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← Yorkshire Universities

2024-07-31-accounts

Yorkshire Yorkshire Universit esUnivers i ties 2023-24 Annual Report and Accounts

2023 2024

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

Registered office: 22 Clarendon Place, Leeds, LS2 9JY Registered company number: 03467035 Registered charity number: 1109200 Independent examiner: Mark Heaton FCCA DChA FCIE KM Chartered Accountants 1[st] Floor Block C, The Wharf Manchester Road Burnley Lancashire BB11 1JG Bankers: Unity Trust Bank plc Nine Brindley Place Birmingham West Midlands B1 2HB Cambridge & Counties Bank Charnwood Court 5B New Walk Leicester LE1 6TE Manchester Building Society 125 Portland Street Manchester M14QD

CONTENTS

Chair’s foreword ....................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of trustees’ responsibilities ...................................................................................... 4 Governance and structure ....................................................................................................... 5 Risk management ....................................................................................................................8 Meeting and reporting on public benefit ................................................................................... 8 Future plans .......................................................................................................................... 19 Financial review .................................................................................................................... 21 Report of the independent examiner to the Trustees of Yorkshire Universities ..................... 22 Statement of financial activities .............................................................................................. 23 Balance sheet ....................................................................................................................... 24 Notes to the financial statements ........................................................................................... 25

CHAIR’S FOREWORD

At the end of my two-year tenure as Chair of Yorkshire Universities (YU), I am delighted to introduce this 2023/24 Annual Report. During the past twelve months, YU has continued to strengthen its role and impact in the ‘place’ agenda, underpinned by a widening and deepening of collaboration between members, and between YU and external stakeholders in the region.

This year, we delivered on the second year of our 2022/25 Strategy. At the heart of this Strategy are four strategic priorities:

If all parts of the UK, including Yorkshire, are to become more productive, more prosperous, more inclusive, and more sustainable, universities and the higher education sector overall, have a critical role to play. Our approach is now being reflected in Universities UK’s new policy priority to promote universities as key drivers of economic growth. It is also illustrated in a powerful open letter we published this year to all candidates standing to be elected as Mayors across Yorkshire. We invited these political leaders to support our intention to champion Yorkshire as the best place to invest, to live, to work, and to learn – and we called on them to bring the region’s universities directly into the heart of their economic plans and strategies.

One of the highlights this year has been the publication of the YU Statement on International Higher Education. The Statement outlines the importance to Yorkshire of international students, the value of international partnerships and relationships to YU members, and the added benefits they bring to individual institutions and to the region itself. I am particularly pleased to see how this work was instrumental in framing YU’s response to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) Rapid Review of the Graduate Visa Route, and to the success of joint letter by Vice-Chancellors of Northern Universities to the then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, urging the Government to accept the findings of the MAC Review and retain the visa arrangements in their entirety.

The work that YU has undertaken in collaboration with the NHS Confederation and Health Innovation Yorkshire and Humber, in producing the ‘Empowering Local Places for Health and Prosperity’ White Paper, has been a further success this year. The White Paper recognises the crucial role of universities in meeting the targets in the NHS Workforce Plan, including boosting student recruitment, providing capital investment to improve training capacity, extending and diversifying placements and practice-learning, and tackling health student and early-career attrition. It also builds on the influential 2020 #YHealth4Growth report, ‘Levelling Up Yorkshire and Humber: Health as the new Wealth Post-Covid’. The recommendations made in the new White Paper provide a solid basis for stronger collaboration with the Labour Government, as well as regional and local authorities.

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The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) we signed in July 2021, with Yorkshire & Humber Councils (YHC), provides an over-arching framework in which to deliver many of the objectives within YU’s Strategy, and it is ensuring that our voice is amplified within the region and beyond. This year, we welcomed Sarah Norman, Chief Executive of Barnsley Council, as the new Chair of the YHC Chief Executives’ Group, who is committed to deepening relations with universities through our joint MoU work programme. The MoU has been instrumental in the region being awarded significant grant funding to strengthen academic research and policy development. The Research England-funded Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN) project, and the UKRIfunded Yorkshire and Humber Policy Innovation Partnership (Y-PIP), have together leveraged almost £10 million of investment into Yorkshire. This is a fantastic demonstration of Yorkshire Universities’ core mission to promote and use research and evidence that relates directly to the issues that matter to communities, businesses and policymakers in the region.

YU also delivered significant impact through the Graduate Implementation Group’s (GIG) work programme, in 2023/24. Chaired by Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Huddersfield, the network of Heads of Career Services published an updated Inclusive Recruitment Guide for Employers, as well as conducted a proof-of-concept data pilot project that examined career readiness among students in the region. The GIG has also worked with the region’s Chamber of Commerce to surface university expertise to inform Local Skills Improvement Plans. The Group has contributed to developing a new graduate scheme in West Yorkshire to better match students and graduates to new and emergent job opportunities among local SMEs. The annual YU Graduate Conference at Sheffield Hallam University, in July, brought together leaders from our universities, councils, mayoral combined authorities, employers and organisations who are all invested in supporting graduate employment in our region. The event presented a timely and valuable opportunity to discuss how to overcome challenges to graduate recruitment, and to create opportunities and develop solutions that encourage graduates to stay, thrive and contribute to the region’s economy. I am delighted to see the progress we have made in implementing the key recommendations in the YU Graduate Employment and Employability report, since it was published in May 2022.

Related to graduate employability, guided by Professor Dave Petley as the Chair of the Project Oversight Group, we successfully completed the YU Regional Sustainability Service-Learning Pilot that was funded by the UPP Foundation. Through this project we audited ways in which students across the twelve YU member institutions are engaging with sustainability through experiential learning within their curricula and through extra-curricular activities to surface examples of good practice. YU also hosted a one-of-a-kind, multiuniversity challenge day, that brought together students from across the entire membership to respond to a challenge set by our close partner organisation, the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission. The learnings were collected and published in a Good Practice Guide, designed to act as a blueprint for other higher education institutions wishing to drive student engagement with sustainability.

