Registered number: 02728847 Charity number: 1012890
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers | 1 |
| Trustees' report | 2 - 11 |
| Trustees' responsibilities statement | 12 |
| Independent auditor's report on the financial statements | 13 - 15 |
| Consolidated statement of financial activities | 16 |
| Consolidated balance sheet | 17 |
| Charity balance sheet | 18 |
| Consolidated statement of cash flows | 19 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 20 - 38 |
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Trustees | D Wilson, Chairman |
|---|---|
| D M Antrobus | |
| B Warrender | |
| M Purnell | |
| D Sharp | |
| Company registered number 02728847 Charity registered number 1012890 Registered office 1-2 Mallard Way Pride Park Derby Derbyshire DE24 8GX Chief executive officer N Collishaw Independent auditor Bates Weston Audit Limited Statutory Auditor Chartered Accountants Canal Street Derby DE1 2RJ Bankers Bank of Scotland plc The Mound Edinburgh EH1 1YZ Solicitors Nelsons Solicitors Limited Pennine House 8 Stanford Street Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG1 7BQ Investment advisors Investec Wealth & Management Limited The Colmore Building Colmore Circus Birmingham B4 6AT Investment advisors Rathbones Investment Management The Colmore Building 20 Colmore Circus Queensway Birmingham B4 6AT |
Page 1
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
The Trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act) present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of British Plumbing Employers Council (Training) Limited (the "company") for the year ended 31 December 2025. The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) FRS 102, effective 1 January 2019.
Objectives and Activities
The purpose and objectives of the Charity are to:
-
Sponsor research into training needs in the Plumbing and Heating Industry.
-
Support training and development of plumbing operatives.
-
Encourage leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
-
Work in partnership with key stakeholders.
-
Galvanise the industry in raising standards.
-
To support the activities of the Plumbing & Heating Skills Partnership (PHSP).
Summary of the main activities
The overall objective of the BPEC Charity is to improve the skills of those who work in the UK plumbing and heating industry as well as providing opportunities for personal growth and development and, from time to time, some limited qualifying activity outwith the UK.
To achieve this objective the following work strands have been established:
-
Invest in product development, such as, innovative learning materials, courses and qualifications that can be offered via the two trading companies – BPEC Certification Ltd and BPEC Services Ltd.
-
Supporting skills development activity across the UK through the Plumbing and Heating Skills Partnership (PHSP).
-
Deliver the SkillPLUMB skills competitions across the UK.
-
Provide BPEC Awards (to projects which use plumbing knowledge and skills to improve the lives of others in the UK) and Grants (to raise the plumbing skills levels of disadvantaged groups) and such other Awards, including projects outwith the UK, as the trustees consider appropriate and reasonable and to review these annually.
-
Maintain the ‘BPEC Brief’ to inform centres of education and training policy developments.
-
Collaborate with other industry organisations to exert pressure on regulatory bodies to ensure industry standards of training are adhered to.
-
Develop plans to create new careers information and guidance for new entrants into the plumbing and heating industry.
Public Benefit
The trustees are fully aware of the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and are committed to ensuring that the company’s charitable objectives and activities fully deliver services to ensure that they are of benefit to the public. The trustees remain focused on channeling the efforts and resources of the charity to ensure the charity fulfils its principal objectives and its public benefit obligations.
Grant making policies
The trustees’ policy is to focus principally on providing financial grants through the charity’s grants and awards and to award such other grants as the trustees consider appropriate. The trustees have allocated funds to support the activities of the Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF) which works closely with BSE Skills Ltd and other industry bodies involved in the development of apprenticeships, qualifications and occupational standards for the plumbing, mechanical services, and other related industries.
Page 2
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Volunteers
In respect to our Skills Competitions activity, we occasionally receive support from some volunteers (past competitors and college tutors) in helping facilitate or deliver one or more of the SkillPLUMB events. All SkillPLUMB judges are required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Over and above this, the charity does not engage volunteers.
Achievements and Performance
The trustees meet three times per year. The CEO provides a detailed report, and a performance scoresheet is produced to review the charity’s progress against each of its objectives.
No significant factors have affected the performance of the charity; however it is likely that the Charity’s role within the Plumbing & Heating Skills Partnership will change in the future due to the Charity’s close relationship with BPEC’s Awarding Organisation that sits within its wholly owned subsidiary (BPEC Certification).
During the period January to December 2025 the charity has been involved in the following activities:
Plumbing and Heating Skills Partnership (PHSP)
This partnership is continuing to be led by the charity’s Chairman and brings together industry stakeholders providing strategic UK-wide oversight on the development of standards, apprenticeships and qualifications for the plumbing and heating industry and wider building engineering sector. The PHSP has undertaken the following activity:
-
One UK Strategic group meeting took place in August.
-
Continue to champion the dangers of fast-tracking training solutions.
-
The PHSP’s website has been maintained and updated (https://phsp.org.uk/).
-
Representation to the Gas Strategic Management Board that reports on Matters of Gas Safety.
-
Regular liaison with closely allied industries, such as The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP).
-
Stakeholder engagement mapping.
-
Exploration into revising the structure of the PHSP and widening the membership of the PHSP to include other key Plumbing industry organisations.
-
Liaison with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to provide strategic support to the ongoing maintenance of the Mandatory Technical Competencies (MTCs) for the Plumbing & Heating Sector.
Plumbing skills competitions
The trustees remain fully committed to supporting the regional, national, and international Plumbing skills competitions as a means of showcasing the best in apprenticeship training.
The competitions remain open to every apprentice/trainee throughout the UK and invitations go out to over 200 further education colleges seeking their participation. The UK final takes place at the ‘WorldSkills UK Live event’, which was held at Bridgend College in November. There were eight finalists competing at the event in 2025: the overall winner being Dillon Newton from Cornwall. The competition has continued to demonstrate low carbon knowledge and skills within the heat pump task which was implemented in collaboration with Ideal Heating. Mark Antrobus and Mike Purnell (BPEC Trustees) were able to meet all the UK finalists and industry VIPs that attended the event.
