) Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers

The Group derives revenue from the transfer of goods and services over time and at a point in time as follows:

 Year ended 31 January 2022 

Space Connect  

UK  New Zealand 

Swiped On  Anders & Kern   Central 
UK 

UK 

Total

£’000

2,435

1,342

659

311

173

82

138

5,140

Total

£’000

2,556

974

610

214

151

23

101

4,629

Total

Segment revenue 

Timing of revenue recognition 

At a point in time 

Over time 

£’000 

458 

84 

374 

458 

£’000 

2,953 

37 

2,916 

2,953 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000

1,729 

1,599 

130 

1,729 

- 

- 

- 

- 

5,140

1,720

3,420

5,140

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 Year ended 31 January 2021 

Space Connect  

Australia  New Zealand 

Swiped On  Anders& Kern 
UK 

Central 
UK 

Segment revenue 

Timing of revenue recognition 

At a point in time 

Over time 

£’000 

192 

74 

118 

192 

£’000 

2,161 

36 

2,125 

2,161 

£’000 

£’000 

2,271 

5 

4,629

2,120 

151 

2,271 

5 

- 

5 

2,235

2,394

4,629

55

Total

£’000

Revenues from external customers come from the sale of software as a service, the sale of software licences, the sale of 
professional services and the sale of hardware. The revenue from the sale of software as a service and software licences 
relates to the Group’s intellectual property owned by SwipedOn and Space Connect. No single customer represents 10 per 
cent or more of the Group’s total revenues.  

4(b) Assets and liabilities related to contracts with customers

The Group has recognised the following assets and liabilities related to contracts with customers:

 Current contract assets 

Software 

Loss allowance 

Total current contract assets 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021 

£’000 

£’000

5 

- 

5 

4

-

4

 Current contract liabilities 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021 

Software 

Hardware 

Total contract liabilities 

 Contract liability movement 

At 31 January 2020 

Recognised as revenue in period 

New contract liabilities 

At 31 January 2021 

Recognised as revenue in period 

New contract liabilities 

At 31 January 2022 

£’000 

1,774 

- 

1,774 

£’000

1,055

74

1,129

£’000

641

(641)

1,129

1,129

(1,129)

1,774

1,774

The Group expects all of the deferred revenue as of 31 January 2022 to be recognised during the next reporting period. 

Unsatisfied contracts

The following table shows unsatisfied performance obligations resulting from fixed-price software as a service contracts 
and software support agreements:

Aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to software as a service agreements  
and software support agreements that are partially or fully unsatisfied as at 31 January 

1,774 

1,055

31 January  
2022  

31 January 
2021

£’000 

£’000

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
56

4(c) Accounting policies 

The Group has a number of different types of contractual 
arrangements and consequently applies a variety 
of methods of revenue recognition, based on the 
principles set out in IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts 
with Customers. The revenue and profit in any period 
are based on the delivery of performance obligations 
and an assessment of when control is transferred to the 
customer.

Revenue is recognised when the performance obligation 
in a contract has been performed (so ‘point in time’ 
recognition) or over time as the performance obligation is 
transferred to the customer.  

For contracts where the Group does not provide the final 
services judgement is applied as to whether the Group is 
acting as a principal or agent. Where the Group controls 
the goods or services before they are transferred to the 
customer a principal relationship is considered to be in 
place, and revenue is recognised gross. 

The transaction price, being the amount to which the 
Group expects to be entitled and has rights to under 
the contract, is allocated to the identified performance 
obligations. 

For each performance obligation, the Group determines 
if revenue will be recognised over time or at a point in 
time. Where the Group recognises revenue over time 
for long-term contracts, this is in general due to the 
Group performing and the customer simultaneously 
receiving and consuming the benefits provided over the 
life of the contract. For each performance obligation to 
be recognised over time, the Group applies a revenue 
recognition method that faithfully depicts the Group’s 
performance in transferring control of the goods 
or services to the customer. This decision requires 
assessment of the real nature of the goods or services 
that the Group has promised to transfer to the customer. 
The Group applies the relevant output or input method 
consistently to similar performance obligations in other 
contracts.

If performance obligations in a contract do not meet 
the over time criteria, the Group recognises revenue at a 
point in time (see below for further details). 

The Group disaggregates revenue from contracts with 
customers by reporting segment and timing of transfer 
of goods and services as management believe this best 
depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty 
of the Group’s revenue and cash flows are affected by 
economic factors.

Sale of software as a service

The Group offers its software as a service hosted in the 
cloud. Under terms of the contract, the customer receives 
the right to access the software for an agreed period of 
time. To the extent that the customer has been invoiced in 
excess of the value of services received to date a contract 
liability for the provision of the software as a service is 
recognised at the time of sale.  Management considers 

that revenue is recognised over time as the service is 
delivered until the point that the agreement expires.

Revenue invoiced during the reporting period which 
relates to future periods is classified as deferred income 
within contract liabilities on the balance sheet.

The software comprises a number of different modules 
which can be sold as a bundle at the outset or separately 
if a customer chooses to take a subscription at a later 
date. Additional modules will continue to be developed 
and either offered as part of the initial product offering 
or sold separately to customers who subscribe to that 
module. 

Sale of software licences  

The Group sells software licences which allow customers 
to use the software in their own environment which 
results in a transfer of control to the customer at a point 
in time. This occurs when the software source has been 
transferred to the customer.  

Revenue is recognised in full at the point of delivery to 
the customer as the risk and rewards of the licences have 
transferred at that point to the buyer and the Group does 
not retain managerial involvement or effective control 
over the software or the licences.

Sale of professional services

The Group sells professional services comprising 
implementation, configuration and support services.  
These services can be purchased in advance and used by 
customers when required and revenue is recognised at a 
point in time when the service has been provided.

Hardware and Systems Integration

The Group sells hardware through Anders & Kern or 
as part of a contract for software through its software 
division. Revenue is recognised at the point when the 
performance obligation is fulfilled, usually when the 
hardware is delivered to the customer.  Where installation 
services are sold alongside the hardware, revenue from 
those installation services is recognised when those 
services are delivered. Customers have no right to return 
goods and no warranties are issued to customers.

Contract assets and liabilities

Where the Group provides software as a service or 
software support agreements, customers often pay in 
advance for a service to be delivered over time. Where 
payments made are greater than the revenue recognised 
at the period end date, the Group recognises a deferred 
income contract liability for this difference. Where 
payments made are less than the revenue recognised at 
the period end date, the Group recognises an accrued 
income contract asset for this difference.

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to 
measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime 
expected loss allowance to assess the impairment of 
contract assets. 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report57

5. MATERIAL PROFIT OR LOSS ITEMS

The Group has identified a number of items which are material due to the significance of their nature and/or amount.  
These are listed separately to provide a better understanding of the financial performance of the Group.

The following items have been credited / (expensed) to the consolidated  
statement of comprehensive income:

Reorganisation and transactional costs 

Impairment of financial assets 

Government grants 

    - UK Government Job Retention Scheme for continuing operations  

    - UK Government Job Retention Scheme for discontinued operations  

    - New Zealand Callaghan Growth grant  

    - New Zealand Internship grant 

Foreign currency gains and (losses) 

Inventory provisions: credited / (charged) to profit and loss 

Year ended   
31 January 2022  

Year ended  

 31 January 2021

£’000  

£’000

(192) 

(14) 

48  

-  

-  

36  

(21) 

70  

-

(72)

104

140

112

17

(13)

(93)

Research and development not capitalised 

(1,223) 

(1,017)

6. OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE ITEMS

This note includes an analysis of expenses by nature and a breakdown of the items included in ‘finance income and costs’. 
Information about specific profit and loss items is disclosed in the related balance sheet notes.

6(a) Breakdown of expenses by nature

Inventories sold 

Employee benefits and expenses net of government grants (see note 6b) 

Contractor fees 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Marketing 

Other expenses 

Less: capitalised employee and contractor costs 

Total cost of sales and administrative expenses 

6(b) Employee and director benefits and expenses

Wages and salaries net of government grants 

Share based payments (see note 19) 

Social security costs 

Pension costs 

Total remuneration 

Year ended   
31 January 2022  

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000  

1,044  

4,497  

385  

114  

552  

951  

1,612  

(340) 

8,815 

£’000

1,630

3,308

441

103

272

768

1,172

(290)

7,404

Year ended  
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000 

3,914 

288 

190 

105 

£’000

2,890

150

179

89

4,497 

3,308

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58

6(c) Average number of people employed

Sales 

Software development and technical support 

Administrative 

Total employees 

6(d) Finance income and cost

Finance income 

Interest income from financial assets held for cash management 

Finance income 

Finance cost 

Interest charges on bank loans 

Interest charges on lease liabilities 

Other interest charges 

Finance costs expenses 

Net finance costs 

6(e) Reorganisation and transactional

Reorganisation costs 

Year ended  
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

No. 

13  

38  

17  

68  

No.

12 

30 

12 

54 

Year ended   
31 January 2022  

Year ended  

31 January 2021

£’000  

£’000

1  

1  

(11) 

(10) 

(5) 

(26) 

(25) 

1

1

(12)

(11)

(4)

(27)

(26)

Year ended  
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000 

192 

192 

£’000

-

-

Reorganisation costs include notice pay, redundancy and other related exit costs. The reorganisation was started and 
completed within the year to 31 January 2022. 

6(f) Discontinued operations 

In August 2020 the Group completed the disposal of its Enterprise Software Division, SmartSpace Global Limited. The 
financial performance of the SSG disposal group together with the loss on disposal is therefore reported in discontinued 
activities for the year ended 31 January 2021.  The financial performance relating to the disposal group is presented below.   

Year ended 31 January 2021  
– results to date of disposal

Revenue 

Expenses 

Loss before income tax 

Income tax benefit 

Loss after tax 

Reversal of impairment / (impairment) of assets in disposal group 

Loss after income tax and impairments of discontinued operations 

Loss on disposal of subsidiary after income tax 

Net loss attributable to discontinued operations 

£’000

819

(2,331)

(1,512)

42

(1,470)

1,470

-

(124)

(124)

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash inflow from operating activities 

Net cash inflow / (outflow) from investing activities 

Net cash outflow from financing activities 

Net increase in cash generated by discontinued operations 

59

To  

Year ended  

13 August 2020   31 January 2020

£’000  

233  

3,786  

(49) 

3,970  

£’000

2,319

(1,257)

(68)

994

7. TAXATION

This note provides an analysis of the Group’s income tax expense, and shows what amounts are recognised directly 
in equity and how the tax expense is affected by non-assessable and non-deductible items. It also explains significant 
estimates made in relation to the Group’s tax position.

7(a) Income tax expense

Current tax 

Current tax benefit  for the year 

Total current tax benefit 

Deferred tax 

Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Adjustments in respect of earlier years 

Impact of change in UK corporation tax rate 

Remeasurement of temporary differences 

Total deferred tax benefit 

Income tax benefit 

Income tax (benefit) / expense is attributable to: 

Loss from continuing operations 

Loss from discontinued activities 

Other comprehensive income 

Year ended   
31 January 2022  

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000  

£’000

2   

2   

(608) 

(31) 

(460) 

-  

(1,099) 

(1,097) 

(1,114) 

-  

17  

(1,097) 

(103)

(103)

(977)

(98)

(67)

591

(551) 

(654)

(612)

(42)

-

(654) 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
60

7(b) Numerical reconciliation of income tax expense to prima facie tax payable

Year ended   
31 January 2022  

Year ended  

31 January 2021

Loss from continuing operations before income tax expense 

Loss from discontinued operations before income tax expense 

Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 19 % (2021: 19%) 

Tax effects of amounts which are not deductible in calculating taxable income: 

Non-deductible expenses 

Effect of non-taxable income 

Effect of different tax rates for loss utilisation / overseas rates 

Research and development relief 

Tax losses not recognised as assets 

Adjustment from prior year 

Foreign currency translation of loan to subsidiary 

Tax benefit from intergroup transfer of intellectual property 

Derecognition of tax assets 

Effect of change in tax rates 

Income tax benefit 

7(c) Amounts recognised in other comprehensive income

Other comprehensive income – revaluation of property 

Tax expense 

Other comprehensive income net of tax 

7(d) Tax losses

 Unused tax losses for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised 

Continuing operations 

Potential tax benefit at 25% (2021: 19%) 

£’000  

(3,678) 

-   

(3,678) 

(699) 

75  

-  

(43) 

-  

-  

(31) 

(27) 

-  

70  

(459) 

(1,114) 

£’000

(2,743)

(166)

(2,909)

(553)

80

(114)

(38)

(30)

97

(98)

116  

(638)

591  

(67)

(654)

Year ended   
31 January 2022  

Year ended  

31 January 2021

£’000  

£’000

90  

(17) 

73  

-

-

-

Year ended  
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000 

3,476 

869 

£’000

3,476 

660 

See note 9(d) for information about recognised tax losses and significant judgements made in relation to them.

The closing deferred tax provision has been calculated at 25% in accordance with the rate enacted at the statement of 
financial position date. In the Spring Budget 2021, the Government announced that from 1 April 2023 the corporation tax 
rate would increase to 25%. This new law was substantively enacted on 24 May 2021.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
7(e) Unrecognised temporary differences

Temporary differences relating to investments in subsidiaries for which deferred  
tax liabilities have not been recognised:

Foreign currency translation 

Potential deferred tax liability 

61

Year ended   
31 January 2022  

Year ended  

31 January 2021

£’000  

£’000

(133) 

(25) 

(472)

(90)

Temporary differences of -£133,000 (2021: -£472,000) have arisen as a result of the translation of the Group’s subsidiaries 
in New Zealand. A deferred tax liability has not been recognised because the liability will only crystallise in the event of the 
disposal of the subsidiaries, and no such disposal is expected in the foreseeable future.

8. FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

This note provides information about the Group’s financial instruments including:

•  An overview of all financial instruments held by the Group;

•  specific information about each type of financial instrument;

•  accounting policies;

•  information about determining the fair value of the instruments, including judgements and estimation uncertainty 

involved.

