Internet of Produc�on Alliance UK
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022
Company Number: CE018463 Charity Number: 1184807
Internet of Production UK
(Formerly Field Ready)
Trustees’ Report for the Year Ending 31[st] December 2022
Notes on Nomenclature
On 23[rd] May 2023, the Charity “Field Ready” changed its name to “Internet of Produc�on UK”. During the period covered by this report, the Charity was legally named Field Ready. However, to avoid confusion, this report refers to the Charity as “Internet of Produc�on UK” or “IoP UK” throughout.
The charity was previously part of the wider Field Ready movement. Where “Field Ready” is men�oned in this report, it refers to the en�ty ac�ng as the head of the Field Ready movement – an organisa�on based in the USA – or the wider Field Ready movement, as the context allows. It does not refer to the Charity.
Objectives and Activities
any part of the world who are affected by war or natural disaster or catastrophe by providing aid and capacity building to iden�fy and help meet their needs.
The Internet of Produc�on UK’s ac�vi�es were delivered through two projects in 2022.
Plastic2Ghar
Plas�c waste is an enormous issue in the Himalayan region of Nepal – a region that has some of the most challenging supply chains in the world and communi�es that face poverty, cold and frequent disasters. The project was to establish an innova�on and business support ecosystem to incubate new and emerging businesses that address plas�cs waste. These businesses would transforming waste into durable, long-las�ng housing products locally. Rather than shipping waste to the manufacturing hub of Nepal, the Kathmandu valley, the waste would be re-manufactured locally across a large network of small, specialised machines. The idea�on processes was ini�ated through ‘makeathons’. The business incuba�on was delivered through training and market dialogues with local community groups. Our role was to support on technology and product selec�on and development, to use our experience to guide business model design and to assist the emerging businesses reach key markets – such as the aid sector.
The project was awarded in late 2021 to the Charity by a UK government Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) fund known as the ‘Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollu�on’ (SMEP) Programme as part of a consor�um led by the University of Cambridge Ins�tute for Manufacturing. The other key partner was the Nepal Communitere (which changed its name to Impact Hub Kathmandu during the year) which hosted the first ‘FabLab’ in Nepal. The FabLab is a fabrica�on laboratory, a type of makerspace, that was co-founded by Field Ready and Nepal Communitere in previous years. The SMEP fund was structured somewhat unusually by the donor, both in terms of �me and money, so the project design needed care.
Phase 1 ran January to March 2022. Our work included project set-up, registra�on of an en�ty in Nepal and prepara�ons for a makeathon (including the selec�on and ordering of machines).
Phase 2 ran April 2022 to mid-April 2023. On a per-month basis, this phase had the lowest level of funding from the donor so our work was limited. We provided support to the makeathons and early business incuba�on, and con�nued to engage with suppliers of the specialised machines. We also conducted a field visit to a possible local manufacturing site and we organised a series of workshops on plas�c recycling at the global FabLab conference; this event was a chance for the dispersed team to not only share our own unique insights and exper�se in small-scale, distributed plas�c recycling in developing country contexts but also to learn from other ini�a�ves that were making shelter and housing products from recycled plas�c.
overcoming these was an achievement. But the project persevered well. This first year the project was very successful, received good feedback from the communi�es and businesses we engaged with and was also posi�vely evaluated by the donors. The planned results and impacts of the work will begin to show in Phase 3, star�ng in April 2023.
Internet of Production Alliance
Open infrastructures need to be collabora�vely created to bring the ‘Internet of Produc�on’ into being, covering vital aspects of how we make any physical item: Designs & Documenta�on; Machines & Tools; People & Skills; Materials & Components, and; Contracts & Business Models. This project worked on crea�ng the early stages of a series of open infrastructures in these areas whilst also building a community and an alliance of organisa�ons around each of them. The project builds on work supported by the Shutleworth Founda�on and earlier pilots conducted by Field Ready in Kenya, Nepal and elsewhere – and par�cularly Field Ready’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic that severely affected the world’s supply chains.
The project was awarded to Field Ready in July 2021 by the Alfred P. Sloan Founda�on. The funding and project has a very simple, straigh�orward and helpful structure. It was effec�vely handed over in full from Field Ready USA to the Charity in January 2022 and this project was a major factor in our decision to begin a process to rename the charity ‘Internet of Produc�on UK’. The project will run un�l at least June 2023.