BPEC continues to support SNIPEF’s plumbing competition in Scotland and was the headline sponsor for all the skills competitions that were held under their Scottish Plumber of the Year event. SNIPEF and BPEC signed a partnership agreement to strengthen Scotland’s plumbing and heating apprenticeship pathway.
BPEC also continues to support the recruitment, selection, and training of candidates to compete in the plumbing competition at the WorldSkills International events. Andrew McCann (former SkillPLUMB UK Finalist) has been shortlisted to represent the UK team at the WorldSkills competition being held in Shanghai in 2026.
Page 3
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Awards and Grants
BPEC has made provision to continue its contingency fund that supports learners that have been let down by their training provider, e.g. their provider ceases to trade, leaving them without provider support. This fund continues to enable advice, guidance, and support to be provided to learners and to access other appropriate training providers to enable them to continue and complete their studies.
The BPEC Trustees supported several charities and community led projects during 2025. The first is Aquabox, who manufacture, assemble and send water filters internationally to countries where clean running water is unavailable. BPEC has donated £3500 to support their efforts in producing these important filtration systems. This funding has supported their work in responding to disasters in Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Lebanon, Malawi, Uganda, Mozambique Rwanda and Ukraine. In December they also dispatched a consignment of water filters to Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa as well as sending a shipment for Sri Lanka in support of the relief effort in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah along with a combined shipment of Filters and Aqua Aid boxes to Pakistan.To date, over 125,000 water filters have been produced and dispatched to disaster areas and conflict zones. So far over 50 countries have received aid from Aquabox and an estimated 2 billion litres of contaminated water has been converted into safe, clean water.
BPEC continued its support of the Lighthouse Charity, an organisation that provides emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families. Established for nearly 70 years, the Lighthouse Charity is renowned across the construction industry for its comprehensive package of assistance for those in need. Its 24/7 confidential helpline and self-support app is available to workers including subcontractors, agency workers and allied trades. In the last year the charity has supported over 5,695 families supported and delivered 5,761 counselling sessions. BPEC donated £1500 to this worthwhile cause. In partnership with the Lighthouse Charity BPEC provided further financial support of £1000 to support a specific plumber and his family who were going through tremendous hardship.
BPEC also provided anonymous support to a young, disadvantaged black student studying in London, who provides care to his mother. Plumbing tools to the value of £500 were procured and distributed to him directly to support his professional development.
In July, the BPEC Charity supported Warriors of Warmth a Nottingham-based initiative tackling fuel poverty by providing free plumbing and heating services to those in need. Warriors of Warmth, founded by heating engineer Jonathon Hallam, brings together volunteer engineers and apprentices to carry out vital repairs and installations for charities, shelters, and community spaces. Their latest project focused on a Nottingham centre offering food bank services and a safe haven for vulnerable individuals and families. As part of BPEC’s ongoing commitment to raising standards and supporting skills development, it donated 10 BPEC training manuals to the apprentice volunteers involved in the project. BPEC staff also attended to meet the team, offer encouragement, and present the resources in person.
The BPEC Charity also provided one-off donations to two overseas initiatives delivering vital improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene across Africa. Each organisation has received £1,500 to support practical, on-theground work that aligns with BPEC’s long-standing commitment to public health and plumbing education. These two programmes stood out for the direct, tangible impact they make in their communities.
BPEC has a long relationship with the Bansang Hospital Appeal and its founder, Anita Smith MBE MRG. In 2014, BPEC representatives Neil Collishaw – CEO and Mark Antrobus – Trustee, visited the hospital to see and support the charity’s work first-hand, and BPEC have continued to follow their progress closely. The Bansang Hospital Appeal continues to demonstrate how targeted infrastructure investment can transform healthcare delivery in one of the most resource-challenged regions of The Gambia. In 2024 alone, the hospital’s Children’s Unit treated 2,673 young patients, many with life-threatening conditions where reliable water, sanitation, and clinical hygiene systems are essential. The new Intensive Care Unit will serve a catchment area of more than 600,000 people, and BPEC’s contribution towards plumbing materials directly supports the safe operation of this life-saving facility.
Page 4
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Village by Village is an independent charity delivering hygiene, water and education projects across rural Ghana. Their work came to our attention through their links with the Worshipful Company of Plumbers, and following a productive meeting with founders Neil Kerfoot and Anna Kotsonouris, the trustees agreed the initiative was an excellent fit for our charitable aims. Village by Village’s ‘Clean Water Saves Lives’ initiative has already delivered 36 school projects, reaching more than 9,000 children. Their gravity-fed systems, rainwater harvesting installations, and child-friendly handwashing stations significantly reduce waterborne disease and improve school attendance. Monitoring shows a 22% increase in handwashing and more than a 20% reduction in reported diarrhoeal illness in participating schools, clear evidence of the long-term public health benefits.
In September BPEC supported Tearfund’s toilet twinning initiative that helps transform lives by funding safe toilets, clean water and hygiene education in some of the world’s poorest communities. Following a proposal from Mark Antrobus and with unanimous support from the other BPEC Charity trustees, all toilets at BPEC’s Derby offices have been officially “twinned”. Each facility is paired with a toilet in one of six countries: Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Certificates are now displayed across our offices for staff and visitors to see. Unsafe sanitation and dirty drinking water remain a deadly global issue, causing 1.4 million deaths each year, including over 1,000 children under the age of five every single day. Toilet Twinning tackles this through community-led hygiene workshops and by helping family’s source local materials to build their own sustainable toilets. For every £1 donated, 84p goes directly to life-changing projects, while just 16p covers fundraising costs.
The BPEC Charity’s trustees intend to concentrate funding on UK initiatives throughout 2026.
Training
BPEC supported training and skills development across the UK plumbing and heating profession, by investing £15,000 to support the recently completed revision of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for plumbing and heating, and to help take forward the ongoing work on the Framework and Assessment Strategy for the Scottish Plumbing and Heating Apprenticeship. This investment supported work led by the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF), in collaboration with employers, apprentices, training providers, Skills Development Scotland, SQA Awarding, SQA Accreditation and wider industry stakeholders, to ensure Scotland’s plumbing and heating apprenticeship remains modern, credible and fit for future purpose.
