## **CARRICKFERGUS ENTERPRISE TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** The trustees present their report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". ## **Objectives and activities** Carrickfergus Enterprise’s main activities and beneficiaries are detailed in this report. All of the charitable activities focus on the promotion for the public benefit of urban and rural regeneration in the Carrickfergus area and its environs, being an area of social and economic deprivation. Furthermore, providing facilities for the employment and training of said residents in the interest of social welfare with the objective of creating conditions which, if taken advantage of could lead to an improvement in well-being for the individual and the community. All activities are assessed to determine their impact on beneficiaries and its contribution to charitable activities so that Trustees can ascertain the best allocation of resources. The objectives of the Charity include the promotion and stimulation of an enterprise culture, support for business start-up and frameworks to encourage business development and growth of existing businesses. The Charity makes a contribution to the following Charitable purposes:- - the relief of poverty in such ways as may be thought fit; - the relief of unemployment in such ways as may be thought fit, including assistance to find employment; - the advancement of education, training or retraining, particularly among unemployed people, and providing unemployed people with work experience; - the provision of financial assistance, technical assistance or business advice or consultancy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed people in cases of financial or other charitable need through help: (i) in setting up their own business, or (ii) to existing businesses; - the creation of training and employment opportunities by the provision of workspace, buildings and/or land for use on favourable terms. ## Public Benefit The Trustees have taken cognisance of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit as defined in the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. The public benefits that flow from the purpose of urban and regeneration are:- - The creation of employment, training and experience opportunities for residents living in economically and socially deprived areas and consequently a reduction in poverty, unemployment and hardship, leading to a better quality of life for beneficiaries and consequent improvements in health and wellbeing; - Enhanced knowledge about setting up and running small businesses resulting in increased levels of self-employment and better prospects of sustainable development; - Increased levels of knowledge and transferable vocational skills among employees/work experience trainees, assisting in the creation of a more educated, skilled and qualified community; - A greater sense among the beneficiaries of more fulfilled and purposeful lives, resulting in a safer, more stable and cohesive community. These benefits can be evidenced in records kept by various agencies of the number of jobs and work experience opportunities created and the numbers of those who have successfully completed training courses. Evidence can also be found in independent evaluations of the activities of enterprise agencies carried out by funding bodies and in community surveys of living standards and attitudes. ## **CARRICKFERGUS ENTERPRISE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** Some private benefit is obtained by the owners of small businesses who rent units on favourable terms, but this is ancillary to the main purpose and is greatly outweighed by the gains in public benefit. No harm arises from these purposes. Carrickfergus Enterprise was formally registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 2 April 2015, having been confirmed to exist for charitable purposes and the public benefits under charity number NIC101615. ## **Achievements and performance** _**Business Start up and Growth Support**_ ## Enterprise Awareness All activities carried out by Carrickfergus Enterprise are underpinned by generating awareness of Enterprise and support that can be offered to encourage and inspire a range of individuals to consider self employment. In 2022 Staff member Alan Hamilton in his role as Business Support Executive has been attending themed events facilitated by Carrickfergus Job Centre. These include Jingle and Mingle and Support is in the Air over the Christmas and Valentine’s Day week. This provides the opportunity to meet JBO work coaches and share information on the range of support we can offer claimants. Holly Hume took part in, NRC Infofest on 20th September 2022 providing newly enrolled students with information on support available such as Go for it and Enterprising Women. Alan is working with Young Enterprise in local Primary Schools commencing 28th November 2022 delivering the Our World programme which is all about importing, exporting and business. ## Global Entrepreneurship Week Carrickfergus Enterprise delivered the Speed networking – Grow your business, Build your network event in partnership with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week. Over 30 businesses attended on Thursday 17th November at