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2023-03-31-accounts

Registered number: 03012351 Charity number: 1044013

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

UNAUDITED

TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

CONTENTS

Page
Reference and administrative details of the company, its trustees and advisers 1
Trustees' report 2 - 13
Independent examiner's report 14 - 15
Consolidated statement of financial activities 16
Consolidated balance sheet 17 - 18
Company balance sheet 19 - 20
Notes to the financial statements 21 - 31

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE COMPANY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Trustees Mr L Whitby,Chair
Dr P L Chiodini(resigned 16 November 2022)
Dr B De la Salle
Mr A Dodson
Mr R C Haggas
Dr J Henderson
Ms C Hodgson(resigned 16 November 2022)
Dr F MacKenzie
Dr R Marrington
Ms D Patel
Ms D Pritchard
Ms A Rafique(appointed 16 November 2022)
Dr S Rughooputh(appointed 16 November 2022)
Ms M Tabiner
Ms R Treacy
Ms D A Williams
Company registered
number
03012351
Charity registered number
1044013
Registered office
2 Rutland Park
Sheffield
S10 2PD
Company secretary
Ms J Gelder
Independent Examiner
BHP LLP
Chartered Accountants
2 Rutland Park
Sheffield
S10 2PD
Bankers
Barclays Bank Plc
Leicester
LE87 2BB

Page 1

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of the company for the 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. The Annual report serves the purposes of both a trustees' report and a directors' report under company law. The trustees confirm that the Annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).

Since the group and the company qualify as small under section 383 of the Companies Act 2006, the Group strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitted.

Objectives and activities

United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service (UK NEQAS) provides external quality assessment (EQA) services to clinical laboratories worldwide, and uses the findings from these EQA services to provide education about the factors associated with good and poor performance. By informing clinical laboratories about such issues UK NEQAS promotes patient safety and good health by educational means.

The UK NEQAS consortium has significant experience in provision of EQA, having been established in 1969. Throughout its history UK NEQAS has led the way in EQA with the introduction of programmes for new diagnostic tests, development of innovative EQA for qualitative, quantitative and interpretative aspects of clinical laboratory testing and, as a result, is recognised as the world leader in EQA provision.

The UK NEQAS charity is governed by a Board of Trustees, elected from the membership and with one external member. In addition to directing the organisation, the Board of Trustees regularly reviews the operation of the charity to ensure that UK NEQAS continues to meet its charitable aims, delivers a benefit to the public and meets the requirements of the Charity Commission. The Board of Trustees also implements new initiatives and directs the UK NEQAS organisation to promote harmonisation in working practices, development of EQA services, promotion of UK NEQAS and ensures adherence to the Code of Practice.

To direct and promote the aims of UK NEQAS, the membership appoints a President, who acts as Chair of the Board of Trustees. The President is elected by the membership in a closed ballot with candidates being members of or associated to a UK NEQAS centre. The current President, Mr Liam Whitby, took up the role at the UK NEQAS annual consortium in November 2018, he was re-elected for a second term of office ending in 2024. The President is supported in their role by four Vice-Presidents, the Board of Trustees and staff from UK NEQAS Central Office.

Members of the Board of Trustees receive no personal remuneration from the Charity for the time spent on UK NEQAS Board business, other than reimbursement of expenses. There is an agreed fixed backfill reimbursement (authorised by the Charity Commission) to the employer of the President in order to release time to undertake Presidential business.

The EQA services provided by UK NEQAS are essential to supporting health services worldwide in their assessment and management of patients. Within the UK alone the NHS performs over 1.25 billion clinical laboratory tests a year, with over 95% of all clinical pathways relying on clinical laboratory results. Given the importance of clinical laboratory testing, the provision of a high standard EQA service is essential to healthcare and is a requirement for laboratories wishing to achieve accreditation to the ISO 15189 standard. The EQA programmes operated by UK NEQAS are designed to not only support clinical laboratories in monitoring the quality of their results, but to also allow laboratories to benchmark their performance against users of other technologies and colleagues nationally and internationally. Additionally, the programmes also provide laboratories with the tools necessary for continual audit of their services and education of staff.