The Group has the following financial instruments:

 Financial assets 

Financial assets at amortised cost: 

Trade receivables and other receivables 

Other financial assets at amortised cost 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Notes 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

8(a) 

8(b) 

8(c) 

399 

- 

2,758 

3,157 

550

328

4,516

5,394

 Financial liabilities 

Notes 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

Financial liabilities at amortised cost: 

Trade and other payables 

Lease liabilities 

Borrowings 

8(d) 

9(b) 

8(e) 

£’000 

£’000

1,379 

108 

383 

1,870 

826

173

413

1,412

The Group’s exposure to various risks associated with the financial instruments is discussed in note 13. The maximum 
exposure to credit risk at the end of the reporting period is the carrying amount of each class of financial assets 
mentioned above.

8(a) Trade receivables and other receivables

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

387 

12 

399 

468

82

550

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
62

Classification of trade receivables

Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for goods sold or services performed in the ordinary course of 
business. They are generally due for settlement within 30 days and are therefore all classified as current. Trade receivables 
are recognised initially at the amount of consideration that is unconditional, unless they contain significant financing 
components, in which case they are recognised at fair value. The Group holds trade receivables with the objective of 
collecting the contractual cash flows, and so it measures them subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest 
method. Details about the Group’s impairment policy and the calculation of the loss allowance are provided in note 13.

Fair value of trade receivables

Due to the short-term nature of the current receivables, their carrying amount is considered to be the same as their fair 
value.

Impairment and risk exposure

Information about the impairment of trade receivables and the Group’s exposure to credit risk, foreign currency risk and 
interest rate risk can be found in note 13.

8(b) Other financial assets at amortised cost

These amounts generally arise from transactions outside the usual operating activities of the Group and include 
consideration due on the disposal of SmartSpace Global. 

Subsidiary disposal consideration 

Other receivables 

Impairment and risk exposure

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

- 

- 

- 

327

1

328

Note 13 sets out information about the impairment of financial assets and the Group’s exposure to credit risk.

8(c) Cash and cash equivalents

Current assets 

Cash at bank and in hand 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

2,758 

4,516

The above figures reconcile to the amount of cash shown in the statement of cash flows at the end of the financial year.

8(d) Trade and other payables

Current liabilities 

Trade payables 

Payroll liabilities 

Accrued expenses 

Other payables 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

395 

8 

731 

245 

1,379 

279

12

344

191

826

Trade and other payables are unsecured and usually paid within 30 days of recognition.

The carrying amounts of trade and other payables are considered to be the same as their fair values due to their short-
term nature.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
63

8(e) Borrowings

Government support loans 

Bank loans 

Total borrowings 

 31 January 2022 
Current  Non-Current 

£’000 

£’000 

28  

355 

383 

- 

- 

- 

Total 

£’000 

28  

355 

383 

 31 January 2021 
Current  Non-Current 

£’000 

£’000 

31  

27 

58 

- 

355 

355 

Total

£’000

31 

382

413

Secured liabilities and assets pledged as security

The bank loan of £355,000 (2021: £382,000) is secured by a mortgage over the associated freehold land and building. The 
mortgage carries a variable rate of interest 2.5% above the Bank of England base rate and is due for repayment in January 
2023. There are no bank covenants that relate to the borrowings.

Fair value

For all the borrowings, the fair values are not materially different from their carrying amount since the interest payable on 
those borrowings is either close to current market rates or the borrowings are of a short-term nature. 

Details of the Group’s exposure to risks arising from current and non-current borrowings are set out in note 13.

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
64

9. NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

This note provides information about the Group’s non-financial assets and liabilities, including specific information about 
each type of non-financial asset and non-financial liability and information about determining the fair value of assets and 
liabilities including judgements and estimation uncertainty involved.

9(a) Property, plant and equipment

Freehold  
land &  
buildings  

Fixtures &  
 fittings  

Plant &  
 machinery  

Office  
equipment  

Total

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000

At 31 January 2020 

Cost  

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Year ending 31 January 2021 

Opening net book amount 

Additions 

Disposals 

Depreciation charge 

Foreign exchange impact 

Closing net book amount 

At 31 January 2021 

Cost  

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Year ending 31 January 2022 

Opening net book amount 

Additions 

Revaluation 

Disposals 

Depreciation charge 

Foreign exchange impact 

Closing net book amount 

At 31 January 2022 

Cost or valuation 

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Leased assets

649   

(36) 

613   

613   

-  

-  

(13) 

-  

600   

649   

(49) 

600   

600   

-  

90   

-  

(13) 

-  

677   

680   

(3) 

677   

13   

(10) 

3   

3   

-  

-  

(2) 

-  

1   

13   

(12) 

1   

1   

-  

-  

-  

(1) 

-  

-   

13   

(13) 

-   

13   

(9) 

4   

4   

-  

-  

(2) 

-  

2   

13   

(11) 

2   

2   

-  

-  

-  

(2) 

-  

(0) 

13   

(13) 

-  

126   

801  

(53) 

73   

73   

44   

(2) 

(37) 

2   

80   

(108)

693  

693  

44  

(2)

(54)

2  

683  

154   

829  

(74) 

(146)

80   

683  

80   

36   

-  

(2) 

(38) 

(2) 

74   

683  

36  

90  

(2)

(54)

(2)

751  

179   

885  

(105) 

(134)

74   

751  

Leased assets are presented as a separate line item in the balance sheet, see note 9(b) for details. 

Non-current assets pledged as security

Refer to note 21 for information on non-current assets pledged as security by the Group.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
65

Revaluation, depreciation methods and useful lives

The Group has changed its accounting policy for land and buildings which are now recognised at fair value based on 
periodic valuations by external independent valuers, less subsequent depreciation for buildings. Previously land and 
buildings were accounted for at historical cost less depreciation. Retrospective application of the revaluation policy for 
property has not been recognised as this would be impractical in the case of freehold property. A revaluation surplus is 
credited to other reserves in shareholders’ equity. All other property, plant and equipment is recognised at historical cost 
less depreciation.

Depreciation is provided so as to write off to the cost or valuation of assets (other than freehold land) less their estimated 
residual values over their expected useful economic lives using the straight-line method on the following bases 

•  Fixtures and fittings  

4-5 years 

•  Plant and machinery 

•  Office equipment  

4-5 years

3-4 years

•  Leasehold improvements  

5 years

•  Freehold buildings 

50 years 

See note 23 for the other accounting policies relevant to property, plant and equipment.

Revaluation of land and building

Land and buildings are comprised of a single detached industrial building where the Group bases its UK operations. For 
the first time in the group financial statements, freehold land and buildings are stated at their revalued amounts, being 
the fair value at the date of revaluation, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated 
impairment losses. The fair value measurements of the Group’s freehold land and buildings as at October 2021 was 
determined to be £680,000 by Arnolds Keys LLP, independent valuers not related to the Group. Arnolds Keys  LLP are 
members of the Royal Institute Chartered Surveyors and they have appropriate qualifications and recent experience 
in the fair value measurement of properties in the relevant locations. The valuation conforms to International Valuation 
Standards and was based on recent market transactions on arm’s length terms for similar properties. The Group re-
values its land and buildings with sufficient regularity to ensure that the carrying amount does not differ materially from 
that which would be determined using fair value at the end of the reporting period. The Directors asses on an annual 
basis if there has been any significant change in fair value. Where it is assessed that there has been a significant change 
an independent revaluation is made.

To provide an indication about the reliability of the inputs used in determining fair value, the group classifies its non-
financial assets and liabilities into the three levels prescribed under the accounting standards. The inputs used in the 
valuation of land and buildings are based on similar observable transactions in the market and have therefore been 
allocated to in their entirety to level 2. When appropriate the group’s policy is to recognise transfers into and transfers 
out of fair value hierarchy levels as at the end of the reporting period. There have been no transfers between hierarchy 
levels during the year. 

The valuation of the land and buildings has been made using comparable rental transactions for properties in the local 
area.

If freehold land and buildings were stated on the historical cost basis, the amounts would be as follows:

Cost 

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

31 January 2022  

31 January 2021

£’000  

£’000

649  

(62) 

587  

649  

(49)

600  

Year Ended 31 January 2022    
   
   
   
 
 
66

9(b) Leases

This note provides information for leases where the Group is a lessee.

(i) Amounts recognised in the balance sheet relating to Right-of-use assets

The balance sheet shows the following amounts relating to right-of-use assets:

At 31 January 2020  

Cost or fair value 

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Year ended 31 January 2021 

Opening net book amount 

Additions 

Depreciation 

Foreign exchange impact 

Closing net book amount 

At 31 January 2021 

Cost or fair value 

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Year ended 31 January 2022 

Opening net book amount 

Remeasurement 

Depreciation 

Foreign exchange impact 

Closing net book amount 

At 31 January 2022 

Cost or fair value 

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Lease liabilities  

Current 

Non-current 

Buildings  

£’000  

Total

£’000

-  

195  

(31) 

164  

164  

31  

(49) 

10  

156  

240  

(84) 

156  

156  

6  

(60) 

(8) 

94  

229  

(135) 

94  

-

195

(31)

164

164

31

(49)

10

156

240

(84)

156

156

6

(60)

(8)

94

229

(135)

94

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

67  

41  

108  

63

110

173

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
67

(ii) Amounts recognised in the statement of comprehensive income 

The statement of comprehensive income shows the following amounts relating to leases:

Depreciation charge on right-of-use assets 

Buildings  

Interest expense (included in finance costs) 

Expense relating to short-term leases (included in administrative expenses) 

Expense relating to leases of low value assets (included in administrative expenses) 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

60 

60 

10  

6  

- 

49

49

11 

25

- 

The total cash outflow for all leases within continuing activities in the year ended 31 January 2022 was £70,000 (2021: 
£57,000). The incremental borrowing rate used in calculating lease liabilities in continuing operations is 5.3% (2021: 5.3%).

(iii) The Group’s leasing activities and how these are accounted for

The Group leases office space. Rental contracts are for fixed periods of 4 to 10 years. Contracts may contain both lease 
and non-lease components. The Group allocates the consideration in the contract to the lease and non-lease components 
based on their relative stand-alone prices.

Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a range of different terms and conditions. The lease 
agreements do not impose any covenants other than the security interests in the leased assets that are held by the lessor. 
Leased assets may not be used as security for borrowing purposes.  

Assets and liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis. Lease liabilities include the net 
present value of the following lease payments:

•  fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), less any lease incentives receivable

•  variable lease payment that are based on an index or a rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at the 

commencement date

•  amounts expected to be payable by the Group under residual value guarantees

•  the exercise price of a purchase option if the Group is reasonably certain to exercise that option, and

•  payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the lease term reflects the Group exercising that option

Lease payments to be made under reasonably certain extension options are also included in the measurement of the 
liability. The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease. If that rate cannot be readily 
determined, which is generally the case for leases of the Group, the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate is used, being the 
rate that the individual lessee would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of similar value to the 
right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment with similar terms, security and conditions.

To determine the incremental borrowing rate, the Group:

•  where possible, uses recent third-party financing received by the individual lessee as a starting point, adjusted to reflect 

changes in financing conditions since third party financing was received

•  uses a build-up approach that starts with a risk-free interest rate adjusted for credit risk for leases held by the Group, 

which does not have recent third-party financing, and

•  makes adjustments specific to the lease, e.g. term, country, currency and security. 

Right-of-use assets are initially measured at cost comprising:

•  the amount of the initial measurement of lease liability

•  any lease payments made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received

•  any initial direct costs, and

•  restoration costs. 

Right-of-use assets are generally depreciated over the shorter of the asset’s useful life and the lease term on a straight-
line basis. If the Group is reasonably certain to exercise a purchase option, the right-of-use asset is depreciated over the 
underlying asset’s useful life. 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
  
 
 
68

Payments associated with short-term leases and all leases of low-value assets are recognised on a straight-line basis as an 
expense in profit or loss. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of 12 months or less. Low-value assets comprise IT 
equipment and small items of office furniture.

(iv) Extension and termination options

Extension and termination options are included in leases across the Group. These are used to maximise operational 
flexibility in terms of managing the assets used in the Group’s operations. The extension and termination options held are 
exercisable only by the Group and not by the lessor.

9(c) Intangible assets

Internally  

Goodwill  

  generated    Customer  
contracts  

software  

Brand  
assets  

Intellectual  
property  

Total

At 31 January 2020 

Cost 

Accumulated amortisation and impairment 

Net book amount 

Year ended 31 January 2021 

Opening net book amount 

Additions 

Amortisation charge 

Exchange differences 

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000

8,165  

-  

8,165  

8,165   

-  

-  

555   

661  

(3) 

658  

658   

302   

(77) 

-   

207  

(56) 

151  

286  

(37) 

249  

1,363  

10,682

(78) 

(174)

1,285  

10,508

151   

249   

1,285   

10,508  

-  

(21) 

-  

-  

(30) 

17   

-  

302  

(144) 

(272)

112   

684  

Closing net book amount 

8,720   

883   

130   

236   

1,253   

11,222  

At 31 January 2021 

Cost 

Accumulated amortisation and impairment 

Net book amount 

Year ended 31 January 2022 

Opening net book amount 

Additions 

Amortisation charge 

Exchange differences 

Closing net book amount 

At 31 January 2022 

Cost 

Accumulated amortisation and impairment 

Net book amount 

Amortisation methods and useful lives

8,720   

-  

8,720   

8,720   

-  

-  

(346) 

8,374  

964   

(81) 

883   

883   

340  

(353) 

(9) 

861  

207   

306   

1,486   

11,683  

(77) 

(70) 

(233) 

(461)

130   

236   

1,253   

11,222  

130   

236   

1,253   

11,222  

-  

(22) 

-  

-  

(30) 

(15) 

-  

340

(147) 

(552)

(21) 

(391)

108  

191  

1,085  

10,619

8,374  

1,293  

-  

8,374  

(432) 

861  

207  

(99) 

108  

285  

(94) 

191  

1,456  

11,615

(371) 

(996)

1,085  

10,619

The Group amortises intangible assets with a limited useful life, using the straight-line method over the following periods:

•  Internally generated software  

•  Customer contracts 

•  Intellectual property  

•  Brand asset 

3 years

10 years

10 years

10 years 

See note 23(p) for the other accounting policies relevant to intangible assets and note 23(j)) for the Group’s policy 
regarding impairments.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
69

Customer contracts

The customer contracts were acquired as part of a business combination. They are recognised at their fair value at the 
date of acquisition and they are subsequently amortised on a straight-line basis, based on the timing of projected cash 
flows of the contracts over their estimated useful lives.

