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2024-12-31-accounts

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© University College Cork
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LEADERSHIP FOR LIBRARIES

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2024

Company registration no: 1436951 Charity registration no: 278550

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||| |---|---| |Contents|Page no.| |Co-chairs’ introduction|2| |Reference and administrative information|3| |Highlights of the year|5| |The year in numbers|6| |Plans for 2025|7| |Trustees’ report|8| |How we supported our members in 2024|9| |Structure, governance and management|13| |Financial review|15| |Responsibilities of the trustees|17| |Independent auditors’ report|18| |22| |Statement of financial activities| |Balance sheet|23| |24| |Statement of cash flows| |25| |Notes to the financial statements| |© King’s College London|

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Contents | 1

Co-chairs’ introduction

The last year has been one of the most challenging our community has faced in decades. It has demanded resilience and resourcefulness from all those leading our libraries and from those working in them. As a SCONUL survey carried out in January showed, cuts in library budgets have been extensive across the whole community with more in the pipeline.

Many member libraries have faced difficult, unwelcome decisions on the reshaping of teams and services. The level of cuts means that for many institutions, “doing more with less” is not a feasible option – instead members are having to review everything about the way they work. For example, we are now seeing a fall in staffed opening hours across member libraries, reversing a long-standing trend towards twenty-four seven opening.

SCONUL has made supporting our members a priority as they navigate this difficult landscape. We have established new directors’ groups focused on providing mutual support and shared

intelligence around successfully managing change. Around a third of our members have joined one of these groups. We have held a series of events enabling the exchange of knowledge and experience and we have gathered data about the nature and extent of the cuts within the community and shared this with Jisc and other partners.

Members of SCONUL’s groups, Board and the team in the office have worked hard to deliver all this work in addition to the planned programme detailed in the SCONUL strategy https://www.sconul. ac.uk/about-us/sconuls-strategy/ and we are hugely grateful for their commitment and enthusiasm. Highlights include the inaugural technology survey report https://www.sconul.ac.uk/ - - knowledge hub/library technologies/ the-library-technology-landscape/; the incredibly popular AI coffee mornings which run on the last Friday of the month; the programme of work on “how to get ahead in libraries” supporting the development of the next generation of library leaders, two face to face conferences in London and Birmingham

on metadata futures and creating a resilient library; and close working with Jisc on the next round of “big deal” negotiations. Lots of work has been going on behind the scenes too advocating for the value and interests of libraries with our stakeholders including UUK and UKRI.

The library world has recently experienced a terrible loss in the untimely death of our friend and colleague Elaine Sykes, one of our community’s brightest and best-loved figures. Elaine was Head of Open Research at Lancaster University and had also worked at Liverpool John Moores University. She was an inspirational figure who will be greatly missed. She had made a huge contribution to the SCONUL community, most lately helping us shape the future of the benchmarking statistics and all of us who knew her and worked with her will miss her greatly.

Andrew Barker and Libby Homer, Co-chairs

Co-chairs’ introduction | 2

Reference and administrative information

Status

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

Company number: 01436951 Charity number: 278550

Registered office

Trustees

Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Bankers and investment managers

CCLA Investment Managers Limited, COIF Charity Funds, One Angel Lane, London EC4R 3AB

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© University of Leicester
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Auditors

Godfrey Wilson Limited, Chartered accountants and statutory auditors, 5th Floor, Mariner House, 62 Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QD

Solicitors

Walker Morris LLP, Kings Court, 12 King Street, Leeds LS1 2HL

HR advisor

Worknest, 20 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HN

Reference and administrative information | 3

Reference and administrative information

Key staff

Company Secretary and Executive Director:

Ann Rossiter

Project Manager:

Deputy Director: Lisa McLaren

Finance Assistant: Kim Hardingham

SCONUL Co-Ordinator: SitMui Ng

Team Administrator:

Reference and administrative information | 4

Highlights of the year

February

Bringing our members together for our Content Forum to discuss next steps in the development of transitional agreements.

April

Our first AI coffee morning which attracted more than 200 delegates to talk about developments in the use of AI by libraries.