Page 2

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

The EQA services provided by UK NEQAS are open to all laboratories (public, private, research, veterinary) both within the UK and overseas. Instrument manufacturers, diagnostic reagent producers and pharmaceutical companies are encouraged to participate in UK NEQAS programmes, to enable them to monitor their products when they are used in the clinical laboratory environment (a key part of regulations such as IVD-R) and to assist in the development of new products. Allowing all laboratories to use UK NEQAS services means that patients worldwide benefit from EQA delivered concurrently with educational activities to inform users of best practices, resulting in improvements in healthcare delivery for all.

The membership of the UK NEQAS consortium consists of 16 expert centres located around the UK and hosted by a variety of public institutions (NHS Trusts, Universities, UK Health Protection Agency and private, not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee). All UK NEQAS member centres are accredited to ISO/IEC 17043:2010 and operate according to the UK NEQAS Articles of Association and Code of Practice which require UK NEQAS services to be provided on a not-for-profit basis with any operating surplus reinvested into service improvements.

Each UK NEQAS member has a dedicated Organiser responsible for the delivery of EQA services from that centre and accountable to the UK NEQAS Board of Trustees for ensuring their centre meets the UK NEQAS Articles and adheres to the Code of Practice. Each Organiser is a registered scientist or clinician, with extensive experience in their field of EQA. In addition to an Organiser, each UK NEQAS centre is staffed by a dedicated team of scientists and administrative support staff working to ensure the delivery of a high standard of service to participants. Additional support and advice on development and operation of EQA programmes is provided by an independent steering committee of unpaid experts. These committees ensure that all UK NEQAS programmes remain clinically relevant in a developing laboratory environment and maintain the educational ethos that is at the heart of the organisation’s values. Funding for the steering committees is met by the relevant UK NEQAS centre, with members of the steering committees receiving no personal remuneration from the Charity for their time other than reimbursement of expenses.

Additional external support and assistance is provided to UK NEQAS Organisers by the National Quality Assessment Advisory Panels (NQAAPs) and the Quality Assurance in Pathology Committee (QAPC). These stakeholder bodies, provided in partnership with other EQA providers and the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), ensure that any performance issues occurring in UK laboratories are dealt with in a robust, consistent, and supportive manner. A proportion of operational funding for the NQAAPs is facilitated by the UK NEQAS Board of Trustees on behalf of the consortium, paid for from member centres’ precepts. However, it should be noted that to ensure operational independence, members of the NQAAPs and the QAPC receive no personal remuneration from UK NEQAS. Whilst the NQAAP framework only applies to UK laboratories, UK NEQAS also works with regulatory oversight organisations in other countries to ensure that, where such mechanisms exist, they are used for the benefit of laboratories and patient safety and performance concerns highlighted by EQA programmes are rapidly resolved for the good of all.

The UK NEQAS Board of Trustees and the member centres are supported by the UK NEQAS Central Office. The staff at Central Office ensure the harmonious and co-ordinated operation of UK NEQAS on organisational projects and strategies. UK NEQAS Central Office have been responsible for the delivery of UK NEQAS pan-disciplinary webinars and have facilitated the delivery of specialist online scientific meetings, ensuring education remains the primary objective of the charity. Furthermore, Central Office continues to support the promotion and marketing of UK NEQAS services both nationally and internationally by producing harmonised marketing materials. Staff from Central Office are members of each UK NEQAS working group (I.T., Logistics, Marketing and Promotions, Point of Care Testing and Quality Management) and this guarantees that the requirements of the charity are foremost in any developments, but also ensures consistency and promotes harmonisation across the organisation. Additionally, staff at Central Office regularly update content on the UK NEQAS website (www.ukneqas.org.uk), and are responsible for promoting UK NEQAS aims, services and ideals via the UK NEQAS Twitter feed (@UKNEQAS) and UK NEQAS profile on LinkedIn.

Page 3

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

Communication between the UK NEQAS Board and the Pathology Quality Assessment (PQA) board (the trading company of UK NEQAS) are facilitated by regular meetings of both Boards and by having three members of the UK NEQAS Board of Trustees as members of the PQA board.

Public Benefit Statement

The Trustees have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. Details of the activities carried out to deliver a public benefit are set out in this Objectives and activities section above.

