**Registered Company Number: 01898691 Registered Charity Number: 292664**
## **Financial Statements**
**for the year ended 31 March 2024**
**Wenn Townsend**
**Chartered Accountants**
**Oxford**
## **The Oxford Trust**
## **Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustee Report|1–9|
|Independent Auditors Report|10–12|
|Statement of Financial Activities|13|
|Balance Sheet|14|
|Cash Flow Statement|15|
|Notes on Financial Statements|16–28|
|Detailed Income and Expenditure Account|29|
## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
|**Registered Company number**|01898691|
|---|---|
|**Registered Charity number**|292664|
|**Registered office**|Wood Centre for Innovation|
||Quarry Road|
||Oxford|
||OX3 8SB|
|**Trustees**|Dr J Boyle (Chair)|
||Ms J Bennett|
||P Dean|
||Dr S Dry|
||Prof A Fitt|
||J Flint|
||Imam M Hussain|
||N McConville|
||Ms M Morys-Carter (Vice Chair)|
||Prof A Noble|
||Ms L Pebworth|
||D Burnett-Reid (resigned as of April 2024)|
|**CEO**|S R Burgess|
|**Company Secretary**|S R Burgess|
|**Auditors**|Wenn Townsend|
||30 St Giles|
||Oxford|
||OX1 3LE|
|**Solicitors**|Freeths LLP|
||Spires House|
||5700 Oxford Business Park, South|
||Oxford|
||OX4 2RW|
|**Bankers**|HSBC|
||65 Cornmarket Street|
||Oxford|
||OX1 3HY|
||Barclays|
||Wytham Court, 11 West Way|
||Botley|
||Oxford|
||OX2 0JB|
## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
The Oxford Trust was founded in 1985. It is a Company Limited by Guarantee (number 1898691) and a registered charity (Number 292664).
## **Objectives and Activities**
The trustees reaffirmed that the Trust’s mission remains to 'encourage the pursuit of science’ _._ It does this through a programme of activities, in **Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire** , to meet three key objectives:
- INNOVATION – To support the technology innovation ecosystem in our region (Oxfordshire only).
- EDUCATION – Inspiring young people about science, technology, engineering and math.
- ENGAGEMENT – To engage local family audiences with science as an important part of our culture
The Trust is the legal entity which employs staff, and which holds contracts with external organisations. Our primary brand ( **The Oxford Trust** ) is used to communicate in the business and innovation sectors where it has a long history of activity. The Trust develops and delivers Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) programmes targeted at the public and school audiences under **Science Oxford** .
The Trust works in partnership with a range of other charities, businesses, and organisations in pursuit of its charitable objectives. Where appropriate it takes on contracts to deliver national schemes locally and works with other local partners to develop and implement joint projects. The Trust seeks grants and partnerships from like-minded organisations nationally and internationally to develop innovative projects with a wider scope or influence.
The Trust's registered offices are now located at its Wood Centre for Innovation, Quarry Road, Headington, Oxford owned by the organisation and where all employees are based.
David Burnett-Reid stepped down from the board in March 2024 due to work commitments.
Primary activities of the Trust include:
## 1. **INNOVATION**
The Oxford Trust currently operates two innovation centres, the Oxford Centre for Innovation (OCFI) and the Wood Centre for Innovation (WCFI), across almost 40,000 sq ft of deployable space for early-stage technology companies and support organisations. Both centres have selected clients benefiting from the Trust’s Enterprise Support Programme (ESP) providing discounted rates for less well funded, but promising, companies.
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## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
Our city centre **Oxford Centre for Innovation (OCFI)** is primarily office space with some light technical workshop capabilities. Occupancy rates continue to be very high due to client expansion and new clients replacing one major occupant (Habitat Energy) who outgrew our early-stage space.
During the year the Trust carried out a strategic review of its property portfolio and, as a result, agreed to divest our actual holding in the building (called Macclesfield House) with a short-term leaseback arrangement and retaining the Oxford centre for Innovation brand name for future use. This arrangement was completed in **mid-May 2024** and will significantly change our financial position in the next operating year.
The **Wood Centre for Innovation** (WCFI), located in Oxford city’s dynamic **Headington Science Cluster,** is effectively full, with some spatial changes being considered to expand some capacity in summer 2024. Part of the strategic review previously mentioned was, if finances allowed, to expand the innovation footprint Wood Centre for Innovation site and deliver a bespoke facility for our STEM outreach team. This project was initiated late in 2023 aiming to create the 16,000 sq ft Aspen Building and, subject to final costings and planning approval, will be implemented late in 2024 with delivery in the 2025/26 financial year.
