OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2021-07-31-accounts

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee Registered charity Number: 1158399

Company Number: 08763964

AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

CONTENTS

PAGE
Company Information 1
Trustees’ Report 2 - 7
Independent Auditor’s Report 8 - 12
Statement of Financial Activities 13
Balance Sheet 14
Statement of Cash Flow 15
Notes to the Financial Statements 16 - 24

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee COMPANY INFORMATION

Reference and Administrative Information
Trustees N. Wilcock (Chair)
T. Hall
M. Smith
T. Fogden
Key Management Mark Smith (Chief Executive Officer)
Tom Fogden (Dean)
Charity Registration Number 1158399
Company Number 08763964 (England and Wales)
Registered Office and Principal Address Broad Lane
Tottenham Hale
London
Bankers Lloyds TSB Bank
25 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HN
Auditor Buzzacott LLP
130 Wood Street
London
EC2V 6DL

1

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

The trustees of National College for Digital Skills Limited (the “charity”) present the annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2021.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the governing document, the Charities Act 2011, Companies Act 2006 and 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).

Objectives and Activities

The National College for Digital Skills became a company limited by guarantee in November 2013 followed by its registration as a charity in July 2014. The Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association were amended following the incorporation of Ada, National College for Digital Skills Further Education College (‘College’) on 8 August 2016. The principal changes to the Articles resulted in National College for Digital Skills Limited becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the College and changes to the Trustee Board.

The objectives of the College are: ‘to advance the education of the public in general on the subject of computing and related disciplines, including but not exclusively by establishing and supporting educational institutions which teach computing and related disciplines.’

As the subsidiary to the College, these objectives are being met through the provision of operational support services to the College. This includes:

Structure, Governance and Management

The trustees have control of the charity, its property and funds and convene annually for a Board Meeting. The trustees are responsible for the compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, prudent management of assets and ensuring the highest quality of governance. During the year, trustee indemnity insurance was obtained to cover the trustees for up to £1million. Day to day management of the charity is assigned to the CEO and Dean.

The trustees during the year were as follows;

2

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

Structure, Governance and Management (continued)

The College Board is entitled to propose candidates for election to the Trustee Board and to appoint additional members. Such additional members are then required to seek election and appointment at the next Trustee Board meeting.

New members of the Trustee Board may be recruited by application. Their application must be proposed and seconded by current members of the Board. In selecting new members, consideration is given to the specific contribution that they can make to the Board and the charity. A regular skills and training audit is undertaken to ensure that appointments to the Board reflect the strategic priorities of the charity.

Staffing

The key management personnel of the charity are the Trustee Board, which include the CEO and Dean of the College.

The College’s salary policy is applied to the charity and is designed to provide a clear and flexible framework to reward employees with a view to attract and retain a competent workforce which is essential to the ongoing success of the organisation. Pay grades within the policy are based upon the Further Education pay grade structure as published by the University and College Union. The CEO and Deans’ salary is set separately by the Colleges’ Remuneration Committee.

Statement of Public Benefit

The Board members have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit in reviewing the aims and objectives of the charity, in planning future activities and, in particular, how planned activities will contribute to those aims and objectives. The trustees of National College for Digital Skills Limited have taken due note of their responsibilities to deliver public benefit and are confident of the impact in the advancement of education – through the development of individual capabilities, competencies, skills and understanding.

Progress in 2020/21 and Future Plans

The mission of the College is to educate and empower the next generation of diverse digital talent.

The College seeks to: be a centre of excellence for higher level digital skills, offer a high quality, aspirational alternative to university and be a beacon of best practice.

The College’s focus is:-

The College and the Charity initially sited at the Broad Lane campus in Tottenham Hale, London and opened to 60 full time Year 12 students in September 2016. In August 2021, a further 62 students enrolled bringing the total number of students in the sixth form to 157.

