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2023-12-31-accounts

Registered company number 03283252 (England and Wales) Registered charity number 1060668

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

INDEX

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 4
Independent examiner's report 5
Statement of financial activities 6
Balance sheet 7
Notes to the financial statements 8 - 13
This page does not form part of the financial statements
Detailed statement of financial activities 14

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102.

The BJTC remains one of the largest journalism accreditation bodies in higher education with 46 courses either accredited or in the advisory process and several more likely to join the advisory process in 2024.

The BJTC requirements are reviewed every year and 2023 saw enhancements around journalism skills in open-source intelligence, development of resilience and avoiding personal trauma, as well as other welfare and industry-reflective skills. Our Requirements are always reviewed in coalition with industry and academia to ensure they support both sides of our unique partnership.

The BJTC’s industry sponsorship remains strong with continued, dynamic relationships with the BBC, Sky News, ITV News, Channel 4, ITN, Bauer, Global, the NUJ, Reuters and Associated Press.

2023 was the fourth year of the Placement Assistance Scheme (PAS), aimed at tackling some of the challenges students face in funding crucial placements that are recognised as the first step to finding work in journalism. During the year 149 applicants were awarded the increased grant of £250 towards their placements. Of these 82 were paid and 33 remain unclaimed at 31 December 2023; whilst 34 awardees let their claim lapse and are no longer eligible to be paid. To date the BJTC has dedicated over £130k in grants to students studying on BJTC accredited courses.

The BJTC Partners Day was held at Nottingham Trent University. As always, this event is free to our industry and academic partners and this year included sessions on wellbeing, confidence and resilience teaching, podcast skills and AI in newsrooms. The meeting was extremely successful, with some excellent feedback from colleagues.

The 2023 BJTC Student Journalism Awards was held at Sky Cinema, in Brentford and presented by Kamali Melbourne from Sky News. The fourteen categories saw winners chosen from from City, University of London, Sheffield University, Solent University, Nottingham Trent University, The University of Leeds, and the University of East Anglia. The Steve Harris Award, which recognises the stand-out entry of the competition, was won by a student from the University of Leeds and The Derek Dowsett Award, which recognises great social inclusion stories, in a tight TV package was won by two students from The University of Gloucestershire.

Every year we award BJTC Skills Certificates to successful graduates from accredited courses. The certificates are free and optional and in 2023 we issued over 600 certificates from 34 accredited courses.

An update of one of our free eBooks was published in 2023. Media Law, Regulation & Ethics: Student Pocket Guide 2023 , by Tim Crook is available for free on the BJTC website, along with Reporting Power - Civic Structures: Why They Matter, How They Work , by Kate Ironside, Everybody In – A Journalist’s Guide to Inclusive Reporting for Journalism Students, by Bob Calver, Diane Kemp, Marcus Ryder, and supported by Birmingham City University School of Media, and Accessing Documents, Images and Videos in a New System of Court Reporting , by Tristan Kirk, Courts Correspondent, London Evening Standard.

As an educational charity, the BJTC continues to monitor its finances closely, to ensure it holds just enough for the smooth running of the business. This has allowed four years of funding towards the Placement Assistance Scheme and the running of the BJTC Student Awards, which is one of the biggest and most valued events with BJTC students and industry professionals. Tight budgeting has ensured minimal fee increases to sponsors and training bodies across the last five years, however, in 2023 the board agreed a revised banding model for the 2024 annual accreditation fees. The updated banding system ensures student numbers are better reflected in the fee allocated to individual courses. This fairer system provides greater transparency and ensures the annual income for the BJTC is better protected from fluctuations in student numbers.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

During the year, the charitable company made a deficit of £36,419 (2022: £20,117), and at the year end held total funds of £104,886 (2022: £141,305).