An independent report commissioned from economic research company Mickledore showed the following ‘impact’ analysis from our centres (calendar year 2023):
The Trust continues to help build tech ecosystem networks and programmes to further Oxfordshire’s place as a global innovation region including funding for **The Hill** (an innovation catalyst working on digital health and NHS access programmes) and **Advanced Oxford** (a research lead initiative showcasing and promoting Oxfordshire’s technology leadership). In addition, the Trust collaborates with others to deliver an events programme for early-stage tech entrepreneurs called ‘Exit Right’ helping build knowledge and networks and support companies from start-up to exit.
Together with Oxford University’s Medical Sciences Division’s **BioEscalator** , Oxford Brookes University’s **BioInnovation and Enterprise Hub** , Oxford University Hospitals Trust’s **The Hill** , innovation centre operator **Oxford Innovation Space** and **Barclays Eagle Labs** a new grouping was created called the **Headington Science Cluster** to promote and explain the impact this part of the city has on global technology development especially in bioscience, digital health and materials science.
## **2. EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT**
## a. **PUBLIC PROGRAMME:**
- Under the Science Oxford brand, the Trust continues to develop and deliver regular technology, science and nature themed clubs at the Science Oxford Centre that encourage creativity, invention, and exploration, that
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## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
help young people develop skills in, for instance, computer coding & robotics. They also deliver bespoke STEMthemed experiences for young people during the school holidays. A local after-school club called Arti-Techs blends art and engineering in an accessible way for students with different abilities and is fully funded by the Trust.
- The team is continuing to explore close links with groups having special requirements, visual, hearing, neurodiverse etc. as well as local community organisations dealing with deprivation and unmet needs such as children of asylum seekers, young carers etc. and we are now using half term holiday breaks to provide unique experiences tailored to their needs.
- The Science Oxford Centre is (typically) open to families of young children every Saturday and uses both the interactive zones, the ‘Live Lab’ demonstration area, water lab outside exhibit and our 15-acre natural realm for exploration and learning. We manage capacity to deliver the best experience rather than maximise income and most of the sessions are full attracting 180-200 people each day of all ages a majority of whom come from within 1 hour of the site.
- In addition, outreach activities take place in libraries, museums, community and youth centres across the area as much as capacity allows us to do so.
## b. **PRIMARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME:**
This is our largest area of work and is focused on schools across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It includes a wide variety of programmes that adapt to school requirements such as:
- The Science Oxford Centre (SOC) is targeted at early years and primary-aged children and, as noted above, their families during public days. The SOC remains a unique indoor/outdoor centre focused on enabling young people (12 and under) to develop higher order thinking skills through exploration, discovery, and play.
- Our extensive programme of outreach workshops shows, science dome (planetarium) and kit loans, that inspire interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in young people and develop their skills in these areas, continues to see exceptionally high demand.
- The Big Science Event _,_ our annual competition for primary schools, continues to be popular with dozens of primary schools and is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels of take up.
- Our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for primary teachers in the region has started to return to normal and a local version of our acclaimed **TDTScience** programme (see below) is offered for free to selected primary schools.
- The third randomised controlled trial (RCT) approved by the Education Endowment Foundation of our **Thinking Doing Talking Science** (TDTScience) primary science CPD programme was fully delivered, and the results will be known in autumn 2024. In the meantime, given the Trust has no mandate or mission to scale this important programme itself, an agreement was reached with **Primary Science Teaching Trust** (PSTT) to enable national delivery under an exclusive license outside of our two core counties.
The latest 2022-23 academic year analysis showed the following outputs from our primary school activities, and these continued to be built upon during our financial period ending March 2024.
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## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
And a similar analysis for our public engagement and secondary school initiatives over the same period.
## **c. SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME:**
Our secondary school programme continues to develop in response to the challenging environments faced by secondary schools. Despite careers being a mandated feature of their educational offer schools often struggle to deliver effective offers.
- A programme of activities mainly focused on the school/business interface based around our STEM Insights portfolio and related projects, designed to raise awareness of the value of STEM skills and the wealth of opportunities available in STEM careers. Having in-person experience is at the heart of what we do having live workshop style collaborative challenges and speakers from many of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire’s dynamic tech companies alongside physical site visits and placements.
- Our Young Scientists of the Year event encourages state schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to recognising Year 13 students who have excelled in chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering both
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## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
academically and practically was well received and this year’s programme culminated in an event in the theatre at the Science Oxford Centre.
## **d. PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITIES:**
- Ongoing partnerships with the Primary Science Teaching Trust and Edina Trust were further developed again during this year – the former for our TDTScience programme and the latter as part of our growing focus on enhancing ED&I initiatives. Together with the Trust’s own dedicated ED&I fund Edina’s support has been crucial in providing access to both visits to the Science Oxford Centre and outreach into schools that are less advantaged. We will build on the learnings of this highly successful programme to develop a new ‘Accessing Science Fund’ with matched funding.