Significant estimate: useful life of the Group’s acquired intangible assets 

The Group has acquired a number of intangible assets as part of its acquisitions of Anders & Kern Limited in May 2017, 
SwipedOn Limited in October 2018, and SpaceConnect Pty Limited in November 2019. At 31 January 2022 the carrying 
amount of these assets was £1,385,000 (2021: £1,619,000). The Group estimates the useful life of the acquired intangibles 
to be 10 years based on their expectation of the period over which the Group will continue to derive benefit from such 
assets.  However, the actual useful life might be longer or shorter than 10 years depending on customer attrition, technical 
innovation or competitor actions. If the estimated useful life was only five years, the carrying amount would be £822,000 
at 31 January 2022 (2021: £1,239,000). 

Significant estimate: Impairment tests for goodwill

Goodwill is monitored by management at an entity level. A segment-level summary of the goodwill is presented below:

Space Connect 

SwipedOn 

Anders & Kern 

Net book amount 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

2,445 

4,785 

1,144 

8,374 

£’000

2,445

5,131

1,144

8,720

Goodwill on consolidation has been allocated for impairment testing purposes between the cash-generating units 
(“CGUs”) and these CGU’s aligned to the Group’s segments.  There are three CGU’s, Swiped On, Space Connect and 
Anders & Kern. The recoverable amount of the Swiped on and Anders and Kern CGU’s is based on ‘value in use’ 
calculations using cash flow projections approved by the Directors covering a five-year period with a terminal value to 
perpetuity, using a growth rate of 2% (2021: 2%). The Goodwill and Intangibles of Space Connect relate in the main to 
software acquired, as such the Directors have utilised a cash flow forecast over a 10 year period to reflect the anticipated 
useful economic life of the software. 

The Directors believe that the Space Connect business is poised for high 
growth, reflecting the desirability of the product and also the relationships 
with well regarded partners within the sector. However, as the product is 
currently in its initial entry to the global market, management have assessed 
the value in use of the Space Connect cash generating unit using a cash flow 
forecast that reflect growth in users consistent with that attained to date 
from launch in 2020, which then tapers off in the final 5 years of the life of 
the software to reflect the trends for the sector. The key sensitivities within 
this forecast are the net cashflows generated in the future periods, which if 
reduced would likely result in an impairment. This methodology has been 
used to ensure that the carrying value as disclosed within the accounts is 
supported by the current growth achievements of the business and that value 
is not carried in the balance sheet the recovery of which is based upon as yet 
unproven high growth forecasts. Should the anticipated high growth not be 
attained, management are confident that they have sufficient means to ensure 
that costs are adequately controlled such that the assets are not impaired.

The discount rates used in the calculation of the recoverable amount take 
into consideration a market participant’s cost of capital, the expected rate 
of return and various risks relating to the CGU. At the year end, based on 
these assumptions there is no indication of impairment in the remaining 
goodwill. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the discount rate may be expected 
to fluctuate by up to 2.5% which has been shown not to give rise to an 
impairment charge for any CGU.

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
70

9(d) Deferred tax balances

Deferred tax assets

The balance comprises temporary differences attributable to: 

Tax losses 

2,334 

1,268 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

Property plant and equipment and Intangible assets 

General provisions 

Employee benefits 

Total deferred tax assets 

Set-off of deferred tax liabilities pursuant to set-off provisions 

Net deferred tax assets 

52  

79  

- 

2,465  

- 

2,465  

42

9 

70 

1,389 

-

1,389 

The deferred tax assets include an amount of £1,269,000 which relates to carry-forward tax losses of SmartSpace 
Software plc. The Group has concluded that the deferred tax asset will be recoverable using the estimated future taxable 
income based on the approved business plans and budgets for the Group. The Group is expected to generate taxable 
income from 2024 onwards. The losses can be carried forward indefinitely. Deferred tax assets have been calculated using 
a tax rate of 25% which is the rate expected to be applicable when the benefit would be realised.  

 Deferred tax asset movement  

At 31 January 2020 

Income / (expense) to profit and loss 

Exchange differences 

At 31 January 2021 

Income / (expense) to profit and loss 

Expense to other comprehensive income 

Exchange differences 

At 31 January 2022 

Share 
based 
payments 

PP&E and  
Intangible  
assets  

General 
provision 

£’000  

£’000  

£’000 

46  

24  

-  

70  

(70) 

-  

-  

-  

-  

75  

(33) 

42  

21  

(17) 

6  

52  

-  

9  

-  

9  

74  

-  

(3) 

80  

Tax  
losses  

£’000  

1,385  

(139) 

22  

1,268  

1,089  

-  

(24) 

Total

£’000

1,431

(31)

(11)

1,389

1,114

(17)

(21)

2,333  

2,465

 Deferred tax liability movement 

Accelerated tax depreciation  

At 31 January 2020 

Credit to profit and loss 

Exchange differences 

At 31 January 2021 

Credit to profit and loss 

Exchange differences 

At 31 January 2022 

£’000  

583  

(581) 

(2) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Total

£’000

583

(581)

(2)

-

-

-

-

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9(e) Inventories

Finished goods – at cost 

71

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

203 

£’000

89

Inventories recognised as an expense during the year ended 31 January 2022 amounted to £1,044,000 (2021: £1,630,000). 
These were included in cost of sales and the cost of providing other services. 

9(f) Prepayments

Prepayments 

10. EQUITY

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

163 

£’000

114

10(a) Share capital and share premium

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021  31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

Number 

Number 

£’000 

£’000

Allotted, called up and fully paid: 

Ordinary shares of 10p each 

28,941,234 

28,255,823 

2,894 

2,826

Movement in ordinary shares 

Shares  
issued 

Share 
capital 

Share 
premium 

At 31 January 2020 

At 31 January 2021 

Number 

  Price (p) 

28,255,823 

28,255,823 

Shares issued for deferred acquisition  
consideration 

675,411 

72.5 

Shares issued for share option exercise 

10,000 

101.25 

£’000 

2,826 

2,826 

67 

1 

£’000 

3,830 

3,830 

- 

9 

Merger 
reserve 

£’000 

844 

844 

422 

- 

Total

£’000

7,500

7,500

489

10

At 31 January 2022 

28,941,234 

2,894 

3,839 

1,266 

7,999

Ordinary shares 

Ordinary shares have a par value of 10 pence.  They entitle the holder to participate in dividends, and to share in the 
proceeds of winding up the Company in proportion to the number of shares held. 

On a show of hands, every holder of ordinary shares present at a meeting, in person or by proxy, is entitled to one vote; 
and on a poll, each share is entitled to one vote. The Company does not have a limited amount of authorised capital.

Options

Information relating to employee share options including details of options issued, exercised and forfeited during the 
financial year and options outstanding at the end of the reporting period, is set out in note 19.

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
72

10(b) Other reserves

Reverse  

  Acquisition  
deferred  

Merger    acquisition   Translation   consideration   Revaluation  
reserve  
reserve  

reserve  

reserve  

reserve 

Share  
option   
reserve  

Total  
other  

reserves

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

£’000

At 31 January 2020 

844  

(4,236) 

(170) 

489  

Currency translation differences 

Other comprehensive income 

- 

- 

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners: 

Share-based payment expense  
- continuing operations 

Share-based payment expense 
- discontinued operations 

- 

- 

-  

-  

-  

-  

643   

643   

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

At 31 January 2021 

844 

(4,236) 

473  

489  

Revaluation of property 

Deferred tax on property revaluation 

Currency translation differences 

Other comprehensive income 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners: 

Issue of ordinary shares as consideration  
for business combination 

422 

Issue of ordinary shares to option holders 

Exchange difference 

Lapsed share options 

Share based payment expense 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

(339) 

(339) 

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

At 31 January 2022 

1,266 

(4,236) 

134  

-  

-  

-  

-  

(489) 

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

90   

(17) 

-  

73   

-  

-  

-  

-  

241   

(2,832)

-  

-  

643

643

150   

150

(48) 

(48)

343   

(2,087)

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

(3) 

(4) 

(16) 

90  

(17)

(339)

(266)

(67)

(3)

(4)

(16)

310  

-   

310  

73  

630  

(2,133)

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
73

Nature and purpose of other reserves

The merger reserve is used when a share issue is 
undertaken, and merger relief is available. The conditions 
for merger relief are when the consideration for shares in 
another company includes issued shares of the acquirer 
and on completion of the transaction, the company issuing 
the shares will have secured at least 90% equity holding 
in the acquiree.  The acquisition of SpaceConnect Pty 
Limited in November 2019 met the conditions for merger 
relief and was therefore accounted for under the merger 
relief provisions. Consideration for SpaceConnect Pty 
Limited was made in two parts, firstly upon completion of 
the acquisition in November 2019, and secondly in April  
2021 through the issue of deferred consideration shares. 
The movement in the merger reserve in the current period 
relates to the settlement of the deferred share consideration 
for SpaceConnect Pty in April 2021, which was accounted 
for as a transfer from the acquisition deferred consideration 
reserve to the merger reserve. 

The reverse acquisition reserve arose on the reverse 
takeover of SmartSpace Software plc by Coms.com Limited 
in the year ended 31 January 2007. Under reverse acquisition 
accounting an adjustment within shareholders’ funds is 
required to eliminate the cost of acquisition in the issuing 
company’s books, and introduce a notional cost of acquiring 
the smaller issuing company based on the fair value of its 
shares and an adjustment is required to show the share 
capital of the legal parent in the consolidated balance sheet 
rather than that of the deemed acquirer. Both adjustments 
have been included in the reverse acquisition reserve.

Foreign currency translation comprises exchange differences arising on the translation of foreign controlled entities which 
are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in a separate reserve within equity.  The cumulative 
amount is reclassified to profit or loss when the net investment is disposed of.

The acquisition deferred consideration reserve relates to deferred share consideration for the acquisition of subsidiaries. 

The revaluation reserve relates to amounts recognised on the fair value revaluation of land and buildings.

The share-based payments reserve is used to recognise the grant date fair value of options issued to employees but not 
exercised. 

10(c) Retained earnings

The movements in retained earnings were as follows:

Balance at 1 February 

Issue of ordinary shares to option holders 

Lapsed share options 

Net loss for the period 

Balance at 31 January 

31 January 2022  

31 January 2021

£’000  

11,701  

3  

16  

(2,564) 

9,156  

£’000

13,956  

-

-

(2,255)

11,701

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
74

11. CASH FLOW INFORMATION

11(a) Cash generated from operations

Loss before income tax from continuing operations 

Adjustments for: 

  Depreciation and amortisation 

  Non-cash employee benefit expense – share-based payments 

  Net loss on sale of non-current assets 

  Finance costs - net 

  Credit loss 

  Net exchange differences  

Change in operating assets and liabilities of continuing operations 

  Decrease / (increase) in trade and other receivables 

  Decrease / (increase) in contract assets 

  Decrease / (increase) in inventories 

  Decrease / (increase) in prepayments 

  Increase / (decrease) in trade creditors 

  Increase / (decrease) in other creditors 

  Increase / (decrease) in contract liabilities 

Cash consumed by continuing operations 

Loss before income tax from discontinued operations 

Adjustments for: 

  Depreciation and amortisation 

  Impairment of intangible assets 

  Non-cash employee benefit expense – share-based payments 

  Net gain on sale of non-current assets 

  Finance costs – net 

  Credit losses 

  Net exchange differences 

  Loss on sale of discontinued operations 

Change in operating assets and liabilities of discontinued operations  

  Decrease / (increase) in trade and other receivables 

  Decrease / (increase) in contract assets 

  Decrease / (increase) in prepayments 

  Increase / (decrease) in trade creditors 

  Increase / (decrease) in other creditors 

  Increase / (decrease) in contract liabilities 

Cash consumed by discontinued operations 

Cash consumed by operations 

31 January 2022  

31 January 2021

£’000  

(3,678) 

£’000

(2,743)

666  

288  

-  

25  

14  

(9) 

114  

-  

(113) 

(53) 

123  

276  

733  

(1,614) 

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

-  

(1,614) 

375

150

2

25

72

3

(14)

29

157

(43)

(371)

280

439

(1,639)

(166)

-

(1,470)

(47)

9

16

(46)

2

124

697

437

(407)

274

248

177

(152)

(1,791)

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
  
 
 
 
11(b) Net debt reconciliation

This section sets out an analysis of net cash and the movements in net cash for each of the periods presented.

31 January 2022  

31 January 2021

75

Cash and cash equivalents 

Borrowings  

Lease liabilities in continuing activities 

Net cash 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Gross debt – fixed interest rates 

Gross debt – variable interest rates 

Net cash 

Cash/bank overdraft. 

Borrowings.  

At 31 January 2020 

New leases 

Cashflows – continuing operations 

Cashflows – discontinued operations 

Effect of foreign exchange rate movements 

At 31 January 2021 

New leases 

Cashflows – continuing operations 

Effect of foreign exchange rate movements 

At 31 January 2022 

11(c) Non-cash investing and financing activities

£’000.  

2,587  

-  

(2,053) 

3,970  

12  

4,516  

-  

(1,739) 

(19) 

2,758  

£’000  

2,758   

(383) 

(108) 

2,267   

2,758   

(108) 

(383) 

2,267   

Leases. 

£’000.  

(179) 

(31) 

49  

-  

(12) 

£’000.  

(401) 

-  

(12) 

-  

-  

(413) 

(173) 

-  

30   

-  

(6) 

71   

-  

(383) 

(108) 

£’000

4,516

(413)

(173)

3,930

4,516

(173)

(413)

3,930

Total.

£’000.