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This year, Professor Sir Chris Husbands, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, retired in December, and Professor Liz Mossop joined Sheffield Hallam as the new ViceChancellor, in January 2023. Professor Simone Buitendijk left the University of Leeds, at the end of 2023, and we have been grateful for the support of Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President, at the University of Leeds, over the past few months. We look forward to working with the incoming Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Leeds, Professor Shearer West, who starts her new role in November 2024.

I am also grateful to Dr Peter O’Brien, and his team, for their excellent work in leading the YU executive operation, and for their advice and support to me during the two years that I have been Chair. Despite the external challenges, this Annual Report illustrates that YU is in a very strong position. It has been a pleasure to be the Chair of the YU Board, and to witness how all our members are committed to collaboration, and to improve the economic, social and civic well-being of people and places in Yorkshire. I wish Professor Dave Petley, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull, the very best of luck as he becomes the next Chair of YU, from 1 August, and I look forward to continuing to support YU as we celebrate and harness the diverse, but collective, strengths of our region’s universities.

Professor Karen Bryan OBE

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STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors of Yorkshire Universities 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. These should 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 these 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 enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. Trustees 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.

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GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE

Governance

Founded in 1987, Yorkshire Universities (YU) is a charity and a company limited by guarantee. Its governing documents are the Articles of Association, last amended on 2 July 2020, which can be accessed on the YU website under the Board and Governance page.

YU represents eleven universities and one specialist higher education institution: the universities of Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Leeds Arts, Leeds Beckett, Leeds Trinity, Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam, York, and York St John, together with Leeds Conservatoire. The vice-chancellors and principals of these institutions are the members of the company, forming its board of directors. The Board meets three times a year, regularly monitoring the organisation’s performance, and setting the strategic priorities for YU.

Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees
Leeds Arts University Professor Simone Wonnacott, Vice-Chancellor
Leeds Beckett University Professor Peter Slee, Vice-Chancellor
Leeds Conservatoire Professor Joe Wilson, Principal
Leeds Trinity University Professor Charles Egbu, Vice-Chancellor
Sheffield Hallam University Professor Liz Mossop, Vice-Chancellor
Replaced Professor Sir Chris Husbands on 1 January 2024.
University of Bradford Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor
University of Huddersfield Professor Bob Cryan CBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive
University of Hull Professor Dave Petley, Vice-Chancellor
University of Leeds Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Interim Vice-Chancellor and President
Replaced Professor Simone Buitendijk on 1 November 2023.
University of Sheffield Professor Koen Lamberts, Vice-Chancellor and President
University of York Professor Charlie Jeffery CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President
York St John University Professor Karen Bryan OBE, Vice-Chancellor
Chair of the YU Board between 1 August 2022 – 31 July 2024.

New Trustees

New trustees are welcomed by the Chair of the Board and the Executive Director (ED) and receive briefings about the strategic aims and objectives of YU. Any further initial preparation is agreed on an individual basis. The ED reports on attendance at the Board to the Chair, agreeing any necessary action.

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Sub-committees of the Board

The Audit Committee (AC), chaired by a Board Trustee, reviews YU’s policies and procedures, and it authorises any changes; it oversees the organisation’s independent examination and advises the Board on follow-up actions. The AC meets at least twice a year.

The Human Resources (HR) Committee, chaired by the Chair of the Board, and another Trustee as Committee Member, is responsible for appointing and performance-managing the ED and dealing with relevant staffing issues as necessary. The HR Committee meets at least once a year.

Structure of YU working groups and networks

The Regional Development Group (RDG), chaired by Dr Liam Sutton, Associate Director, Research and Innovation, University of Bradford, is formerly constituted within YU. The Group reports to the Board. The RGD is responsible for promoting the contribution of the higher education sector in Yorkshire to local and regional development. It is also responsible for identifying the opportunities and challenges that government policies and strategies present to higher education institutions in Yorkshire and advising how YU and its member institutions might respond. And, advising on the relevance and alignment of the existing YU Strategy and Operational Plan as it relates to national and local strategies and associated economic development matters. A review of RDG’s work programme and mode of operation was undertaken in 2023/24, designed to enable the Group to focus on strategic activity, and to ensure that it can better support the Board’s national and regional priorities.

The West Yorkshire Higher Education Economic Development Group (WYEDG), chaired by Natalie Allen, Head of Business Partnerships, Leeds Beckett University, provides a forum for YU members to meet collectively, and with the West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (WYCA). The Group, comprising nine YU member institutions, meets to discuss economic development matters (including business and enterprise, skills, local and regional innovation, and inward investment, etc.) relating to WYCA and the West Yorkshire economy that have specific HE dimensions. The meetings also provide an opportunity to plan, respond to and operationalise actions arising from the formal meetings, co-convened by YU, which take place between the Vice-Chancellors in West Yorkshire and York, and the West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, and senior WYCA officers.

The Graduate Employability Implementation Group (GIG), chaired by Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Huddersfield, brings together the Regional Heads of Career Services and delivers on the priorities set out in the collaborative report on ‘Supporting Graduate Employment and Employability in Yorkshire’ that YU published in May 2022. In 2023/24, as part of the GIG structure, YU has also convened the following subgroups:

The work of the time-limited Project Oversight Group of the UPP Foundation-funded Regional Sustainability Service-Learning Pilot , chaired by Professor Dave Petley, ViceChancellor, University of Hull, concluded in June 2024. YU also convenes a Research and Evidence Panel (REP), chaired by Dr Robyn Cooper Inglis, Research Innovation and

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Development Manager, University of York, which brings together academics and researchers from the region’s universities to influence and inform the work of the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission (YHCC). During the 2023/24 year this panel has been transitioning into the Regional Picture and Evidence Group (RPEG) to align more closely to the revised, Phase 2 structure of the YHCC.