Achievements and performance in 2022/23

UK NEQAS Central Events

Working Groups

The I.T., Logistics, Marketing and Promotions, Point of Care Testing and Quality Management working groups all had multiple online meetings in the period 2022-2023, allowing them to continue their work to share experience across the organisation to improve service delivery and promote harmonisation. At the Consortium meeting in November 2022, it was also decided to establish a Working Group focussed on Sustainability, and meetings for this group are planned for 2023.

Individual Centres

We have continued to support our scheme Organisers in their local arrangements with their hosts during the year. We also supported UK NEQAS for Vitamin K in transferring their services from London to Birmingham (Birmingham Quality/UK NEQAS for Clinical Chemistry).

Page 4

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

Through our members we have continued the expansion of our EQA repertoire for the benefit of the participants. The Board has approved 15 new pilot programmes in 2022-2023:

Page 5

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

The Board of Trustees held seven meetings during the year (meetings 190 - 196). One meeting (196th) was face to face, all others were online.

International collaborative working has continued through both members and Board of Trustees with collaborations in place with international bodies such as:

The UK NEQAS Consortium hosted several virtual and in-person scientific meetings during the year 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023, reaching over 8,500 delegates worldwide:

Page 6

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

Page 7

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

Page 8

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

Page 9

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

Page 10

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Objectives and activities (continued)

*supported by UK NEQAS Central Office

Future Developments

Financial Review

a. Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has 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. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the Accounting Policies.

b. Financial performance

The charity and its subsidiary company combined had a surplus of £10,731 (2022: £13,171) in the year ended 31 March 2023. At 31 March 2023, they had continued reserves to carry forward of £202,901 (2022: £195,117).

Page 11

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

c. Reserves policy

The charity operates in a financial landscape heavily reliant on Members' precept payments, which are primarily received in the second quarter of the fiscal year. To ensure it has sufficient funds to meet its expenditure in the first half of the year, the charity maintains a high level of unrestricted reserves, agreed upon by the trustees, equivalent to 60% of one year's operating costs.

Upon reviewing the year-end figures as of 31 March 2023, it was found that the reserve stood at £205,848, while consolidated operating costs for the charity and its trading subsidiary (excluding participant meeting fees) were £193,818. This represented 106% of the operating costs, a decrease from the 116.6% reported at year-end 2021-2022 (with a reserve of £195,117).

The Board noted this decrease in reserve as a proportion of operating costs, bringing it closer to the 60% target. However, the figure remains higher than ideal. The Board acknowledges that significant underspending occurred in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, particularly in the reduction of face-to-face meetings, suspension of advisory panel fees, and underspending against Central Office staffing costs.

The Board expects that corrective actions will be taken in the forthcoming financial year to balance the expenditure related to panel fees and staffing costs. No immediate corrective adjustments are deemed necessary at this time.

Structure, governance and management

a. Constitution

The company and the group is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association and is a registered charity number 1044013.

b. Methods of appointment or election of trustees

The management of the company and the group is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association.

The directors of the company, who are also trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s Articles, are known as members of the Board of Trustees. Under the requirements of the Articles of Association, the members of the Board of Trustees holding office under either Article 25.1.2 or 25.1.3 shall retire from office at the 4th (fourth) annual general meeting following the commencement of his or her term of office. When considering co opting trustees, the Board of Trustees has regard to the requirement for any specialist skills needed and wider experience of the charity sector.

c. Policies adopted for the induction and training of Trustees

Most trustees are already familiar with the work of the charity and have knowledge of work that the charity undertakes and charity governance. New trustees are given an information pack containing information from the various Charity Commission Publications along with the Articles of Association.

Page 12

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

(continued)

d. Organisational structure and decision making

The Executive Committee are responsible for setting the strategic objectives and establishing policy. The Committee meets up to six times a year and delegates the day-to-day running of the organisation to the Executive Manager and staff at the UKNEQAS office in Sheffield.

e. Risk management

The directors have assessed the risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the company, and are of the opinion that systems are in place to minimise the charity’s exposure to these risks. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of all staff, clients and visitors.

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company 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 . 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 company 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:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group 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 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.