2,007

(31)

(2,016)

3,970

-

3,930

(6)

(1,638)

(19)

2,267

Remeasurement of right of use assets by means of lease 

Acquisition of right of use assets by means of lease 

Deferred partial settlement of business combination through share issue 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

6 

- 

490 

-

31

-

12. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

The preparation of financial statements requires the use of accounting estimates which, by definition, will seldom equal the 
actual results. Management also needs to exercise judgement in applying the Group’s accounting policies.

This note provides an overview of the areas that involved a higher degree of judgement or complexity, and of items which 
are more likely to be materially adjusted due to estimates and assumptions turning out to be wrong. Detailed information 
about each of these estimates and judgements is included in other notes, together with information about the basis of 
calculation for each affected line item in the financial statements. 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
76

12(a) Critical estimates 

13(b) Credit risk

The areas involving critical estimates are:

•  estimated useful lives of intangible assets (see note 9(c))

•  Impairment testing of goodwill (see note 9(c))

Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, 
cash flows of debt investments carried at 
amortised cost and credit exposures to customers 
including outstanding receivables. 

12(b) Critical judgements

The areas involving critical judgements are:

•  recognition of deferred tax asset for carried-forward 

tax losses (see note 9(d))

13. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

This note explains the Group’s exposure to financial risks 
and how these risks could affect the Group’s future financial 
performance. Current year profit and loss information has 
been included where relevant to add further context.

13(a) Market risk

Foreign currency risk

The group has a translation exposure risk relating to 
operations in New Zealand where SwipedOn use New 
Zealand dollars. On consolidation, assets and liabilities of 
foreign undertakings are translated into sterling at year 
end exchange rates. The results of foreign undertakings 
are translated into sterling at average rates of exchange 
for the year. Foreign exchange differences arising on 
the translation of foreign undertakings are recognised 
directly in a separate component of equity, the translation 
reserve, until the business units are disposed of. Should 
the New Zealand Dollar strengthen or weaken by 10% 
against pounds sterling then the value of the Group’s net 
assets will respectively increase or decrease by £450,000 
(2021: £523,000). Foreign exchange differences arising 
on the translation of foreign undertakings are taken to 
other comprehensive income. As the Group has no plans 
to dispose of the asset in the foreseeable future and the 
exposure is a non-cash item the Board have no plans to 
hedge this translation exposure. See note 3(d) and 3(e) 
for details of assets and liabilities held by SwipedOn and 
denominated in New Zealand dollars. 

Cash flow and fair value interest rate risk

The Group’s borrowings comprise a mortgage and a New 
Zealand government Covid-19 support loan. The mortgage 
is held with Barclays, secured on the associated freehold 
land and buildings, and carries a variable rate of interest 
2.5% above the Bank of England base rate. The Covid-19 
support loan is for a period of 5 years commencing June 
2020, is unsecured and interest free for the first 2 two 
years, with interest of 3% per annum for the remaining 3 
years. The Group maintains cash reserves such that an 
increase in base rate is unlikely to impact the ability of the 
Group to meet its mortgage payments.   

Risk management

For banks and financial institutions, only 
independently rated parties with a minimum rating of 
‘A’ are accepted.

For trade receivables, management focuses strongly 
on working capital management and the collection 
of due invoices. Regular reports of overdue invoices 
are circulated amongst senior management and the 
Board reviews debtor days each month as part of 
the monthly reporting cycle. The risk with any one 
customer is limited by constant review of debtor 
balances and amounts receivable on contracts and 
action to resolve any issues preventing discharge of 
obligations.

Security

The Group does not obtain security for trade receivables.

Impairment of financial assets

The Group has three types of assets that are subject to 
the expected credit loss model:

•  trade receivables for the sale of goods and services;

•  other financial assets carried at amortised cost.

While cash and cash equivalents are also subject to 
the impairment requirements of IFRS 9, the identified 
impairment loss was immaterial.

Trade receivables

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach 
to measuring expected credit losses which uses 
a lifetime expected loss allowance for all trade 
receivables. 

The expected loss rates are based on the payment 
profiles of sales over a period of 36 months before 
31 January 2022 and the corresponding 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. The Group has identified global 
and country specific GDP to be the most relevant 
factor, and accordingly adjusts the historical loss 
rates based on expected changes to this factor. On 
that basis the loss allowance at 31 January 2022 was 
determined as follows for trade receivables:

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 31 January 2022  

Current 

1 -30 

31 – 60 
days past   days past 
due 

due 

61 – 90 
days past 
due 

91 -180 

181 – 360 
days past  days past  
due 

due 

77

Total

Expected loss rate (%) 

1.1% 

2.2% 

7.4% 

48.0% 

48.0% 

82.0% 

2.9%

Gross carrying amount  
– trade receivables (£’000) 

Loss allowance  

Net carrying amount  
- trade receivables (£’000) 

241   

(3)  

111   

(2)  

36   

(3)  

238  

109  

33  

6   

(3)  

3  

4  

- 

4 

1   

399  

(1)  

(12) 

-  

387

The closing loss allowances for trade receivables as at 31 January 2022 reconcile to the opening loss allowances as follows:

At 1 February 

Increase in loss allowance recognised in profit or loss during the year 

Receivables written off during the year as uncollectible 

At 31 January 

2022  

£’000  

8  

14  

(10) 

12  

2021

£’000

-

18

(10)

8

Trade receivables and contract assets are written off where there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. Indicators that 
there is no reasonable expectation of recovery include, amongst others, the failure of a debtor to engage in a repayment 
plan with the Group and the failure to make contracted payments.

Impairment losses on trade receivables and contract assets are presented as net impairment losses within operating profit. 
Subsequent recoveries of previously written off amounts are credited against the same line item.

Other financial assets at amortised cost

Other financial assets at amortised cost comprise contingent consideration and other receivables. Assessments of 
significant increases in credit loss risk and assumptions about the risk of default are made in determining the expected 
credit loss rates from these assets.

Net impairment losses on financial and contract assets recognised in profit or loss

During the year the following losses were recognised in profit or loss in relation to impaired financial assets:

 Impairment losses 

Movement in loss allowance for trade receivables and contract assets 

Impairment losses on other financial assets 

Net impairment losses on financial and contract assets 

2022 

£’000 

14 

- 

14 

2021

£’000

18

54

72

13(c) Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group cannot meet financial liabilities when they fall due. The Group’s policy for managing 
liquidity risk is to ensure that the business has enough financial resources to carry out its day-to-day activities at any point 
in time. Management believes that the cash resources on hand, together with future forecast profits of the business, more 
than cover the resources needed to meet the financial liabilities of the Group.

Maturity of financial liabilities

The tables below analyse all of the Group’s financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on their contractual 
maturities.

The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows. Balances due within 12 months equal their 
carrying balances because the impact of discounting is not significant. 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
78

 Contractual maturity of  
 financial liabilities  
 At 31 January 2022 

6-12 
Less than 
6 months  months 

  Between 
1 and 2 
years 

Between 
2 and 5 
years 

Over 
5 years 

Total 

Carrying  
amount 

Trade payables 

Borrowings 

Lease liabilities 

Total 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000

395  

13  

33  

441  

- 

370  

34  

404  

- 

- 

41  

41  

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

395  

383  

108  

886  

395 

383 

108 

886 

 Contractual maturity of  
 financial liabilities  
 At 31 January 2021 

Less than 
6 months 

  Between 
1 and 2 
years 

6-12 
months 

Between 
2 and 5 
years 

Over 
5 years 

Total 

Carrying  
amount 

Trade payables 

Borrowings 

Lease liabilities 

Total 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000

249  

44  

31  

324  

30 

14  

33  

77  

- 

355  

68  

423  

- 

- 

41  

41  

- 

- 

- 

- 

279  

413  

173  

865  

279 

413 

173 

865 

14. CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

14(a) Risk management

The Group considers its capital to comprise its ordinary 
share capital, share premium account, other reserves and 
retained earnings. A summary of the amounts of capital 
in each of these categories is shown in the consolidated 
statement of changes in equity on page 49.

In managing its capital, the Group’s primary objective is 
to provide a return for its equity shareholders through 
capital growth. The Group has £383,000 (2021: £413,000) 
of debt representing a gearing ratio of 3% (2021: 3%). 
Going forward the Group will balance capital risk 
and return at an acceptable level and also maintain a 
sufficient funding base to enable the Group to meet 
its working capital and strategic investment needs. In 
making decisions to adjust its capital structure to achieve 
these aims, either through new share issues or the issue 
of debt, the Group considers not only its short-term 
position but also its long-term operational and strategic 
objectives. There have been no other significant changes 
to the Group’s management objectives, policies and 
processes in the year nor has there been any change in 
what the Group considers to be capital.

14(b) Dividends

The Group does not currently pay a dividend.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
79

15. INTERESTS IN OTHER ENTITIES

The Group’s subsidiaries at 31 January 2022 are set out below. Unless otherwise stated they have share capital consisting 
solely of ordinary shares, and the proportion of ownership interests held equals the voting rights held by the Group. The 
country of incorporation is also their principal place of operation.

 Name 

Registered office 

Country  

Proportion of 
ownership 
interest 

Proportion of  Principal 
business 
voting power 
activity
held  

Easter Road Holdings Limited 

Anders + Kern (U.K.) Limited 

SmartSpace Software Limited 

SwipedOn Inc 

SwipedOn Limited 

Norderstedt House  
James Carter Road,  
Mildenhall,  
Bury St. Edmunds,  
England, IP28 7RQ 

Norderstedt House  
James Carter Road,  
Mildenhall,  
Bury St. Edmunds,  
England, IP28 7RQ 

115 The Strand,  
Tauranga, 3110,  
New Zealand 

651 N Broad St,  
Suite 206, Middletown 
New Castle,  
Delaware USA

115 The Strand,  
Tauranga, 3110,  
New Zealand 

UK 

100% 

100% 

Holding 
company 

UK 

100% 

100% 

Hardware and 
software sales 

New Zealand 

100% 

100% 

USA 

100% 

100%  

New Zealand 

100% 

100% 

Smartspace Software Pty Limited  Nexia Sydney, Level 16,   Australia 

100% 

100% 

Space Connect Limited 

1 Market Street,  
Sydney, NSW, 2000 

Norderstedt House  
James Carter Road,  
Mildenhall,  
Bury St. Edmunds,  
England, IP28 7RQ 

UK 

100% 

100% 

Space Connect Pty Limited 

Nexia Sydney, Level 16,   Australia 
1 Market Street,  
Sydney, NSW, 2000 

100% 

100% 

Software 
sales 

All subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidation.

16. COMMITMENTS

16(a) Capital commitments

There were no capital commitments at 31 January 2022 (2021: £nil).

17. EVENTS OCCURRING AFTER THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD

There are no subsequent events occurring after the reporting date that require adjustment or disclosure in the financial 
statements.

Holding 
company 

Software 
sales 

Software 
development 
and sales

Holding 
company 

Software 
development 
and sales 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
80

18. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

18(a) Subsidiaries

Interests in subsidiaries are set out in note 15.

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation 
and are not disclosed in this note. The transactions between the parent and the subsidiaries during the year represent 
transfers of cash between the companies amounting to £1,050,000 (2021: 434,000). 

18(b) Key management personnel compensation

Short term employment benefits 

Post-employment benefits 

Termination benefits 

Share-based payments 

18(c) Directors

Aggregate emoluments 

Company contributions to money purchase pension schemes 

Taxable benefits 

Termination benefits 

Long term incentives 

Year ended 
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

592  

8  

40  

155  

795  

720

18

-

106

844

Year ended 
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000 

504  

8 

34  

40  

155 

741 

£’000

470

9

31

-

72

582

Detailed remuneration including the highest 
paid director disclosures are provided in 
the Directors’ remuneration section in the 
remuneration report on pages 28 and 29.

Directors’ fees

Directors fees of £13,333 (2021: £40,000) 
were charged by Warspite Limited, 
a company connected to Diana Dyer 
Bartlett, in respect of services provided by 
Diana Dyer Bartlett; £nil (2021: £nil) was 
outstanding at the year end.

Directors fees of £60,000 (2021: £60,000) 
were charged by VZ Limited, a company 
connected to Guy van Zwanenberg, in 
respect of services provided by Guy van 
Zwanenberg; £6,031 (2021: £nil) was 
outstanding at the year end.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
81

19. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS

The Group operates two equity settled share-based payments plans: an EMI scheme and an Unapproved share scheme. 
During the year the Group issued options over 327,035 ordinary shares under the Group’s EMI scheme (2021: 332,500) and 
over 406,915 ordinary shares under the Unapproved share scheme (2021: 570,000). 

The EMI and unapproved share option schemes incorporate the same general terms and conditions, with the EMI scheme 
benefiting from certain tax advantages. Options are granted under the plans for no consideration and carry no dividend or 
voting rights. When exercisable each option converts into one ordinary share.

The exercise price of the options is based on the closing price on the day immediately preceding the grant.

19(a) Equity settled employee option plans

Set out below are the summaries of options granted under the plans:

Outstanding at start of the year 

Granted during the year 

Exercised during the year 

Forfeited during the year 

Outstanding at end of year 

Exercisable at end of year 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

Number   

  Weighted average  
exercise price 

  Weighted average 
exercise price

Number  

2,156,500  

733,950  

(10,000) 

(665,848) 

2,214,602  

560,652  

101p 

121p 

101p 

94p 

110p 

123p 

1,484,015  

902,500  

-  

(230,015) 

2,156,500  

40,000  

107p

92.5p

-

103p

101p

500p

No options expired during the periods covered by the above tables.

Share options outstanding at the end of the year have the following expiry dates and exercise prices:

 Date granted 

12 June 2013  

Expiry date 

11 June 2023 

Type 

Price per share 

Share options 
31 January  
2022 

Share options 
31 January 
2021

Warrants  

500.00 p 

40,000 

11 December 2015  

10 December 2025  

Options  

92.00 p 

200,000 

31 July 2018  

30 July 2028 

Options  

101.25 p 

76,192 

17 October 2018  

16 October 2028  

Options  

23 October 2020 

22 October 2030 

Options 

29 September 2021 

28 September 2031 

Options 

94.00 p 

92.50 p 

92.50 p 

374,460 

860,000 

165,000 

29 September 2021 

28 September 2031 

Options 

137.50 p 

463,950 

1 November 2021 

31 October 2031 

Options 

92.50 p 

35,000 

40,000 

200,000 

129,000

885,000 

902,500

-

-

-

2,214,602 

2,156,500

The outstanding options at the year-end have an exercise price in the range of 92 pence to 500 pence (2021: 92 pence to 
500 pence).