The College’s first Level 4 Software Development Apprenticeship launched in May 2018 with 12 apprentices. The launch of a Level 4 Data Analytics Apprenticeship October 2018 and a Level 6 Tech Consulting Apprenticeship has enabled the programme to go from strength to strength. At 31 September 2021, 202 apprentices were enrolled with the College from more than 25 employers.

3

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

The College has educated over 625 learners to date through its various programmes and continues to benefit many more through its outreach sessions and short course provision.

The College launched a small Apprenticeship cohort of just 7 apprentices in February 2021 following 11 months of work by our North West Regional Manager. The cohort start date was postponed from Autumn 2021 due to the pandemic. Upfront seed funding for this expansion of provision to the North West of England has been provided by both local authorities and philanthropic support. A further 34 apprentices are due to enrol in October 2021.

The college currently operates from leased accommodation. The Broad Lane lease which was due to expire in December 2020 has been extended by 3 years. The Whitechapel building used to house apprentices has a five-year lease running to April 2024. The College now has a peppercorn lease for a small training suite in Manchester city centre courtesy of a pro bono donation from Bruntwood Property Management.

The College’s long-term strategy is to house both the Sixth form provision and the Apprenticeship programme in one building to support growth, minimise costs and maximise cross programme working. The College has made significant progress in identifying a site that would achieve these objectives and is now awaiting the outcome of a Dept. for Education Ministerial Decision to see if capital funding will be provided to secure and refurbish this site. The Capital funding request is expected to be in the region of £8-£10m with 50% provided by the Greater London Authority (GLA) should the DfE capital funding be secured.

During the year, the charity continued to support the College with the provision of accommodation, equipment, staff, systems, processes and procedures.

Other activities for the charity during 2020/21 include:

Covid-19 has presented specific challenges within the year with our Apprenticeship delivery remaining fully remote throughout. Our 16-19 provision, based on Government guidance, was remote for a number of months but since Spring 2020 we have managed to be back in the building with only one brief closure due to a positive test result for a student. Overall, the Board has praised the College’s leadership team with its adaptation to the challenging circumstances presented by Covid. Learner attendance has remained remarkably high across all provision and results and progression data has continued to be strong. The College utilised the Workplace platform and Google Enterprise Suite for Education to good effect to maintain effective staff collaboration as well as remote delivery using Google Meet, Google Drive and Google Classroom.

Risk Management

The trustees are responsible for the overseeing of the risks faced by the charity. Detailed considerations of risk are delegated to the Senior Management of the charity. Risks are identified, assessed and controls

4

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

established throughout the year. A formal review of the charity’s risk management processes is undertaken on an annual basis.

Trustees have identified the following areas as posing a key risk to the charity:

1. Failure to find a suitable alternative permanent home for the College

The college currently operates from leased accommodation. The Broad Lane lease which was due to expire in December 2020 has been extended by 3 years to December 2023. The Whitechapel building used to house apprentices has a five-year lease running to April 2024. The College’s long-term strategy is to house both the Sixth form provision and the Apprenticeship programme in one building to support growth, minimise costs and maximise cross programme working.

While significant progress has been made in identifying a building, until we have a positive Ministerial decision we currently do not have a long-term sustainable solution. Failure to identify a suitable permanent home will result in limited growth, poor experience for students and staff and higher running costs for interim premises and reputational damage. This risk is mitigated by a site having been identified that is part of the Department for Education’s existing estate. A detailed feasibility study, commissioned by the Department for Education, is underway. A decision is expected on the capital funding business case in December 2021.

