Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) No. 213800MDNBFVEQEN1G84

Triad Group Plc

Half year results for the six months ended 30 September 2023

Financial highlights

Chairman's statement

Dr John Rigg

Overview of results

In my Chairman's statement accompanying the first half year results for the previous year, I explained that a weak first half had been entirely the result of "external factors beyond our control".  I also said that we were expecting a strong upturn in the second half, and this in fact proved to be the case. The disappointing results announced above are the result of similar circumstances and influences as those we experienced during the first half of last year but significantly worse. We had expected this would not be the case, but unfortunately, once again due to factors entirely outside our control, this has not proved to be so.

Now to the excellent news. During the last two months, we have succeeded in winning four new longer-term lines of business, with prestigious clients in the public sector. All four have now been formally awarded. One major result of this will be that the cliff edge which we have experienced, particularly in the last two years at March 31st will not affect us in future as we will be able to continue working seamlessly through that period. This should transform our second half results for the current year, and in particular the full year results for the next financial year and going forward. I personally have never felt so confident and enthusiastic about the state and prospects of the Company for more than 20 years.

Unlike many firms in our sector who have sought to lay off staff, the Company held its nerve and used its strong position to maintain staffing levels in line with those established over the last two years. Without doing so, our successful efforts to secure the long-term pipeline would have been severely undermined. We are now vigorously pursuing the recruitment of a substantial number of the very best professional staff.

The model of the business reflects a commitment to the use of permanent staff to produce the very best outcomes for our clients. Steps were taken during the period to improve and increase our work-winning rate to sustain higher headcount levels and the associated risk of bench costs arising from the model.

Our strategy concentrates on providing outstanding digital consultancy services to Central Government clients and their agencies. In addition, we are continuing to develop our footprint in the UK's law enforcement arena including both national bodies and local forces. Whilst we have other clients within the portfolio, our work-winning efforts have been focused on these two important sectors where our track record and strength in depth allows us to make a real impact on society.

I believe that we are at the beginning of a period of increasing major success and growth. I have no doubt that other significant client wins will follow in due course.

Outlook

I can do no better than to repeat and confirm what I said last year that "The vital signs of the Company, including cash, margins and control of overheads, continue to be extremely robust. The quality of our technological expertise is constantly improving and our business is based upon the reality of delivering working effective systems and advice to meet real client needs and policy demands. As a result, the level of internal morale, client confidence and accumulated goodwill also continues to strengthen. Our staff turnover is very low."

Underlying this impressive level of success is the superb quality of our people at every level.

Business highlights

The first half saw several projects concluding successfully, including two separate engagements around the implementation of legislation within policing, the completion of development on a major project at DfT, and the successful handover of a discovery project to an existing team at our OPSS client.

Our consultants on the MoJ project management service continued to deliver outcomes in areas as diverse as prisons expansion, legacy justice systems replacements, and deployment of Wi-Fi across the probation estate.

Within law enforcement, we delivered a common user interface template for a national policing organisation and completed the fit out of regional operations room capabilities. We also started work to introduce a new records management system into a pioneering police force. Our policing footprint expanded as we took on Kent and Essex police forces, helping them to develop their contact management strategy.

For DEZNZ, we successfully moved the digital service for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism (CHMM) from alpha to beta, passing the GDS assessment in record time.

The recent significant contract wins involve providing digital expertise across domains including programme and project management, business architecture and business analysis, and full-spectrum digital delivery capabilities (including the implementation of AI co-pilots within corporate functions) to support ongoing pipelines of work at our new clients.

In November, at the highly prestigious BCS UK IT Industry Awards ceremony attended by many of the best known names in our industry, our work in two separate projects was rewarded when we received two top prizes: for Digital Transformation Project of the Year with MoJ, and for User Experience (UX) Project of the Year with DfT.  We were also delighted to see one of our staff recognised as the Rising Star of the Year at the same award ceremony. No other company at the ceremony received as many as three awards.

Dividend

The Board now have the confidence to maintain the interim dividend at the same level as last year at 2p.

Employees

I would like to thank all our staff, both our long serving employees and first rate recent recruitees, who have performed excellently despite some of the most challenging external circumstances the Company has experienced in its 35 year history.

Dr John Rigg

Executive Chairman

19 December 2023

Unaudited condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income and expense for the six months ended 30 September 2023

All amounts relate to continuing activities.

Unaudited condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 30 September 2023

Unaudited condensed consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 September 2023

Unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended 30 September 2023

Notes to the financial statements for the six months ended 30 September 2023

1.    Principal accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. The policies have been consistently applied to all the periods presented, unless otherwise stated.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) and the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

The comparative financial information for the year ended 31 March 2023 included within this report does not constitute the full statutory accounts for that period. The statutory Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2023 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The Independent Auditor's Report on the Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2023 was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis, and did not contain a statement under 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial information for the half years ended 30 September 2023 and 30 September 2022 does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434(3) of the Companies Act 2006 and has been neither audited nor reviewed pursuant to guidance issued by the Auditing Practices Board.