The weighted average remaining contractual life of the share options outstanding at the year end is 8 years and 0 months 
(2021: 8 years 2 month).

19(b) Fair value of equity settled options granted

Options granted to Directors and to other employees during the year did not contain any performance criteria. The fair 
value at the grant date for options without performance conditions is determined using the Black-Scholes model. These 
calculations take into account the exercise price, the term of the option, the share price at the date of grant and expected 
volatility of the underlying share, the expected dividend yield and the risk free rate for the term of the option. The 
expected price volatility is based on historical share price volatility over a period of time equal to the option vesting period 
being 3 years. The model inputs and assessed fair value of options granted during the year ended 31 January 2022 were:

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
82

 Model input 

Grant date 

Option price 

22 September 2021 

22 September 2021 

1 November 2021

137.50 pence 

92.50 pence 

92.50 pence

Share price at date of grant 

137.50 pence 

137.50 pence 

89.50 pence

Dividend yield 

Vesting period (years) 

Assumed volatility at date of grant 

Risk-free discount rate 

Expected life of option 

Fair value per option  

- 

3 

68% 

(0.10%) 

3 years 

- 

3 

68% 

(0.10%) 

3 years 

76 pence 

76 pence 

-

3

71%

(0.10%)

3 years

41 pence

The expense recognised in continuing operations for equity-settled share-based payments during the year to 31 January 
2022 was £288,000 (2021: £150,000).

Options over 351,441 shares granted to Directors in previous periods had the period for meeting performance criteria 
extended by 2 years to 17 October 2023. A share based payment charge of £160,000 will be recognised over the two year 
extension period, of which £28,000 was recognised in the current period.

19(c) Cash settled share-based payments

As part of the disposal of SmartSpace Global Limited in August 2020 the Group issued 50,000 cash settled share options 
to a former employee who was involved in the disposal process. The options were issued on 13 August 2020, had an 
exercise price of 101.25p, and are available for exercise at any point between 31 July 2021 and 31 July 2029. The options 
are valued at each reporting date using a Black-Scholes model. At 31 January 2022 the assumed volatility was 77%, risk 
free interest rate -0.1%, exercise price 101.25p and current share price at the reporting date of 72.5p. The expected price 
volatility is based on historical share price volatility over a period of time equal to the expected period of time before the 
options are exercised. A credit was recorded relating to these options of £22,000 for the year and a liability of £8,000 
(2021: £31,000) included within trade and other payables. 

20. LOSS PER SHARE

20(a) Basic loss per share

Attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company: 

From continuing operations  

From discontinued operations 

Total basic loss per share  

20(b) Diluted loss per share

Attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company: 

From continuing operations  

From discontinued operations 

Total diluted loss per share 

Year ended  
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

Pence 

Pence

(8.91p) 

- 

(8.91p) 

(7.54p)

(0.44p)

(7.98p)

Year ended  
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

Pence 

Pence

(8.91p) 

- 

(8.91p) 

(7.54p)

(0.44p)

(7.98p)

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20(c) Reconciliation of earnings used in calculating earnings per share

Earnings per share data is based on the Group loss for the year and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in 
issue.

83

Basic (loss) / earnings per share 

Loss attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company: 

  From continuing operations 

  From discontinued operations 

Diluted (loss) / earnings per shares 

  Loss attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company: 

  From continuing operations 

  From discontinued operations 

20(d) Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator

Year ended  
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

(2,564) 

-  

(2,564) 

(2,564) 

-  

(2,564) 

(2,131)

(124)

(2,255)

(2,131)

(124)

(2,255)

Year ended  
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

Number 

Number

Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator in calculating  
basic earnings per share 

28,780,768  

28,255,823

Adjustments for calculation of diluted earnings per share 

  Options 

-  

-

Weighted average number of shares and potential ordinary shares used  
as the denominator in calculating diluted earnings per share 

28,780,768  

28,255,823

20(e) Information concerning the classification of 
securities

Options

Options granted to employees under the Group’s 
share option schemes are considered to be potential 
ordinary shares. Whilst options are never included in 
the determination of basic earnings per share, they are 
included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share 
if considered dilutive. Details relating to the options are 
set out in note 19.

At 31 January 2022 options are considered antidilutive 
and therefore not included in the calculation of diluted 
earnings per share. These options could potentially be 
dilutive in the future.

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
84

20(f) Alternative measure of earnings per share

To provide an indication of the underlying operating performance per share, an alternative measure of earnings per share 
is presented below. This measure excludes reorganisation, transaction, and share based payments which management 
do not consider reflect underlying performance. Amortisation of intangible assets recognised in accounting for business 
combinations are also excluded. 

Loss for the year from continuing operations  

Adjustment to basic (loss)/earnings: 

Reorganisation and transactional costs 

Tax credit on reorganisation and transactional costs 

Amortisation of acquired intangibles 

Deferred tax credit on amortisation of acquired intangibles 

Share based payment charge 

Deferred tax credit on share-based payment charge 

Adjusted (loss)/earnings attributable to owners of the Company 

Number of shares 

Year ended   
31 January 2022  

Year ended  

31 January 2021

£’000  

(2,564) 

192   

(36) 

198   

(49) 

288   

(55) 

(2,026) 

No.  

£’000

(2,131)

-

-

194  

(48)

150  

(28)

(1,863)

No.

Weighted average ordinary shares in issue 

    28,780,768   

   28,255,823  

Weighted average potential diluted shares in issue 

    28,780,768   

   28,255,823  

Adjusted (loss)/earnings per share 

Basic (loss)/earnings per share 

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share 

(7.04p) 

(7.04p) 

(6.59p)

(6.59p)

21. ASSETS PLEDGED AS SECURITY

The carrying amounts of assets pledged as security for current and non-current borrowings are:

Non-current 

Freehold land and buildings 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

677 

600

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
22. AUDITORS’ REMUNERATION

During the year the Group (including its overseas subsidiaries) obtained the following services from the Company’s 
auditors and its associates.

Year ended  
31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

85

Fees payable to the Company’s auditors for the audit of Parent company  
consolidated financial statements: 

- Audit fees in relation to the year ended 31 January 2020 

- Audit fees in relation to the year ended 31 January 2021 

- Audit fees in relation to the year ended 31 January 2022 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditors for the audit of subsidiary financial statements: 

- 

2 

52 

54 

- 

- 

40 

40 

94 

14

57

-

71

-

24

-

24

95

- Audit fees in relation to the year ended 31 January 2020 

- Audit fees in relation to the year ended 31 January 2021 

- Audit fees in relation to the year ended 31 January 2022 

Total audit fees 

23. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

23(a)  Basis of preparation

Compliance with IFRS

On 31 December 2020, IFRS as adopted by the European 
Union at that date was brought into UK law and became 
UK-adopted International Accounting Standards, with 
future changes being subject to endorsement by the UK 
Endorsement Board. Smartspace Software Plc transitioned 
to UK-adopted International Accounting Standards in its 
consolidated financial statements on 1 February 2021. This 
change constitutes a change in accounting framework. 
However, there is no impact on recognition, measurement 
or disclosure in the period reported as a result of the 
change in framework.

Historical cost convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the 
historical cost convention except for the following:

•  certain financial assets and liabilities including cash 

settled share-based payments 

•  certain classes of property, plant and equipment which 

are measured at fair value

•  equity settled share-based payments in the scope of 

IFRS 2 which are measured at fair value

Historical cost is generally based on the fair value of the 
consideration given in exchange for goods and services. 
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an 

asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction 
between market participants at the measurement date, 
regardless of whether that price is directly observable or 
estimated using another valuation technique. In estimating 
the fair value of an asset or liability, the Group takes into 
account the characteristics of the asset or liability, if market 
participants would take those characteristics into account 
when pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.  
Fair value for measurement and/or disclosure purposes in 
these consolidated financial statements is determined on 
such a basis except for share-based payment transactions 
that are within the scope of IFRS 2.

Standards and interpretations not yet applied by the 
Group

For the purposes of the preparation of these consolidated 
financial statements, the Group has applied all standards 
and interpretations that are effective for accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 February 2021. There was 
no significant impact of new standards and interpretations 
adopted in the year, which include:

•  COVID-19-Related Rent Concessions (Amendment to 

IFRS 16) - effective 1 June 2020

•  Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2 

(Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 
16) - effective 1 Jan 2021

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
86

No new standards, amendments or interpretations to 
existing standards that have been published and that 
are mandatory for the Group’s accounting periods 
beginning on or after 1 February 2022, or later periods, 
have been adopted early. The new standards and 
interpretations are not expected to have any significant 
impact on the financial statements when applied.

Going concern

The financial statements are prepared on a going 
concern basis notwithstanding that the Group has 
reported an operating loss of £3,653,000 for the 
year to 31 January 2022 (2021: £2,717,000 loss) and 
cash consumed by operations of £1,614,000 (2021: 
£1,639,000).

At 31 January 2022 the Group had £2.76m of gross cash 
with three operating segments and a central overhead 
to support. Cash forecasts for each segment and the 
consolidated Group have been prepared for a period 
of twelve months from the date of signing the balance 
sheet. 

The SwipedOn division has continued to grow its 
revenues throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The 
Directors are confident that growth will continue in the 
future. SwipedOn is currently cash generative. Whilst 
the Directors believe that SwipedOn will continue to 
perform well stress tests have taken into account the 
possibility of reduced growth in customer locations and 
increased customer churn.  

As at 31 January 2022 Space Connect had annual 
recurring revenues of £610,000 which had grown from 
£160,000 at the beginning of the year. The Covid-19 
lockdown slowed revenue growth however this is 
expected to accelerate as businesses re-open their 
workplaces. By the end of the year ending 31 January 
2023 Space Connect is expected to be cash-generative. 
The Directors have stress tested cashflow forecasts for 
lower revenue growth in Space Connect. 

The Anders & Kern division which is focussed 
exclusively on UK based customers experienced 
significant reductions in sales volume due to the 
nationwide Covid-19 lockdowns. As businesses return to 
the office sales are expected to recover to pre Covid-19 
levels. Forecasts for the Anders & Kern division have 
assumed that over the coming 12 month period sales 
will return to normal levels. Stress tests have included 
the possibility that sales remain subdued for the 
entire forecast period together with appropriate cost 
reductions.     

On the basis of these consolidated forecasts and stress 
tests, the Directors believe that the Group can continue 
to operate within the resources currently available to it 
over the forecast period.

Based on the above, the Directors believe it remains 
appropriate to prepare the Group and parent company 
financial statements on the going concern basis. 

23(b) Principles of consolidation

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has 
control. The Group controls an entity where the Group 
is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its 
involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect 
those returns through its power to direct activities of the 
entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date 
on which control is transferred to the Group. They are 
deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

The acquisition method is used to account for business 
combinations by the Group (refer to note 23(i)).

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains 
on transactions between group companies are eliminated. 
Unrealised losses are also eliminated, unless the transaction 
provides evidence of an impairment of the transferred 
asset. Accounting policies for subsidiaries have been 
changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the 
policies adopted by the Group.

When the Group loses control of a subsidiary, the gain or 
loss on disposal recognised in profit or loss is calculated 
as the difference between (i) the aggregate of the fair 
value of the consideration received and the fair value of 
any retained interest and (ii) the previous carrying amount 
of the assets (including goodwill), less liabilities of the 
subsidiary and any non-controlling interests. All amounts 
previously recognised in other comprehensive income 
in relation to that subsidiary are accounted for as if the 
Group had directly disposed of the related assets and 
liabilities of the subsidiary (i.e. reclassified to profit or loss 
or transferred to another category of equity as specified/
permitted by applicable IFRSs).

Reverse acquisition accounting

The acquisition of Coms.com Limited in the year ended 31 
January 2007 was accounted for as a reverse acquisition 
of SmartSpace Software plc by Coms.com Limited. The 
consolidated financial statements prepared following the 
reverse takeover were issued in the name of SmartSpace 
Software plc, but they are a continuance of the financial 
statements of Coms.com Limited. Therefore, the assets 
and liabilities of Coms.com Limited were recognised and 
measured in the consolidated financial statements at their 
pre-combination carrying values. The financial statements 
reflect the continuance of the financial statements of Coms.
com Limited.

The retained earnings and other equity balances recognised 
in these consolidated financial statements at the time of 
the acquisition were the retained earnings and other equity 
balances of Coms.com Limited immediately before the 
business combination.

Under reverse acquisition accounting:

•  an adjustment within shareholders’ funds is required 
to eliminate the cost of acquisition in the issuing 
company’s books, and introduce a notional cost of 
acquiring the smaller issuing company based on the 
fair value of its shares

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report87

•  an adjustment is required to show the share capital of the 
legal parent in the consolidated balance sheet rather than 
that of the deemed acquirer.

Both adjustments have been included in the reverse 
acquisition reserve.

Merger reserve

The merger reserve is used when a share issue is 
undertaken and merger relief is available. The conditions 
for merger relief are when the consideration for shares in 
another company includes issued shares of the acquirer 
and on completion of the transaction, the company 
issuing the shares will have secured at least 90% equity 
holding in the acquiree.

23(c) Segment reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent 
with internal reporting provided to the chief operating 
decision maker.

The Board of SmartSpace Software plc has appointed 
an operating board which assesses the financial 
performance and position of the Group, and makes 
strategic decisions.  The operating board which has 
been identified as being the chief operating decision 
maker, consists of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief 
Financial Officer.

23(d) Foreign currency translation

Functional and presentation currency

The individual financial statements of each group entity 
are presented in the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which the entity operates (its functional 
currency). For the purpose of the consolidated financial 
statements, the results and financial position of each 
entity are expressed in pounds sterling which is also the 
presentation currency for the consolidated and company 
financial statements. The functional currency of the 
Company is pounds sterling.

Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the 
functional currency using the exchange rates at the 
dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and 
losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions, 
and from the translation of monetary assets and 
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at year end 
exchange rates, are generally recognised in profit or loss. 
They are deferred in equity if they are attributable to 
part of the net investment in a foreign operation.

Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to 
borrowings are presented in the statement of profit or 
loss, within finance costs. All other foreign exchange 
gains and losses are presented in the statement of profit 
or loss on a net basis, within ‘other gains/losses’.

Non-monetary items that are measured at fair value in a 

foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates 
at the date when fair value was determined. Translation 
differences on assets and liabilities carried at fair value 
are reported as part of the fair value gain or loss.

Group companies

Results and financial position of foreign operations 
(none of which has the currency of a hyper-inflationary 
economy) that have a functional currency different 
from the presentation currency are translated into the 
presentation currency as follows:

•  Assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented 
are translated at the closing rate at the date of that 
balance sheet;

•  income and expenses for each statement of profit 

or loss and statement of comprehensive income are 
translated at average exchange rates (unless this is not 
a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of 
the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which 
case income and expenses are translated at the dates 
of the transactions); and

•  all resulting exchange differences are recognised in 

other comprehensive income.

On translation, exchange differences arising from the 
translation of any net investment in foreign entities, 
and of borrowings and other financial instruments 
designated as hedges of such investments, are 
recognised in other comprehensive income. When a 
foreign operation is sold or any borrowings forming 
part of the net investment are repaid, the associated 
exchange differences are reclassified to profit or loss, as 
part of the gain or loss on sale. 

Exchange rates used are as follows:

Average exchange rate for  
1 New Zealand Dollar into  
Pounds Sterling 

Closing exchange rate for  
1 New Zealand Dollar into  
Pounds Sterling 

31 January 
2022 

31 January  

2021

0.5115 

0.5089

0.4896 

0.5250

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the 
acquisition of a foreign operation are treated as assets and 
liabilities of the foreign operation and translated at the 
closing rate.

23(e) Revenue recognition

The accounting policies for the Group’s revenue from 
contracts with customers are explained in note 4.

23(f) Government grants

Grants from the government are recognised at their fair 
value where there is a reasonable assurance that the grant 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
88

will be received and the Group will comply with all attached 
conditions. Where applicable government grants are offset 
against the expenditure to which they relate.

23(g) Income tax

The income tax expense or credit for the period is the tax 
payable on the current period’s taxable income, based 
on the applicable income tax rate for each jurisdiction, 
adjusted by changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities 
attributable to temporary differences and to unused tax 
losses.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis 
of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the 
end of the reporting period in the countries where the 
Company and its subsidiaries and associates operate 
and generate taxable income. Management periodically 
evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to 
situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to 
interpretation. It establishes provisions, where appropriate, 
on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax 
authorities. 

Deferred tax is provided in full, using the liability method, 
on temporary differences arising between the tax bases 
of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the 
financial statements. However, deferred tax liabilities are 
not recognised if they arise from the initial recognition of 
goodwill. Deferred income tax is also not accounted for 
it if arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in 
a transaction other than a business combination that, at 
the time of the transaction, affects neither accounting nor 
taxable profit or loss. Deferred income tax is determined 
using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period 
and are expected to apply when the related deferred 
income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax 
liability is settled. 

Deferred tax assets are only recognised if it is probable 
that future taxable amounts will be available to utilise those 
temporary differences and losses.

Deferred tax liabilities and assets are not recognised for 
temporary differences between the carrying amount and 
tax bases of investments in foreign operations where 
the Company is able to control the timing of the reversal 
of the temporary differences and it is probable that the 
differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at 
each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it 
is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be 
available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected 
to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the 
asset is realised based on tax laws and rates that have been 
enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet 
date. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income 
statement except when it relates to items charged or 
credited in other comprehensive income in which case the 
deferred tax is also dealt with in comprehensive income.

The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets 
reflects the tax consequences that would follow from the 
manner in which the Group expects, at the end of the 
reporting period, to recover or settle the carrying amount 
of its assets and liabilities.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there 
is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets 
against current tax liabilities and when they relate to 
income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the 
Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities 
on a net basis.

23(h) Leases

The accounting policies for the Group’s leases are 
described in note 9(b) 

23(i) Business combinations

The acquisition method of accounting is used for all 
business combinations regardless of whether equity 
instruments or other assets are acquired. The consideration 
transferred for the acquisition of subsidiaries comprises:

•  fair values of the assets transferred;

•  liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquired 

business;

•  equity interests issued by the Group;

•  fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a 

contingent consideration arrangement;

•  fair value of any pre-existing equity interest in the 

subsidiary.

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent 
liabilities assumed in a business combination are, with 
limited exceptions, measured initially at their fair values 
at the acquisition date. The Group recognises any 
non-controlling interest  in the acquired entity, on an 
acquisition-by-acquisition basis, either at fair value or at 
the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the 
acquired entity’s net identifiable assets.

Acquisition-related costs are recognised in profit or loss as 
incurred.

The excess of the:

•  consideration transferred;

•  the amount of any non-controlling interest in the 

acquired entity; and

•  the acquisition date fair value of any previous equity 

interest in the acquired entity

over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired is 
recorded as goodwill. If those amounts are less than the fair 
value of the net identifiable assets of the business acquired, 
the difference is recognised directly in profit or loss as a 
bargain purchase.

Where settlement of any part of cash consideration 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report89

is deferred, the amounts payable in the future are 
discounted to their present value at the date of exchange.  
The discount rate used is the entity’s incremental 
borrowing rate, being the rate at which a similar 
borrowing could be obtained from an independent 
financier under comparable terms and conditions.

Contingent consideration is classified either as equity 
or as a financial liability. Amounts classified as financial 
liability are subsequently remeasured to fair value, with 
changes in value recognised in profit or loss.

If the business combination is achieved in stages, 
the acquisition date carrying value of the acquirer’s 
previously held equity interest in the acquiree is 
remeasured to fair value at the acquisition date. Any 
gains or losses realised from such remeasurement are 
recognised in profit or loss.

23(j) Impairment of tangible and intangible assets

At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the 
carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets 
to determine whether there is any indication that those 
assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such 
indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset 
is estimated in order to determine the extent of the 
impairment loss (if any). Where the asset does not 
generate cash flows that are independent from other 
assets, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of 
the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. An 
intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is tested for 
impairment annually and whenever there is an indication 
that the asset may be impaired.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less 
costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, 
the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their 
present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects 
current market assessments of the time value of money 
and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates 
of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating 
unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, 
the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) 
is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment 
loss is recognised as an expense immediately, unless the 
relevant asset is carried at a re-valued amount, in which 
case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation 
decrease.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the 
carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) 
is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable 
amount, but so that the increased carrying amount 
does not exceed the carrying amount that would 
have been determined had no impairment loss been 
recognised for the asset/cash-generating unit in prior 
years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as 
income immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried 
at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the 
impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

23(k) Cash and cash equivalents

For the purpose of presentation in the statement of cash 
flows, cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand, 
deposits held at call with financial institutions and bank 
overdrafts.  Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in 
current liabilities in the balance sheet.

23(l) Trade receivables 

Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value 
and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method, less loss allowance. See note 8(a) 
for further information about the Group’s accounting for 
trade receivables and note 13(b) for a description of the 
Group’s impairment policies.

23(m) Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net 
realisable value. Cost comprises materials and, where 
applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that 
have been incurred in bringing the inventories to their 
present location and condition. Cost is calculated using the 
weighted average method. Net realisable value represents 
the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of 
completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling 
and distribution.

Year Ended 31 January 2022 90

23(n) Financial assets

Classification

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, 
and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting 
period.

The Group classifies its financial assets in the following 
measurement categories:

The carrying value is assessed annually and any 
impairment is charged to the income statement.

Gains or losses on disposals are determined by comparing 
proceeds with carrying amount. These are included in 
profit or loss. When revalued assets are sold, it is group 
policy to transfer any amounts included in other reserves 
in respect of those assets to retained earnings.

An item of property or plant is derecognised upon 
disposal or when no future economic benefits are 
expected to arise from the continued use of the asset. 
The gain or loss arising on the disposal or scrappage of 
an asset is determined as the difference between sales 
proceeds and the carrying value of the asset and is 
recognised in income. 

23(p) Intangible assets

Goodwill

Goodwill is measured as described in note 23(i). Goodwill 
on acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in intangible 
assets. Goodwill is not amortised but it is tested for 
impairment annually or more frequently if events or 
changes in circumstances indicated that it might be 
impaired, and is carried as cost less accumulated 
impairment losses. Gains and losses on the disposal of an 
entity include the carrying amount of goodwill relating to 
the entity sold.

Goodwill is allocated to cash- generating units for the 
purpose of impairment testing. The allocation is made to 
those cash-generating units that are expected to benefit 
from the business combination in which the goodwill 
arose. The units or groups of units are identified at the 
lowest level at which goodwill is monitored for internal 
management purposes, being the operating segments 
(note 3). 

•  those to be measured subsequently at fair value 
(either through other comprehensive income or 
through profit or loss)

•  those to be measured at amortised cost.

The classification depends on the entity’s business 
model for managing the financial assets and the 
contractual terms of the cash flows.

For assets measured at fair value, gains and losses 
will be recorded either in profit or loss or in other 
comprehensive income.

Measurement

At initial recognition the Group measures a financial 
asset at its fair value plus in the case of a financial 
asset not at fair value through profit or loss (FVPL), 
transaction costs that are directly attributable to the 
acquisition of the financial asset. Transaction costs of 
financial assets carried at FVPL are expensed in profit or 
loss. 

Impairment

The Group assesses, on a forward-looking basis, the 
expected credit losses associated with its financial assets 
carried at amortised cost. The impairment methodology 
applied depends on whether there has been a significant 
increase in credit risk.

For trade receivables, the Group applies the simplified 
approach permitted by IFRS 9, which requires expected 
lifetime losses to be recognised from initial recognition 
of the receivables, see note 13(b) for further details.

23(o) Property, plant and equipment

The Group’s accounting policy for land and buildings 
is explained in note 9a. All other property, plant and 
equipment is stated at historical cost less depreciation. 
Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly 
attributable of the acquisition of the items.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s 
carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, 
as appropriate, only when it is probable that future 
economic benefits associated with the item will flow to 
the Group and the cost of the item can be measured 
reliably.  The carrying amount of any component 
accounted for as a separate asset is derecognised when 
replaced. All other repairs and maintenance are charged 
to profit or loss during the reporting period in which 
they are incurred. 

The depreciation methods and periods used by the 
Group are disclosed in note 9(a).

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report91

Internally generated intangible assets - Research and 
development

Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an 
expense in the period in which it is incurred. 

Internally-generated intangible assets arising from the 
development (or from the development phase on an 
internal project) are recognised only if all the following 
conditions are met:

•  an asset is created that can be identified (such as 

software and new processes); 

•  it is probable that the asset created will generate future 

economic benefits; 

•  the development cost of the asset can be measured 

reliably;

•  an intention to complete the intangible asset and use 

or sell it;

•  ability to use or sell the intangible asset, and

•  the availability of adequate technical financial and 

other resources to complete the development and to 
use or sell the intangible asset.

The amount initially recognised for internally-generated 
intangible assets is the sum of the expenditure from the 
date when the intangible asset first meets the recognition 
criteria listed above. Where no internally-generated 
intangible asset can be recognised, development 
expenditure is recognised in profit or loss in the period in 
which it is incurred.

Subsequent to initial recognition internally generated 
intangible assets are reported at cost less accumulated 
amortisation and accumulated impairment losses on 
the same basis as intangible assets that are acquired 
separately.

Intangible assets acquired in a business combination

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.

Amortisation methods and periods

Refer to note 9(c) for details about amortisation methods 
and periods used by the Group for intangible assets. 
Amortisation is charged to profit or loss and included 
within administrative expenses.  

23(q) Trade and other payables

These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services 
provided to the Group prior to the end of the financial 

year which are unpaid. The amounts are unsecured and 
are usually paid within 30 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.

23(r) Borrowings

Borrowings are initially recognised at their 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. Fees 
paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognised 
as transaction costs of the loan to the extent that it is 
probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn 
down. In this case the fee is deferred until the draw-down 
occurs. To the extent that there is no evidence that it 
is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn 
down, the fee is capitalised as a prepayment for liquidity 
services and amortised over the period of the facility to 
which relates.

Borrowings are removed from the balance sheet when 
the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, 
cancelled or expired.  The difference between the carrying 
value of a financial liability that has been extinguished or 
transferred to another party and the consideration paid, 
including any non-cash assets transferred or liabilities 
assumed, is recognised in profit or loss as other income or 
finance costs.

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.

23(s) Cost of sale of goods and cost of providing 
services

Cost of sale of goods represents the cost of hardware 
together with delivery cost supplied to customers.

Cost of providing services represents the cost of 
providing professional services such as implementation, 
configuration training and project management.

23(t) Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs are expensed in the period in which they 
are incurred.

23(u) Provisions

A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the 
Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a 
result of a past event, and it is probable that an outflow of 
economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. 
If the effect is material, provisions are determined by 

Year Ended 31 January 2022 92

discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax 
rate that reflects the current market assessment of the 
time value of money and, where appropriate, the risks 
specific to the liability.

23(v) Employment benefits

Short- term obligations

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-
monetary benefits, annual leave and accumulating sick 
leave that are expected to settle within 12 months of the 
end of the period in which the employees render the 
related services  are recognised in respect of employees’ 
services up to the end of the reporting period and are 
measured at the amounts expected to be paid when 
the liabilities are settled. The liabilities are presented 
as current employee benefit obligations in the balance 
sheet.

Post- employment obligations

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit 
schemes are recognised as an expense when 
employees have rendered services entitling them to the 
contributions. Payments to state-managed retirement 
benefit schemes are dealt with as payments to defined 
contribution schemes where the Group’s obligations 
under the schemes are equivalent to those arising in a 
defined contribution retirement benefit scheme. The 
Group has no further payment obligations once the 
contributions have been paid.