1

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

Officers are appointed by the board as consultants to them, to assist in the administration and day to day running of the charity. The secretary, treasurer and company administrator, interim accreditation team leaders and accreditation director received fees during the year totalling £23,495 (2022: £31,400). None of these officers were trustees of the charity. Trustees received no fees in connection with their duties as trustees as these are provided on a voluntary basis with just travel and subsistence expenses being reimbursed.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. In June 2012, the charity adopted new Articles of Association to reflect the introduction of the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.

Appointment to the Board

The methods for appointing Board members are set out in our Articles of Association adopted at our AGM in 2012. Under these Articles, major industry sponsors each appoint senior managers to the Board. Representatives of the 34 colleges with accredited courses elect 6 course leaders from their number, to represent them on the Board. Each elected college representative serves for 3 years.

Induction and Training

Prior to appointment, potential Board members are informed of their liabilities and responsibilities as both Board members and Trustees. The Company Secretary takes responsibility to ensure that new Board members have access to all relevant documents and to bring them up to date on the current priorities of the BJTC.

Risk Management

The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed, and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable insurance against fraud and error.

BJTC Reserves Policy

It is the policy of the BJTC to hold in reserves the equivalent of four months general running costs. In addition to this the BJTC can hold unallocated funds for the purposes of supporting, promoting and enhancing accreditation services and to further the objectives of the BJTC.

But it is noted that circumstances may change with time and trustees will review the policy at least annually as part of its planning processes. The amount held in reserves will also be monitored during the course of the year as part of a charity’s budgetary processes.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The charity's objectives and aims in the year under review were the monitoring, evaluation and accreditation of educational courses in broadcast and multi-media journalism.

The Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) exists to set and maintain standards of journalism training in the UK. Skills and knowledge required by these standards are then used to assess journalism training courses around the whole of the UK and if courses meet those standards then they are formally recognised as ''accredited.''

Currently the BJTC accredits 46 courses within 31 institutions in the UK, with more than 4000 students enrolled on them. This process is also growing in importance as the whole news industry meets the challenges set by changing viewing, listening and reading habits as well as the impact of new technology. The BJTC aims to ensure that graduates from these accredited courses are best prepared for careers in this fast-changing industry.

The trustees are aware that they must carry on the charity's activities for the public benefit and they must pay due regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission. They consider that the charity's aims and activities are for the public benefit as outlined above.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

03283252 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1060668

2

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS (CONTINUED)

Trustees
R M Bernard
Mrs C H R M Smith
Mrs T Kaur-Thanki - resigned 1 June 2023
Ms S A Lewis
Ms C L Bamfield
C G Wheal - resigned 4 April 2023
J R Barsby
R P Elias
J R Porter
P T Parker
Ms G E Slack
L Dixon - resigned 21 November 2023
D M Ridley - resigned 18 April 2023
L Herbison
Dr A Harbin - appointed 30 January 2023
C Howard
Mrs J M S Kean - resigned 30 January 2023
M P Walsh
W P Cope
T B John
Ms G F Melody-Gardner - appointed 1 March 2023
R Popat - appointed 22 March 2023
Miss D Navanayagam - appointed 4 April 2023
Mr Mathew Brindley - appointed 18 April 2023
Mr Christopher Chohan - appointed 21 November 2023

Company Secretary Miss H L Hurd

Registered office

2 – 4 Packhorse Road Gerrards Cross Buckinghamshire SL9 7QE

Independent examiner

Nunn Hayward LLP Chartered Accountants 2-4 Packhorse Road Gerrards Cross Buckinghamshire SL9 7QE

3

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors of Broadcast Journalism Training Council for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the report of the trustees 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 which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by the board of trustees on 1st October 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

R M Bernard Chairman

4

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Broadcast Journalism Training Council for the year ended 31 December 2023 as set out on pages 6 to 13.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 ("the 2006 Act").

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.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no 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.