Approved by order of the members of the board of trustees and signed on their behalf by:

................................................ Mr L Whitby

Date: Oct 26, 2023

Page 13

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service ('the Group')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the consolidated accounts of the Group comprising the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service ('the parent company') and its subsidiary undertakings for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the parent company (and its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the consolidated accounts of the Group in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act') and you have chosen to prepare consolidated accounts for the Group. You are satisfied that the accounts of both parent company and the Group are not required by either company or charity law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently I express no option as to whether the consolidated accounts present a 'true and fair' view and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner's statement.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the group's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the parent company and its subsidiaries as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

Page 14

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Philip Allsop (Oct 26, 2023 15:59 GMT+1)Philip Allsop Dated: Oct 26, 2023

Philip Allsop FCA

2 Rutland Park Sheffield S10 2PD

Page 15

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Note
Income from:
Charitable activities
2
Other trading activities
3
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Cost of commercial trading operation
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
4
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
125,057
126,266
50
251,373
113,609
127,033
240,642
10,731
195,117
10,731
205,848		 Total
funds
2023
£
125,057
126,266
50
251,373
113,609
127,033
240,642
10,731
195,117
10,731
205,848		 Total
funds
2022
£
124,557
102,295
1
226,853
82,590
131,092
213,682
13,171
181,946
13,171
195,117

The consolidated statement of financial activities complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006 and includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

Page 16

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

REGISTERED NUMBER: 03012351

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
8
Current assets
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
10
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Total net assets
Charity funds
Restricted funds
11
Unrestricted funds
11
Total funds		 49,730
325,737
375,467
(170,439)		 2023
£
820
820
205,028
205,848
205,848
-
205,848
205,848		 101,468
278,832
380,300
(186,810)		 2022
£
1,627
1,627
193,490
195,117
195,117
-
195,117
195,117

The company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of Companies Act 2006.

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.

Page 17

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

REGISTERED NUMBER: 03012351

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

................................................

Mr L Whitby

Date: Oct 26, 2023

The notes on pages 21 to 31 form part of these financial statements.

Page 18

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

REGISTERED NUMBER: 03012351

COMPANY BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
8
Current assets
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
10
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Total net assets
Charity funds
Restricted funds
11
Unrestricted funds
11
Total funds		 61,028
204,717
265,745
(73,353)		 2023
£
646
646
192,392
193,038
193,038
-
193,038
193,038		 53,984
206,151
260,135
(86,582)		 2022
£
1,366
1,366
173,553
174,919
174,919
-
174,919
174,919

The parent company 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. The surplus of the parent company is £18,119 (2022 - Deficit of £(688)).

The company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of Companies Act 2006.

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.

Page 19

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

COMPANY BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

................................................

Mr L Whitby

Date: Oct 26, 2023

The notes on pages 21 to 31 form part of these financial statements.

Page 20

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

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.

United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service 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 Group and its subsidiary undertaking. The results of the subsidiary are consolidated on a line by line basis.

The Group 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 Company status

The company is a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are the Trustees named on page 1. In the event of the company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the company.

1.3 Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

1.4 Income

All income is recognised once the company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Precept income is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable and is shown within charitable activities income for the charitable company's income and within other trading activities where related to the trading subsidiary.

Investment income is included when receivable and represents interest earned on the charity's cash deposits.

Page 21

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1. Accounting policies (continued)

1.5 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 charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Group's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

1.6 Basis for consolidation

The financial statements consolidate the accounts of United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service and its wholly owned subsidiary company, Pathology Quality Assessment Limited.

The company has taken advantage of the exemption contained within section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present its own Income and expenditure account.

The net income for the year dealt with in the accounts of the parent was £15,172 (2022: £688 net expenditure).

1.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

All assets costing more than £200 are capitalised.

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.

Depreciation is provided on the following basis:

1.8 Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the company; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Page 22

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1. Accounting policies (continued)

1.9 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.

1.10 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.

1.11 Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash.

1.12 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 company 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.

1.13 Financial instruments

The company 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.

1.14 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.

1.15 Amounts held on behalf of WHO Collaborating Centre

On 22 March 2000, monies held by the Wolfson EQA laboratory Fund were transferred to the charity at request of the Charity Commission. The purpose of these funds were to enable the Wolfson EQA laboratory to function as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Research and Reference Services in Clinical Chemistry, and to advance education and promote the presentation of good health through quality assurance and assessment services in laboratory medicine worldwide. United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Services is acting as custodian of these funds. Its trustees have no control over where the monies are spent and the charity charges a management fee for holding these funds. The monies are shown separately within creditors as amounts held on behalf of WHO Collaborating Centre, are held in a separate bank account and transactions relating to these funds are not included within the income and expenditure of the charity.