The charity continues to offer a range of resources for apprentices and their employers as well as delivery materials in support of tutors in colleges and private training centres. These resources include:
-
Downloadable plumbing textbook.
-
Safety awareness materials.
-
Essential plumbing skills manual.
-
Gas ACS reassessment poster.
-
Legionella risk assessment.
-
Water Regulations video.
-
Resources for schools.
The charity has also supported the research and development of new learning materials, qualifications and assessments for the fire and security industry. A new BPEC End-point Assessment (EPA) facility for Fire, Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) apprenticeships was officially opened at BPEC’s headquarters in Derby in May, marking a major milestone in the continued expansion of the FESS apprenticeship programme across the UK. This new facility will play a vital role in increasing local access to EPA for learners completing the highly successful FESS apprenticeship, helping to meet growing demand across the sector. This launch is a significant component of BPEC and SSAIB’s shared commitment to Empowering Excellence and supporting the national Routes to Competence programme. The EPA facility will deliver assessments for the FESS apprenticeship standard, ensuring it continues to meet the needs of industry and employers alike. This latest development will help to ensure that the sector continues to deliver high standards, technical competence, and increased opportunities for apprentices nationwide.
Page 5
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Apprenticeship Ambassador Network
Mark Antrobus (BPEC trustee) continues to be a member of the Yorkshire and Humberside Apprenticeship Ambassador Network. He provides regular updates to meetings of the Board of Trustees.
The BPEC Brief
The 19th and 20th issues of the BPEC brief were developed and published in March and October. These e- newsletters continues to provide the latest news and policy updates affecting the training sector. Copies can be accessed via https://bpec.org.uk/the-bpec-charity/the-bpec-brief/.
Collaboration with other industry organisations
BPEC sponsored APHC’s Quality Plumber week awards that take place annually in October. BPEC supported the ‘Commitment to Training’ award, which recognises individuals or businesses who demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous professional development. It honours those who prioritise upskilling, staying up to date with industry standards, and creating a culture of learning within their workplace.
The charity continues to be an active UK based member of the World Plumbing Council (WPC). BPEC regularly generates articles to the WPC’s newsletter and the Chairman attended several virtual meetings and attended the conference throughout the year.
The charity works closely with other like-minded organisations, such as NET within the Electrotechnical sector. Quarterly meetings are held sharing good practice with a common objective to raise the knowledge and skills across both industries.
The charity is also working closely with government departments and industry bodies providing advice and guidance regarding renewable energy and the development of low carbon technologies. The charity is an active member on the Heat Pump Associations Training Group
BPEC also contributed to the ‘Communities that Work’ (CtW) research project on Green Jobs in Housing, as part of the work of the Housing, Growth and Green Jobs Alliance. The aim of this research is to provide up-to-date recommendations for Government and the sector, informed by the practical experience of social landlords and the expertise of key practitioners.
BPEC Certification Limited
Offering gas ACS assessments remains a key business activity. This is operated by the Certification Body (CB) under the quality standard ISO/IEC 17024:2012 (Conformity Assessment – General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons). This remains a highly competitive marketplace and our key objective is to maintain and develop our extensive range of UK-wide approved centres.
BPEC Certification’s Awarding Organisation continues to offer regulated and non-regulated qualifications for the plumbing and heating industry. Their End-point Assessment Organisation also continues to offer End-point Assessments for the following apprenticeship standards:
-
Gas Engineering.
-
Plumbing & Heating.
-
Fire Emergency and Security Systems.
-
Working to gain approval for the new Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship.
Key financial performance indicators
The charity does not currently use KPIs as a management tool, however the trustees closely monitor the financial performance of the charity and its wholly owned subsidiary via progress against agreed budgets. The Trustees have reviewed and updated its investment policy, strengthening the procedures to monitor the performance of its investment portfolio. The Investment Sub-Group (established in 2022) continues to meet with its investment director (managed by Rathbones) three times per annum to monitor and review the charity’s investment portfolio.
Page 6
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Fundraising activities / income generation
The Charity does not actively fundraise; it seeks to continue the charitable work agreed by the trustees through the careful management of its existing resources. This includes the return on its investment portfolio, rents, service charges to the associated companies and sundry income from various initiatives, including the skills competitions. From time to time, as and when available, surplus funds from its wholly owned subsidiary BPEC Certification – gift aided £349,996 in 2025 to the Charity.
Financial Review
Policy on reserves
The company has a policy of regularly reviewing (at least annually) the reserves its holds to ensure that sufficient working capital is available to cover its ongoing work in the succeeding 12 months and beyond and that sufficient funds are held. The trustees work to ensure that:
-
The company generates sufficient income from its diversified investment portfolio to meet its charitable objectives to benefit the industry.
-
Wherever possible the charity maintains its capital reserves and generates annual income from its investment portfolio and from time-to-time may receive gift aided profits from BPEC Certification Ltd (its wholly owned subsidiary) and BPEC Services Ltd.
-
A key aim of the policy is to spend at least 85% of the investment income (after costs) on charitable activities and to use such other funds from its reserves as are necessary and prudent, for activities which are over and above the agreed annual charitable activity budget.
-
‘Gift aided’ surplus funds from its trading subsidiary are, subject to circumstances, generally utilised as follows:
-
60% of gifted funds to be used for charitable projects and objectives.
-
40% of gifted funds to be added to the investment portfolio to increase investment future annual investment income.
-
Investment income for the year to 31 December 2025 was £93,967.
-
The trustees will, as necessary and appropriate, support the activities of its trading subsidiary which is the other principal source of new funds for the charity – gifted as able from time to time.
-
The trustees in setting the reserves policy fully consider any known risks facing the charity and the financial impact any such risks are likely to have on the financial wellbeing of the charity.
-
The charity does not actively fundraise but seeks to fund its charitable work principally from annual income from its investment portfolio, as agreed and directed by the trustees.