Dobbins Hotel, Carrickfergus. The event was facilitated by Manager Kelli McRoberts, She used technology such as Mix Seater to maximise table seating and ensure attendees got the most out of the experience. Using her 26+ years experience in the sector she also offered best practice examples and tips for networking to help those participating to develop and grow your connections and ultimately your business. Feedback was excellent with many expressing interest in a dedicated local network for local business owners. ## Northern Ireland Business Start-up Programme The support programme for those taking their first steps into self employment saw 24 business plans being completed in 2022. Enquiry levels continued to be at a lower level, due to rising cost of living and increasing utility costs. Businesses assisted in 2022 included Beauty/Asthetics, Epoxy flooring and taxi tours. ## Enterprising Women The Charity continues to develop and enhance the network for local female entrepreneurs in Mid and East Antrim Borough. In 2022 we entered a partnership with our colleagues in Ballymena Business Centre to combine our SLA budgets to deliver a larger programme of activities with funding from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. Activities aim to stimulate business connections and growth, job creation and collaboration opportunities for those considering self employment or growing their business. The network is very much about the creation of a welcoming environment for women to take their first steps into networking and to grow in confidence whilst updating their skills and knowledge. In 2022/23 the following activities were delivered:- - 3 x Coffee & Networking events across the Borough - 2 x themed speed networking events in Carrickfergus and Larne - 4 x Knowledge based workshops across the Borough in areas such as Mastering Etsy, Make Content Count, Selling Better in 2023 and Minding your Mind – Work/Life Balance - 1 x Exchange visit to take part in Women Beyond Borders Networking Summit partnering with Donegal Women in Business and Derry Women in Enterprise with over 200 attendees and 23 participating from MEA **CARRICKFERGUS ENTERPRISE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR** ## **THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** - 1 x International Women’s Day Conference at Ulster University, Coleraine Campus partnering with Enterprise Causeway with 230 attendees including 26 from MEA - 1 x Spring Networking Lunch in The Carrie, Kells - 2 x Group mentoring sessions on Mastering Etsy and Secrets to Successful social media ads - 53 hours one to one mentoring with 8 members in areas such as brand development, confidence building, social media and starting in business. The Outputs over the 12 month delivery period were:- |**Output**|**Result achieved**| |---|---| |To maintain and grow the Enterprising Women’s
network in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
area by increasing recorded members (108) by
approx. 30% to 140 by March 2023. This will factor
in possible initial reduction in members due to
database cleansing.|•
144 members by 31/3/23.
•
154 by 30/4/23.
•
26 % based in Larne, 42% Ballymena, 32%
Carrickfergus.
•
10 % at Start up stage, 22% set up in 2022/
23, 35% between 2018-2021, 19% in 2013-
2017, 8% in 2008-2012 and 6% 1997- 2007
and 6% set up before 1996.
•
65% members are brand new.
•
35% existing member prior to membership
re-issue Sep 2022.
•
29% of members have artisan business,
10%
food
related.
50%
Professional
service, 6% retail and 5% tourism related.| |To deliver two Speed Networking Events in person
with proposed topics on Nourishing the Business
Mind and Body, Scaling up your business
(20 registrations per event).|•
Fuel your business for success focused on
nutrition 13/10/2022, 18 registrations.
•
Self-Sabotaging
Mindsets
9/2/23,
23
registrations.| |To deliver four knowledge based workshops/
webinars on topics including Creating attention
grabbing online content, developing my business
on Etsy/Amazon, Developing and Winning sales
opportunities, Spinning the work/life balance plates
(15 registrations).|•
Mastering Etsy 29/9/22, 22 registrations.
•
Make
Content
Count
01/12/22,
33
registrations.
•
Selling
Better
in
2023
25/01/23,
19
registrations.
•
Minding your Mind – work/life balance 02/
03/23, 15 registrations.| |To hold a Celebration and Networking event in
March 2023 Building Resilience in business.|We combined resources to deliver a much larger
scale event with our colleagues at Enterprise
Causeway. Taking place at Ulster University
Riverside Theatre to mark International Women’s
Day on 7th March 2023. Over 230 women
attended with speakers from Business, Community
and Education.| ## **CARRICKFERGUS ENTERPRISE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** |To hold an exchange, visit residential to Waterford
or Donegal to share best practice, improve
networking, cross promotion opportunities.|This event took place 23rd February 2023 with
over 100+ in attendance including 22 from
Enterprising Women.| |---|---| |To hold 3 Coffee & Networking Events throughout
Mid and East Antrim to provide an informal social
meeting opportunity (no target).|3 Coffee & Networking Events took place:-
·
08/09/2022
NACS,
Carrickfergus,
24
registrations.