2. Failure to maintain the financial viability of the College

The College maintains a healthy cash balance and remains financially viable through a cautious approach to cost management during the pandemic due to the uncertain economic climate that the Board and leadership team identified might impact significantly on our apprenticeship learner volumes. The continuing challenge to the College’s financial position remains the pressure on growing Sixth Form and Apprenticeship student numbers, increasing revenue, generating fundraising and ensuring that our operating costs remain efficient and effective in relation to the number of learners enrolled and staff employed. There are a number of measures in place to manage this risk including:

Financial Review

The Statement of Financial Activities is shown on page 13. There was net expenditure on the unrestricted and restricted funds of (£61,977) £ (2020: net income of £128,533). The change in performance from the prior year is largely due to a decrease in philanthropic support on the previous very successful year and

5

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

having to pay lease costs on Broad Lane. The charity generated £349,776 of fundraising income during the year from corporate donors and high net individuals. Funding was also received from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to support the College’s pilot programme in Manchester. We also received a pro bono donation in the form of a rent free period for a small training suite in Manchester city centre courtesy of Bruntwood Property Management. This is worth just over £32k for 2020-21.

The charity has accumulated reserves of £1,350,431 (2020: £1,412,408), which includes cash and short‐ term investment balances of £253,095 (2020: £726,078).

Tangible fixed asset additions during the year amounted to £153,432 including the purchase of new laptops for students and staff.

Trustees have considered the level of funds held, the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements and the impact of COVID on the charities ability to operate and remain sustainable. The future budgeted income and expenditure together with the level of accumulated free reserves is sufficient for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

The trustees confirm that the College’s assets are available and adequate to fulfil its financial obligations.

Reserves Policy

The trustees wish, in general, to retain enough of the General Fund to fund at least one months’ activities as the majority of reserves will be held in the College. This amounts to approximately £100,000.

The balance held as unrestricted funds at 31 July 2021 was £655,131 (2020: £323,731). The balance held as restricted funds at 31 July 2021 was £695,299 (2020: £1,088,677).

Fundraising

Fundraising for the College and the charity is currently undertaken by the Director of External Relations and CEO. Fundraising is currently focused on individual giving, corporates, trusts and foundations.

The College and charity have adopted an ‘Ethical Fundraising Policy’. This policy is based upon the Institute of Fundraising’s Compliance Framework. The policy ensures that vulnerable people and others are adequately protected from unreasonable intrusion on a person’s privacy, unreasonably persistent approaches or undue pressure to give, in the course of or in connection with fundraising for the charity.

No complaints were received during the year in relation to fundraising activities.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees (who are also directors of National College for Digital Skills Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

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 income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

6

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that 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. 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.

Each trustee confirms that:

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of s418 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

This report was approved on 13 December 2021 and signed on behalf of the trustees by

Nicholas Wilcock

Chair

7

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMIT

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of National College for Digital Skills Limited (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 July 2021 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the accounts is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the accounts are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

8

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

Other information

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

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

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

9

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non‐compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non‐compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:

10

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

In response to the risk of irregularities and non‐compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non‐ compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non‐compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

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

Use of this report

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

11

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

A company limited by guarantee

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

Shachi Blakemore (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Buzzacott LLP, Statutory Auditor 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL

Date: 17 December 2021

12

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021 INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPEDITURE ACCOUNT

Income
Notes
Donations
2
Income from charitable activities:
Funding for the
College’s Educational
Activities
3
Other income
4
Total income
Expenditure
Expenditure on
charitable activities
5
Total
expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
and transfers between funds
Transfers between
funds
11
Net income/(expenditure)
after transfers between funds
Reconciliation of
funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried
forward
11		 Restricted
Restricted
Restricted
Restricted
Unrestricted
income
capital
Total
Unrestricted
income
capital
Total
funds
funds
funds
2021
funds
funds
funds
2020
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
327,276
12,500
10,000
349,776
778,606
11,000
100,000
889,606
62,077
-
-
62,077
89,884
-
98,348
188,232
1,479,809
300
-
1,480,109
592,258
400
-
592,658
1,869,162
12,800
10,000
1,891,962
1,460,748
11,400
198,348
1,670,496
1,637,760
23,285
292,894
1,953,939
1,159,710
8,631
373,622
1,541,963
1,637,760
23,285
292,894
1,953,939
1,159,710
8,631
373,622
1,541,963
231,401
(10,485)
(282,894)
(61,977)
301,038
2,769
(175,274)
128,533
100,000
-
(100,000)
-
-
-
-
-
331,401
(10,485)
(382,894)
(61,977)
301,038
2,769
(175,274)
128,533
323,730
45,949
1,042,729
1,412,408
22,693
43,179
1,218,003
1,283,875
655,131
35,464
659,835
1,350,431
323,731
45,948
1,042,729
1,412,408