-
The value of the company’s investment portfolio as of December 2025 was £4,114,628.
In calculating its reserves, the company excludes:
-
The company’s office premises in Derby currently valued at £900k.
-
Vehicles and equipment necessary to undertake our work (charitable activities) currently valued at £25,000.
Investment powers
The trustees have overall responsibility for the investment of the charity’s funds and a key role in how to use the charity’s assets to achieve its charitable objectives. The investment portfolio is currently managed on behalf of the charity by Rathbones (incorporating Investec Wealth and Investment Ltd). However, the trustees retain overall control of investment decision making and require their investment director to comply with the terms of the Charity’s investment policy.
Monitoring of investment performance
The trustees require and will agree annually with their investment manager an appropriate benchmark(s) and target(s) against which investment performance will be judged over an agreed time-period. This will also include an effective and fair assessment of both the manager’s overall performance as well as the portfolio’s performance against the agreed benchmark(s) and target(s). In the matter of reviewing the performance of the investment director the trustees reserve the right to seek independent professional advice and support in
Page 7
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
conducting such a review. The investment driector attends meetings of the charity’s investment Sub-Group three times per annum to monitor and review the performance of the investment portfolio.
Amount available for investment
The principal funds available for investment are those held in the charity’s investment portfolio which are held in a ‘medium’ risk ‘diversified’ portfolio which in December 2025 amounted to £4.114m and comprised:
Asset Class As at Dec 2025 Equities 61.90% Fixed interest 20.10% Alternatives 12.10% Property 2.40% Cash 3.50% Total 100%
Additional investment funds may become available from time-to-time gift aided, depending on the profitability and financial requirements of the charity’s trading subsidiary. In such event the trustees in normal circumstances will allocate 60% of additional gifted funds to charitable projects/objectives and 40% added to the investment portfolio to increase future annual income.
Future spending
As part of the annual budget process the trustees will determine:
-
Future spending requirements of the charity.
-
Longer term organisational goals.
-
Past patterns of expenditure and future anticipated demand.
-
Assess the economic and financial outlook and its likely impact on the charity.
Future income requirements, including cash are regularly communicated to the charity’s investment director to ensure that these requirements are factored into the investment director’s investment decisions and where possible have the aim of either maintaining or increasing the asset value of the charity’s portfolio.
Cash deposits
As indicated above the trustees identify the cash required to be held from time to time and advise the investment director. Such cash held by the charity will be deposited with reputable financial institutions authorised and approved by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and held in appropriate deposit or fixed term accounts in accordance with the charity’s governance requirements.
The Charity’s assets held with Rathbones are held in accordance with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Client Asset Rules under CASS 6. The Charity’s money is held as a deposit under Rathbone’s banking license as authorised by the Prudential Regularity Authority.
Ethical Investment
The Trustees have determined that the charity’s investments should be invested in a responsible fashion which is line with its values and ethos and which is not contrary to its objects. The Trustees have considered the matter and do not wish to adopt an exclusionary policy, but individual investments may be excluded if perceived to be in conflict with the charity’s aims. The Trustees expect the investment director to consider Environmental, Social and Governance factors and the protection of the reputation of the charity when selecting investments and to adopt appropriate levels of stewardship and engagement.
Rathbones (Incorporating Investec Wealth & Investment Ltd) - (the Charity's Investment Managers)
Rathbones embed environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into their investment processes and has active engagement with the businesses which they include in their client portfolios. The investment director is required to regularly advise the trustees on such screening and support the charity in achieving its ethical investment objective.
Page 8
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Investment Objective
The historical investment objective of the charity has been to maximise investment income while aiming for an element of capital growth. The trustees have an investment objective for the five-year period 2022-2027 to primarily maximise income whilst continuing to review this investment objective annually. BPEC’s investment objective includes, and these must be agreed with our investment director:
-
Realising investment performance that allows annual spending or fund withdrawals to equal or grow relative to the prior year’s spending.
-
Satisfactory performance against the agreed benchmark(s)/target(s).
Suitable investments
The trustees with their investment director as a matter of course will always consider:
-
How suitable any investment is for the charity and influenced by the trustees’ attitude to risk and the risk level of the portfolio as well as its aim of ethical investment.
-
The need to have a mix of assets in the charity’s portfolio.
-
The importance of having a well-diversified portfolio to reduce and spread risk.
-
The trustees will seek independent professional advice where appropriate and necessary.
Risk
The trustees are aware that risk is part of the investment process however they aim to manage and reduce risk to as low a level as is possible, and to a level which is appropriate for the charity. The trustees consider all manner of risks e.g., capital, liquidity, market, volatility, valuation, counterparty, environmental, social and governance etc. in making their investment decisions guided by their investment director and as necessary by appropriate additional independent professional advice.
Management Reporting and Monitoring
The Trustees have appointed Rathbones to manage their Portfolio on a discretionary basis in line with their Policy. Rathbones provides custody of assets via its nominee arrangements as authorised and monitored by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Rathbones are required to produce a valuation and performance report for every Trustee Meeting. Rathbones should take instruction from any of the Trustees or the officer, who is authorised by the Trustees to give instructions to them.
The Trustees have the responsibility of agreeing an investment strategy and monitoring the investment assets. The Trustees have established an Investment Sub-Group for the purpose of receiving and reviewing regular and ongoing feedback from their investment director. The Sub-Group reports to the Board of trustees at each board meeting. Rathbones are required to report on performance of the portfolio bi-annually providing evidence of performance against the agreed benchmark(s) target(s) and at other times at the request of the Trustees depending on performance, economic or financial circumstances.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
BPEC is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 3 July 1992. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. The charity and the group are constituted under a Memorandum of Association dated 3 July 1992, which was amended in May 2009 and is a registered charity.
Method of appointment of Trustees
The trustees of the charity are also directors for the purposes of company law. As set out in the Articles of Association, the Chairman is appointed by the trustees. Duncan Wilson was appointed as a new independent Chairman in December 2019 and is listed as a Director with Companies House.