·
17/11/2022 The Carrie, Kells Ballymena,
23 registrations.
·
12/01/2023 AEL, Larne, 21 registrations.| |To develop a coaching/mentoring bank of hours to
provide regular follow up with members to develop
confidence and signposting opportunities to other
enterprise support programmes such as Spark,
EEP, GFI. Formal structure for referral will be
developed.|The bank of hours was used for a combination of
group mentoring for follow up master classes held
on zoom and one to one mentoring as follows:-
·
Esty Masterclass 04/10/22, 18
registrations.
·
Secrets to Successful Social Media Ads
20/01/2023, 33 registrations.
·
8
members
received
one
to
one
mentoring totalling 53 hours in a range of
topics such as social media, LinkedIn,
personal development and bookkeeping.| ## Causeway Cluster Collaborative Growth Scoping Study The contract for the project finished in March 2022 and had been hugely impacted by Covid. In the absence of funding facilitator Kelli McRoberts offered her time on a pro bono basis to ensure momentum of the network was not lost. Although time dedicated to the project was greatly reduced Carrickfergus Enterprise, continued discussions with Invest NI and Tourism NI to support the cluster and identify possible funding streams. This included the development of linkages with Donegal County Council and organisation and facilitation of a two day visit to Donegal on 14/15 September 2022. 19 businesses participated from Causeway Coastal Route and 12 from Donegal area. A workshop was facilitated to look at appetite for working together to extend Causeway Coastal Route into Wild Atlantic Way and vice versa. Kelli McRoberts also took part in a Ireland wide Cluster Skills training programme with all island cluster managers facilitated by Munster Technology University and Cork University Business School. This looked at global best practice in cluster development. In addition Carrickfergus Enterprise is working with Invest NI to identity funding opportunities for an Ireland wide bid to Peace Plus under Theme 6 - Building and Embedding Partnership and Collaboration. ## Accessing Finance Activity under the Start Up Loan programme greatly reduced in 2022 and may be linked to hesitancy towards considering self employment, due to rising costs etc. Participating clients receive up to 15 hours mentoring in a range of areas over the first 12 months of business. 2 loan referrals were received in 2022 totalling £17,000. ## _**Property & Development**_ ## Workspace Accommodation 2022 saw Carrickfergus Enterprise add two additional property solutions including new office accommodation (Connect) and secure storage units (Protect). Connect saw the transformation of existing conference, training and administration area (3146 sq ft) into six grade ‘A’ office space with communal kitchen and meeting area. Carrickfergus Enterprise staff accommodation and board room was reconfigured to maximise efficiency. The design and build was carried out by Calibro commencing in December 2021 and completing in February 2022. Due to some issues around Building Control occupancy and therefore income streams commenced in June 2022. The first new Tenants who located to this new space were Kobault and existing tenant Effectis. ## **CARRICKFERGUS ENTERPRISE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** Protect provides flexible and high quality secure space with the first tranche of 5 secure storage units to the rear of phase 3 carpark, installed in June 2022. This provided an immediate solution for ancillary space requirements for existing tenants and other small businesses who require affordable, secure and dry space for storage of equipment, stock or documents. Demand exceeded expectations with the first 5 fully let in Summer 2022, and approval given to the next tranche of 7 in December 2022. These again have been let in early 2023 and board approval given for the final tranche of 4 as per the initial planning application. This brings the total workspace available at the Meadowbank Road site to 57,243 sq ft. This comprises 39 units, 19 high tech offices, 12 secure storage units as well as new training and meeting room. Such workspace is offered on favourable terms in order to stimulate and develop enterprise within the Carrickfergus area. This includes a flexible lease that can be terminated with one full calendar month’s notice. In addition, tenants can access a range of business support services, including meeting rooms, access to business support and finance options. The site now has 36 tenants employing 150 staff. Tenants are involved in a range of sectors including Research and Development, Life Science and Marine. The Company continued to maintain its quality accreditation ISO 9001. The last few years have been particularly challenging for the Charity as rising costs of living and Covid have brought challenging trading conditions. Despite this occupancy has remained buoyant, although we experienced a sizeable fall in occupancy for phase 3 in 2022 for the first time since pre Covid. As at 31 December 2022 these were as follows:- ||**Target**|**Actual**| |---|---|---| |**Phase 1**|**Target 97%**|**98%**| |**Phase 2**|**Target 97%**|**99.6%**| |**Phase 3**|**Target 97%**|**91%**| |**Connect**|**No % target set**