November

Over 100 members hearing Dr Jummy Okoya, Dean of Office for Institutional Equity and Associate Professor of Leadership and EDI at UEL given an inspirational speech on leveraging leadership superpowers in turbulent times.

June and July

March

The launch of SCONUL’s new website improving access to information about our work and sector developments.

Webinars on strategic responses to budget pressures on (a) content and (b) pay and other non-pay budgets.

May

111 people from more than 70 institutions joined the climate crisis and sustainability group to discuss SCOPE 3 emissions requirements.

October

Issuing a joint call with Jisc and other stakeholders for suppliers to restrain costs in light of the HE financial crisis.

Highlights of the year | 5

The year in numbers

New Deputies and 29 Directors groups

94,984 Access Scheme users

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82.4%
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or 159 of our member institutions contributed to our benchmarking statistics

Delivered 20 webinars attended by an average of

125 librarians

SCONUL held two face-toface conferences attended by

96 institutions provided their assessment of library technologies across 26 different product areas

177 library leaders

consortia joined the EDI Libraries Coordinating Group

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11
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82
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institutions contributed to the statistics on the ethnic make-up of the SCONUL community workforce

The year in numbers | 6

Plans for 2025

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REPORT
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Publishing The Library Technology Landscape: sharing intelligence on the use of technologies in libraries, and perceptions of their functionality and value-for-money.

Commissioning case studies into the ways in which libraries support the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Launching a new service for SCONUL members, the Organisational Development Knowledge Base, allowing members to share job descriptions and organisational charts.

Protecting the interests of members through the “big 5” big deal journal negotiations and engaging directly with library providers such as Clarivate.

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AI
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Demonstrating the value of libraries in delivering on institutional missions through our Technology-enabled library spaces case studies.

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Leading conversations about
library’s community’s needs with
AI providers and sharing
developing practice through AI
coffee mornings.
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Supporting the next generation of library leaders through our community of interest groups; How to get ahead in libraries programme, and work on the Future of the Systems Librarian.

Advocating for the interests of libraries with stakeholders including BUFDG, Jisc, UCISA, UHR, UUK and UKRI for example on shared services and the HE Reference Models.

Plans for 2025 | 7

Trustees’ report

The trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 3 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective January 2019).

SCONUL’s core aims and activities

As a charity, SCONUL has a set of core aims (our “charitable objects”). The Executive Board has referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing SCONUL’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities. Identifiable public benefits arose during 2024 from the work described below, highlights of which were:

Supporting the development of the next generation of library leaders through extensive CPD opportunities.

Advocating for the value of libraries to government and other stakeholders.

Sharing good practice across the library sector through a wide range of webinars and events, reports and briefings.

Our charitable objects: Driving for a sustainable wide range of webinars and future for libraries in climate, events, reports and briefings. Generally to promote, maintain and economic and social terms. advance the science and practice of librarianship and to improve the overall standards of national and Enabling libraries to university libraries for the benefit of benchmark their performance the public. Being a passionate advocate against their peers through a for a more diverse and long-running set of statistics representative library covering core library functions community. and new technology survey.

Being a passionate advocate for a more diverse and representative library community.

Supporting equality of opportunity for students and academics through the delivery on the SCONUL Access Scheme.

Surfacing and promoting innovation across the sector and supporting members in their digital transformation.

Trustees’ report | 8

How we supported our members in 2024

We inspire

Inclusivity and diversity:

Fostering the development of a profession which better reflects our society in all its diversity through an active programme promoting and supporting change.

» Publishing statistics on the ethnic makeup of the library community workforce to create a data set to track trends in diversity.

» Running the EDI Libraries Coordinating group to share information and practice on equality, diversity and inclusion across the sector.

» Providing bursaries for library community members from under-represented groups to attend the HE Digital Universities UK conference and Thriving in your career conference.

Creative conversations:

Brokering creative conversations informed by quality data and research about future directions for our sector to enable our members to shape and prepare for that future.

» Holding monthly AI coffee mornings and other webinars with expert speakers to provide an opportunity to consider significant developments of relevance to members.

» Sharing survey results on the financial challenges facing the library community and the responses being developed by individual institutions.