The project’s main outputs during the year were:
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Alliance: 16 new Alliance members; Alliance governance re-design phase 1; fundraising for and with Alliance members including on software, search, governance, innovation and aid projects (hosted separately).
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Designs & Documentation: Open Know-How strategy standard initiative; portability tools – for peer-to-peer use case; community of testers.
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Machines & Tools: data storage and visualisation tools; partnerships with FabLabs.io, Field Ready and the Interfacer project; two rounds of international awards for machine data collection.
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People & Skills: scoping report completed.
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Materials & Components: scoping research and dissemination (in progress).
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Contracts & Business Models: business models catalogue in development; scoping on distributed contracting.
The project team was in the UK, Denmark, USA, Mexico and Kenya. The team contributed to several community events and conferences, including: the Open Source Hardware Associa�on, the Global Innova�on Gathering, the Global Digital Development Forum, Humanitarian Partnerships and Networks Week, the Hannover Messe, the African / European Maker Ecosystem project, RePublica, the Maker Community in Milan, OpenNext, the Distributed Design Market Pla�orm, Maker Faires, the maker community in Kenya, the Open ToolChain Founda�on, the Interfacer Project, the Bri�sh Standards Ins�tute discussions on new materials, the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduc�on, the Africa Open Science Hardware summit, the FabLabs global conference, the Gathering for Open Science Hardware, the maker community in El Salvador, the Hackaday community and prize, the Africa Makerspace Network gathering and the Health & Humanitarian Logis�cs conference. Ar�cles were published in globally popular ‘Make Magazine’ and in a book called ‘Distributed Design’.
objects as set out in our governing document. These objects fall under the purposes defined by the Chari�es Act 2011. The trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objec�ves and in planning our future ac�vi�es. In par�cular, the trustees consider how planned ac�vi�es will contribute to the aims and objec�ves they have set.
Financial Review
IoP UK recognised £209k of restricted funds towards its projects, which was matched by its expenditure on those projects. As such, its reserves level at the end of the period of zero.
As reserves are zero, and the Charity does not have ongoing opera�ng costs that would require the holding of reserves, the trustees have not adopted a formal reserves policy. This would be adopted if ongoing opera�ng costs were to be incurred.
The Charity was unable to open a bank account in its own name during the period. To facilitate payment to its projects, it entered conduit agreements with the Appropedia Founda�on in the USA and Massive Small Manufacturing Ltd in the UK. As such, the Charity did not hold a cash balance of its own at the end of the period, and cash balances held on its behalf by other en��es are recorded as debtors in these accounts. During 2023, IoP UK entered into a client accoun�ng arrangement to allow it to operate bank accounts for itself, and remaining unspent funds are expected to be distributed back to IoP UK in the next financial year.
The Charity holds no investments.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Internet of Produc�on UK is a Charitable Incorporated Organisa�on, registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number: 1184807) on 7[th] August 2019. It operates under its Ar�cles of Associa�on of the same date, updated to reflect the Charity’s change of name on 23[rd] April 2023.
The Trustees operate as a Board to manage the charity. New trustees are appointed on elec�on by the exis�ng trustees on confirma�on that they meet the relevant requirements. As the Charity has no staff, the Board make all decisions.
remaining joint projects under a Memorandum of Understanding with Field Ready. It also is not currently affiliated with any other Internet of Produc�on en�ty. The Charity remains legally independent of all other en��es, and the Board have sole power to make decisions and set the Charity’s policies and priori�es.
Reference and Administrative Details
Legal Name Internet of Production UK Previous Legal Name Field Ready Charity Registration Number 1184807 Registered Office c/o The Centre For Global Equality 8C Kings Parade Cambridge CB2 1SJ Trustees Serving to date of approval Toby Fenwick MScMSt LLM (resigned 1[st] June 2022) Prof Paul Sherlock OBE (retired 22[nd ] August 2023) Stuart Davis FCMA Benjamin Britton (appointed 10[th] June 2022) Dr Lucia Corsini (appointed 22[nd] August 2023) Christina Rebel (appointed 3[rd] October 2023)
The Internet of Produc�on UK does not operate a bank account and has not received professional advice during the period. Therefore, no banker or advisor detail has been included above.
Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Internet of Production UK
I report to the trustees on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022 that are set out on the attached pages.