- A growing programme is centered around our local Wood Farm community which lies adjacent to our Wood Centre for Innovation site and nearby Barton. This initiative aims to bring together the local primary school, community leaders and residents to enhance opportunities to develop STEM knowledge and skills in younger people in these areas.
- The Trust supports through a cash grant and resources, the IF Festival (formally the Oxfordshire Science Festival) which was started by the Trust before being spun-out) allowing us to reach more underserved audiences in areas of the city where we have less exposure. This partnership will continue in 2024/25 and likely well beyond.
## **THE OXFORD TRUST’S STRATEGY**
With both innovation centres practically full we have limited large-scale growth potential, so we evaluated options to continuing our development in future years, in ways that enhance our sustainability and ability to finance the STEM education and engagement activities.
Currently key elements of the strategy include:
## **1. Rationalising our innovation centres by:**
- Divesting the environmentally unsustainable Oxford Centre for Innovation in a phased way.
- Developing additional Grade A innovation space at our carbon positive Headington site (labs/offices) via its Wood Centre for Innovation and planned Aspen Building.
- Being open to adding additional, or alternative, flexible innovation space/laboratory capacity where affordable, appropriate, and required.
## **2. Supporting the region's high-tech economy via the Trust's facilities and partnerships by:**
- Continuing the Trust’s support, where possible, of other not-for-profit organisations involved in growing, supporting, and promoting the regional knowledge-intensive business sectors primarily through **Advanced Oxford, The Hill Oxford** and the new **Headington Science Cluster** initiative.
## **3. Enhancing our Science Oxford’s education and engagement capabilities by:**
- Continuing the development of the educational value of the Science Oxford Centre to schools and public audiences in a way that focuses on quality and not quantity of experience.
- Addressing the physical capacity constraints of our outreach team to improve efficiency and enhance inschool delivery.
- Expanding the focus on adding resources to facilitate greater equity, diversity and inclusivity of our audiences by further removing barriers to participation where identified and practical to do so.
- Collaborating on the development of a post-effectiveness trial strategy of our Thinking, Doing, Talking Science initiative CPD programme with the Primary Science Teaching Trust to secure its long-term sustainability.
- Developing the primary-focused pupil-led investigation the Big Science Event through new models and approaches.
- Expanding relationships with STEM-based research businesses in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to allow
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## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
the expansion of STEM Insights in creating more career-based opportunities for young people aged 13 to 17.
- Continue expanding the reach and depth of workshop-based clubs to young people, particularly in underserved communities via partnerships and training to build competencies and capacities.
- Accelerating the ‘narrower but deeper’ initiatives to build out options to develop programmes that result in greater multitouch activities with people and communities close to our Headington base.
## **Key Facts**
## **Achievements and Performance**
As noted, our two existing innovation centres are effectively full supporting 40+ companies that are developing a wide breadth of technologies from drug discovery, rapid diagnostic equipment and enhanced display screens to artificial intelligence in medical imaging, quantum devices and managing energy systems for large scale battery deployment.
Our education team continues to welcome dozens of schools, thousands of pupils, hundreds of families, and many community groups to the Science Oxford Centre or by traveling to them. Most activities and days are booked well in advance, hopefully underlining the quality of what we deliver and the marketing efforts to reach those who make the decision to visit. _See the impact infographics on pages 2 & 4_ .
## **Financial Review**
## **Principal Sources of Operational Funding**
The Trust is funded by a combination of income from its assets (innovation centres), sponsorship/grants from third parties, individual donations, and revenue from our delivery activities.
Total income (excluding capital grants and contributions) increased by 3% to £3.34 million (2022/23: £3.24 million).
The innovation centre income remained the main economic driver of the Trust, **rising by 12%** from £2.51 to £2.82 million as occupancy utilisation reached capacity, pricing was adjusted to offset increased energy costs, and further laboratory conversions were completed.
## **Investment Policy**
The Trust no longer has an investment portfolio although a small number of privately owned shares in some funds and companies are still held.
Most of the Trust’s liquid financial assets are held as cash to allow for deployment to support our strategic aims or invest in resources with tangible returns and benefits.
## **Reserves Policy**
As explained above, the Trust carries out a range of activities, some of which comprise projects requiring significant ongoing financial commitment and investment. The Trustees have examined the requirements for free reserves: i.e. those unrestricted funds not designated for specific purposes or otherwise committed. The Trustees' policy is to ensure the long-term financial stability of the Trust through a portfolio in high value property and cash in such a way as to maintain fixed and free reserves, sufficient to enable further commitments to be made in line with future plans.