Share-based payments

Equity-settled share-based payments to employees and 
others providing similar services are measured at the 
fair value of the equity instruments at the grant date. 
The fair value excludes the effect of non-market based 
vesting conditions. Details regarding the determination 
of the fair value of equity settled transactions are set out 
in note 19.

Where share options are awarded to employees, the fair 
value of the option is calculated at the date of grant and 
is subsequently charged to the income statement over 
the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions are 
taken into account by adjusting the number of equity 
instruments expected to vest at the balance sheet date 
so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised 
over the vesting period is based on the number of 
options that eventually vest. Market vesting conditions 
are factored into the fair value of the options granted. 
As long as all other vesting conditions are satisfied, 
a charge is made irrespective of whether the market 
vesting conditions are satisfied. The cumulative expense 
is not adjusted for failure to achieve a market vesting 
condition.

Fair value is measured using an appropriate option 
pricing model. The expected life used in the model has 
been adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, 
for the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions 

and behavioural considerations.

Where equity instruments are granted to persons other 
than employees, the consolidated income statement 
is charged with the fair value of goods and services 
received.

23(w) Contributed equity

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs 
directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options 
are shown in equity as a deduction net of tax from the 
proceeds.

23(x) Dividends

Provision is made for the amount of any dividend 
declared, being appropriately authorised and no longer 
at the discretion of the entity, on or before the end of 
the reporting period but not distributed at the end of the 
reporting period.

23(y) Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing:

•  the profit attributable to the owners of the Company, 
excluding any costs of servicing equity other than 
ordinary shares;

•  by the weighted average number of ordinary shares 

outstanding during the financial year.

Diluted earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share adjusts the figures used in the 
determination of basic earnings per share to take into 
account:

•  the after-tax effect of interest and other financing costs 
associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares; and 

•  the weighted average number of additional ordinary 

shares that would have been outstanding assuming the 
conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

23(z) Rounding of amounts

All amounts disclosed in the financial statements and notes 
have been rounded off to the nearest thousand pounds 
sterling unless otherwise stated.

24. CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Group changed its accounting policy for land 
and buildings from being held at historical cost less 
accumulated depreciation to a revaluation model. The 
impact of the change can be seen in note 9a.  

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual ReportPA RENT COMPANY  BALANC E  S H EE T 

Note 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

93

ASSETS 

Non-current assets 

Investments 

Property, plant and equipment 

Financial assets at amortised cost  

Deferred tax assets 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 

Prepayments 

Financial assets at amortised cost 

Other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

LIABILITIES 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Other tax liabilities 

Total current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

EQUITY 

Capital and reserves attributable to equity shareholders 

Share capital 

Share premium 

Other reserves 

Retained earnings 

Total equity 

2(b) 

2(a) 

1(a) 

3 

1(a) 

1(a) 

1(b) 

4(a) 

4(a) 

4(b) 

4(c) 

3,646 

2 

10,504 

1,304 

15,456 

45 

- 

- 

1,640 

1,685 

17,141 

364 

10 

374 

374 

3,567

10

9,385

791

13,753

30

328

1

3,781

4,140

17,893

184

72

256

256

16,767 

17,637

2,894 

3,839 

1,898 

8,136 

2,826

3,830

1,677

9,304

16,767 

17,637

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 no separate Parent company profit and loss account has been 
included in these financial statements. The Parent company loss for the period was £1,186,000 (2021: £1,261,000).

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 17 May 2022. 

They were signed on its behalf by:

Kristian Shaw
Chief Financial Officer

Company Number: 5332126 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
94

PA RENT COMPANY  STATEME NT   
OF  CHANGES IN EQUITY

Share 
capital 

Share  
premium  

Other   Retained 
earnings 

reserves 

At 31 January 2020 

Loss for the year 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners: 

Share based payment charge – continuing operations 

Share based payment charge – discontinued operations 

Share based payment charged to subsidiaries 

At 31 January 2021 

Loss for the year 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners: 

Issue of ordinary shares as consideration for a  
business combination  

Issue of ordinary shares to option holders 

Lapsed share options 

Exchange differences 

Share-based payment expense  

Share-based payment intercompany charge to subsidiaries 

£’000 

2,826 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Total

£’000

£’000  

£’000  

£’000  

3,830 

1,574  

10,565  

18,795

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-  

-  

(1,261) 

(1,261)

(1,261) 

(1,261)

135  

(47) 

15  

-  

-  

-  

135

(47)

15

2,826 

3,830 

1,677  

9,304  

17,637

- 

- 

67 

1 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

9 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-  

-  

(1,186) 

(1,186)

(1,186) 

(1,186)

(67) 

(3) 

(15) 

(4) 

183  

127  

-  

3  

15  

-  

-  

-  

-

10

-

(4)

183

127

At 31 January 2022 

2,894 

3,839 

1,898  

8,136  

16,767

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
95

PA RENT COMPANY  STATEME NT   
OF  CASH FLOWS

Cash flows from operating activities 

Cash consumed in operations 

Interest paid 

Income tax paid 

Net cash outflow from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Payment for property, plant and equipment  

Proceeds from disposal of subsidiary 

Net cash generated from investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Proceeds from issues of share capital (net of issue costs) 

Net cash used in financing activities 

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at start of year 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Note 

Year ended  
31 January 2022  

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000  

£’000

5 

(2,475) 

(1,210)

(3)  

-   

(1)

(5)

(2,478) 

(1,216)

-   

327  

327   

10  

10  

(2,141) 

3,781  

1,640  

(7)

4,366

4,359

-

-

3,143

638

3,781

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
96

NOT ES TO THE PARENT  COMPANY 
FIN A NCIAL STATEMENTS

1. FINANCIAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

This note provides information about the Company’s financial instruments including:

•  an overview of all financial instruments held by the Company;

•  specific information about each type of financial instrument;

•  accounting policies; 

•  information about determining the fair value of the instruments including judgements and estimation uncertainty 

involved.

 Financial assets 

Financial assets at amortised cost 

Cash and cash equivalents 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

10,504  

1,640  

12,144  

£’000

9,714 

3,781 

13,495 

 Financial liabilities 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

Trade and other payables  

£’000 

364 

364 

£’000

184

184 

The Company’s exposure to various risks associated with the financial instruments is discussed in note 7. The maximum 
exposure to credit risk at the end of the reporting period is the carrying amount of each class of financial assets 
mentioned above.

1(a) Financial assets at amortised cost 

Classifications of financial assets at amortised cost

The Company classifies its financial assets at amortised cost only if both the following criteria are met:

•  the asset is held within a business whose objective is to collect the contractual cash flows; and

•  the contractual terms give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest.

Financial assets at amortised cost include the following debt investments:

Loans to subsidiary 

Intercompany balances 

Other financial assets at amortised cost 

Other receivables 

 31 January 2022 
Current  Non-current 

£’000 

£’000 

Total 

£’000 

   31 January 2021 

Current  Non-current 

£’000 

£’000 

Total

£’000

-  

-  

- 

- 

-  

3,559  

3,559  

6,945  

6,945 

- 

- 

- 

- 

10,504  

10,504 

-  

-  

327  

1  

328  

3,816  

3,816 

5,569  

5,569 

-  

-  

327 

1 

9,385  

9,713 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
Loans to subsidiary

In 2018 the Company issued a loan to its subsidiary 
SmartSpace Software Limited. The loan is unsecured, 
interest free and repayable at 90 days’ notice. The fair 
value of the loan is the amortised cost.

As management do not intend to demand repayment 
of the loan in the next year the loan has been classified 
as non-current. Further information relating to loans to 
related parties is set out in note 9.

Loans to subsidiaries are denominated in New Zealand 
dollars.  As a result, the Company has an exposure to 
foreign currency risk when the loan is repaid.

Intercompany balances

The intercompany balances arise from goods and 
services and funding provided to or from subsidiary 
companies, are interest free and repayable on demand. 
As management do not intend to demand repayment 
of the intercompany balance in the next year the 
balance has been classified as non-current. Fair value 
of the intercompany balances is the amortised cost.

Other financial assets at amortised cost

These amounts generally arise from transactions 
outside the usual operating activities of the Company 
and include the contingent consideration on disposal 
of subsidiaries.

1(b) Trade and other payables

Current liabilities 

Trade payables 

Payroll liabilities 

Accrued expenses 

Other payables 

97

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

153 

2 

200 

9 

364 

48

5

98

33

184

The carrying amounts of trade and other payables are considered to be the same as their fair values.

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
98

2. NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

This note provides information about the Company’s non-financial assets and liabilities, including specific information 
about each type of non-financial asset and non-financial liability and information about determining the fair value of assets 
and liabilities including judgements and estimation uncertainty involved.

2(a)  Property, plant and equipment

Office equipment  

£’000

At 31 January 2020 

Cost or fair value 

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Year ending 31 January 2021 

Opening net book amount 

Additions 

Disposals 

Depreciation charge 

Closing net book amount 

At 31 January 2021 

Cost or fair value 

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

Year ending 31 January 2022 

Opening net book amount 

Additions 

Disposals 

Depreciation charge 

Closing net book amount 

At 31 January 2022 

Cost or fair value 

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book amount 

33

(17)

16

16  

8  

(2)

(12)

10  

21  

(11)

10  

10

-

-

(8)

2

21

(19)

2

Depreciation is provided so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their estimated residual values over their 
expected useful economic lives using the straight-line method on the following bases 

•  Office equipment  

3-4 years

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
2(b) Investment in subsidiaries

Shares in group undertakings 

Balance at 1 February 

Equity contribution to SwipedOn Limited 

Disposal of SmartSpace Global Limited 

Balance at 31 January 

99

  31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000  

£’000

3,567 

79 

- 

3,646 

4,894

-

(1,327)

3,567

Investments in subsidiaries are recorded at cost, which is the fair value of the consideration paid. Details of subsidiary 
undertakings can be seen in note 15 of the Group financial statements. 

3. DEFERRED TAX

Deferred tax assets

The balance comprises temporary differences attributable to: 

Tax losses 

General provisions 

Accelerated tax allowances 

Share based payments 

Deferred tax assets 

  31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

1,300 

2 

2 

- 

1,304 

721 

-

-

70 

791 

The Company has concluded that deferred tax assets relating to carried forward tax losses will be recoverable against 
future earnings through the use of UK corporation tax group relief provisions. 

 Movements 

At 31 January 2020 

Charged to profit and loss 

At 31 January 2021 

Charged to profit and loss 

At 31 January 2022 

Share 
based 
payments 

General 
provisions 

Accelerated 
tax 
allowances 

£’000

£’000

£’000 

45  

25   

70   

(70) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2 

2 

- 

- 

- 

2 

2 

Tax  
losses 

£’000  

Total

£’000

1,022  

1,067

(301) 

(276)

721   

579  

791  

513

1,300  

1,304

4. EQUITY

4(a) Share capital and share premium

Allotted, called up and fully paid: 

31 January 2022 

31 January 2021  31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

Number 

Number 

£’000 

£’000

Ordinary shares of 10p each 

28,941,234 

28,255,823 

2,894 

2,826

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
100

Movement in ordinary shares 

               Shares issued 

Share  
capital 

Share  Merger 
premium  Reserve 

Total

Number 

Price (p) 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000

At 31 January 2020 

At 31 January 2021 

28,255,823 

28,255,823 

Shares issued for deferred acquisition  
consideration 

675,411 

72.5 

Shares issued for share option exercise 

10,000 

101.25 

2,826 

2,826 

67 

1 

3,830 

3,830 

844 

7,500

844 

7,500

- 

9 

422 

- 

489

10

At 31 January 2022 

28,941,234 

2,894 

3,839 

1,266 

7,999

Full details of the ordinary shares including movements during the current and prior years, are included in note 10(a) to 
the consolidated accounts.

4(b) Other reserves

Acquisition deferred 
consideration reserve  

Share option 
reserves 

Total other  
reserves

Merger 
reserve 

£’000 

844  

- 

- 

844 

£’000   

489  

-  

-  

489  

£’000  

241   

135  

(32) 

344  

(489) 

422  

-   

-   

-  

-  

-  

-   

-  

-  

-  

- 

- 

-  

1,266  

(3) 

(15) 

(4) 

127  

183  

632  

£’000

1,574

135

(32)

1,677

(67)

(3)

(15)

(4)

127

183

1,898

At 31 January 2020 

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners: 

Share-based payment expense 

Share-based payment expense – discontinued operations 

At 31 January 2021 

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners: 

Issue of ordinary shares as consideration for a  
business combination  

Issue of ordinary shares to option holders 

Lapsed share options 

Exchange differences 

Share-based payment to subsidiaries 

Share-based payment expense  

At 31 January 2022 

Nature and purpose of other reserves

The merger reserve is used when a share issue is undertaken and merger relief is available. The conditions for merger relief 
are when the consideration for shares in another company includes issued shares of the acquirer and on completion of the 
transaction, the Company issuing the shares will have secured at least 90% equity holding in the acquiree.  

The acquisition deferred consideration reserve relates to deferred share consideration for the acquisition of subsidiaries. 

The share-based payments reserve is used to recognise the grant date fair value of options issued to employees but not 
exercised.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report   
            
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4(c) Retained earnings

The movements in retained earnings were as follows:

Balance at 1 February 

Net loss for the period 

Lapsed share options 

Issue of ordinary shares to option holders 

Balance at 31 January 

5. CASH FLOW INFORMATION 

5(a) Cash generated from operations

Loss before income tax 

Adjustments for: 

  Depreciation 

  Non-cash employee benefit expense – share-based payments 

  Credit loss 

  Gain on disposal of subsidiary 

  Gain on sale of non-current assets 

  Finance costs - net 

Change in operating assets and liabilities: 

  Movement in financial assets at amortised cost 

  Movement in other operating assets 

  Movement in trade payables 

  Movement in other operating liabilities 

Cash used in operations 

101

31 January 2022  

31 January 2021

£’000  

9,304   

(1,186) 

15   

3   

£’000

10,565  

(1,261)

-

-

8,136   

9,304

Year ended  
 31 January 2022  

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000  

(1,699) 

£’000

(979)

8  

161  

18  

-  

-  

3  

1  

(15) 

106  

(1,058) 

(2,475) 

12

103

54

291

2

1

29

22

(5)

(740)

(1,210)

5(b) Net cash reconciliation

The Company does not have any debt therefore net cash is comprised of cash and cash equivalents only. 