Respective responsibilities of the Trustee’s and the examiner
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you, as trustees, concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the 2011 Act and Regulations have not been met; or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed Dated
Paul Voltzenlogel
Internet of Production UK (Formerly Field Ready)
Statement of Financial Activities
For the year ending 31 December 2022
Detailed Breakdown
| atement of Financial Activities r the year ending 31 December 2022 |
Detailed Breakdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Income Income From Charitable Activities Total Income Expenditure Expenditure on Charitable Activities Total Expenditure Net Movement in Funds Reconciliation of Funds: Total Funds Brought Forward Movement in the Year Total Funds Carried Forward |
Amounts Received / Expensed at Appropedia Appropedia USD/GBP Reval Accruals for Independent Examination and Annual Accounts (from Appropedia fund) Deferral of Income at Appropedia Expenditure from SMEP Projects Accrual of income on SMEP Projects 291,474 0 0 (142,181) 0 59,217 |
2022 2022 2022 2021 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds Total Funds £ £ £ £ 0 208,510208,510 96,899 |
| 291,474 0 0 (142,181) 0 59,217 |
0 208,510 208,510 96,899 |
|
| 142,526 5,227 1,540 0 59,217 0 |
0 208,510208,510 44,244 |
|
| 142,526 5,227 1,540 0 59,217 0 |
0 208,510 208,510 44,244 |
|
| 148,948 (5,227) (1,540) (142,181) (59,217) 59,217 |
0 0 0 52,655 |
|
| 0 0 0 27 |
||
| 0 0 0 52,655 |
||
| 0 0 0 52,682 |
Internet of Production UK (Formerly Field Ready)
Balance Sheet
For the year ending 31 December 2022
| Fixed Assets Tangible Fixed Assets Total Fixed Assets Current Assets Cash in hand and at bank Debtors Total Current Assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net Current Assets / Liabilities Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after one year Total net assets or liabilities Funds of the Charity Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds |
2022 Unrestricted Funds £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
2022 Restricted Funds £ 0 0 0 143,721 143,721 143,721 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
2022 Total Funds £ 0 0 0 143,721 143,721 143,721 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
2021 Total Funds £ 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ||||
| 0 0 |
||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 0 |
||||
| 0 |
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 19.10.2023
SIGNED BY THE BOARD:
Stuart Davis………………………………………………
Lucia Corsini……………………………………………..
Benjamin Britton………………………………………..
Chris�na Rebel…………………………………………..
Internet of Production UK (Formerly Field Ready)
Cash Flow
For the year ending 31 December 2022
| Cash flows from operating activities Net Cash provided by Operating Activities Cash flows from investing activities Net Cash provided by Investing Activities Cash flows from financing activities Net Cash provided by Financing Activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the statement of financial activities) Net cash provided by operating activities Analysis of cash and cash equivalents Cash at bank and in hand Total cash and cash equivalents |
2022 £ - - - - - - - - - - |
2021 £ |
|---|---|---|
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| - |
Internet of Production UK (Formerly Field Ready) Notes to the Accounts
1. Corporate Status
Internet of Production UK ( formerly Field Ready) is a charitable incorporated organisation in England and Wales (charity number: 1184807) and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of the registered office is c/o The Centre For Global Equality, 8C Kings Parade, Cambridge, CB2 1SJ.
Internet of Production was formerly known as Field Ready. The organisation changed its name on 23rd May 2023.
Internet of Production UK is a public benefit entity. The nature of its operations and its principal activities, and how these meet the public benefit criteria, are set out in the trustees' report that accompanies these accounts.
2. Accounting Policies
2.1 Basis of Preparation
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
2.2 Going Concern
The Trustees have considered the ability of the charity to meet its commitments over the medium term, and have concluded that it is appropriate to prepare the charity's accounts on a going concern basis.
2.3 Fund Accounting
The charity has adopted the following definitions of funds:
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Unrestricted funds comprise the accumulated surpluses and deficits on general funds. They are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of Internet of Production UK’s general charitable objectives.
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Restricted funds are funds subject to specific restricted conditions imposed by donors.
2.4 Incoming Resources
All incoming resources are accounted for when the charity has entitlement, there is certainty of receipt, and the amount is measurable. Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met. Income is accrued and deferred when it is in respect of work to be carried out in other periods than when it is received.