Page 23

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

2. Income from charitable activities

Precept subscriptions - UKNEQAS
Total 2022
3.
Income from other trading activities
Income from non charitable trading activities		 Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
125,057
124,557		 Total
funds
2023
£
125,057
124,557		 Total
funds
2022
£
124,557
Other income
Precept subscriptions - PQA
Fund management fees
Participant's meeting sales
Sponsorship income		 Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
60
74,912
1,870
41,424
8,000
126,266		 Total
funds
2023
£
60
74,912
1,870
41,424
8,000
126,266		 Total
funds
2022
£
5,100
75,317
990
20,888
-
102,295

Page 24

(A company limited by guarantee)

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

4. Total expenditure

Trading
operation		 Charitable
activities		 Total
funds		 Total
funds
2023 2023 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Participant meetingcosts 46,824 - 46,824 27,293
Cost of the executive - 1,536 1,536 154
President's reimbursements - 20,000 20,000 20,000
Cost of working groups - 4,042 4,042 15,208
Annual Meeting - 17,654 17,654 5,748
Advertisingandpromotion 21,092 43 21,135 8,398
Wages and salaries 31,028 47,544 78,572 91,534
Temporarywage costs 3,799 6,111 9,910 -
Staff training 168 - 168 -
General office expenses - 4,480 4,480 5,556
Operatinglease rentals - land and buildings 2,985 4,478 7,463 6,825
Computer costs 4,188 6,514 10,702 7,256
Subscriptions - 94 94 815
Bank charges 167 - 167 109
Sundryexpenses 52 1,557 1,609 229
Independent examiner's remuneration - 6,744 6,744 -
Auditor's remuneration - - - 9,400
Accountancyfees 3,031 1,131 4,162 2,152
Depreciation - 807 807 4,051
Professional fees - 4,298 4,298 8,954
Hotels,travel and subsistence 275 - 275 -
Total 2023 113,609 127,033 240,642 213,682
Total 2022 82,590 131,092 213,682

Page 25

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

5. Net income/(expenditure)

This is stated after charging:

2023 2022
£ £
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets: - owned by the charitable group 807 4,051
Fees payable to the company's independent examiner in respect of:
Auditor's remuneration - audit - 9,400
Independent examination fees 6,700 -
Operating lease rentals - land and buildings 7,463 6,825

6. Independent examiner's/ auditor's remuneration

The independent examiner's remuneration amounts to an independent examination fee of £6,700. In the prior year an audit was performed, and the auditor's remuneration amounted to an audit fee of £9,400 and non-audit services of £2,152.

7. Staff costs

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 Group
2023
£
72,995
4,575
1,002
78,572		 Group
2022
£
85,858
4,171
1,505
91,534		 Company
2023
£
43,797
2,745
601
47,143		 Company
2022
£
51,514
2,503
903
54,920

The average number of persons employed by the company during the year was as follows:

Group Group
2023 2022
No. No.
2 3

Included within the employee numbers above is one employee (2022: one employee) whose salary has been recharged to the entity.

Page 26

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

7. Staff costs (continued)

No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.

8.
Tangible fixed assets
Group
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2022
At 31 March 2023
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022		 Office
Equipment
£
34,121
34,121
32,494
807
33,301
820
1,627

Page 27

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

8. Tangible fixed assets (continued)

Company

Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2022
At 31 March 2023
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2023
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2022		 Fixtures and
fittings
£
31,655
31,655
30,289
720
31,009
646
1,366

9. Debtors

Trade debtors
Amounts owed by group undertakings
Prepayments and accrued income		 Group
2023
£
25,863
-
23,867
49,730		 Group
2022
£
97,742
-
3,726
101,468		 Company
2023
£
9,744
42,185
9,099
61,028		 Company
2022
£
52,247
1,736
1
53,984