» Developing and issuing a technology survey to generate an overview of technology use across our members and to understand how individual products and services are viewed.

Partnerships:

Working openly, collaboratively and strategically with partner bodies within and beyond our community, locally and internationally to explore new opportunities and to deliver value for the community.

» Working closely with Jisc and RLUK on content issues including Controlled Digital Lending, collective collecting and next generation open access.

» Liaison with peer organisations in other sectors to share insights and intelligence, for example on implications of the financial challenges facing HE.

» Working collaboratively with partners including with CILIP on the climate change and sustainability agenda.

How we supported our members in 2024 | 9

How we supported our members in 2024

Shared services:

Sharing knowledge:

Providing and developing services which help members to meet the needs of their users.

Producing resources to provide information and guidance to members about developments in HE and the library sector.

» Our Access Scheme was used by 94,984 students, researchers and academic staff in 2024. This allows users at one institution to use the library at another member university.

» Sharing news and information with members through our monthly newsletter; news flashes; and briefings, including public policy announcements, sector news and job vacancies.

» 159 institutions contributed to the SCONUL statistics which enable institutions to benchmark their own performance against that of their peers.

» Creating and hosting webinars and conferences for members which explore key issues for the sector, for example libraries’ role in addressing the climate crisis.

» Our Content Forum brings members together to help shape our collective approach to content purchasing.

We support

Mutual support:

Facilitating professionals within our member libraries to connect and learn from one another through peer support and sharing information and practice.

» Creating new directors groups on managing change to provide a source of mutual support and a venue for information sharing.

» Creating a set of webinars to allow members to share information on how they are using new AI technologies to support students and academics.

» Developing an organisational knowledge base for job descriptions and organisational charts to allow members to share intelligence.

How we supported our members in 2024 | 10

How we supported our members in 2024

The value of libraries:

Representing the community:

Advocating for the vital role that libraries play in the academic enterprise, in student wellbeing and success, and in broader engagement and innovation, highlighting the conditions for that success and supporting members with the evidence base and tools.

Representing the interests of our community with stakeholders, regulators and governments to ensure that policies develop in a way which enable libraries to deliver maximum value for their users.

» Representing the library community on a range of HE strategy groups including the UUK Content Strategy Negotiations group and UUK Learning Content Group.

» SCONUL colleagues sitting on the UKRI OA review stakeholder group and arguing for the interests of the library community in the policy development process.

» Working with colleagues on the purchasing consortia and Jisc on arrangements for the procurement of library services and content.

We promote

Leading positive change:

Generating positive proposals for change and exploring new opportunities for services and partnerships to create a positive environment for our libraries and professionals to operate.

» Promoting the value of libraries’ contributions to teaching and learning and research through public consultations for example on the REF.

How we supported our members in 2024 | 11

How we supported our members in 2024

Supporting the next generation: Delivering support for the next generation of aspiring, emerging and current leaders through formal and informal professional development opportunities which embrace and promote diversity.

Our own services:

Reviewing and redeveloping our own services to maximise the benefits to our members, placing them at the centre of our decision making.

» Reviewing our benchmarking statistics to ensure that the data being gathered is relevant, and exploring new approaches to data sharing.

» Delivering a mentoring scheme for aspiring, emerging and newly appointed library leaders as part of a suite of CPD services.

» Introducing a new SCONUL website to enable more effective sharing of resources.

» Undertaking a review of the CPD needs of the sector and collaborating with other library consortia on meeting those needs.

» Reintroducing the SCONUL Library Design Awards following a pause during the COVID pandemic.

We develop

Financial stewardship:

Exploring new ways of working and new partnerships to ensure that we are maximising our income and the impact of our expenditure.

» Delivering new community of interest groups to bring colleagues at member institutions together in areas of mutual interest.

How we supported our members in 2024 | 12

Structure, governance and management

SCONUL’s members

Governance

SCONUL’s members are the universities and national libraries of the United Kingdom and Ireland, together with most other UK institutions of higher education and institutions with collections of national significance. Members are listed on our website at - https://www.sconul.ac.uk/about us/ our-members/

SCONUL is a company limited by guarantee which has been given a licence to omit the word ‘limited’ by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. SCONUL is governed by its Articles of Association which are available on the SCONUL website: https://www.sconul.ac.uk/ about-us/about-sconul/

These governing documents were incorporated on 13 July 1979 and last amended by Special Resolution on 3 July 2015.