**Occupied from June 2022**|**100%**| |**Protect**|**No % target set**
**Occupied from June 2022**|**100%**| ## **Community Engagement & Employability** Made for Memories – Enabling People Living with Dementia to Access Heritage This pilot project was launched in October 2022, led by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in partnership with Carrickfergus Enterprise. The project was awarded over £14k from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and aims to raise dementia awareness within the tourism and hospitality sector in Mid and East Antrim and throughout the Causeway Coastal Route. This was achieved through training, bespoke storytelling sessions and simple adaptions to create safe, welcoming, managed spaces at visitor attractions for those living with the early stages of dementia and their carers. Pre-visit guides for visitors for The Heritage Hub at Carnlough Town Hall and Whitehead Railway Museum were specifically designed for use by families and carers of people living with early stage dementia. Carrickfergus Enterprise provided the link between heritage and business through using their contacts with tourism businesses along the Causeway Coastal Route tourism cluster to promote the initiative culminating with a showcase event in March 2023 and the sharing of best practice on dementia friendly steps to provide an inclusive experience for all visitors. ## **CARRICKFERGUS ENTERPRISE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** ## Cooperation and Partnership The Board/Trustees continue to develop partnerships complementary to Carrickfergus Enterprise's Charitable objectives including membership of stakeholder and voluntary organisations aligned with our strategic objectives and charitable purposes. Manager Kelli McRoberts was appointed Chair of Mid and East Antrim Local Action Group in September 2020 and led the organisation towards official closure in May 2022 with a special event being hosted by Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Cllr William McCaughey in the Mayor’s parlor to highlight the key outcomes over the duration of the programme from with a total of £4.6million invested into projects that support rural businesses, communities and villages, creating 70 jobs. Stepping down from this role provided the opportunity to seek new opportunities with Kelli McRoberts appointed as Vice Chair of Mid and East Antrim Labour Market Partnership and social member and Vice Chair of MEA PeacePlus Partnership. The Labour Market Partnership will focus on 4 key areas. Economically Inactive, Long Term Unemployed, Disability and Skilled Labour Supply with programmes such as Women Returners Outreach, Confidence and Capacity Building Programme and Enterprise Pathways. The PEACEPLUS programme is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and has been designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties in the Republic of Ireland, building upon the work of the previous PEACE and INTERREG Programmes. Mid and East Antrim has confirmed an allocation of £5m and will be centered around three core themes – Local community regeneration and transformation, Thriving and peaceful communities and Building respect for all cultural identities. Collaboration and partnership will be the key approach for both funding and delivery and the Charity will continue to look at opportunities to add to their existing portfolio. Currently the Charity and its staff are members of Enterprise Northern Ireland, Carrickfergus Community Forum, Young Enterprise, Causeway Coastal Route Cluster, Enterprising Women, MEA Labour Market Partnership, MEA PeacePlus Partnership. ## Staff and Trustees The first part of 2022 saw staff and trustees adjust to the return to the first ‘normal’ year of operation since Covid with a return to face to face meetings and greater confidence for mixing socially once again. Enterprise welcomed new staff member Holly Hume who joined the team in August 2022 as the new Enterprise and Marketing Executive. Holly had previously been on placement with the organisation from Ulster University. It was poignant, in the 40[th ] Anniversary year that founding board member Mr Boyd Logan resigned on 5 February 2022 due to continued ill health. Sadly Mr Logan passed away peacefully on 28th June 2023. The Manager and Alan Hamilton represented Carrickfergus Enterprise at the private funeral. The Chairman and Board wish to note Mr Logan's four decades of service to Carrickfergus Enterprise and the local community of Carrickfergus and beyond. His in depth legal knowledge and contacts have been invaluable over the years particularly during our capital build projects in 2000, 2005 and the sale of Cheston Street in 2016. Longstanding Board Member Bernadette McCrea also resigned in on 18[th ] November 2022 due to ill health. Appointed on 1[st ] February 1996 she served the Board for over 26 years and as a retired Health Visitor she brought a range of expertise to the Board, particularly in the area of Disabilities and staffing. ## 