Although the charity has the ability to appoint up to six trustees, three of which are nominated by the Association
Page 9
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
of Plumbing and Heating Contractors Ltd (APHC) and three by the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF) the trustee Board has agreed to reduce the number of trustees to two each nominated by the APHC and SNIPEF. All new nominees to become a trustee are interviewed by the Chairman and CEO prior to their appointment to ensure they bring the mix of skills and attributes necessary for good governance and strategic planning.
The trustees will always act in the best interests of the charity and that the commercial interests of its subsidiary are not compromised.
Method of appointment or election of Trustees
All trustees are familiar with the work of the charity. An induction programme is used to assist new trustees/directors in meeting their responsibilities as well as BPEC’s requirements. Part of the induction programme provides the opportunity for a new trustee/director to discuss the work of the charity with the Chairman and CEO. The induction pack for all trustees is regularly updated.
Following induction, all new trustees will undertake a formal training session that is provided by the Charities Commission. Charity Commission newsletters are circulated as appropriate to trustees to keep them up to date with relevant changes that may impact on the BPEC charity / group.
Organisational structure and decision making
The Chairman along with the other trustees direct and oversee the work of the charity. The Board meets three times per year to review progress of the strategic priorities, finances, new developments and any changes to legislation or good practice. The CEO is responsible for implementing the activities contained in the strategic plan and as appropriate will delegate authority to other staff for managing the day-to-day operations of the charity and the non-charity subsidiary.
Related Parties
The group maintains a close relationship with the APHC and SNIPEF. Both organisations nominate individuals to act as trustees, all of which have significant experience in the UK Plumbing and Heating Industry. The employer link ensures there is strong leadership by the industry in directing the work of the charity and its subsidiary to help increase and develop the skills of those who operate in the Plumbing and Heating industry and that essential and appropriate training and qualifications are available.
Providing support for people seeking to enter the industry is a key part of the work of the Charity as well as implementing a range of activities to help increase the knowledge and skills of those already employed in the Plumbing and Heating industry. Developing and increasing competence is also beneficial to the public through having access to a highly skilled and competent workforce.
The Charity and its subsidiary have a related party, BPEC Services Limited, which is wholly owned by SNIPEF, and which has common directors appointed by SNIPEF. BPEC Services Ltd shares the objectives of the BPEC Group and seeks to complement and support the work of the Group. An example where profits from one of the BPEC trading companies are gifted to support and strengthen the ongoing charitable objectives and activities of the BPEC charity.
Risk Management
An assessment of the potential risks faced by the charity is undertaken on an annual basis and a formal ‘risk register’ was developed and implemented in 2021 and reviewed and updated in 2024. The trustees/directors review the register at Board meetings as part of their regular monitoring of the performance of the charity and its subsidiary. The risk register includes items within the following areas:
-
Governance
-
Financial
-
Operational
-
External
-
Compliance with law and regulation.
Page 10
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Plans for the future
The trustees approved a new 5-year strategic plan in November 2025. Progress on each strategic objective will be monitored and reported at each board meeting by the BPEC CEO.
-
The Charity’s key priorities for next year are as follows:
-
Deliver core activity (skills competitions, the BPEC Brief and the Year in Review etc.)
-
Continue to support charitable initiatives (Aquabox, Lighthouse, Warriers of Warmth, + other UK based projects)
-
Work in collaboration with stakeholders to promote training to industry standards.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
D Wilson
Chairman Date: 9 July 2026
Page 11
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law, the Trustees 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 Charity and of their incoming resources and application of resources, including their income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
-
make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group and the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Page 12
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of British Plumbing Employers Council (Training) Limited (the 'parent charitable company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the Consolidated statement of financial activities, the Consolidated balance sheet, the Charity balance sheet, the Consolidated statement of cash flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
-
give a true and fair view of the state of the Group's and of the parent charitable company's affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of the Group's incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
-
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
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 charitable 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 Trustees 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 Trustees 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
Page 13
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (CONTINUED)
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.
Opinion 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 Trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.
-
the Trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
the parent charitable company has not kept adequate and sufficient accounting records, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
-
the parent charitable company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
-
certain disclosures of Trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
-
the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic report.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the Trustees' responsibilities statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) 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 Trustees 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 Trustees are responsible for assessing the Group's and the parent charitable 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 Trustees either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Page 14
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (CONTINUED)
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.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
Based on our understanding of the company and industry in which it operates, we considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
-
Enquiry of management around actual and potential litigation and claims;
-
Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
-
Performing audit work over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for bias.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006, and to the charitable company's trustees, as a body, Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable 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 charitable company and its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Wayne Thomas FCA (Senior statutory auditor)
for and on behalf of Bates Weston Audit Limited Statutory Auditor Chartered Accountants Canal Street Derby DE1 2RJ
14 July 2026
Page 15
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Note Income from: Donations and legacies 2 Other trading activities 3 Income from local listed investments Other income 4 Total income Expenditure on: Raising funds 5,6 Charitable activities Total expenditure Net gains on investments Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Net movement in funds Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ - 1,994,174 93,967 115,104 2,203,245 1,501,047 336,854 1,837,901 359,021 724,365 5,887,565 724,365 6,611,930 |
Total funds 2025 £ - 1,994,174 93,967 115,104 2,203,245 1,501,047 336,854 1,837,901 359,021 724,365 5,887,565 724,365 6,611,930 |
Total funds 2024 £ 5,000 1,923,460 112,092 123,848 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,164,400 | |||
| 1,464,421 296,205 |
|||
| 1,760,626 | |||
| 159,919 | |||
| 563,693 | |||
| 5,323,872 563,693 |
|||
| 5,887,565 |
The Consolidated statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 20 to 38 form part of these financial statements.
Page 16
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 02728847
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Note Fixed assets Tangible assets 13 Investments 14 Current assets Debtors 16 Cash at bank and in hand Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 17 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Total net assets Charity funds Unrestricted funds 18 Total funds |
510,026 1,456,501 1,966,527 (193,737) |
2025 £ 724,512 4,114,628 4,839,140 1,772,790 6,611,930 6,611,930 6,611,930 6,611,930 |
256,699 1,451,880 1,708,579 (158,340) |
2024 £ 763,038 3,574,288 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,337,326 1,550,239 |
||||
| 5,887,565 | ||||
| 5,887,565 | ||||
| 5,887,565 | ||||
| 5,887,565 |
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
D Wilson
Chairman Date: 9 July 2026
The notes on pages 20 to 38 form part of these financial statements.