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© Cambridge University Libraries - Alice The Camera
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One member one vote

Senior leaders of SCONUL member libraries have an important role to play in SCONUL, influencing our priorities and objectives. Their contributions to the Board, to SCONUL’s Strategy Groups and in representing the community on a wide range of working groups are critical to SCONUL’s success. They are also critical in helping to develop SCONUL’s strategy to meet its core charitable objectives (see page 8).

Each institution is allowed a single vote at the SCONUL Annual General Meeting and in elections for the Board. This is an important element of the governance of the organisation.

Our trustees

Our Executive Board members (see page 3) constitute the Company’s Board and are the Charity’s trustees, each of whom, in formal terms, is a Director of the Company.

Twelve of the sixteen of the Board are elected and four were co-opted from partner organisations.

New trustees are given briefings on the charity’s work and their obligations under Charity and Company law. Training in good practice and the responsibilities of trustees is provided regularly.

Structure, governance and management | 13

Structure, governance and management

Executive Board

The Executive Board meets four times a year (currently three of these meetings are virtual) and oversees all issues relating to the charity’s finances and its work for members and the public, including taking decisions on behalf of members. Where major changes to the way that SCONUL works are proposed, these are presented to members to vote on at the AGM. The SCONUL Board also:

During 2024 the Board supported and monitored the delivery of our strategy - https://www.sconul.ac.uk/about us/ sconuls-strategy/ and evaluated its progress against a set of KPIs.

© University of Aberdeen

Structure, governance and management | 14

Financial review

Introduction

The results for the year to 31 December 2024 are set out in the Statement of Financial Activities. The Charity’s fund balances and the net assets that constitute them are set out in the balance sheet. Overall total income was as anticipated. Subscription income for SCONUL (as opposed to our regional consortia) rose by 5.2%, 5% of which reflected an agreed increase in subscriptions based on CPI, and the remainder deriving from a growth in the number of SCONUL members. The remainder of subscription income relates to our management of reserved funds for our regional consortia.

A satisfactory balance between dayto-day and longer-term holdings of funds has been adopted, as follows:

kept in the Charities Official Investment Fund.

Balances are high at the start of the year when subscriptions are received and are reduced towards the end of the year to provide funds for expenses incurred.

Pay and remuneration policy

Staff pay scales are set by the Executive Board on the basis of advice from SCONUL’s HR consultant and with reference to pay rates for equivalent posts in the charitable and public sectors.

Risk management

The Executive Board considers the major risks faced by SCONUL on a regular basis and they are of the opinion that systems are in place to manage them. A “live” risk register is maintained by the SCONUL office and is reviewed in depth annually. Any “red” risks are reviewed at each meeting by the Executive Board. This covers both

financial and non-financial risks; identifies both the likelihood and severity of any risk and identifies activities required to mitigate the risks identified.

Reserves policy

The designated funds support the activities of SCONUL’s sub-groups: Academic Libraries North; the Mercian Collaboration; and the Customer Services Group UK as discussed above. 2024 saw SCONUL’s reserves increase slightly to £347,468 from £326,919 at the end of 2023. We hold an additional £95,628 in designated funds (£82,433 at the end of 2023). SCONUL’s reserves policy is as follows (reviewed in May 2024):

to hold reserves sufficient to cover (a) statutory redundancy costs, plus (b) three months’ core running costs or the cost of other legal liabilities whichever is higher, plus (c) funds to cover a 10% loss of subscription income, plus (d) our largest spending commitment.

For 2024 this would total £277.1k for

SCONUL’s core income and expenditure.

We have income and expenditure included in our accounts for regional consortia which are formally part of SCONUL and we ask them to apply the same reserves policy to their own spending. This would give an additional reserves requirement of £41.4k.

SCONUL confirmed its formal membership of SAUL on 28 February 2024.