Page 28

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

10. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Payments received on account
Trade creditors
Amounts held on behalf of WHO Collaborating
Centre
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
11.
Statement of funds
Statement of funds - current year
Balance at 1
April 2022
£
Unrestricted funds
General funds
169,253
Pathology Quality Assessment
25,864
195,117
Statement of funds - prior year
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Pathology Quality Assessment		 Group
2023
£
61,307
75,017
21,673
724
11,718
170,439
Income
£
125,165
126,208
251,373
Balance at
1 April 2021
£
175,506
6,440
181,946		 Group
2022
£
62,393
66,847
21,673
5,455
30,442
186,810
Expenditure
£
(126,223)
(114,419)
(240,642)
Income
£
124,658
102,195
226,853		 Company
2023
£
-
41,850
21,673
-
9,830
73,353
Transfers
in/out
£
24,843
(24,843)
-
Expenditure
£
(130,911)
(82,771)
(213,682)		 Company
2022
£
-
42,385
21,673
-
22,524
86,582
Balance at 31
March 2023
£
193,038
12,810
205,848
Balance at
31 March
2022
£
169,253
25,864
195,117

Page 29

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

12. Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds - current year

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Total
Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
Total		 Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
820
375,467
(170,439)
205,848
Unrestricted
funds
2022
£
1,627
380,300
(186,810)
195,117		 Total
funds
2023
£
820
375,467
(170,439)
205,848
Total
funds
2022
£
1,627
380,300
(186,810)
195,117

13. Operating lease commitments

At 31 March 2023 the Group and the company had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years		 Group
2023
£
7,463
11,817
19,280		 Group
2022
£
8,054
20,806
28,860

Page 30

UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL EXTERNAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT SERVICE

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

14. Related party transactions

There were 15 directors/ trustees (2022: 15) who served during the period. No directors/ trustees received remuneration during the period.

During the year, there were no expenses reimbursed to trustees (2022: £Nil)

During the year, the company paid £20,000 (2022: £20,000) to Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for the services of L Whitby, trustee.

During the year, sales totalling £8,010 (2022: £7,997) were made to Labxcell Limited, a company which trustees C Hodgson and L Whitby were also directors of. In addition, there were sales totalling £18,683 (2022: £18,653) made to External Quality Assessment Services for Cancer Diagnostics C.I.C., a company which L Whitby, trustee, and A Dodson, director of the subsidiary, are also directors of.

The majority of the trustees of the charity are also employees of the legal entities that operate the member schemes which contribute £199,969 (2022: £199,974) to the charitable group's income. Disclosure of each individual transaction would result in unnecessary costs and delay due to the number of transactions between the charity and the schemes.

The charitable company owns 100% of its subsidiary Pathology Quality Assessment Limited. During the year, expenditure was recharged of £21,273 to the subsidiary company (2022: £19,819). At the year end amounts totalling £42,185 (2022: £1,736) are included in debtors owed to the parent charitable company.

Page 31

2023-10-26

UKNEQAS 2023 - Final Accounts

Final Audit Report

Created: 2023-10-26 By: Emily Jones (emily.jones@bhp.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAA_EO5laBx0W0gF9Fw3ANPYUq2v6BxGevE

"UKNEQAS 2023 - Final Accounts" History

Document created by Emily Jones (emily.jones@bhp.co.uk)

2023-10-26 - 14:17:11 GMT- IP address: 81.23.52.242

Document emailed to Liam Whitby (liam.whitby@ukneqasli.co.uk) for signature 2023-10-26 - 14:18:44 GMT

Document emailed to Philip Allsop (philip.allsop@bhp.co.uk) for signature 2023-10-26 - 14:18:44 GMT

Email viewed by Philip Allsop (philip.allsop@bhp.co.uk) 2023-10-26 - 14:58:15 GMT- IP address: 194.41.123.76

Document e-signed by Philip Allsop (philip.allsop@bhp.co.uk) Signature Date: 2023-10-26 - 14:59:08 GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 81.23.52.242

Email viewed by Liam Whitby (liam.whitby@ukneqasli.co.uk) 2023-10-26 - 15:03:00 GMT- IP address: 82.132.245.116

Document e-signed by Liam Whitby (liam.whitby@ukneqasli.co.uk) Signature Date: 2023-10-26 - 15:03:38 GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 82.132.245.116

Agreement completed.

2023-10-26 - 15:03:38 GMT