Page 17
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 02728847
CHARITY BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Note Fixed assets Tangible assets 13 Investments 14 Current assets Debtors 16 Cash at bank and in hand Current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 17 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Total net assets Charity funds Unrestricted funds 18 Total funds |
51,513 949,708 1,001,221 (95,034) |
2025 £ 723,985 4,114,728 4,838,713 906,187 5,744,900 5,744,900 5,744,900 5,744,900 |
30,179 763,207 793,386 (40,191) |
2024 £ 761,462 3,574,388 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,335,850 753,195 |
||||
| 5,089,045 | ||||
| 5,089,045 | ||||
| 5,089,045 | ||||
| 5,089,045 |
The Charity's net movement in funds for the year was £ 655,855 (2024 - £359,606) .
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
D Wilson Chairman
Date: 9 July 2026
The notes on pages 20 to 38 form part of these financial statements.
Page 18
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Note Cash flows from operating activities Net cash used in operating activities 21 Cash flows from investing activities Dividends, interests and rents from investments Proceeds from sale of investments Net cash provided by investing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 22 The notes on pages 20 to 38 form part of these financial statements |
2025 £ (122,182) 101,491 25,312 126,803 4,621 1,451,880 1,456,501 |
2024 £ 102,808 |
|---|---|---|
| 103,842 24,183 |
||
| 128,025 | ||
| 230,833 1,221,047 |
||
| 1,451,880 | ||
Page 19
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
1. Accounting policies
1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
British Plumbing Employers Council (Training) Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.
The Consolidated statement of financial activities (SOFA) and Consolidated balance sheet consolidate the financial statements of the Charity and its subsidiary undertaking. The results of the subsidiary are consolidated on a line by line basis.
The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own Statement of financial activities in these financial statements.
1.2 Income
All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Other income is recognised in the period in which it is receivable and to the extent the goods have been provided or on completion of the service.
1.3 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Group to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Group's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
Page 20
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
1. Accounting policies (continued)
1.4 Interest receivable
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Group; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.
1.5 Taxation
The Charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the Charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
1.6 Intangible assets and amortisation
Intangible assets costing £5,000 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.
Intangible assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, intangible assets are measured at cost less any accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses.
Amortisation is provided on intangible assets at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life.
Amortisation is provided on the following basis:
Computer Software - 20 % straight line
1.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets costing £5,000 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
| Freehold property | - | 3% straight line |
|---|---|---|
| Office equipment | - | 33% straight line |
| Computer equipment | - | 50% straight line |
Page 21
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
1. Accounting policies (continued)
1.8 Investments
Fixed asset investments are a form of financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction cost and subsequently measured at fair value at the Balance sheet date, unless the value cannot be measured reliably in which case it is measured at cost less impairment. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and presented as ‘Gains/(Losses) on investments’ in the Consolidated statement of financial activities.
Investments in subsidiaries are valued at cost less provision for impairment.
1.9 Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
1.10 Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
1.11 Liabilities and provisions
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Consolidated statement of financial activities as a finance cost.
1.12 Financial instruments
The Group only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
1.13 Operating leases
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Consolidated statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the lease term.
Page 22
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
1. Accounting policies (continued)
1.14 Pensions
The company makes contributions to a defined contribution pension scheme on behalf of staff. Contributions are charged in the statement of financial activities as they fall due.
1.15 Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Group and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
2. Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted funds 2025 £ Donations - Total 2024 5,000 |
Total funds 2025 £ - 5,000 |
Total funds 2024 £ 5,000 |
|---|---|---|
3. Income from other trading activities
Income from non charitable trading activities
| Unrestricted funds 2025 £ Sales 1,994,174 Total 2024 1,923,460 |
Total funds 2025 £ 1,994,174 1,923,460 |
Total funds 2024 £ 1,923,460 |
|---|---|---|
Page 23
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
4. Other incoming resources
| Rental income Service charges Other income Skills competition Total 2024 |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 38,100 40,456 3,841 32,707 115,104 123,848 |
Total funds 2025 £ 38,100 40,456 3,841 32,707 115,104 123,848 |
Total funds 2024 £ 38,100 50,433 4,308 31,007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 123,848 | |||
5. Expenditure on raising funds
| Other trading expenses Unrestricted funds 2025 £ Cost of sales 489,249 Administration expenses 297,849 Interest payable (7,524) Staff costs 703,444 Depreciation 1,050 1,484,068 Total 2024 1,444,268 |
Total funds 2025 £ 489,249 297,849 (7,524) 703,444 1,050 1,484,068 1,444,268 |
Total funds 2024 £ 483,559 226,625 8,250 724,784 1,050 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,444,268 | ||
Page 24
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
6. Investment management costs
| Unrestricted funds 2025 £ Investment management fees 16,979 Total 2024 20,153 |
Total funds 2025 £ 16,979 20,153 |
Total funds 2024 £ 20,153 |
|---|---|---|
7. Analysis of expenditure by activities
| Support and funding of plumbing, heating and gas industries Total 2024 |
Grant funding of activities 2025 £ 43,001 36,864 |
Support costs 2025 £ 293,853 259,341 |
Total funds 2025 £ 336,854 296,205 |
Total funds 2024 £ 296,205 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 25
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
7. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)
Analysis of support costs
| Staff costs Depreciation Other personnel costs IT and office costs Governance costs Utilities Travel costs Other admin costs Insurance Professional fees Irrecoverable VAT 8. Analysis of grants The group has made the following grants in the year: Plumbing and heating skills partnership SkillPLUMB 9. Auditor's remuneration Fees payable to the Charity's auditor for the audit of the Charity's annual accounts |
Total funds 2025 £ 86,805 37,478 16,693 38,185 14,938 22,625 2,903 11,026 4,462 44,523 14,215 293,853 2025 £ 15,000 - 15,000 2025 £ 5,950 |
Total funds 2024 £ 65,887 43,546 11,506 28,799 7,449 24,713 12,768 20,423 2,833 21,754 19,663 |
|---|---|---|
| 259,341 | ||
| 2024 £ 3,066 15,757 |
||
| 18,823 | ||
| 2024 £ 5,750 |
Page 26
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
10. Staff costs
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes |
Group 2025 £ 643,794 72,525 73,930 790,249 |
Group 2024 £ 651,104 65,656 73,911 790,671 |
Charity 2025 £ 64,026 11,408 11,371 86,805 |
Charity 2024 £ 22,122 19,473 24,292 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65,887 |
The average number of persons employed by the Charity during the year was as follows:
| Certification Awarding Organisation Training |
Group 2025 No. 13 5 3 21 |
Group 2024 No. 13 5 5 |
|---|---|---|
| 23 |
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
| Group | Group | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| No. | No. | ||
| In the band £60,001 | - £70,000 | 1 | 1 |
The total amount of employee benefits (including employer pension contributions) received by key management personnel for their services to the Charity was £69,558 (2024 - £140,457).