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

13

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 JULY 2021

Note
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
6
TOTAL FIXED ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash at bank and in hand
Debtors
7
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
CREDITORS:Amounts falling
due within one year
8
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY:
Restricted capital funds
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS
11		 Unrestricted
funds
£
72,555
72,555
198,548
540,254
738,802
(156,224)
582,578
655,133
-
-
655,133
655,133		 Restricted
income
funds
£
-
-
35,785
128
35,914
(450)
35,464
35,464
-
35,464
-
35,464		 Restricted
Capital
funds
£
640,385
640,385
18,762
687
19,449
-
19,449
659,834
659,834
-
-
659,834		 Total
2021
£
712,940
712,940
253,095
541,070
794,165
(156,674)
637,491
1,350,431
659,834
35,464
655,133
1,350,431		 Total
2020
£
852,402
852,402
726,078
215,933
942,011
(382,005)
560,006
1,412,408
1,042,729
45,948
323,731
1,412,408

The notes on page 16 to 24 form part of the financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

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

Nicholas Wilcock

Chair

Date: 13 December 2021

14

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

Note
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
A
Cash flows from investing activities:
Interest
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Net cash flow used in investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward		 2021
£
(319,506)
(45)
(153,432)
(153,477)
(472,984)
726,078
253,095		 2020
£
532,613
218
(42,800)
(42,582)
490,031
236,047
726,078

The charity does not have any borrowings or finance lease obligations. There is therefore no difference between the movement in cash and cash equivalents and movement in net debt.

Notes to the statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 July:

A Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net (expenditure) income per statement of financial activities
Add back depreciation
Add back loss on disposal of fixed assets
Deduct interest income shown in investing activities
Increase in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		 2021
£
(61,977)
292,894
-
45
(320,336)
(230,132)
(319,506)		 2020
£
128,533
323,031
-
(218)
(186,545)
267,812
532,613

15

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2021

1. Accounting Policies

1.1 Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling and are rounded to the nearest pound.

National College for Digital Skills Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

1.2 Income

All donations, grant, investment and deposit income is recognised on a receivable basis when the three criteria of income recognition; entitlement, certainty and measurement have been met. The funds for this period were both unrestricted and restricted in their use.

1.3 Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as resources expended as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.

Expenditure shown is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

Charitable Activities

Expenditure on charitable activities are resources expended on the College’s educational operations.

Governance Costs

Governance costs include those costs incurred in complying with the charity's constitutional and regulatory obligations.

1.4 Pension costs

Pension costs are payable in respect of a defined contribution schemes with Aviva. Contributions in respect of defined contribution schemes are recognised in the statement of financial activities in the year which they are payable to the scheme.

1.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets costing more than £500 are capitalised and valued at historic cost.

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:

Office and IT Equipment 3 Years

Leasehold improvements Remaining lease term

1.6 Creditors

Creditors are recognised at their settlement amount.

16

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2021

1.7 Reserves

The charity holds reserves for the following purposes:-

1.8 Going Concern

The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern assumption is appropriate in preparing these accounts. The trustees have made this assessment in respect to a period of one year from the date of approval of these accounts. The trustees have concluded that there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The financial statements have therefore been prepared on a going concern basis.

In making their assessment, the trustees have considered the level of funds held, the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the charity’s ability to operate and remain sustainable. They have concluded that the future budgeted income and expenditure together with the level of accumulated free reserves is sufficient for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.