40th Anniversary Celebrations Carrickfergus Enterprise was incorporated in August 1981 and 2021 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Company’s formation. Due to Covid and the lack of social gatherings and face to face meetings the official celebrations were delayed until 2022. Working with PR companies Rumour Mill and ATTNx the management team put together a series of activities to mark the milestone. This includes the Job for the Future Schools competition and business profiles of past clients including Kal Tabeth who set up Advanced Sensors and Innov8 and Errol Maxwell Managing Director of Property Pal. The school competition targeted local primary 6 and 7 school children to design a job for the future. As well as marking the milestone it provided the opportunity for greater awareness of Carrickfergus Enterprise and the work it does as a charity in terms of promotion of Enterprise and inspiring future entrepreneurs. Over 300 entries were received from schools throughout Mid and East Antrim with four lucky winners selected and presented with their prizes in June 2022. The wining designs are now displayed permanently at the new Connect offices. Celebrations drew to a close with a final Anniversary Dinner held in January 2023 for board members, staff and their families at Castillo Restaurant Carrickfergus. **CARRICKFERGUS ENTERPRISE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** ## **Financial review** The results for the year are set out in detail on pages 17 – 32. The charity returned net outgoing resources for the year of £84,348 (2021 - net incoming resources of £38,094). The results for the year included a depreciation charge of £95,667. After accounting for a revaluation gain of £701,500 on land and buildings the overall net increase in funds for the year was £617,152. At 31 December 2022, the total funds of the charity amounted to £3,190,189 comprising restricted funds of £1,052,806 and unrestricted funds of £2,137,383. The unrestricted funds are considered to be essential to provide sufficient funds to cover any unforeseen costs which may arise and fulfil the legal obligations of the charity in the event that current levels of income are not maintained. The charity’s policy is to maintain a level of free reserves sufficient to cover such costs. Within unrestricted funds the trustees have designated an amount of £200,000 for planned future expenditure. The planned expenditure includes the purchase of land for Phase 4 of the charity's facilities and other maintenance, improvements and general repairs that are required. In addition to the designated amount, the charity began the year with free reserves of £189,417. These reserves were utilised during the year for investment in fixed assets and the charity will seek to build its free reserves back to the target level from future rental income. ## **Risk management** The Trustees, supported by management and staff, have established a rigorous risk assessment system that includes monitoring monthly management accounts and variance analysis as well as monitoring cashflow forecasts on a monthly basis. Risks may include reduction in occupancy rates resulting in reduced rental income as well as reduction in programme funding available, as well as an increasingly competitive marketplace. The Board is all too aware of such risks and in 2022 recommenced the development of a five year strategic plan (delayed due to Covid) to progress the charity in a number of key areas to ensure its long term sustainability. ## **Strategy development** Despite difficult trading conditions from 2020 to early 2022, due to the global Covid pandemic, the Charity continued to maintain high levels of occupancy and met or exceeded programme delivery targets. This was achieved through the strong foundations of our Charity objectives and core values as well as continued high quality service delivery in key areas such as workspace provision and business support. Initially the organisation embarked in the development of a Strategic Development Plan in early 2020, this was paused due to the continued uncertainties in the marketplace brought about by Covid. The Board agreed the time was right to restart development of the strategy with the exercise commencing in June 2022, facilitated by Ian Kerr of Kerr Consulting. The process included a review of the initial strategy development from 2020, analysis of our strengths and weaknesses and the inclusion of staff in a session to further develop the plan and vision, mission. These sessions took place between June and September 2022. All directors were invited to participate with staff taking part in a session on 21st July 2022. |Director/Staff
Member
Attendance|17/06/2022|24/06/2022|21/07/2022|22/09/2022| |---|---|---|---|---| |W
Adamson