Key management personnel is made up of the Chief Executive Officer for the 2025 year.
Page 27
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED (A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
11. Trustees' remuneration and expenses
During the year, one Trustee has received benefits from the Charity. As permitted by the Articles of Association adopted by special resolution on 21 May 2009, the Board have approved the contracted services of D Wilson as independent director and Chairman. The value of payments was as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| D Wilson | Fees | 11,390 | 11,058 |
During the year ended 31 December 2025, expenses totalling £ NIL were reimbursed or paid directly to Trustee (2024 - £2,144 to 5 Trustees) .
12. Intangible assets
Group and Charity
| Cost At 1 January 2025 At 31 December 2025 Amortisation At 1 January 2025 At 31 December 2025 Net book value At 31 December 2025 At 31 December 2024 |
Computer Software £ 41,309 |
|---|---|
| 41,309 | |
| 41,309 | |
| 41,309 | |
| - | |
| - |
Page 28
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
13. Tangible fixed assets
Group
| Cost At 1 January 2025 Disposals At 31 December 2025 Depreciation At 1 January 2025 Charge for the year On disposals At 31 December 2025 Net book value At 31 December 2025 At 31 December 2024 |
Freehold property £ 1,273,020 - 1,273,020 514,204 34,831 - 549,035 723,985 758,816 |
Office equipment £ 114,247 - 114,247 111,601 2,646 - 114,247 - 2,646 |
Computer equipment £ 17,873 (4,268) 13,605 16,297 1,049 (4,268) 13,078 527 1,576 |
Total £ 1,405,140 (4,268) 1,400,872 642,102 38,526 (4,268) 676,360 724,512 763,038 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 29
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
13. Tangible fixed assets (continued)
Charity
| Cost At 1 January 2025 Disposals At 31 December 2025 Depreciation At 1 January 2025 Charge for the year On disposals At 31 December 2025 Net book value At 31 December 2025 At 31 December 2024 |
Freehold property £ 1,273,020 - 1,273,020 514,204 34,831 - 549,035 723,985 758,816 |
Office equipment £ 98,795 - 98,795 96,149 2,646 - 98,795 - 2,646 |
Computer equipment £ 14,158 (4,268) 9,890 14,158 - (4,268) 9,890 - - |
Total £ 1,385,973 (4,268) 1,381,705 624,511 37,477 (4,268) 657,720 723,985 761,462 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 30
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
14. Fixed asset investments
Investments
| Charity Cost or valuation At 1 January 2025 Additions Disposals Revaluations At 31 December 2025 |
in subsidiary companies £ 100 - - - 100 |
Listed investments £ 3,574,288 205,200 (25,312) 360,452 4,114,628 |
Total £ 3,574,388 205,200 (25,312) 360,452 4,114,728 |
|---|---|---|---|
Listed investments are recognised at their market value as reported by the investment advisors at the balance sheet date. Investments in the subsidiary company are held at cost.
Page 31
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
15. Principal subsidiaries
The following was a subsidiary undertaking of the Charity:
| Name | Company | Class of | Holding | Holding | Included in | Included in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| number | shares | consolidation | |||||
| BPEC Certification Limited | 03323774 | Ordinary | 100% | Yes | |||
| The financial results of the subsidiary for | the year were: | ||||||
| Name | Income Expenditure |
Profit for | Net assets | ||||
| £ | £ | the year | £ | ||||
| £ | |||||||
| BPEC Certification Limited | 1,994,175 (1,575,668) |
418,507 | 867,131 | ||||
| 16. | Debtors | ||||||
| Group | Group | Charity | Charity | ||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Due within one year | |||||||
| Trade debtors | 344,436 | 142,309 | 4,120 | 5,510 | |||
| Other debtors | 101,913 | 55,108 | 38,609 | 17,365 | |||
| Prepayments and accrued income | 63,677 | 59,282 | 8,784 | 7,304 | |||
| 510,026 | 256,699 | 51,513 | 30,179 |
Page 32
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
17. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Amounts owed to group undertakings Other taxation and social security Accruals and deferred income |
Group 2025 £ 131,617 - 22,608 39,512 193,737 |
Group 2024 £ 107,959 - 20,005 30,376 158,340 |
Charity 2025 £ 20,848 53,615 3,264 17,307 95,034 |
Charity 2024 £ 15,547 3,669 8,080 12,895 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40,191 |
Page 33
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
18. Statement of funds
Statement of funds - current year
| Balance at | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at 1 | 31 | ||||
| January | Gains/ | December | |||
| 2025 | Income | Expenditure | (Losses) | 2025 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| Designated funds | |||||
| Freehold Property Fund | 758,814 | - | (34,832) | - | 723,982 |
| General funds | |||||
| General Funds | 5,128,751 | 2,203,245 | (1,803,069) | 359,021 | 5,887,948 |
| Total Unrestricted funds | 5,887,565 | 2,203,245 | (1,837,901) | 359,021 | 6,611,930 |
| Statement of funds - prior | year | ||||
| Balance at | |||||
| Balance at | 31 | ||||
| 1 January | Gains/ | December | |||
| 2024 | Income | Expenditure | (Losses) | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| Designated funds | |||||
| Freehold Property Fund | 793,646 | - | (34,832) | - | 758,814 |
| General funds | |||||
| General Funds | 4,530,226 | 2,164,400 | (1,725,794) | 159,919 | 5,128,751 |
| Total Unrestricted funds | 5,323,872 | 2,164,400 | (1,760,626) | 159,919 | 5,887,565 |
Page 34
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
19. Summary of funds
Summary of funds - current year
| Designated funds General funds |
Balance at 1 January 2025 £ 758,814 5,128,751 5,887,565 Balance at 1 January 2024 £ 793,646 4,530,226 5,323,872 |