2. Income from donations

Corporate donations
Private donations
2021 Total funds
Corporate donations
Private donations
2020 Total funds		 Unrestricted
funds
£
145,120
182,156
327,276
Unrestricted
funds
£
3,657
774,949
778,606		 Restricted
income
funds
£
-
12,500
12,500
Restricted
income
funds
£
-
11,000
11,000		 Restricted
capital
funds
£
10,000
-
10,000
Restricted
capital
funds
£
100,000
-
100,000		 Total
2021
£
155,120
194,656
349,776
Total
2020
£
103,657
785,949
889,606

17

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2021

3. Income from charitable activities

Grants receivable – capital
Grants receivable - other
2021 Total funds
Grants receivable – capital
Grants receivable - other
2020 Total funds
4.
Other Income
Recharge of support services
(note 12)
Other income
2021 Total funds		 Unrestricted
funds
£
-
62,077
62,077
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
89,884
89,884
Unrestricted
funds
£
1,430,163
49,645
1,479,809		 Restricted
income
funds
£
-
-
-
Restricted
income
funds
£
-
-
-
Restricted
income
funds
£
-
300
300		 Restricted
capital
funds
£
-
-
-
Restricted
capital
funds
£
98,348
-
98,348
Restricted
capital
funds
£
-
-
-		 Total
2021
£
-
62,077
62,077
Total
2020
£
98,348
89,884
188,232
Total
2021
£
1,430,163
49,945
1,480,109		 Total
2020
£
538,460
54,198
592,658

18

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2021

5.
Charitable activities
Support costs
Depreciation
Wages and salaries
Professional and consultancy
fees
Property costs
Advertising and marketing
IT support costs
Other staff costs
Education costs
Administration costs
Insurance
Travel
Sundry expenses
Bank charges
Total support costs
Governance costs
Audit
Total governance costs
2021 Total cost		 Unrestricted
funds
£
-
923,864
107,704
285,867
13,987
88,845
48,573
340
116,420
39,810
1,669
3,049
-
1,630,128
7,632
7,632
1,637,760		 Restricted
income
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
23,285
-
-
-
-
-
23,285
-
-
23,285		 Restricted
capital
funds
£
292,894
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
292,894
-
-
292,894		 Total
2021
£
292,894
923,864
107,704
285,867
13,987
88,845
48,573
23,625
116,420
39,810
1,669
3,049
-
1,946,307
7,632
7,632
1,953,939

19

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2021

5.
Charitable activities (continued)
Support costs
Depreciation
Wages and salaries
Professional and consultancy fees
Property costs
Advertising and marketing
IT support costs
Other staff costs
Education costs
Administration costs
Insurance
Travel
Sundry expenses
Bank charges
Total support costs
Governance costs
Audit
Total governance costs
2020 Total cost		 Unrestricted
funds
£
742,626
92,406
172,870
24,725
49,614
13,799
417
25,524
22,449
7,103
1,848
(421)
1,152,510
7,200
7,200
1,159,710		 Restricted
income
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
8,435
-
-
196
-
-
8,631
-
-
8,631		 Restricted
capital
funds
£
323,030
22,141
28,451
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
373,622
-
-
373,622		 Total
2020
£
323,030
764,767
120,857
172,870
24,725
49,614
13,799
8,852
25,524
22,449
7,299
1,848
(421)
1,534,763
7,200
7,200
1,541,963

20

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2021

6. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 August 2020
Additions
At 31 July 2021
Depreciation
At 1 August 2020
Provided in the year
At 31 July 2020
Net Book Value at 31
July 2021
Net Book Value at 31
July 2020		 Leasehold
Property
Refurbishment
£
3,367,857
3,367,857
2,668,465
205,033
2,873,498
494,359
699,392		 Office & IT
Equipment
/ software
£
628,983
106,164
735,147
597,341
42,145
639,486
95,661
31,641		 Furniture
& Fittings
£
264,185
47,268
311,453
142,817
45,716
188,533
122,920
121,369		 Total
£
4,261,025
153,432
4,414,457
3,408,623
292,894
3,701,517
712,940
852,402

All fixed assets are used for the direct furtherance of the charity's objectives.