Throughout 2023/24, a network of communication and press and media professionals, from YU member institutions, has met under the auspices of the YU Communications Network (CN) . The CN has been instrumental in sharing case studies, intelligence and press releases and supporting YU’s general press and media engagement and coverage.

In addition, YU convenes meetings and groups of members and partners, as and when matters arise, or if issues require detailed consideration, including on a task and finish basis. Examples of this include meetings convened, and work undertaken, in support of international higher education and international students.

Structure of the YU Executive Team

As of 31 July 2024, the YU core Executive Team consisted of the following:

Four employees:

Other YU employees during the 2023/24 year have included:

Three contractors:

Other contractors commissioned during the 2023/24 year have included:

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RISK MANAGEMENT

For membership organisations, such as YU, the principal risks relate to member engagement and maintaining sufficient income levels for the charity to continue and to develop and deliver its work. Additionally, risks are posed by changes in the external macro environment, such as government policies and/or economic and societal shocks. These risks are reviewed on a regular basis and action taken as appropriate. YU reviews its strategy regularly to ensure it remains current and resilient; the current YU Strategy for 2022/25 was approved by the Board in June 2022, and plans have been put in place in the latter half of this forthcoming year to review performance and plan new strategy development during 2024/25. The organisation monitors its staffing complement to ensure it maintains sufficient capacity and appropriate structures to carry out operations aligned with its strategy. The Trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks that the charity faces, and can confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reviews to be carried out to ensure necessary steps can be taken to mitigate these risks.

MEETING AND REPORTING ON PUBLIC BENEFIT

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, ‘Charities and Public Benefit’. The structure of the Trustees’ annual report allows us to report on our strategic aims, our activities and achievements during the year, and outline our future plans for 2024/25. We have embedded examples of how YU meets the public benefit requirement throughout our report. Examples of highlights can be found in the next section; you can find a detailed version of the YU 2022/25 Strategy on the YU website.

Objectives and achievements

The 2022/25 Strategy is underpinned by a shared vision of the power and potential of Yorkshire and its global connections, and it has four key priorities:

1. Championing civic leadership in Yorkshire – in our communities, towns and cities. We empower member institutions to lead in the ‘civic agenda’ by connecting public policy with informed practice and knowledge transfer.

2. Championing Yorkshire Knowledge and Skills – providing a platform for collaboration in research, innovation and knowledge exchange. We support and champion our members aspirations to deliver benefits on major economic and societal questions, such as skills, infrastructure and innovation.

3. Brokering and leading partnerships – we will create the opportunities for strategic conversations that generate new ideas, fresh insights and innovation. We will have the confidence to challenge and disrupt thinking. We will also deliver on specific initiatives, which support our mission and priorities.

4. Promoting the value of higher education to society, culture and the economy – as an organisation, we will build a strong profile for the HE sector in Yorkshire through our use of data and intelligence. We will demonstrate how universities contribute to improved wellbeing and social mobility in cities, towns and communities.

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In addition, there are a number of cross-cutting enabling tools and approaches to develop capabilities in:

A summary is given below of the objectives for each of the four priority areas in the 2022/25 YU Strategy, together with highlights of activity and achievements during 2023/24.

1. Championing civic leadership in Yorkshire

Identifying a clear HE role in place-based leadership. Making an Outcome effective case for the devolved agenda within Yorkshire. Contribute directly towards improved place-based and devolved Impact systems governance within and across Yorkshire.

Objectives Examples of supporting activities and achievements: Use the brand of The Chair of YU, Professor Karen Bryan (York St John) and YU ‘Yorkshire’ to make the Board Member, Professor Simone Buitendijk (Leeds), were case for International HE Commissioners on the International Higher Education and International Commission (IHEC), and they advocated convening a regional Students. roundtable to inform the work of the IHEC. The YU Executive Team carried out extensive quantitative and qualitative research and collected case studies to inform the roundtable debate held on 28 September 2023, which was chaired by Chris Skidmore MP, in his role at IHEC Chair. The content of the roundtable informed the work of the IHEC and served as basis for the publication of a Statement on international HE, which detailed the value of international partnerships and relationships to YU member institutions, and the added benefits that international students bring to individual institutions and to the region itself.

The YU Statement was accompanied by an op-ed published in the Yorkshire Post, written by Professor Bryan, speaking on behalf of YU, about how a cap on international student numbers would impact Yorkshire disproportionately.

Embed HE more visibly YU is regularly involved in MCA meetings (such as the West
and actively within local Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Business, Economy and
and regional trade and Innovation, Employment and Skills, and Investment Zone
investment strategies and Steering Committees and Groups), and it channels relevant
plans. actions and to the WYEDG. The WYEDG has been contributing
to the development of the new West Yorkshire Local Growth
Plan too, alongside Y-PERN colleagues, who have been
providing bespoke data and evidence for the Combined

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Authorities in West, North and South Yorkshire.

YU convenes annual meetings between the West Yorkshire Mayor and Vice-Chancellors in West Yorkshire and York to discuss joint strategic priorities. The last meeting was held on 10 June 2024, at Leeds Beckett University. To deliver on one such priority, this year, four of the West Yorkshire-based universities pooled Regional Innovation Funding (RIF) and Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) to develop a joint messaging framework with WYCA on engaging SMEs with the universities. The messaging framework was complemented by video case studies and will be launched in autumn 2024.

Members of the WYEDG also prepared a joint presentation on ‘How to engage with universities’ for the September 2023 West Yorkshire SME Support Network meeting, which helped develop some of their common, key messages about the university offer.

The YU ED, Dr Peter O’Brien, took part in the Northern Creative Corridor Summit, bringing together creative industries and Northern policy leaders who have set out a statement of intent to deliver a Northern Creative Corridor by the end of the decade. YU will continue influencing the development of the Plan. For example, we undertook a mapping exercise on YU member contributions to the creative industries across the region. This work focused on how higher education institutes assist in developing the creative sector across Yorkshire & Humber and was shared with the Creative Corridor team.