The Trustees are of the opinion that the general fund remains sufficient to enable the organisation to continue this ongoing objective. A fixed cash reserve of **£0.23 million** is maintained, whilst a goal of building free reserves by additional ~£0.7 million range over time to enhance operational flexibility remains but this is not a priority over mission delivery. This will be impacted by the noted divestiture and capital-building programmes planned.
In addition, the Trust maintains a separate bank account to protect client deposits from both leases and licenses. Our managing agents (Oxford Innovation Space) also hold some additional capital for use in relation to client exits and dilapidation charges.
## **Future Plans**
The Trust remains focused on delivering value for the groups and communities that the charity serves. The current
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## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
investment into laboratories and technical workspaces creates an enhanced cash flow that strengthens our ability to fund and develop our Science Oxford STEM education and engagement work. These activities remain in high demand and offer different access opportunities to both widen and deepen programmes specifically focused on underserved communities.
However, it was recognised change was needed to further enhance our mission, so the Trust considered strategies that address this financial (and environmental) sustainability challenge by seeking to develop our primary site in Headington to create an exemplar location with substantive critical mass – whilst still being open to supplementary investments that further the mission of the Trust – and divesting the 1960s-built Oxford Centre for Innovation.
## **Governing Document**
The company was established under a Memorandum of Association that established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. It does not have share capital.
## **Organisational Structure**
The work of the Trust is governed by the Trustee Board, which meets quarterly to set and review strategy. The Chief Executive attends board meetings but has no voting rights. There are currently two sub-committees – Finance & Investment and Remuneration. These sub-committees make recommendations to the Board and, when appropriate, are delegated authorities by the Board to make decisions on specific issues.
The Trust depends, for all its activities, on a small group of dedicated, enthusiastic, and highly skilled staff. At the end of 2023/24, the Trust has **27 FTEs** plus both paid casual staff and volunteers as required.
The CEO is supported by a small senior leadership team responsible for specific areas of the Trust's activities.
## **Equal Opportunities & Fair Pay**
The Trust is an equal opportunity employer. The senior leadership team (SLT) is currently split 4:2 women/men. There is minimal pay differential between genders across all grades (excluding CEO).
We operate in a competitive market for talent which is particularly acute in Oxford. The Trust currently pays all employees at, or above, the Oxford Living Wage for all part-time and temporary positions, including internships and placements.
## **Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees**
The Trustees of the charity are also the company's directors for the purposes of the Companies Act. Trustees are selected to give a wide range of expertise in science, finance, education, and industry. A skills matrix of existing trustees is regularly updated and compared with the Trust's current needs.
All Trustee appointments are elected by formal resolution and trustees are subject to a retirement by rotation policy set out in the Trust's Articles of Association.
Trustees who served during the year were:
Dr J Boyle (Chair) Ms J Bennett D Burnett-Reid P Dean Dr S Dry Prof A Fitt J Flint Ms N McConville Imam Monawar Hussain Ms M Morys-Carter (Vice Chair) Prof A Noble Ms L Pebworth
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## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **Trustee Induction and Training**
Generally, prospective trustees are already familiar with the practical work of the charity having participated in Trust events and projects and are often known personally to trustees or Trust staff.
Prospective trustees are invited to meet the Chief Executive and at least one of the Trustees to familiarise themselves with governance issues and the responsibilities of a Trustee. They are taken through the obligations of the Board members, resourcing and current financial position and details of activities and future plans. They are given copies of the Trust's Memorandum and Articles and most recent published accounts and the Charity Commission's publications on _The Responsibilities of a Charity Trustee_ . Trustees are kept up to date with changes in charity law through Charity Commission publications and by professional advisors. Where appropriate trustees or the Chief Executive attend updating seminars on relevant issues.
## **Trustees’ Responsibilities Statement**
The trustees (who are also directors of The Oxford Trust for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate 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.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
- there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is 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 auditor is aware of that information.
## **Related Parties**
The Trust has no holdings in related parties.
## **Risk Management**
The Trust operates within a set of systems and structures that ensure that material risks, as identified by the Trustees, are continually monitored, and addressed. Risks are assessed under several key headings with clear lines of responsibility and review procedures.
Ongoing cashflow management and operational financial goals are overseen by the Finance and Investment SubCommittee (FISC) monthly. Other factors such as government funding of education related programmes and the changing innovation landscape are considered when planning for activity delivery and/or investments. The trustees remain focused on ensuring enhanced staffing levels are appropriate for the programmes being developed and delivered to avoid risks associated with staff churn and workloads.