Tom Lacey FCCA Nunn Hayward LLP Chartered Accountants 2-4 Packhorse Road Gerrards Cross Buckinghamshire SL9 7QE

Date:

5

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Charitable activities
3
Investment income
3
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
4
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
TOTAL INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
12
12
12
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Fund balances brought forward
Fund balances carried forward		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Fund
Fund
2023
£
£
£
168,923
-
168,923
1,996
-
1,996
170,919
-
170,919
177,188
30,150
207,338
177,188
30,150
207,338
(6,269)
(30,150)
(36,419)
(15,000)
15,000
-
(21,269)
(15,150)
(36,419)
94,825
46,480
141,305
73,556
31,330
104,886		 Total
2022
£
155,364
372
155,736
175,853
175,853
(20,117)
-
(20,117)
161,422
141,305

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure is derived from continuing activities.

6

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL (REGISTERED NUMBER 03283252)

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
8
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
9
Cash at bank
10
CREDITORS -
Amounts falling due within one year
Creditors and accruals
11
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
FUNDS
Restricted funds
12
Designated funds
12
General fund
12
TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS		 £
3,468
117,621		 2023
£
572
104,314		 £
21,115
141,964		 2022
£
762
140,543
121,089
16,775		 163,079
22,536
104,886 141,305
31,330
-
73,556		 46,480
-
94,825
104,886 141,305

The company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2023. No members have deposited a notice pursuant to section 476 of the Companies Act 2006 requiring an audit.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and in accordance with FRS102 section 1A – small entities.

Approved by the board of trustees on 1 October 2024 and signed on its behalf by

R M Bernard

Trustee

Registered charity number: 1060668

7

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1 STATUTORY INFORMATION

The Broadcast Journalism Training Council is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity. The address of the registered office is given on page 3 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are the monitoring, evaluation and accreditation of higher education courses in broadcast and multi-media journalism.

2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, 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 (FRS102) and the provisions of FRS 102 Section 1A small entities.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention and presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £1.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis which assumes that the charitable company will continue for the foreseeable future.

The charitable company is financially stable and has reserves in excess of 9 months of running costs. On this basis the trustees consider it appropriate to continue to adopt the going concern basis for the preparation of the financial statements.

Cash flow statement

The charity has not included a cash flow statement as it has claimed exemption under FRS 102 Section 1A.

Income

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received. Income that has been invoiced but relating a future period is deferred.

No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102) as this is deemed to be negligible.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

8

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 (continued)

2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Allocation and apportionment of support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office costs, personnel and governance costs which support the Charity's activities. All support costs have been allocated to the Charity's primary charitable activity of education.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Computer equipment - 25% on reducing balance

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds which have been ear marked for use for a specific purpose.

Debtors receivable and creditors payable within one year

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.

Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and 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.

9

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 (continued)

3
INCOME
Charitable activities
Education
Derek Dowsett Award
Investment income
Interest received
4
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Education
5
SUPPORT COSTS
Education
Insurance
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Computer costs
Sundry expenses
Administrations fees
Project costs
Depreciation of tangible assets
Bank charges
Professional fees
Independent examiner's fees
6
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
Depreciation - owned assets		 PAS and
Awards
Staff
costs
£
£
30,150
90,725
Management
£
63,918		 2023
£
168,923
-
168,923
2023
£
1,996
1,996
Direct
costs
Support
costs
£
£
18,870
67,593
Finance
Governance
£
£
126
3,549
2023
£
325
1,534
1,698
1,432
1,342
52,897
4,500
190
126
834
2,715
67,593
2023
£
190		 2022
£
155,364
-
155,364
2022
£
372
372
Total
£
207,338
Total
£
67,593
2022
£
325
2,286
1,949
274
524
39,650
-
254
148
873
2,730
49,013
2022
£
254

10

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 (continued)

7
STAFF COSTS
Wages and salaries
Social security
Pension
The average number of staff during the year was 1 (2022: 1).
Emoluments of staff earning in excess of £60,000 was as follows:
£70,000 - £80,000		 2023
£
78,750
9,612
2,363
90,725
2023
No
1
1		 2022
£
75,000
8,589
2,250
85,839
2022
No
1
1

TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION, BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2023 nor for the year ended 31 December 2022.