Strengthen YU’s YU published its ‘Five Key Asks’ ahead of the Mayoral Elections, partnerships with devolved on 2 May 2024, in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and York institutions in Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. In this open letter to the candidates, and support MCAs Professor Karen Bryan, Chair of the YU Board, invited those seeking new devolved elected as Mayors to work with YU. powers and funding

The YU ED also outlined the importance of YU working closely with the new mayors in a published think piece.

YU was also engaged in feeding in ideas and proposals as South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authorities are entering negotiations for new trailblazer devolution deals.

YU wrote to the leaders of the Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire councils in response to the public consultation on the Hull and East Yorkshire Devolution Deal. The letter outlines YU’s support for devolution, and the potential to strengthen the contributions of universities towards new and emergent governance institutions in the region.

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The YU ED, alongside experts involved in local business, policy development and academia, spoke at a Humber Business Week seminar about the role of devolution and its place in economic development, research and innovation in Hull and East Yorkshire: The final piece of the devolution jigsaw in Yorkshire.

YU and Y-PERN convened a pilot programme of four leadership and capacity-building training workshops for officers from local authorities and WYCA, as well as academics and professional services staff from YU member institutions. The events attracted 125 participants and were centred around the theme of strengthening place-based partnerships between local government and higher education in West Yorkshire in the context of devolution: Building & strengthening collaboration in places…in a time of financial crisis.

The YU ED, alongside experts involved in local business, policy
development and academia, spoke at a Humber Business Week
seminar about the role of devolution and its place in economic
development, research and innovation in Hull and East
Yorkshire: The final piece of the devolution jigsaw in Yorkshire.
YU and Y-PERN convened a pilot programme of four leadership
and capacity-building training workshops for officers from local
authorities and WYCA, as well as academics and professional
services staff from YU member institutions. The events attracted
125 participants and were centred around the theme of
strengthening place-based partnerships between local
government and higher education in West Yorkshire in the
context of devolution:Building & strengthening collaboration in
places…in a time of financial crisis.		 The YU ED, alongside experts involved in local business, policy
development and academia, spoke at a Humber Business Week
seminar about the role of devolution and its place in economic
development, research and innovation in Hull and East
Yorkshire: The final piece of the devolution jigsaw in Yorkshire.
YU and Y-PERN convened a pilot programme of four leadership
and capacity-building training workshops for officers from local
authorities and WYCA, as well as academics and professional
services staff from YU member institutions. The events attracted
125 participants and were centred around the theme of
strengthening place-based partnerships between local
government and higher education in West Yorkshire in the
context of devolution:Building & strengthening collaboration in
places…in a time of financial crisis.
Influence national
policymakers and national
policy for the benefit of
Yorkshire.		 YU follows and regularly publishes analysis and insights on the
implications of the Budget announcements, such as the autumn
2023 edition: which are discussed in the Regional Development
Group and YU Board meetings: The challenges of the 2023
Autumn Statement.
YU contributed towards a NP11-commissioned study exploring a
potential structure for a new North of England Pan-Regional
Partnership (PRP), in which we have emphasised the value of
YU and its members influencing the operation and work of the
proposed new PRP.
YU welcomed the findings of the Migration Advisory
Committee’s (MAC) ‘Rapid Review of the Graduate Route Visa‘,
which concluded that there was no evidence of significant abuse
of the Graduate Route, that it broadly had achieved – and
continues to achieve – the Government’s own objectives,
including those included in the UK International Education
Strategy. Ahead of the Government’s response to the MAC, on
20 May 2024, YU helped to mobilise YU Board Members to co-
sign a letter to the Prime Minister, by Vice-Chancellors of North
of England Universities, calling on the Government to retain the
Graduate Route Visa. On 23 May 2024, the Government
confirmed that the Graduate Route would be retained, albeit with
new measures introduced, and the Visa kept under review:YU
Board members back letter to PM by Northern VCs.
In a post timed to coincide with the result of the 4 July 2024
General Election, the YU ED wrote an article on how members
could make a vital contribution to theLabour government’s
commitment to‘kickstart’economic growth.

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2. Championing Yorkshire knowledge and skills

Outcome Wider and deeper collaborations in R&I / KE. Increased
innovation activity by business. More effective utilisation of
Yorkshire’s graduates.
Impact Yorkshire is seen as the preferred region for R&I, KE and skills
investment to improve productivity and realise opportunity and
aspiration.
Objectives Examples of activities and achievements:
Action recommendations
from YU’s Graduate
Employment and
Employability Report		 In August 2022, YU established the Graduate Employability
Implementation Group (GIG) to translate the eight priorities set
out in the multi-stakeholder report: ‘Support Graduate
Employment and Employability in Yorkshire’, into deliverable
actions and a multi-year work programme under the 2022/25 YU
Strategy. The report was the final output of a Task & Finish
Group operational during 2021/22, led by Professor Karen
Bryan, that brought together YU’s twelve member institutions,
local authorities, mayoral combined authorities, local enterprise
partnerships and employers in Yorkshire.
Within its 2023/24 work programme, the GIG has developed and
coordinated activity in the following areas:
•
Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) development and
evidence gathering.
•
Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) / Sub-regional
initiatives, including the West Yorkshire Local Digital
Skills Plan and the development of the West Yorkshire
Mayoral SME Graduate Programme / Pilot Scheme.
•
Widening participation and supporting students facing
additional barriers to employment activities led by the
Heads of Careers’ Services.
•
In 2023/24, the GIG examined graduate pipelines related
to sector initiatives, including: manufacturing; space
sustainability, central government and local authority
placements and graduate recruitment, NHS and social
care; and financial, business and professional services.
In addition, a creative sub-group was formed to nurture the
creative ecosystem and advocate student recruitment into
employment and industry from creative, artistic, and
performative subjects. And a data sub-group was convened to
support the priority identified in the original Task & Finish Group
report, as: ‘Data sharing & analysis for effective strategy and
action’.