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OXFORD
TRUST
The Oxford Trust
Trustees R¢port
for tho year ¢nded 31 March 2024
alr of Trustees
S0Pt•mb•r 28th 2024
Page19
## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of The Oxford Trust (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement 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:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs on 31 March 2024, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
- • have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- • have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
## **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 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 charitable company’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 trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ 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 during the audit:
- the information given in the trustees’ report (incorporating the directors’ report) for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
- the directors’ report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
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## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **Matters on Which We Are Required to Report by Exception**
In the light of our 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 directors’ 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:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies’ regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the directors’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
## **Responsibilities of Trustees**
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 9, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) 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.
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 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 specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these can detect irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
- Enquiry of management, those charged with governance and the entity's solicitors (or in-house legal team) around actual and potential litigation and claims;
- Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
- Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
- Performing audit work over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for bias;
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. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery,
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## **The Oxford Trust Trustees Report for the year ended 31 March 2024**
collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
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 charitable company’s 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 charitable company’s members 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 members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Lee Baker BA FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)**
**For and on behalf of Wenn Townsend Chartered Accountants, Statutory Auditor 30 St Giles Oxford OX1 3LE**
**September 28th, 2024**
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## **The Oxford Trust**
## **Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) for the year ended 31 March 2024**
||**Note**|**Unrestricted**|**Designated**|**Restricted**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Fund**|**Fund**|**Fund**|**Total Funds**|**Total Funds**|
|||**(Note 1b/17)**|**(Note 1b/17)**|**(Note 1b/17)**|||
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income from:**|||||||
|Donations and legacies|**2**|16,868|-|10,000|26,868|21,553|
|Charitable activities|**3**|3,179,761|-|121,712|3,301,473|3,211,932|
|Investments|**4**|10,556|-|-|10,556|9,370|
|||───────|───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total income**||3,207,185|-|131,712|3,338,897|3,242,855|
|**Expenditure on:**|||||||
|Raising funds||58,581|-|-|58,581|28,348|
|Charitable activities|**5**|2,568,026|441,366|290,901|3,300,293|2,904,068|
|||───────|───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total expenditure**||2,626,607|441,366|290,901|3,358,874|2,932,416|
|Net gains / (losses) on|**12**||||||
|Investments||127,327|-|(1,500)|125,827|(3,250)|
|||───────|───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Net income / (expenditure)**||707,905|(441,366)|(160,689)|105,850|307,189|
|**Transfers**|**17**|(507,349)|
507,349|-|-|-|
|||───────|───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Net income / (expenditure)**||200,556|65,983|(160,689)|105,850|307,189|
|**after transfers**|||||||
|**Reconciliation of funds:**|||||||
|**Total funds brought forward**||272,815|14,399,515|210,736|14,883,066|14,575,877|
|||**───────**|───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total funds carried forward**||473,371|14,465,498|50,047|14,988,916|14,883,066|
|||═══════|═══════|═══════|═══════|═══════|
All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised during the year.
**The notes on pages 14 to 27 form part of these financial statements**
Page | 13
Tho Oxford Trust
Balan¢e She
As at 31 March 2024
Noto Unréstrfcted Designatod
Ra8trlcted
2024
2023
Fund
Fund
Fund Total Funds Totsl Funds
331,884|814,531|(1,146,415)|-|-|
||───────||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|||1,038,354|2,261,939|-|3,300,293|2,904,068|
||═══════||═══════|═══════|═══════|═══════|
## **5b) Support Costs**
The significant components of support costs are as follows:
|The significant components of support costs are|as follows:||
|---|---|---|
||**Total**|**Total**|
||**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Computer costs|55,708|36,784|
|Depreciation|441,366|426,998|
|Establishment costs|54,977|59,790|
|Financial costs|104,114|107,496|
|Staff costs|331,884|344,173|
|Other support costs|158,366|118,435|
||───────|───────|
||1,146,415|1,093,676|
||═══════|═══════|
## **6. Net Income**
Net income is stated after charging/(crediting):
||**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Depreciation – owned assets|441,366|426,998|
|Interest received|(10,556)|(9,370)|
|Trustees’ and officers’ indemnity|1,248|1,248|
|Auditor’s remuneration - audit|10,200|10,575|
|Auditor’s remuneration – other services|-|-|
||═════|════|
Page | 19
**The Oxford Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **7. Trustees’ and Key Management Personnel Remuneration and Expenses**
The trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration during the year (2023: £Nil).
The total amount of employee benefits received by key management personnel is £386,111 (2023: £340,492). The Trust considers its key management personnel comprise the senior management team.
No (2023: none) trustees are accruing pension arrangements.
Trustee’s expenses of £Nil (2023: £Nil) were reimbursed to the trustees during the year, for travel expenses incurred.