During the year expenses reimbursed to trustees were £618 (2022: Nil)

8 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
COST
At 1 January 2023
Additions in year
At 31 December 2023
DEPRECIATION
At 1 January 2023
Depreciation in the year
At 31 December 2023
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2022		 Computer
equipment
£
8,241
-
8,241
7,479
190
7,669
572
762

11

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 (continued)

9
DEBTORS
Trade debtors
Prepayments
10
CASH AT BANK
Cash at bank
11
CREDITORS - AMOUNTS FALLING
DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Other taxes and social security
Other creditors
PAS grant payable
Accruals and deferred income
12
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
As at 1 January 2023
Incoming resources
Resources expended
Surplus/(deficit) for year
Transfer
As at 31 December 2023
Analysis of net assets by funds:
Fixed assets
Debtors
Cash at bank
Creditors and accruals
As at 31 December 2023		 2023
£
3,468
-
3,468
2023
£
117,621
117,621
2023
£
2,801
460
8,250
5,264
16,775
General
Designated Restricted
£
£
£
94,825
-
46,480
Unrestricted		 2022
£
16,615
4,500
21,115
2022
£
141,964
141,964
2022
£
1,839
438
-
20,259
22,536
Total
£

141,305
170,919
-
-
170,919
(177,188)
-
(30,150)
(207,338)
(6,269)
-
(30,150)
(36,419)
(15,000)
15,000
-
73,556
-
31,330
104,886
£
£
£
£
572
-
-
572
3,468
-
-
3,468
78,041
-
39,580
117,621
(8,525)
-
(8,250)
(16,775)
73,556
-
31,330
104,886

Restricted Reserves

The charity has one restricted reserve, the Placement Assistance Scheme (PAS). The purpose of the fund is to financially assist students by awarding grants to assist with the cost of taking-up industry placements. Placements which are seen as an important factor in securing initial employment in journalism.

12

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 (continued)

13 RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year.

14 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Financial assets measured at amortised costs amounted to £3,468 (2022: £16,615). Financial liabilities at amortised costs amounted to £8,250 (2022 - Nil).

15
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Charitable activities
Investment income
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
TOTAL INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF
FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Fund balances brought forward
Fund balances carried forward		 Unrestricted
Fund
£
155,364
372
155,736
149,853
149,853
5,883
(15,000)
(9,117)
103,942
94,825		 Restricted
Fund
£
-
-
-
26,000
26,000
(26,000)
15,000
(11,000)
57,480
46,480		 Total
2022
£
155,364
372
155,736
175,853
175,853
(20,117)
-
(20,117)
161,422
141,305

13

BROADCAST JOURNALISM TRAINING COUNCIL

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Fees and subscriptions
Investment income
Total incoming resources
EXPENDITURE
Staff costs
Salaries
National insurance
Pension contributions
Direct costs
Travel and subsistence
Secretarial and accreditation services
Management costs
Insurance
Telephone
Postage and stationery
Computer costs
Administration fees
Project costs
Computer equipment
Sundry
Finance costs
Bank charges
Governance costs
Professional fees
Independent examiner's fees
Derek Dowsett Award
Placement grants
Placements expenses
Placement Assistance Scheme
Total resources expended
Net deficit		 2023
£
168,923
1,996
170,919
78,750
9,612
2,363
90,725
17,870
1,000
18,870
325
1,534
1,698
1,432
52,897
4,500
190
1,342
63,918
126
126
834
2,715
3,549
-
30,150
-
30,150
207,338
(36,419)		 2022
£
155,364
372
155,736
75,000
8,589
2,250
85,839
14,001
1,000
15,001
325
2,286
1,949
274
39,650
-
254
524
45,262
148
148
873
2,730
3,603
1,000
25,000
-
26,000
175,853
(20,117)

This page does not form part of the financial statements

14