2.5 Resources Expended
Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred. Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty. Contractual arrangements and performance-related grantes are recognised as services are supplied.
All expenditure is stated gross of VAT as Internet of Production UK is not registered for VAT, and no VAT costs are recoverable.
Expenditure related to charitable activities comprise those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries, and includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities, plus those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
2.6 Liability Recognition
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
2.7 Grants with Performance Conditions
Where the charity gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the SoFA once the recipient of the grant has provided the specified service or output.
2.8 Creditors
The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts.
2.9 Debtors
Debtors (including trade debtors and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
2.10 Payment Agent Arrangements
Internet of Production UK did not have its own bank account during the period. To facilitate expenditure on its projects, it entered into temporary Payment Agent Arrangements with the Appropedia Foundation and Massive Small Manufacturing Ltd, whereby these organisations would hold funds on behalf of Internet of Production UK and settle payments in a timely manner. Cash held at these organisations at the end of the period under these arrangements has been included as debtors in the balance sheet.
Internet of Production UK (Formerly Field Ready) Notes to the Accounts
3. Analysis of Income
| 3. Analysis of Income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total Funds |
Total Funds |
|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Charitable Activities: | ||||
| Grants from Institutional Donors | 0 | 208,510 | 208,510 | 0 |
| Total Income from Charitable Activities | 0 | 208,510 | 208,510 | 0 |
| Total Income | 0 | 208,510 | 208,510 | 0 |
| 4. Analysis of Expenditure | ||||
| 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total Funds |
Total Funds |
|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Charitable Activities: | ||||
| Expenditure on Programmes | 0 | 208,510 | 208,510 | 0 |
| Total Expenditure on Charitable Activities | 0 | 208,510 | 208,510 | 0 |
| Total Expenditure | 0 | 208,510 | 208,510 | 0 |
| 5. Analysis of Spend on Charitable Activities | ||||
| 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | ||
| Activities undertaken directly |
Grant funding of activities |
Total this year |
||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Alfred P. Sloan Foundation | 149,293 | 0 | 0 | |
| SMEP Phases 1 and 2 | 59,217 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total Expenditure on Charitable Activities | 208,510 | 0 | 0 | |
| Previous Year | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6. Fees for Independent Examination | ||||
| 2022 | 2021 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Independent examiner’s fees | 540 | 0 | ||
| Assurance services other than independent examination | 0 | 0 | ||
| Tax advisory fees | 0 | 0 | ||
| Other fees | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 540 | 0 |
No independent examination took place for 2021 results as the organisation fell below the threshold requiring this.
7. Staff Costs
No staff were directly employed by the charity in the period (2021: 0)
8. Analysis of Debtors
| 8. Analysis of Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income Other debtors Total Debtors 9. Analysis of Creditors Trade creditors Accruals and deferred income Other creditors Total Creditors 10. Movement in Deferred Income Balance at the start of the reporting period Amounts added in current period Amounts released to income from previous periods Balance at the end of the reporting period |
2022 2021 £ £ 0 0 59,217 0 84,504 0 143,721 0 Amounts falling due within 1 year Amounts falling due after 1 year 2022 2021 2022 2021 £ £ £ £ 0 0 0 0 143,721 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
|
| 143,721 0 0 0 |
||
| 2022 2021 £ £ 0 0 142,181 0 0 0 142,181 0 |
11. Analysis of Charitable Funds
| Restricted Funds: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation SMEP Phase 1 SMEP Phase 2 Total Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total Charitable Funds |
2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022 Fund balances brought forward Income Expenditure Transfers Gains and losses Fund balances carried forward £ £ £ £ £ £ 0 149,293 (149,293) 0 0 0 0 29,485 (29,485) 0 0 0 0 29,732 (29,732) 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 0 208,510 (208,510) 0 0 0 |
|
| 0 | |
| 0 208,510 (208,510) 0 0 0 |
12. Trustee Expenses and Related Party Disclosures
No trustees claimed expenses during the period (2021: £0).
Stuart Davis is the director and beneficial owner of Stuart Davis Consulting Ltd ("SDC"), a company that provides finance and operational services to charities and Not-for-profit organisations. The SDC team prepared these accounts for a fee of £1,000. SDC has also provided pro bono operational support for the change from Field Ready to the Internet of Production UK, and pro bono administrative support to the Board.