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Two main areas of data that were identified to explore were, careers registration, with a specific focus on the career readiness of students, and regional labour market analysis. In 2023/24, YU led a proof-of concept project that produced the first large-scale picture of student self-reported career readiness, at the start of full-time undergraduate study, across an English region. Findings were published in HEPI.

The 2023/24 GIG work programme also saw the development of regional graduate labour market analysis. To harness existing capabilities, and bring members and partners together to examine insights and trends, YU organised a webinar on higherlevel skills in Yorkshire and Humber Labour Markets, led by Peter Glover, Economic Evidence Manager at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The webinar presented bespoke analysis for the whole of the Yorkshire region: New Analysis of Higher Level Skills in Yorkshire and Humber Labour Markets.

YU also held a workshop to agree priorities for graduate labour market analysis with participants from across Higher Education, and partners working across sub-regional governance structures on data, policy and programmes related to skills and employment. Resources that generated from the workshop include a tool to support regional analysis of graduate labour markets, made publicly available by YU, to support and encourage the development of further insights that can facilitate effective strategy and action to support graduate talent across the region: New collection of resources to support regional analysis of graduate labour markets.

To showcase this work, YU held a major regional conference at Sheffield Hallam University on ‘Overcoming employer challenges and championing graduates across Yorkshire’ and invited key stakeholders to engage with the collaborative work of the GIG and to help shape the future work of YU. The 11 July 2024 event brought together 100 delegates with over 20 speakers and contributors who led insightful debates. Professor Karen Bryan, Chair of YU Board and Vice-Chancellor of York St John University, and Professor Liz Mossop, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, highlighted the importance of collaboration to retaining graduate talent in Yorkshire, in a joint op-ed for the Yorkshire Post.

The conference also featured the publication of the updated Yorkshire Universities Inclusive Recruitment Guide for Employers.

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Strengthen student and
graduate engagement
and employability in the
sustainability agenda		 In January 2023, YU was awarded a £20k grant by the UPP
Foundation to deliver a pilot project to better understand ways in
which students across the twelve YU member institutions
engage with sustainability through service-learning. During
2023/24, project deliverables included auditing existing work;
scoping a brokerage network between communities and
university students to help solve local environmental
sustainability challenges; and hosting a joint multi-university
challenge day with the Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission
(YHCC) in December 2023.
Following this event, YU was approached by a participating
student from the University of Hull to carry out their sustainability
consultancy module with us. As a result, between January and
June 2024, YU hosted its first successful student placement,
who contributed to finalising the project reporting.
The Project Steering Group, chaired by Professor Dave Petley,
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull, oversaw the production
of the ‘Good Practice Guide for Engaging Students in
Sustainability Service-Learning’which was launched on 24 June
2024. The Guide illustrates the ways in which sustainability
service-learning can manifest across the YU membership,
provides case studies and lesson learnt for other universities:
Good Practice Guide Launch.The Guide was also featured in
WonkHE. YU was among the few grant recipients invited by the
UPP Foundation to develop a proposal to extend the pilot
project.
YU supported the Student Sustainability Research Conference
again in 2024, by convening the YU-wide Steering Group to
reach and engage students from across the twelve member
institutions to present their research at the conference. This year the
conference showcased 108 student contributors who shared their
research and reflections across 57 presentations, four workshops,
three installations, one biodiversity monitoring session and 70
academic posters. There were over 500 delegates registered for the
event, with attendees from eleven YU institutions. Related
publications include: Collaborative Regional Conference Showcases
Student Sustainability Research and Reflecting on the Power of
Student Collaboration for Sustainability.
Encourage YU members
to work collectively for
enhanced impact in R&I,
KE across the region		 This year the Regional Development Group (RDG) welcomed
Felix Barr, the new Space Hub Yorkshire (SHY) Cluster
Development Manager, who was supported by the YU Executive
Team to set up quarterly meetings with member institutions to
implement the SHY Strategy alongside industry and public

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sector partners.

The RDG held a workshop in March 2024 to discuss the group’s priority and focus:

This year the WYEDG contributed with a collaborative communications campaign led by YU for the 2023 West Yorkshire Innovation Festival (WYIF). The case studies built on the joint webinar the group prepared for the 2022 edition of the WYIF which focussed on discussing solutions and approaches to the following two main questions:

With these we have extended our case study repository to include a new category on ‘Innovation’ in addition to EDI practices under ‘Graduate Talent’.

YU Supported members to develop proposals for major placebased R&I and economic development initiatives in response to arising government opportunities, such as the Best Practice Sharing Session on Place-Based Collaborations in Commercialisation. We invited speakers from the universities of Salford and Lancaster to share their learning from successful delivery of shared technology transfer models in the North West in order to enable YU members to consider collaborative proposals to Research England’s CCF/RED Fund call on shared Technology Transfer Offices.

3. Brokering and leading partnerships

Outcome Formulate new ideas for collective action.
Impact Stronger influence for YU/members within the region.
Objectives Examples of activities and achievements:

Yorkshire Universities Annual Report 2023/24

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Deliver priorities and
annual actions in the MoU
with Yorkshire and
Humber Councils (YHC).		 In February, Sarah Norman, Chief Executive of Barnsley
Council, the new Chair of YHC, met with Professor Karen
Bryan, Chair of YU to set out joint priorities for the year ahead.
YU worked with the YHC Team to arrange the 7 June meeting
of the YU Board and the YHC Local Authority Chief
Executives’ Group to review and reflect on performance and
identify new areas for collaboration.
The Yorkshire Vitality Index (YVI) Scoping Study was
completed and moved into development phase and will be
further tested by Y-PERN and Y-PIP academics.