We are also in discussion with USS on the same matter. This may require SCONUL to include a one-off cost on its accounts next year to recognise potential employer liabilities under the USS Scheme. The Board is confident that this would be manageable within reserves but may require reserves to be built up over time, including within the funds designated for the Mercian Collaboration and Academic Libraries North.

The trustees consider that the charity has sufficient unrestricted reserves as detailed above and cash flow to

Financial review | 15

Financial review

continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date on which these financial statements are approved. For this reason, the accounts have been prepared on the going concern basis.

Interest income has increased significantly in the course of 2024 and was an average of 4.9% over the course of the year.

with other charities with the important exception that its member institutions are nearly all charities themselves. SCONUL is a member of a number of key sector bodies, including LIBER as part of its role ensuring that the voice of its members is heard at the European and international level.

Relationships with other bodies

SCONUL provides support to three library consortia whose members are also members of SCONUL and which are formally constituted as sub-groups. The groups have autonomy within our shared core charitable objectives (see page 8). Two consortia have three members of staff between them, employed by SCONUL, devoted to their work. The cost of other staff time on consortia work is covered by transfers from the consortia’s reserved funds.

© University of Worcester - Photo courtesy of David James

SCONUL has no formal relationship

Financial review | 16

Responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period.

In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

prudent;

• state whether applicable UK accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

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

In so far as the trustees are aware:

information of which the charitable company’s auditors are unaware; and

• the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

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.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

Auditors

Godfrey Wilson Limited were reappointed as auditors to the charitable company during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the trustees on 14 July 2025 and signed on their behalf by

A Barker - SCONUL Co-chair

E Homer - SCONUL Co-chair

Responsibilities of the trustees | 17

Independent auditors’ report

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Society of College, National and University Libraries (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and the related 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:

ended;

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 charity 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 the provisions available for small entities, in the circumstances set out in note 7 to the financial statements, 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 financial statements 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 financial statements 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.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. 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

Independent auditors’ report | 18

Independent auditors’ report

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.

Opinion 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 the light of the knowledge and

understanding of the charity 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:

companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of the trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out in the trustees’ report, 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 they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’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 charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our 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

Independent auditors’ report | 19

Independent auditors’ report

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 procedures we carried out and the extent to which they are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, are detailed below:

(1) We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, and assessed the risk of non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Throughout the audit, we remained alert to possible indications of noncompliance.

(2) We reviewed the charity’s policies and procedures in relation to:

aware of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and

(3) We inspected the minutes of trustee meetings.

(4) We enquired about any non-routine communication with regulators and reviewed any reports made to them.

(5) We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and assessed their compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

(6) We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected transactions or balances that may indicate a risk of material fraud or error.

(7) We assessed the risk of fraud through management override of controls and carried out procedures to address this risk. Our procedures included:

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-

compliance with regulation. Irregularities that arise due to fraud can be even 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 our report

This report is made solely to the charityʼs members, as a body, 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 charityʼs members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditorʼs 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 charityʼs members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

14 July 2025

William Guy Blake

William Guy Blake ACA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

Independent auditors’ report | 20

Independent auditors’ report

For and on behalf of:

GODFREY WILSON LIMITED

Chartered accountants and statutory auditors

5th Floor Mariner House

62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

Independent auditors’ report | 21

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 December 2024

Note
Income from:
Donations
2
Charitable activities:
3
Library statistics
Event programme
Investments
4
Other trading activities
5
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities:
Membership services
Events programme
Partnership working, advocacy and lobbying
Communications with members
Regional collaborations
Total expenditure
6
Net income and net movement in funds
7
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 2024
£
620,231
1,060
45,062
28,838
37,212
732,403
217,055
113,197
135,744
134,094
98,569
698,659
33,744
409,352
443,096		 2023
£
587,494
712
39,281
23,738
11,540
662,765
147,223
107,208
119,497
133,131
94,191
601,250
61,515
347,837
409,352

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. All income and expenditure is unrestricted. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 16 to the accounts.