## **8. Staff Costs and Employee Benefits**
Staff costs are made up as follows:
|Staff costs are made up as follows:||
|---|---|
|**2024**
**£**
Wages and salaries
794,877
Social security costs
69,862
Other pension costs
173,615
_______
1,038,354
═════|**2023**
**£**
674,010
67,898
127,764
|
||_______
869,672
═════|
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
|Education & Engagement
Central
Innovation|**2024**
**FTE**
14
7
6
_______
27
═════|**2024**
**Number**
14
7
6
_______
27
═════|**2023**
**FTE**
14
6
3
_______
23
═════|**2023**
**Number**
14
5
3
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_______
22
═════|
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
|||**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|
|£60,000|- £70,000|1|-|
|£80,001|- £90,000|1|1|
|||═════|═════|
Page | 20
## **The Oxford Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **9. Comparatives for the Statement of Financial Activities**
||**Unrestricted**|**Designated**|**Restricted**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Fund**|**Fund**|**Fund**|**Total Funds**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income from:**|||||
|Donations and legacies|21,553|-|-|21,553|
|Charitable activities|2,914,936|-|296,996|3,211,932|
|Investments|9,370|-|-|9,370|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total income**|2,945,859|-|296,996|3,242,855|
|**Expenditure on:**|||||
|Raising funds|28,348|-|-|28,348|
|Charitable activities|2,131,802|426,998|345,268|2,904,068|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total expenditure**|2,160,150|426,998|345,268|2,932,416|
|Net gains / (losses) on|||||
|Investments|-|-|(3,250)|(3,250)|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Net income / (expenditure)**|785,709|(426,998)|(51,522)|307,189|
|**Transfers**|(713,186)|713,186|-|-|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Net income / (expenditure)**|72,523|286,188|(51,522)|307,189|
|**after transfers**|||||
|**Reconciliation of funds:**|||||
|**Total funds brought forward**|200,292|14,113,327|262,258|14,575,877|
||**───────**|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total funds carried forward**|272,815|14,399,515|210,736|14,883,066|
||═══════|═══════|═══════|═══════|
Page | 21
## **The Oxford Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **10. Comparatives for the Balance Sheet**
||**Unrestricted**|**Designated**|**Restricted**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Fund**|**Fund**|**Fund**|**Total Funds**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Fixed Assets**|||||
|Tangible assets|-|17,189,564|-|17,189,564|
|Investments|-|53,532|45,097|98,629|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
||-|17,243,096|45,097|17,288,193|
|**Current Assets**|||||
|Debtors|153,603|-|-|153,603|
|Cash in hand|682,543|-|165,639|848,182|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
||836,146|-|165,639|1,001,785|
|**Creditors**|||||
|Amounts falling due|||||
|within one year|(540,544)|(210,563)|-|(751,107)|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Net current assets**|295,602|(210,563)|165,639|250,678|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total assets less current**|||||
|**liabilities**|295,602|17,032,533|210,736|17,538,871|
|**Creditors:**amounts falling due|||||
|after one year|(22,787)|(2,633,018)|-|(2,655,805)|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Net assets**|272,815|14,399,515|210,736|14,883,066|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|
|**Funds**|||||
|Unrestricted funds|272,815|-|-|272,815|
|Designated funds|-|14,399,515|-|14,399,515|
|Restricted funds|-|-|210,736|210,736|
||───────|───────|───────|───────|
|**Total funds**|272,815|14,399,515|210,736|14,883,066|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|
Page | 22
**The Oxford Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **11. Intangible Fixed Assets**
|**ntangible Fixed Assets**|||
|---|---|---|
||**Website**||
||**/ Data**|**Totals**|
||**£**|**£**|
|**Cost**|||
|At 1 April 2023|-|-|
|Additions|4,350|4,350|
||**───────**|**───────**|
|At 31 March 2024|4,350|4,350|
||**───────**|**───────**|
|**Depreciation**|||
|At 1 April 2023|-|-|
|Charge for year|-|-|
||**───────**|**───────**|
|At 31 March 2024|-|-|
||**───────**|**───────**|
|**Net Book Value**|||
|At 31 March 2024|4,350|4,350|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|
|At 31 March 2023|-|-|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|
Page | 23
## **The Oxford Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **12. Tangible Fixed Assets**
|**angible Fixed Assets**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Land and**|**Exhibition**|**Fixtures and**||
||**Buildings**|**Equipment**|**Fittings**|**Totals**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Cost**|||||
|At 1 April 2023|18,324,953|371,712|407,995|19,104,660|
|Additions|243,052|13,470|42,174|298,696|
||**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|
|At 31 March 2024|18,568,005|385,182|450,169|19,403,356|
||**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|
|**Depreciation**|||||
|At 1 April 2023|1,397,014|273,283|244,799|1,915,096|
|Charge for year|309,418|74,342|57,606|441,366|
||**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|
|At 31 March 2024|1,706,432|347,625|302,405|2,356,462|
||**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|
|**Net Book Value**|||||