Act as convenors for Y-
PERN and build effective
relationship with partners
through it.
 Building on the infrastructure of YU, and the success of Y-
PERN academic policy engagement, a new project was
developed by academics in YU member institutions, together
with the YHC, and YHCC, and was awarded £5m of UKRI
investment. The trailblazing Yorkshire and Humber Policy
Innovation Partnership (Y-PIP) – the only one of its kind in
England – will further link academics with policy makers and
communities: Yorkshire is a paradox of world class assets and
widening inequalities
Kersten England, former Chair of the YHC Chief Executives’
Group, has joined YU, as an Associate, providing a link
between the HE and national and local government sectors in
relation to Y-PERN and Y-PIP, and strengthening strategic
policy leadership and direction.
In 2023/24 YU continued to work closely with Dr Andy Mycock,
Y-PERN Chief Policy Fellow, and Y-PERN Senior Programme
Manager, Kayleigh Renberg-Fawcett, to coordinate groups and
policy events to deliver actions and outputs within the
programme’s work packages. This included convening the first
meeting between Y-PERN Policy Fellows and the Yorkshire
and Humber Council Policy Officer Network to discuss future
Areas of Research Interest (ARI) that Y-PERN could work
directly with local and mayoral combined authorities on.
YU and Y-PERN have been build effective relationships with
the UK Investment Bank, Sheffield Policy Campus, Darlington
Economic Campus, and the Leeds Health and Care Hub –
through academic policy engagement and research.
Encourage the health and
care sector to work more
closely with YU members		 This year, YU, together with Health Innovation Yorkshire &
Humber, and the NHS Confederation, published a new
#YHealth4Growth White Paper on the importance of
empowering health and prosperity. The ‘Empowering Places
for Health and Prosperity: New Perspectives from Yorkshire
and the Humber’ White Paper lists 10 key recommendations to
narrow the widening health and wealth gap.

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Following the launch of the White Paper, YU ED was featured
in the Northern Agenda discussing the significance of ahealthy
workforce to the prosperity of Yorkshire and the readiness of
universities to contribute to this goal.
YU participated, alongside Y-PERN, in the launch, led by
Mayor Tracy Brabin, of the West Yorkshire Scientific Advisory
Group (WYSAG) on Health Inequalities. YU and Y-PERN have
been instrumental in the development of WYSAG, and they
continue to work with the Mayor’s Team and Combined
Authority officers to develop an initial work programme for
WYSAG.
YU continues to work with the Integrated Care Boards in Y&H
on the development of a business case for a regional health
and care workforce observatory.
YHCC - Influence the next
phase of the Yorkshire
and Humber Climate
Commission’s
development.		 YU ED, as a Commissioner and the AD, as an Associate, are
members of the YHCC Leadership Team that have been
working with YU member institutions to reshape and
strengthen the regional higher education sector’s strategic
engagement with YHCC, including engagement with the
promotion of the Climate Action Pledge and the transformation
of the Research & Evidence Panel into to Regional Picture &
Evidence Group to better align to the proposed Phase 2 work
plan of the YHCC.

4. Promoting the value of higher education to society, culture and the economy

4. Promoting the value of higher education to society, culture and the economy
Outcome Evidence of HE’s contributions in the region. Recognition
of the global as well as regional impact.
Impact Greater knowledge and understanding of the value of
YU/members to Yorkshire
Objectives Examples of activities and achievements:
Use data, evidence and
analysis to promote the value
and impact of HE in
Yorkshire.		 In 2023/24 the YU Graduate Data Group generated
considerablenew insights to support the case for graduates
and the HE sector. The Executive Team synthesised evidence
to inform briefings for YU groups and the produced key
messages for partners.
YU collated case studies on the HE impacts in the region,
including on the value of graduates, the benefit international
students bring, and the innovative ways in which businesses
can work with universities.
YU contributed to the Skills 2030 Call for Evidence,through a
joint written response prepared with AGCAS and including
input to the related Mayoral oral evidence session held at the
West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Raise the visibility and profile of YU regionally and nationally.

In 2023/24, the YU Executive Team worked with the YU Communications Network and an external agency, Social Communications, to produce a new YU Strategic Communications Plan. Through this work, we developed a set of tools for how to communicate the positive impact of YU members to the region, and, through case studies, illustrate the value of working through YU. In February 2024, we recruited a new Communications Assistant to support the work of the YU Communications Network and to help support the delivery of the new Strategic Communications Plan.

In 2023/24, members of the YU Executive Team spoke at several regional and national events. The Team also attended a broad range of meetings and conferences to promote the profile and visibility of YU’s work. Among these were:

Help to make the case for At the start of the 2023/24 year, YU convened a meeting regional associations within between the Chief Executive of Universities UK (UUK), the national HE sector. Vivienne Stern, YU Chair, Professor Karen Bryan, and YU Executive Director, Dr Peter O’Brien, to discuss synergies between UUK’s new policy priorities and YU’s 2022/25 Strategy, and areas of potential joint work. Vivienne Stern joined the July YU Board meeting with UUK Director of Policy, Shahid Omer, to discuss YU’s contribution to the upcoming Universities UK HE White Paper. Following a successful first team development day, held in January 2023, a second joint policy team day was held, at York St John University, with London Higher colleagues. It was an opportunity to discuss shared priorities and

Yorkshire Universities Annual Report 2023/24

18

approaches to regional HE engagement with local authorities
and mayors, graduates, and international HE. The following
day, YU led a joint session with London Higher on regional
engagement for the Lighthouse Policy Group meeting at the
University of Leeds.
Support YU members on
national and regional groups.		 YU provided briefings and convene feedback mechanisms for
members representing YU on national, pan-regional and
regional groups such as: WYCA committees and bodies
covering UK Shared Prosperity Fund, as well as Cultural,
Skills, and Business and Innovation Groups.
Through RDG, YU was active in informing national calls for
information regarding the role of universities in the UK
Shared Prosperity Fund.