Statement of financial activities | 22

Balance sheet

At 31 December 2024

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible fxed assets
10
Current assets
Debtors
11
Current asset investment
12
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts due within 1 year
13
Net current assets
Net assets
15
Funds
16
Unrestricted funds:
Designated funds
General funds
Total funds		 £
7,859
434,962
74,527
517,348
(74,252)		 2024
£
-
443,096
443,096
95,628
347,468
443,096		 2023
£
-
8,132
366,125
106,459
480,716
(71,364)
409,352
409,352
82,433
326,919
409,352

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime. Approved by the trustees on 14 July 2025 and signed on their behalf by

E Homer - SCONUL Co-chair

A Barker - SCONUL Co-chair

Balance sheet | 23

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 December 2024

Cash fows from operating activities:
Net movement in funds
Adjustments for:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Decrease / (increase) in debtors
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash fows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Net cash provided by investing activities
Increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Analysed as:
Cash at bank and in hand
Current asset investments		 2024
£
33,744
(28,838)
273
2,888
8,067
28,838
28,838
36,905
472,584
509,489
74,527
434,962
509,489		 2023
£
61,515
(23,738)
9,544
2,929
50,250
23,738
23,738
73,988
398,596
472,584
106,459
366,125
472,584

Analysis of changes in net debt

The charity has not provided an analysis of changes in net debt as it does not have any long term financing arrangements.

Statement of cash flows | 24

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

1. Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

The Society of College, National and University Libraries is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. The registered office address is 94 Euston Street, London, NW1 2HA.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The Society of College, National and University Libraries 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 notes.

b) Going concern basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern. The charity has sufficient general reserves and cash to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date on which these financial statements are approved. There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the items of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from donations is received by way of membership subscriptions and is included in full in the statement of financial activities when receivable.

Credit is taken for subscriptions in the year for which they are payable. Where a member wishes to terminate their subscription then notice must be given before the summer conference in the year prior to the termination of membership.

Any income arising from conferences and meetings, sponsorship and sales of publications, working papers or newsletters is recognised once invoiced, unless it relates to a future event in which case it is deferred.

d) Interest receivable

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

e) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. These relate to ring-fenced funds for the regional consortia as described in note 15 to the accounts.

Notes to the financial statements | 25

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

f) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

g) Allocation of governance and support costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated between charitable activities on the following basis, which is an estimate of the resource usage of each activity:

2024 2023
Membership services 32% 24%
Events programme 23% 26%
Partnership working, advocacy and lobbying 22% 23%
Communications with members 23% 27%

h) Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

Furniture, fixtures and fittings 3 years straight line Computer equipment 3 years straight line

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £1,000.

i) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

j) Current asset investments

Current asset investments consist of cash held on deposit in interest bearing accounts. Such investments are measured at their fair value.

k) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

l) Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Leasehold improvements 5 years straight line

Notes to the financial statements | 26

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

m) Pension costs

The charitable company contributes to two multi-employer defined benefit pension schemes (the Universities Superannuation Scheme and the Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London). The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the charitable company in independently administered funds. As the charitable company cannot reliably estimate its share of the scheme deficit, the schemes are accounted for as defined contribution schemes. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable under the schemes by the charitable company to the funds. The contributions made for the accounting period are treated as an expense and were £47,157 in 2024 (2023: £59,073). In addition, the charity contributed £3,934 (2023: £2,483) to the Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London’s defined contribution pension scheme, the full amount has been recognised as an expense in the year.

n) Contingent liabilities

regional consortia are held as designated funds.

q) Accounting estimates and key judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods. There are no key sources of estimation or uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

A contingent liability is disclosed when either a transfer of economic benefit to settle the obligation is possible but not probable; or the amount of the obligation cannot be estimated reliably.

o) Operating lease commitments

Rentals payable under operating leases, where substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership remain with the lessor, are charged to the statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the minimum lease term.

p) Regional consortia

These financial statements include the results of the regional SCONUL subgroups, accounted for as branches of the charity. Funds held on behalf of

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Notes to the financial statements | 27

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

2. Income from donations

2024
£
Membership subscriptions
620,231
Income from charitable activities
2024
£
Event programme:
Conference programme
45,062
Library statistics:
SCONUL Publications
1,060
Total income from charitable activities
46,122
Income from investments
2024
£
Interest on current asset investments
28,838
Income from other trading activities
2024
£
Sponsorships
37,212		 2023
£
587,494
2023
£
39,281
712
39,993
2023
£
23,738
2023
£
11,540