Income £ - 2,203,245 2,203,245 Income £ - 2,164,400 2,164,400 |
Expenditure £ (34,832) (1,803,069) (1,837,901) Expenditure £ (34,832) (1,725,794) (1,760,626) |
Gains/ (Losses) £ - 359,021 359,021 Gains/ (Losses) £ - 159,919 159,919 |
Balance at 31 December 2025 £ 723,982 5,887,948 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,611,930 | |||||
| Balance at 31 December 2024 £ 758,814 5,128,751 |
|||||
| Summary of funds - prior year | |||||
| Designated funds General funds |
|||||
| 5,887,565 |
20. Analysis of net assets between funds
Analysis of net assets between funds - current year
| Unrestricted funds 2025 £ Tangible fixed assets 724,512 Fixed asset investments 4,114,628 Current assets 1,988,922 Creditors due within one year (216,132) Total 6,611,930 |
Total funds 2025 £ 724,512 4,114,628 1,988,922 (216,132) |
|---|---|
| 6,611,930 |
Page 35
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
20. Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)
Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year
| Tangible fixed assets Fixed asset investments Current assets Creditors due within one year Total |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 763,038 3,574,288 1,708,579 (158,340) 5,887,565 |
Total funds 2024 £ 763,038 3,574,288 1,708,579 (158,340) 5,887,565 |
|---|---|---|
21. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities
| Net income for the year (as per Statement of Financial Activities) Adjustments for: Depreciation charges Amortisation charges (Gains) / losses on investments Dividends, interests and rents from investments Movement in debtors Movement in creditors Movement in provision Investment additions Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities |
Group 2025 £ 724,365 38,526 - (360,452) (101,491) (270,613) 52,683 - (205,200) (122,182) |
Group 2024 £ 563,693 40,724 3,869 (165,663) (103,842) (7,491) (162,008) (66,474) - 102,808 |
|---|---|---|
Page 36
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
22. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
| Cash in hand Total cash and cash equivalents |
Group 2025 £ 1,456,501 1,456,501 |
Group 2024 £ 1,451,880 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,451,880 |
23. Analysis of changes in net debt
| Cash at bank and in hand | At 1 January 2025 £ 1,451,880 1,451,880 |
Cash flows £ 4,621 4,621 |
At 31 December 2025 £ 1,456,501 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,456,501 |
24. Pension commitments
From 1 July 2019 all employees were transferred in to a defined contributions scheme administered by Royal London. Contributions are currently between 3.75% and 8.3% for an employee and 7.25% and 16.6% for the employer.
Up to 30 June 2019 contributions were paid into a defined benefits scheme with the assets of the pension scheme held separately from those of the charitable Company in an independently administered fund operated by Plumbing Pensions (UK) Limited. This is a multi-employer defined benefit scheme, of which the charitable company is unable to identify its share of assets and liabilities in the scheme on a consistent and reasonable basis.
The charitable company may be required to make further contributions should a deficit arise. The pension scheme reported a deficit position as per the last actuarial valuation as at 5 April 2023. As the scheme's assets were enough to cover 99% of the scheme's liabilities, the trustee agreed a recovery plan to make good the shortfall by a change to the investment out-performance rather than require employers to pay Deficit Reduction Contributions. Accordingly, there is no liability for British Plumbing Employers Council (Training) Limited in respect of the pension deficit.
In accordance with FRS 102 the pension cost represents contributions payable by the Group to the respective funds and amounted to £73,930 (2024 - £73,911). At the balance sheet date, £Nil (2024 - £Nil) was owing to the fund.
Page 37
BRITISH PLUMBING EMPLOYERS COUNCIL (TRAINING) LIMITED
(A company limited by guarantee)
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
25. Operating lease commitments
At 31 December 2025 the Group and the Charity had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:
| Amounts payable: Not later than 1 year Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years |
Group 2025 £ 23,796 24,402 48,198 |
Group 2024 £ 15,286 28,794 44,080 |
Charity 2025 £ 4,972 5,051 10,023 |
Charity 2024 £ 734 79 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 813 |
26. Related party transactions
The charitable company is limited by guarantee. The guarantors are the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation (SNIPEF Management Limited) and the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors Limited (APHCL).
BPEC Services Limited is operated in conjunction with the group and is controlled by Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer' Federation (SNIPEF Management Limited).
During the year the Group provided goods and services to the following related parties:
BPEC Services Limited £119,494 (2024 - £203,912) APHCL £Nil (2024 - £2,083) SNIPEF Management Ltd £Nil (2024 - £300)
| During the year goods and services were provided by related parties to the Group: |
|---|
| BPEC Services Limited £2,472 (2024 - £1,767) |
| APHCL £Nil (2024 - £Nil) |
| SNIPEF Management Ltd £7,778 (2024 - £2,500) |
| Included in the Group's balance sheet are the following amounts in debtors from related parties: |
BPEC Services Limited £9,484 (2024 - £15,408)
27. Controlling party
The group is controlled by its members, the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation (SNIPEF) and the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors Limited (APHCL). The Directors are of the opinion that there is no ultimate controlling party.
Page 38