FUTURE PLANS

Looking ahead to 2024/25, we will continue to deliver the key priorities objectives set out in the 2022/25 Strategy, albeit within an evolving external policy and macro environment. In particular, and as an illustration, we plan to:

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20

FINANCIAL REVIEW

In 2023-24, membership subscriptions of £260k (2023: £260k) form the bulk of the YU’s voluntary income. During the year YU received a further £8k (2023: £2k) in Unrestricted funding and grants of £129k (2023: £102k) in Restricted funding. YU expenditure incurred was £441k (2023: £321k).

At the end of the year, we are taking forward £52k (2023: £71k) general unrestricted reserves and the CAPE discretionary fund was at £2k (2023: £18k).

On 31 July 2024 our only unspent restricted funds was our UPP fund, which was at £1k (2023: £9k). The use of our funds is described in note 9 in to the 'Notes to the financial statements'.

Our bank current account balance at the year end was £28k (2023: £29k). In addition to current account balances, we hold £66k (2023: £110k) in deposit accounts. These are in excess of the actual fund balances. Funds are invested on bank deposit at the best rate obtainable, with recognised financial institutions and banks.

Reserves policy

Our reserves policy sets unrestricted reserves to be held to meet the working capital requirements of the organisation, to meet specific costs (e.g. staff cover for illness and maternity leave) and to meet contractual liabilities should the organisation have to close. The policy requires the organisation’s unrestricted reserves to be between a fifth and a sixth of its unrestricted budget expenditure. YU’s 2024/25 budget unrestricted expenditure is £269k so the band would be a minimum of £45k and a maximum of £54k this year. Our year end unrestricted reserves are £54k which satisfies our reserves policy in 2024 given our planned expenditure for next year.

As explained in pension costs note 3 in 'Notes to the financial statements', we also carry a long-term pension provision of £42k (2023: £42k), which the Board does not expect to crystallise.

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 order of the Board of Trustees on Monday 18 November 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Professor Karen Bryan Chair of the Board

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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF YORKSHIRE UNIVERSITIES

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 July 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the ACCA.

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

  1. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or

  2. the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or

  3. the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.

  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)].

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 on Monday 18 November 2024 by:

Mark Heaton

Mark Heaton (Nov 22, 2024 07:20 GMT)

Mark Heaton FCCA DChA FCIE KM Chartered Accountants 1[st] Floor Block C, The Wharf Manchester Rd, Burnley, BB11 1JG

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

(including the income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 July 2024

Income
General subscriptions income
Investment income: bank
interest
Other incoming resources
Total income
Expenditure
Total resources expended
Net (expenditure) / income and
movement in funds for the year
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Funds carried forward		 General
funds
Restricted
funds
Total
funds
2024
2024
2024
£
£
£
260,040
-
260,040
5,858
-
5,858
2,431
129,467
131,898
268,329
129,467
397,796
303,613
137,503
441,116
(35,284)
(8,036)
(43,320)
89,332
9,000
98,332
54,048
964
55,012		 Total
funds
2023
£
260,000
2,280
101,786
364,066
321,018
43,048
55,284
98,332

The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All incoming resources and resources are expended in the current year.

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BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 JULY 2024

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ALANCE SHEET AS AT 3131 JULY 2024ULY 20242024 JULY 2024ULY 20242024
Notes 2024 2023
£ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 5 2 2
Current assets
Debtors and prepayments 6 44,522 17,826
Cash at bank 27,515 28,758
Cash on deposit 65,839 110,347
Total current assets 137,876 156,931
Liabilities:
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 7 (41,066) (16,801)
Net current assets 96,810 140,130
Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year 7 (41,800) (41,800)
Net assets 55,012 98,332
The funds of the Charity
Unrestricted funds 9 54,048 89,332
Restricted funds 9 964 9,000
Total funds 55,012 98,332

For the year ended 31 July 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain at audit in accordance with section 476 of Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the YU Board on 18 November 2024, and were signed on its behalf by:

Professor Karen Bryan OBE (Chair of the Board)

The 'Notes to the financial statements' form part of these accounts.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Accounting policies

The following accounting policies have been used consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the financial statements.

a. Basis of preparation of accounts

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with Section 1a of Financial Reporting Standard 102, the financial reporting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and the Statement of Recommended Practice – “Accounting and Reporting for Charities: revised 2019” (Charities SORP 2015 FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006. YU meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

b. Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of YU. 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 a specific purpose. Designated funds are funds which have been set aside from unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes. Subscriptions income represents member subscriptions and unrestricted grants. There are no restricted funds.

c. Incoming resources

All income is accounted for as soon as YU has entitlement to the income, there is certainty of receipt and the amount is quantifiable. Subscriptions are accounted for in the year to which they apply.

d. Resources expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been listed under headings that aggregate all the costs related to that activity. Where costs cannot be directly attributed, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources. Direct costs, including directly attributable salaries, are allocated on an actual basis to the key strategic areas of activity.

e. Pension Fund

The institution participates in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). The assets of the scheme are held in a separate trustee-administered fund. Because of the mutual nature of the scheme, the assets are not attributed to individual institutions and a scheme-wide contribution rate is set. The institution is therefore exposed to actuarial risks associated with other institutions’ employees and is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities of the scheme on a consistent and reasonable basis. As required by Section 28 of FRS 102 “Employee benefits”, the institution therefore accounts for the scheme as if it were a defined contribution scheme. As a result, the amount charged to the Statement of

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25

Financial Activities account represents the contributions payable to the scheme. Since the institution has entered into an agreement (the Recovery Plan) that determines how each employer within the scheme will fund the overall deficit, the institution recognises a liability for the contributions payable that arise from the agreement (to the extent that they relate to the deficit) with related expenses being recognised through the statement of financial activities.