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
102

6. EMPLOYEE AND DIRECTOR INFORMATION

6(a) Employee and director benefits expense 

Wages and salaries 

Termination benefits 

Share based payments 

Social security costs 

Pension costs 

Total remuneration 

6(b) Average number of people employed

Administration 

Total employees 

Year ended 
  31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

£’000 

657 

40 

183 

69 

13 

962 

£’000

649 

-

80 

83 

22 

834 

Year ended 
  31 January 2022 

Year ended 
31 January 2021

No. 

3 

3 

No.

4

4

Details of directors’ remuneration including the highest paid director are provided in the Directors’ remuneration report on 
page 28. 

7. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Company’s exposure to financial risks is managed as part of the Group. Full details about how the Group’s exposure 
to financial risks and how these risks could affect the Group’s future financial performance are given in note 13 to the 
consolidated financial statements. Information specific to the Company is given below.

7(a) Credit risk

Credit risk arises from cash balances and contractual cash flows of debt investments and other receivables carried at 
amortised cost.

Risk management

Credit risk is managed on a Group basis. For banks and institutions only independently rated parties with a minimum 
rating of ‘A’ are accepted.

Impairment of loan to subsidiary

The loan to subsidiary is unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand after 3 months notice. The loan is denominated 
in New Zealand dollars and therefore subject to currency fluctuations. As the subsidiary is not expected to be able to 
repay on such a demand, other recovery strategies such as payment over time are considered. After taking into account 
these recovery strategies and possible non-recovery scenarios management have concluded the expected credit losses 
are not material. 

Balances due from related companies

The Company provides funding to its subsidiaries through short term intercompany receivables.  The loans are unsecured, 
interest free and repayable on demand. Where liquid assets are not immediately available to repay the full amount due, 
management consider other recovery strategies including payment over time through cash generated from operations. 
After taking into account these recovery strategies and possible non-recovery scenarios management have concluded 
the expected credit losses are not material. However an impairment of £18,000 was recorded against a short term 
intercompany receivable due from Smartspace Software Pty Limited which is not expected to be repaid.   

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
103

7(b) Liquidity risk

Management monitors rolling forecasts of the Company’s cash balance on the basis of expected cash flows.

Maturity of financial liabilities

The tables below analyse the Company’s financial liabilities into relevant maturity groups based on their contractual 
maturities.

The amounts disclosed in the tables are the contractual undiscounted cash flows. Balances due within 12 months equal 
their carrying balances as the impact of discounting is not significant.

 Contractual maturity  
 of financial liabilities  
 At 31 January 2022 

Trade and other payables 

Total  

 Contractual maturity  
 of financial liabilities  
 At 31 January 2021 

Trade and other payables 

Total  

Less than 
6 months 

£’000 

364 

364 

Less than 
6 months 

£’000 

153  

153  

6-12 
months 

£’000 

- 

- 

6-12 
months 

£’000 

31 

31 

Total 

£’000 

364 

364 

Total 

£’000 

184 

184  

Carrying 
amount

£’000

364

364

Carrying 
amount

£’000

184 

184 

8. CAPITAL MANAGEMENT 

The capital of the Company is managed as part of the capital of the Group as a whole. Full details are contained in note 13 
to the consolidated financial statements. 

9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

9(a) Outstanding balances arising from sales and purchases of goods and services

The following balances are outstanding at the end of the reporting period in relation to transactions with related parties:

Receivables 

  Subsidiary undertakings 

9(b) Loans to subsidiary undertaking

Loan to subsidiaries 

  At 1 February 2021 

  Impact of foreign currency exchange rate movement 

  At 31 January 2022 

  31 January 2022 

31 January 2021

£’000 

£’000

6,945 

5,569

  31 January 2022 

SmartSpace 
Software Ltd 

£’000  

3,816   

(257) 

3,559  

Total

£’000

3,816  

(257)

3,559

Year Ended 31 January 2022  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
104

Loan to subsidiaries 

  At 1 February 2020 

  Repayments 

  Withholding tax incurred 

  Interest charged 

  Impact of foreign currency exchange rate movement 

  At 31 January 2021 

No loss allowance was recognised in expense.

9(d) Terms and conditions

 31 January 2021 

SmartSpace 
Software Pty 

SmartSpace 
Software Ltd 

£’000  

£’000  

2,484   

(2,879) 

-  

101   

294   

-   

3,576   

-   

(5) 

-   

245   

3,816   

Total

£’000

6,060  

(2,879)

(5)

101  

539  

3,816  

The loan to SmartSpace Software Limited is unsecured, repayable at 90 days’ notice, and interest free.

9(e) Transactions with subsidiaries

The charge to the subsidiaries for share-based payment was £127,000 (2021: £15,000). 

10. INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THE NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS

Some of the information included in the notes to the consolidated financial statements is directly relevant to the financial 
statements of the Company. Please see the following:

Note 15  

Note 17 

Note 18(b) 

- 

- 

- 

Interest in other entities

Events occurring after the end of the reporting period

Related party transactions: Key management personnel

Note 18(c) 

-  

Related party transactions: Directors

Note 19 

Note 22 

- 

- 

Share based payments

Auditors’ remuneration 

11. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

This note provides a list of the significant accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements to 
the extent they have not already been disclosed in the other notes above. These policies have been consistently applied to 
all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. 

11(a) Basis of preparation

Compliance with IFRS

On 31 December 2020, IFRS as adopted by the European Union at that date was brought into UK law and became UK-
adopted International Accounting Standards, with future changes being subject to endorsement by the UK Endorsement 
Board. SmartSpace Software plc transitioned to UK-adopted International Accounting Standards in its financial 
statements on 1 February 2021. This change constitutes a change in accounting framework. However, there is no impact on 
recognition, measurement or disclosure in the period reported as a result of the change in framework.

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Historical cost convention   

11(d) Income tax

105

The income tax expense or credit for the period is the tax 
payable on the current period’s taxable income based on 
the applicable income tax rate for the jurisdiction adjusted 
by changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable 
to temporary differences and to unused tax losses.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of 
the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the end 
of the reporting period in the UK. Management periodically 
evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to 
situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to 
interpretation. It established provisions where appropriate 
on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax 
authorities.  

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability 
method, on temporary differences arising between the tax 
bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts 
in the financial statements. Deferred income tax is also 
not accounted for if it arises from the initial recognition of 
an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business 
combination that at the time of the transaction, affects 
neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred 
income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that 
have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of 
the reporting period and are expected to apply when the 
related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred 
income tax liability is settled.

Deferred tax assets are recognised only if it is probable 
that future taxable amounts will be available to utilise those 
temporary losses.

The financial statements have been prepared under 
the historical cost convention except for contingent 
consideration payable which is measured at fair value.

Standards and interpretations not yet applied by the 
Company

Certain new accounting standards and interpretations 
have been published that are not mandatory for the year 
end 31 January 2022 and have not been early adopted 
by the Company. None of these are expected to have a 
material impact on the Company in the current or future 
reporting periods and on foreseeable future transactions. 
Standards and interpretations adopted in the year had no 
significant impact (See note 23(a) of the Group financial 
statements). 

Going concern

The ability of the Parent Company to continue as a going 
concern is contingent upon the ongoing viability of the 
Group.  The financial statements for the Group and the 
Parent Company are prepared on a going concern basis 
notwithstanding that the Group has reported an operating 
loss of £3,653,000 for the year to 31 January 2022 (2021: 
£2,717,000 loss), and cash consumed by operations of 
£1,614,000 (2021: £1,639,000).

At 31 January 2022 the Group had £2.76m of gross 
cash, three operating segments and a central overhead 
to support. Cash forecasts for each segment and the 
consolidated group have been prepared for a period of 
twelve months from the date of signing the balance sheet. 

These forecasts have been stress tested to take into 
account varying degrees of reductions in customer 
purchases and subscriptions, delays in product launches 
and new sales wins, and extended customer payment 
days.

On the basis of this review, the Directors believe that the 
Group and the Parent Company will continue to operate 
within the resources currently available to it over the 
forecast period.

Based on the above, the Directors believe it remains 
appropriate to prepare the Group and Parent company 
Financial statements on the going concern basis. 

11(b) Investment in subsidiaries

Investment in subsidiaries are held at cost less accumulated 
impairment losses.

11(c) Functional and presentation currency

The financial statements are prepared in pounds sterling 
which is the Company’s functional and presentation 
currency. All transactions undertaken by the Company 
are denominated in pounds sterling other than the loan 
to SmartSpace Software Limited which is denominated in 
New Zealand dollars. 

Year Ended 31 January 2022 106

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is 
a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and 
liabilities and when the deferred tax balances relate to the 
same taxation authority. Current tax assets and liabilities 
are offset where the entity has a legally enforceable right to 
offset and intends to settle on a net basis, or to realise the 
asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Current and deferred tax is recognised in profit or loss 
except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in 
other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this 
case, the tax is also recognised in other comprehensive 
income or directly in equity, respectively. 

11(e) Cash and cash equivalents

For the purpose of presentation in the statement of cash 
flows, cash and short term equivalents includes cash 
on hand, deposit held at call with financial institutions, 
other short-term, highly liquid investments with original 
maturities of three months that are readily convertible 
to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an 
insignificant risk of changes in value.

11(f) Financial assets

Classification

The Company classifies its financial assets in the following 
measurement categories:

•  those to be measured subsequently at fair value (either 
through other comprehensive income or through profit 
or loss)

•  those to be measured at amortised cost.

The classification depends on the entity’s business model 
for managing the financial assets and the contractual terms 
of the cash flows.

For assets measured at fair value, gains and losses will be 
recorded either in profit or loss or in other comprehensive 
income.

Measurement

At initial recognition the Company measures a financial 
asset at its fair value plus in the case of a financial asset 
not at fair value through profit or loss (FVPL), transaction 
costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the 
financial asset. Transaction costs of financial assets carried 
at FVPL are expensed in profit or loss. 

Impairment

The Company assesses, on a forward-looking basis, the 
expected credit losses associated with its financial assets 
carried at amortised cost. The impairment methodology 
applied depends on whether there has been a significant 
increase in credit risk.

11(g) Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost 
less depreciation. Historical cost includes expenditure that 
is directly attributable of the acquisition of the items.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying 
amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, 
only when it is probable that future economic benefits 
associated with the item will flow to the Company and the 
cost of the item can be measured reliably.  The carrying 
amount of any component accounted for as a separate 
asset is derecognised when replaced. All other repairs 
and maintenance are charged to profit or loss during the 
reporting period in which they are incurred. 

The depreciation methods and periods used by the 
Company are disclosed in note 2(a).

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, 
and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting 
period.

The carrying value is assessed annually and any impairment 
is charged to the income statement.

Gains or losses on disposals are determined by comparing 
proceeds with carrying amount. These are included in profit 
or loss. 

SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report107

An item of property or plant is derecognised upon disposal 
or when no future economic benefits are expected to arise 
from the continued use of the asset. The gain or loss arising 
on the disposal or scrappage of an asset is determined as 
the difference between sales proceeds and the carrying 
value of the asset and is recognised in income. 

11(h) Trade and other payables

These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services 
provided to the Company prior to the end of the financial 
year which are unpaid. The amounts are unsecured and are 
usually paid within 30 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 as amortised cost using the effective interest 
method.

11(i) Employment benefits

Short- term obligations

Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary 
benefits, annual leave and accumulating sick leave that 
are expected to settle within 12 months of the end of the 
period in which the employees render the related services  
are recognised in respect of employees’ services up to 
the end of the reporting period and are measured at 
the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are 
settled. The liabilities are presented as current employee 
benefit obligations in the balance sheet.

the vesting period is based on the number of options that 
eventually vest. Market vesting conditions are factored 
into the fair value of the options granted. As long as all 
other vesting conditions are satisfied, a charge is made 
irrespective of whether the market vesting conditions are 
satisfied. The cumulative expense is not adjusted for failure 
to achieve a market vesting condition.

Fair value is measured using an appropriate option pricing 
model. The expected life used in the model has been 
adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, for the 
effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and 
behavioural considerations.

Where equity instruments are granted to persons other 
than employees, the consolidated income statement is 
charged with the fair value of goods and services received.

11(j) Contributed equity

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs 
directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options 
are shown in equity as a deduction net of tax from the 
proceeds.

11(k) Dividends

Provision is made for the amount of any dividend 
declared, being appropriately authorised and no longer 
at the discretion of the entity, on or before the end of 
the reporting period but not distributed at the end of the 
reporting period.

Post- employment obligations

11(l) Rounding of amounts

All amounts disclosed in the financial statements and notes 
have been rounded off to the nearest thousand pounds 
sterling unless otherwise stated.

12. EVENTS OCCURRING AFTER THE END OF 
THE REPORTING PERIOD

See note 17 of the Group financial statements for events 
occurring after the end of the reporting period. 

13. CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING POLICIES

There are no changes to report. 

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit 
schemes are recognised as an expense when employees 
have rendered services entitling them to the contributions. 
Payments to state-managed retirement benefit schemes 
are dealt with as payments to defined contribution 
schemes where the Company’s obligations under the 
schemes are equivalent to those arising in a defined 
contribution retirement benefit scheme. The Company has 
no further payment obligations once the contributions have 
been paid.

Share-based payments

Equity-settled share-based payments to employees and 
other providing similar services are measured at the fair 
value of the equity instruments at the grant date. The fair 
value excludes the effect of non-market based vesting 
conditions. Details regarding the determination of the fair 
value of equity settled transactions are set out in note 19 to 
the consolidated financial statements.

Where share options are awarded to employees, the fair 
value of the option is calculated at the date of grant and 
is subsequently charged to the income statement over 
the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions are 
taken into account by adjusting the number of equity 
instruments expected to vest at the balance sheet date so 
that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over 

Year Ended 31 January 2022 108

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SmartSpace Software PLC Annual Report