3. Income from charitable activities

4. Income from investments

5. Income from other trading activities

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Notes to the financial statements | 28

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

6. Expenditure

Direct costs
IT and website hosting
Staff costs (note 7)
Recruitment and training
Premises costs
Insurance
Fees and subscriptions
Offce costs
Legal and professional
Executive board costs
Audit and accountancy
Bank charges
Sub-total
Allocation of governance and support costs
Total expenditure		 £
49,107
8,965
87,776
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
145,848
71,207
217,055
Membership
services		 £
13,656
-
47,073
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
60,729
52,468
113,197
Events
programme		 £
12,419
-
74,604
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
87,023
48,721
135,744
Partnership
working,
advocacy and
lobbying		 £
8,318
-
73,308
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
81,626
52,468
134,094
Communications and
best practice sharing
with members		 £
24,210
153
74,206
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
98,569
-
98,569
Regional
collaborations		 £
-
45,364
72,748
10,951
35,870
2,214
3,898
25,890
12,734
6,116
9,000
79
224,864
(224,864)
-
Governance
and support
costs		 £
107,710
54,482
429,715
10,951
35,870
2,214
3,898
25,890
12,734
6,116
9,000
79
698,659
-
698,659
Total 2024

Total governance costs were £15,116 (2023: £14,283).

Notes to the financial statements | 29

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

Expenditure (prior year comparative)

Direct costs
IT and website hosting
Staff costs (note 7)
Recruitment and training
Premises costs
Insurance
Fees and subscriptions
Offce costs
Legal and professional
Executive board costs
Audit and accountancy
Bank charges
Sub-total
Allocation of governance and support costs
Total expenditure		 £
15,016
10,311
73,410
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
98,737
48,486
147,223
Membership
services		 £
12,461
1,200
41,717
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
55,378
51,830
107,208
Events
programme		 £
11,335
1,200
61,819
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
74,354
45,143
119,497
Partnership
working,
advocacy and
lobbying		 £
2,704
1,200
74,053
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
77,957
55,174
133,131
Communications and
best practice sharing
with members		 £
25,888
2,631
65,672
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
94,191
-
94,191
Regional
collaborations		 £
-
37,190
72,096
21,088
33,949
2,042
3,711
14,172
2,078
5,643
8,640
24
200,633
(200,633)
-
Governance
and support
costs		 £
67,404
53,732
388,767
21,088
33,949
2,042
3,711
14,172
2,078
5,643
8,640
24
601,250
-
601,250
Total 2023

Notes to the financial statements | 30

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

7. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Depreciation
Trustees’ remuneration
Trustees’ reimbursed expenses
Auditors’ remuneration:
•
Statutory audit and accounts preparation (excluding VAT)		 2024
£
Nil
Nil
1,099
7,500		 2023
£
Nil
Nil
772
7,200

Trustees’ reimbursed expenses were for travel for six trustees (2023: six).

In common with other charities of our size and nature we use our auditors to assist with the preparation of the financial statements.

8. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2024
£
338,927
34,821
55,967
429,715		 2023
£
296,894
30,316
61,557
388,767

The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees and the Executive Director. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £123,919 (2023: £125,154).

Notes to the financial statements | 31

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

One employee (2023: one) earned between £90,000 and £100,000 in the year, excluding employer’s pension contributions and NICs.

The average head count during the reporting period was 9 (2023: 8). The average number of full time equivalent employees during the year was as follows:

Average number of employees (full-time equivalent) 2024
No.
6		 2023
No.
7

9. Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

10. Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fxed assets
Leasehold improvements Furniture, fxtures and fttings Computer equipment Total
£
Cost		 £ £ £
102,302
At 1 January 2024 and at
3 Dec
1
ember 2024		 40,345 23,184 165,831
102,302
Depreciation
At 1 January 2024 and at
3 Dec
1
ember 2024		 40,345 23,184 165,831
Net
v
book alue
At 31 December 2024 and at
31 December 2023
-		 - - -