The financial assumptions used in the valuation are described in the Statement of Funding Principles. In accordance with FRS102, an accrual is held for the amortised anticipated costs of pension shortfall recovery payments anticipated now but be payable in future years.

For more detail of the costs and valuations for the USS pension scheme see ‘Our Valuation’ on the USS website.

f. Fixed assets

Individual assets with an individual or aggregate cost when acquired in excess of £2,000, and which are intended to be of ongoing use to YU in carrying out its activities, are capitalised as fixed assets. Depreciation is charged on tangible fixed assets at 25% of cost per annum, so as to write them off over their expected useful lives. Computer assets are fully depreciated in the year of purchase.

2. Employee information

The full-time equivalent number of staff employed at the end of the year was 4 (2023:4). Contractor costs are not included in staff costs. Total employee costs during the year were £251k (2023: £225k) broken down as follows:

(all figures in £000s)
Salaries
Social security costs
Employer pension
Change in pension shortfall accrual
Change in leave outstanding at year end
Employment allowance
Total
Total Emoluments band
No: of
Staff
£100k - £120k
1
£80k - £100k
0
£60k - £80k
1
£40k - £60k
0
£20k - £40k
2		 2024
200
22
33
-
1
(5)
251		 2023
181
21
36
(8)
-
(5)
225

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3. Pension costs

The total cost charged to the Statement of Financial Activities is £33k (2023: £36k) as shown in Note 2.

A formal valuation of the USS fund, as at 31 March 2023, was carried out using Projected Unit method.

Since the institution cannot identify its share of USS Retirement Income Builder (defined benefit) assets and liabilities, the following disclosures reflect those relevant for those assets and liabilities as a whole.

The 2023 valuation was the seventh valuation for the scheme under the scheme-specific funding regime introduced by the Pensions Act 2004, which requires schemes to have sufficient and appropriate assets to cover their technical provisions. At the valuation date, the value of the assets of the scheme was £73 billion and the value of the scheme’s technical provisions liabilities was £66 billion indicating a funding ratio of 111%. The financial assumptions used in the 2023 valuation are described in the Statement of Funding Principles.

As the 2023 valuation reports a 111% funding ratio, this year we leave our provision unchanged. It has been £41.8k for two years. As the 2023 valuation reports a surplus, we can now anticipate that the deficit recovery plan of 6.2% (since 30 Sept 2021) will reduce. A 0.2% reduction occurred on 1 April 2024. For valuation purposes a further 1.4% reduction is anticipated in 2025.

These anticipated contributions were discounted over a five-year horizon (l/y five years) at a rate of 3.00% (2023: 5.4%), and average wage growth of 4.00% (2023 3.00%). Our annual deficit recovery contributions are £8k (2023: £11k). The current valuation is £42k (2023: £42k).

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4. Resources Expended

.Resources Expended
a) Analysis of resources
expended/ £000s
General
CAPE-Designated
TTS SME Restricted
Y-PERN/Red-Restricted
UPP-Restricted
Total expended
b) Analysis of Self
Employed and Support
costs/ £000s
Self-employed/Contractors
Independent Examination
and Directors Insurance
Premises, phone, office and
website
Travel and Meetings
Subscriptions
Advertisements
Professional & insurance
Equipment
Staff Development
Total		 Staff
Costs
160
-
-
91
-
251
Core
71
3
8
21
3
4
12
1
4
127		 Self
Empl’d
71
17
27
7
13
135
CAPE
17
17		 Support
costs
56
-
-
-
-
56
TTS/
SME
27
27		 Total
Total
2024
2023
287
222
17
7
27
-
98
86
13
6
442
321
YPern
UPP
Total
2024
7
13
135
3
8
21
3
4
12
1
4
7
13
191		 Total
2023
48
3
11
12
3
4
11
2
2
96
TTS/
SME
27
27

5. Tangible fixed assets

angible fixed assets
Office Fixtures &
equipment fitting Total
Asset cost £ £ £
At 1st Aug 2023 6,175 664 6,839
Additions 921 - 921
At 31st July 2024 7,096 664 7,760
Accumulated depreciation
At 1st Aug 2023 6,174 663 6,837
Charge for the year 921 - 921
At 31st July 2024 7,095 663 7,758
Net book value
At 31st July 2023 1 1 2
At 31st July 2024 1 1 2

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6. Debtors

Trade Debtors
Prepaid Expenses
Accrued Income
Total
Creditors and commitments
Short Term
Trade creditors/Credit cards
Employment Related
Accrued expenses
Total
Long Term
Pension shortfall accrual		 2024
£
26,688
1,723
16,111
44,522
2024
£
19,175
16,366
5,525
41,066
41,800		 2023
£
-
2,082
15,744
17,826
2023
£
1,856
13,384
1,561
16,801
41,800

7. Creditors and commitments

8. Related party transactions

There were no transactions with related parties undertaken during the year such as are required to be disclosed in detail (2023: none). No remuneration was paid to any trustee during the year (2023: £Nil). There were transactions with the institutions represented by the charity’s members that were all undertaken at arm’s length, or at nil profit. Principal among these are costs from the University of Leeds for accommodation and supplied services.

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9. Analysis of movements in funds

All figures in £000s
General funds:
Unrestricted funds
Designated-CAPE
Restricted funds:
Y-PERN/Red
TTS SME
UPP
Total		 b/f
71
18
-
-
9
98		 Income
268
-
98
27
5
398		 Costs Transfers
287
-
16
-
98
-
27
-
13
-
441
-		 Net
(19)
(16)
-
-
(8)
(43)		 Total
2024
52
2
-
-
1
55		 Held at
bank
90
2
-
-
1
93

The analysis of funds shows our funds are fully available in cash. The unrestricted general fund held as part of our bank and deposit balances is now £90k (2023: £112k).

The expectation is that the £2k closing balance on the Designated fund will be spent out during the forthcoming year (2023: £18k). We hold £1k in restricted funds (2023: £9k). These balances are fully held as cash.

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