(Chairman)|Y|Y|Y|Y| |D McIhagger|Y|Y|Y|Y| |L Robb|Y|Y|Y|Y| |A Harper|Y|Y|Y|Y| |R Kay|Y|Y|Y|Y| |J Lowndes|||Y|Y| |R Stewart|||Y|Y| |L Millar|||Y|Y| |B McCrea||||| The final element was direction and formulation of the Strategy with the initial draft circulated in November 2022. The final 3-5 year Strategic plan was recommended by General Purposes Committee and received Board approval on 31st March 2023. **CARRICKFERGUS ENTERPRISE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** ## **Future Strategy** In 2022 we celebrated our 40th Anniversary year and over those four decades the board and staff have weathered many challenges including high rates of unemployment, recession, Brexit, and Covid 19. The Chairman, Trustees and staff have embraced these challenges with firm foundations in place to build resilience and agility to deal with such difficult trading conditions. Led by Chairman Bill Adamson, the Board and staff have been extremely pro-active in adapting to the ever-changing trading conditions and continue to identify needs within the local economy and beyond to provide much need business support at every stage of the business journey. This has included the development of workspace provision through the introduction of Connect office accommodation and Protect storage units as well as the enhancement of activities under the Enterprising Women network. The completion and approval of the Strategic development plan will give us the underpinning strategic priorities to ensure we can continue to be financially sustainable and maintain a strong commitment to make a difference in the local economy. We now need to prioritise how we will develop and implement this strategy particularly as trading conditions including rising interest rates and costs continue. We cannot stand still, and the Chairman, trustees and staff look forward to continuing to deliver the high service delivery to our clients as well as developing new ideas and projects underpinned by our charitable objectives. ## **Structure, governance and management** The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Mr W Adamson Mr D McIlhagger Mrs B McCrea (Resigned 18 November 2022) Ms J A Harper Mr R H Kay Mr J B Logan (Resigned 5 February 2022) Mr J Lowndes Mr S R Stewart Ms L Millar Mr L Robb Mr I Kerr (Appointed 31 March 2023) Carrickfergus Enterprise is steered strategically by an experienced voluntary Board of Directors/Trustees. Day to day management of the charity is the responsibility of the Enterprise General Manager, Mrs K L McRoberts, supported by a dedicated team of professional staff. The General Purposes Committee aims to improve decision making and overall efficiency of the board meeting bi-monthly with the full board meeting quarterly. The Committee consists of the following directors: Mr W Adamson – Chairman Mr D McIlhagger Ms A Harper Mr R H Kay Mr I Kerr - Facilitator Mrs K McRoberts - Facilitator Two meetings of the General Purposes Committee took place in 2022. New directors are briefed on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision making process, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. They are free to discuss any issue with other current directors or key employees. Directors are encouraged to attend any appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role. This provides an understanding of what Charity Trusteeship entails and the responsibilities and duties that go with that position. Now that the Strategic Development Plan has been finalized it would be in order to revisit Good Governance training for Trustees as delivered in the past by Edwards & Co Solicitors, The Charities Act 2008 and the responsibilities of Directors/ Trustees in relation to this legislation. A refresher of this training will take place later this year. ## **CARRICKFERGUS ENTERPRISE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022** ## **Directors/Trustees** The directors of the charity during the year were: Mr W Adamson – Chairman 100% Ms J A Harper 100% Mr D McIlhagger 100% Mr R H Kay 67% Mr J B Logan (Resigned 5 February 2022) Mrs B McCrea 0% (Resigned 18 November 2022) Mr J Lowndes 33% Mr S R Stewart 100% Ms L Millar 0% Mr L Robb 0% Mr I Kerr (Appointed 31 March 2023) In accordance with the Articles of Association retire by rotation and being eligible, Mr R H Kay and Mr J Lowndes offer themselves for re-election. *Percentage attendance during the year. The board of trustees meet quarterly with 3 meetings held in 2022. ## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities** The trustees, who are also the directors of Carrickfergus Enterprise for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year. 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; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity 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 charity 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 charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. ## **Auditor** In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that GMcG BELFAST be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting. ## **Small companies exemption** In preparing this report, the directors have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 41SA of the Companies Act 2006. ## **Disclosure of information to auditor** Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information. The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees. ## **Mr W Adamson** Trustee Dated: 21 September 2023 rtttt