|At 31 March 2024|16,861,573|37,557|147,764|17,046,894|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|
|At 31 March 2023|16,927,939|98,429|163,196|17,189,564|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|
|The net book value of land and buildings comprised:|||||
||||**2024**|**2023**|
||||**£**|**£**|
|Land and buildings:|||||
|Freehold|||4,034,694|4,051,144|
|Long leasehold|||12,826,879|12,876,795|
||||**───────**|**───────**|
||||16,861,573|16,927,939|
||||**═══════**|**═══════**|
## **12. Fixed Asset Investments**
|**ixed Asset Investments**||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Other**|||
||**Listed**|**Unlisted**||
||**Investments**|**Investments**|**Total**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Cost/valuation**||||
|At 1 April 2023|5,750|92,879|98,629|
|Capital repayments|-|(499)|(499)|
|Disposals||(4,673)|(4,673)|
|Revaluations|(1,500)|-|(1,500)|
||**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|
|At 31 March 2024|4,250|87,707|91,957|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|
The fair value of listed investments is determined by reference to the quoted price for identical assets in an active market at the balance sheet date.
Other investments are measured cost less impairment on the basis that they represent shares in entities that are not publicly traded, and the fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably.
Page | 24
**The Oxford Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **13. Debtors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year**
|**2024**
**£**
Trade debtors
348,596
Prepayments and accrued income
537
_______
349,133
═════
**Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year**
**2024**
**£**
Trade creditors
335,367
Taxation and social security
16,996
Accruals and deferred income
71,502
Other creditors
317,941
Bank loans
193,410
Concessionary loans
280,834
_______
1,216,050
═════
Deferred income comprises:
**2024**
**£**
At 1 April 2023
-
Additions during the year
17,500
Amounts released to income
(17,500)
Amounts deferred during the period
9,843
_______
At 31 March 2024
9,843
═════|**2023**
**£**
151,531
2,072
_______
153,603
═════
**2023**
**£**
201,548
16,646
26,759
285,991
188,830
31,333
_______
751,107
═════|
|---|---|
## **14. Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year**
Income has been deferred for projects grant paid in advance but specified for use in future periods.
## **15. Creditors: Amounts Falling Due After One Year**
||**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|Bank loans|2,182,734|2,375,471|
|Concessionary loans|-|280,334|
||───────|───────|
||2,182,734|2,655,805|
||═══════|═══════|
Bank loans totaling £2,353,357 (2023: £2,531,914) are secured by a charge over the Oxford Centre for Innovation, New Road, Oxford.
There are two concessionary loans repayable by the charity, which are £250,000 (2023: £250,000) and £30,834 (2023: £61,667) interest free. Both loans are interest free payable in one installment within 12 months of the balance sheet date.
Page | 25
**The Oxford Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **16. Lease Commitments**
|Total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable
operating leases are as follows:
Not later than one year
Later than one and not later than five years|**2024**
**£**
6,102
508
_______
6,610
═════|**2023**
**£**
7,164
5,594
_______
12,758
═════|
|---|---|---|
## **17. Movement in Funds**
||**Opening**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Investment**|**Transfers**|**Closing**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**balance**|**resources**|**expended**|**gains /**||**balance**|
||**2023**|||**(losses)**||**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||||
|General fund|272,815|3,207,185|(2,626,607)|127,327|(507,349)|473,371|
|**Designated funds**|||||||
|Fixed assets fund|14,345,983|-|(441,366)|-|512,521|14,417,138|
|Investments fund|53,532||||(5,172)|48,360|
|**Restricted funds**|||||||
|Technology Company|||||||
|Investment fund|45,097|-|-|(1,500)|-|43,597|
|EEF contract|165,639|121,712|(280,901)|-|-|6,450|
|Other projects|-|10,000|(10,000)|-|-|-|
||**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|
|**Total funds**|14,883,066|3,338,897|(3,358,874)|125,827|-|14,988,916|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|
||**Opening**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Investment**|**Transfers**|**Closing**|
||**balance**|**resources**|**expended**|**gains /**||**balance**|
||**2022**|||**(losses)**||**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|||||||
|General fund|200,292|2,945,859|(2,160,150)|-|(713,186)|272,815|
|**Designated funds**|||||||
|Fixed assets fund|14,058,982|-|(426,998)|-|713,999|14,345,983|
|Investments fund|54,345|-|-|-|(813)|53,532|
|**Restricted funds**|||||||
|Technology Company|||||||
|Investment fund|48,347|-|-|(3,250)|-|45,097|
|EEF contract|213,911|296,996|(345,268)|-|-|165,639|
||**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|**───────**|
|**Total funds**|14,575,877|3,242,855|(2,932,416)|(3,250)|-|14,883,066|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|**═══════**|
Page | 26
**The Oxford Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **17. Movement in Funds (continued)**
## **Unrestricted Funds**
The Trust holds most of its cash in flexible funds to be deployed for day to day operations or on projects approved by the board of trustees.