Costs associated with the refurbishment of Broad Lane were originally being depreciated from September 2016 until December 2020. As the lease has been extended to December 2023, the net book value has been depreciated over the extended period.

7.
Debtors
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Amount due from parent undertaking (note 12)
Prepayments & accrued income		 2021
£
20,300
-
510,085
10,685
541,070		 2020
£
27,786
-
171,987
16,160
215,933

21

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2021

8.
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Amount due to parent undertaking (note 12)
Accruals and deferred income
Social security and other taxes
Capital funding owed to Department for Education
Sundry Creditors
9.
Staff Costs
Staff wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Average number of employees (headcount)		 2021
£
41,507
-
85,391
22,087
-
7,689
156,674
2021
£
777,445
78,733
67,686
923,864
24		 2020
£
111,728
-
14,889
18,239
222,006
15,143
382,005
2020
£
657,205
60,536
47,026
764,767
21

No staff member received emoluments of over £60,000 in the year (2020: none).

The charity considers its key management personnel comprise the trustees, the Chief Executive Officer and the Dean of the Further Education College. No trustees received any remuneration or benefits in kind in the year. The total employment benefits of the key management personnel paid by the charity were £nil (2020: £nil).

10. Taxation

National College for Digital Skills Limited is a registered charity and accordingly is exempt from taxation on its income and gains where they are applied for charitable purposes.

22

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2021

11.
Analysis of Funds
At 31st July 2021
a) Restricted funds –Bursaries
b) Capital grant
c) Unrestricted funds
At 31st July 2020
a) Restricted funds –Bursaries
b) Capital grant
c) Unrestricted funds		 Brought
forward
Incoming
resources
£
£
45,948
12,800
1,042,729
10,000
323,730
1,869,162		 Resources
expended
Transfers
Carried
forward
£
£
£
(23,285)
-
35,464
(292,894)
(100,000)
659,835
(1,637,760)
100,000
655,132
1,412,408
1,891,962		 (1,953,939)
-
1,350,431
Brought
forward
Incoming
resources
£
£
43,179
11,400
1,218,003
198,348
22,693
1,460,748		 Resources
expended
Transfers
Carried
forward
£
£
£
(8,631)
-
45,948
(373,622)
-
1,042,729
(1,159,710)
323,731
1,283,875
1,670,496		 (1,541,963)
-
1,412,408

Transfers between the capital grant fund and unrestricted funds represents eligible costs which were not charged against this fund when incurred.

12. Related party transactions

National College for Digital Skills Limited provides operational and marketing support services to Ada National College for Digital Skills under a Service Level Agreement. Costs recharged to Ada National College for Digital Skills for these services amounted to £1,430,163 during the year ended 31 July 2021 (2020: £538,460). The increase income in 2020-21 reflects that more costs of NCDS were recharged to Ada National College for Digital Skills to more accurately reflect the actual position and costs incurred.

23

NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DIGITAL SKILLS LIMITED

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2021

13. Ultimate controlling party

The ultimate controlling parent is Ada National College for Digital Skills, a Further Education College incorporated under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

Copies of the College’s financial statements may be obtained from:

Broad Lane

Tottenham Hale

London

14. Capital commitments

There were no capital commitments at the year end. (2020 Nil)

15. Operating lease commitments

As at 31 July 2021, the charity had annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases relating to land and buildings as set out below.

Expiring:
1 year
2 – 5 years		 2021
£
275,000
339,583
614,583		 2020
£
214,113
610,887
825,000

£214,113 has been charged to expenditure for the year. (2020 £75,000)

24