Notes to the financial statements | 32

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

11. Debtors

Trade debtors
Prepayments
Other debtors		 2024
£
1,770
6,089
-
7,859		 2023
£
1,892
5,382
858
8,132

12. Current asset investments

The Charities Offcial Investment Fund
Creditors: amounts due within 1 year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
Funds held on behalf of Copyright for Knowledge
Other creditors		 2024
£
434,962
2024
£
41,023
24,355
6,790
1,288
796
74,252		 2023
£
366,125
2023
£
50,244
18,587
1,245
1,288
-
71,364

13. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year

Notes to the financial statements | 33

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

14. Deferred income

Deferred income
At 1 January 2024
Deferred during the year
Released during the year
At 31 December 2024		 2024
£
1,245
6,790
(1,245)
6,790		 2023
£
9,435
1,245
(9,435)
1,245

Deferred income relates to conference income and membership fees received in advance.

15. Analysis of net assets between funds

Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 December 2024
Prior year comparative
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 December 2023		 Designated funds
£
103,628
(8,000)
95,628
Designated funds
£
90,433
(8,000)
82,433		 General funds
£
413,720
(66,252)
347,468
General funds
£
390,283
(63,364)
326,919		 Total funds
£
517,348
(74,252)
443,096
Total funds
£
480,716
(71,364)
409,352

Notes to the financial statements | 34

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

16. Movements in funds

Unrestricted funds
Designated funds:
Academic Libraries North
Mercian Collaboration
CSGUK Collaboration
Total designated funds
General funds
Total funds		 At 1 January 2024
£
36,911
24,307
21,215
82,433
326,919
409,352		 Income
£
91,053
25,764
4,616
121,433
610,970
732,403		 Expenditure
£
(71,146)
(36,314)
(778)
(108,238)
(590,421)
(698,659)		 At 31 December 2024
£
56,818
13,757
25,053
95,628
347,468
443,096

Purposes of designated funds

The designated funds have been set up for the purpose of ringfencing funds held by each of the regional consortia.

Prior year comparative

Unrestricted funds
Designated funds:
Academic Libraries North
Mercian Collaboration
CSGUK Collaboration
Total designated funds
General funds
Total funds		 At 1 January 2023
£
35,495
31,573
14,029
81,097
266,740
347,837		 Income
£
67,220
23,352
13,438
104,010
558,755
662,765		 Expenditure
£
(65,804)
(30,618)
(6,252)
(102,674)
(498,576)
(601,250)		 At 31 December 2023
£
36,911
24,307
21,215
82,433
326,919
409,352

Notes to the financial statements | 35

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

17. Commitments under operating leases

At 31 December 2024, the charity had the following annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases:

Payments due:
Within one year
Within two to fve years		 2024
Land and buildings
£
7,500
-
7,500		 Other
£
2,117
19,949
22,066		 2023
Land and buildings
£
7,500
-
7,500		 Other
£
958
-
958

18. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the current or prior year.

19. Funds received as an agent

During the year, the charity acted as custodian trustee for partner organisation, Copyright for Knowledge. An analysis of the funds received and paid by the charity is given below. Funds held at year end are detailed in the creditors note (note 12).

Funds held at 1 January 2024 Funds received Funds paid Funds held at 31 December 2024 £ £ £ £ Copyright for Knowledge 1,288 - - 1,288

20. Defined benefit pension plan

The charitable company confirmed its status as an employer under one of the multi-employer defined benefit scheme to which it contributes (SAUL) and is in the process of obtaining confirmation of its status as an employer under the other multi-employer defined benefit pension scheme to which it contributes (USS). As of their most recent actuarial valuations, both schemes are currently in surplus, and members are not currently required to make deficit contributions. However as the charity is unable to recover their portion of either surplus via a future refund, and any reduction in future contributions cannot be reliably estimated, a defined

Notes to the financial statements | 36

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2024

benefit plan asset has not been recognised in these accounts. During the year, the charitable company contributed £23,934 (2023: £30,715) to the SAUL defined benefit pension scheme and £22,702 (2023: £28,358) to the USS defined benefit pension scheme; the full amounts have been recognised as an expense in the SoFA.

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Notes to the financial statements | 37