## **Designated funds**
The fixed assets fund represents all fixed assets held by the charity. Where assets are disposed or acquired, the proceeds or costs are transferred to or from the general fund. All depreciation costs are charged to this fund. During the year, the amounts previously separately recognised as “Stansfeld Park Fund” (one restricted, one designated) were aggregated into the fixed assets fund such that all fixed assets are now disclosed as one designated fund.
The investments fund represents those investments that have been acquired from the charity’s unrestricted reserves. All costs and gains associated with the investments are now accounted for through this fund. Where investments are disposed of or acquired, the proceeds or costs are transferred to or from the general fund.
## **Restricted Funds**
The Technology Company Investment fund represents funds gifted to the charity to be used to make investments in start-up and second stage technology companies with capital and as a speculative investment with possible long-term benefits for the Trust. In the past this designation has been used to identify funding from major grants where specific projects are to be delivered such as from the Education Endowment Foundation.
## **18. Related Party Disclosures**
During the year, the charity had the following related party transactions:
One of the trustees, Dr J Boyle, provided the charity with an interest free loan during the year ended 31 March 2019 of £100,000. £nil was converted into a donation in the year ended 31 March 2024 (2023: £1,500) and £30,833 was repaid (2023: £30,833). The remaining £30,834 is due to be repaid within 12 months of the balance sheet date.
Nick Cross joined as a Trustee during the year ended 31 March 2020, and stepped down in June 2022. He provided the charity with an interest free loan during the year ended 31 March 2019 of £250,000. This is due to be repaid in one instalment within 12 months of the balance sheet date.
Page | 27
**The Oxford Trust**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024**
## **19. Reconciliation of Net Income to Net Cash Flow from Operating Activities**
||**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|
|**Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period**|||
|**(as per the statement of financial activities)**|105,850|307,189|
|**Adjustments for:**|||
|Depreciation charges|441,366|426,998|
|(Gain)/loss on investments|(125,827)|3,250|
|Dividends received|(10,556)|(9,370)|
|(Increase)/decrease in debtors|(195,530)|216,118|
|Increase in creditors|210,862|110,862|
||**───────**|**───────**|
|**Net cash flow from operating activities**|426,165|1,055,047|
||**═══════**|**═══════**|
Page | 28
## **The Oxford Trust**
## **Detailed Income and Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 March 2024**
||**2024**|||**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income**|||||
|Grants received||25,957|s|18,317|
|Activities income||380,509||656,959|
|Events income||25,834||-|
|Café income||68,472||37,785|
|Rental income|2,826,388||2,517,188||
|Less running costs|(1,150,118)||(995,201)||
||**───────**||**───────**||
|||1,676,270||1,521,987|
|Dividend and interest income||10,556||9,370|
|Donations received||911||3,236|
|||**───────**||**───────**|
|||2,188,779||2,247,654|
|**Expenditure**|||||
|Activities costs|38,223||10,564||
|Event costs|2,632||-||
|Café supplies|46,841||29,040||
|Grant costs|236,372||248,526||
|Motor travel and subsistence|5,737||6,246||
|Staff costs direct|16,398||14,729||
|Depreciation|441,366||426,998||
|Establishment costs|54,977||59,790||
|Financial costs|104,114||107,496||
|Computer costs|55,708||36,784||
|Marketing costs|55,370||45,758||
|Sundry office costs|28,056||28,905||
|Professional fees|66,172||36,337||
|Staff costs|982,221||863,901||
|Staff recruitment, welfare and training|61,338||10,377||
|Stationery and postage|6,465||4,929||
|Travel and subsistence|6,766||6,835||
||**───────**||**───────**||
|||(2,208,756)||(1,937,215)|
|||**───────**||**───────**|
|**Surplus/(deficit) of income over**|||||
|**expenditure before investment transactions**||(19,977)||310,439|
|Gain/(loss) on investments||125,827||(3,250)|
|||**───────**||**───────**|
|**Deficit/(Gain) of income over expenditure for**|**the year**|105,850||307,189|
|||**═══════**||**═══════**|
This does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page | 29