These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

These financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis and are presented in pounds sterling, generally rounded to the nearest thousand, the functional currency of the Company.

Going Concern

The Group continues to operate an efficient low-cost and cash generative model. For the six months ended 30 September 2023, the Group has not utilised any external debt or lending facilities (2022: nil) with no exposure to bad debts in the period. Cash balances have reduced to £2.6m at the balance sheet date (2022: £4.4m), which reflects a total dividend paid in the 6 months period of £0.7m (2022 £0.7m). The future cash position remains robust.

The going concern assessment made at the year ended 31 March 2023 is still relevant to both current and future trading expectations. This going concern assessment included in particular a reverse stress test model which included the most extreme scenario possible with all current client contracts discontinued at expiry, with no extension or replacement and with no cost mitigation. Following a review of these assessments in light of current trading performance and cash flow forecasts for the next 12 months, the Directors have concluded that the Group would have sufficient headroom and cash balances to continue in operation.

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the half year accounts.

New standards, interpretations and amendments

The accounting policies applied in these financial statements are as applied in the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023.

2.    Revenue

The Group operates solely in the UK. All material revenues are generated in the UK.

In accordance with IFRS 15, the Group disaggregates revenue by contract type as management believe this best depicts how the nature, timing and uncertainty of the Group's revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. Accordingly, the following table disaggregates the Group's revenue by contract type:

The Group also disaggregates revenue by operating sector reflecting the different commercial risks (e.g., credit risk) associated with each.

3.    Finance expense

4.    Tax charge/(credit)

The differences between the actual tax charge for the period and the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK applied to profits for the period are as follows:

Deferred tax assets have been recognised in respect of tax losses where the Directors believe it is probable that the assets will be recovered. This expectation of recovery is calculated by modelling estimates of future taxable profits that can be offset with historic trading losses brought forward. A deferred tax asset amounting to £689,022 (2022: £530,000) has not been recognised in respect of trading losses of £2,756,089 (2022: £2,125,000), which can be carried forward indefinitely.

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised for potential temporary differences arising from unexercised share options and restricted stock units of £114k (2022: £107k) and general provisions of £27k (2022: £24k) as the Directors believe it is not certain these assets will be recovered.

The UK Budget on 3 March 2021 announced an increase in the UK corporation tax rate from 19% to 25% with effect from 1 April 2023. The effect of the rate increase is reflected in the consolidated financial statements as has been substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

5.    Dividends

The Directors propose an interim dividend for the period to 30 September 2023 of 2p per share (2022 interim dividend: 2p per share).

The Company will pay the dividend on 31 January 2024 to all shareholders on the register of members of the Company at the close of business on 5 January 2024. The ex-dividend date will be on 4 January 2024.

6.    Earnings per ordinary share

Earnings per share have been calculated on the profit for the year divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period based on the following:

7.    Leases

Right-of-use Assets

The carrying amounts of the right-of-use assets recognised and the movements during the period are outlined below:

As of 6th October 2022, the lease break option on one lease was not enacted, and the lease continues until 27th March 2028. As of this date, the total asset value was increased by £412,000.

Lease Liabilities

The carrying amounts of the lease liabilities recognised are as follows:

As of 6th October 2022, the lease break option on one premises was not enacted, and the lease continues until 27th March 2028. As of this date, the total lease liability was increased by £920,000.

At the balance sheet date, the Group had outstanding commitments for future lease payments as follows:

Finance lease receivables

The carrying amounts of the lease receivable asset are as follows:

As of 2nd October 2022, the lease break option on one premises was not enacted by the tenant, and the lease continues until 23rd March 2028. As of this date, the total finance lease receivable was increased by £508,000.

At the balance sheet date, the Group had future lease receivables as follows:

8.    Trade and other receivables

The fair value of trade and other receivables approximates closely to their book value.

Unbilled income is in respect to the billing profile of a licence agreement.

Movements on the provision for expected credit loss are as follows:

The carrying amount of the Group's trade and other receivables are denominated in the following currencies:

9.    Trade and other payables

The majority of trade and other payables are settled within three months from the period end.

The fair value of trade and other payables approximates closely to their book value.

The carrying amount of trade and other payables is denominated in the following currencies:

10.  Related party transactions and ultimate control

The Group and Company rents one of its offices under a lease with a sub-tenant in occupation on one floor. The current annual rent of £215,000 was fixed, by independent valuation, at the last rent review in 2008. J C Rigg, a Director, has notified the Board that he has a 50% beneficial interest in this contract. The balance owed at the period end was £nil (2022: £nil). There is no ultimate controlling party.

11.  Statement of the directors' responsibilities

The Board confirms to the best of their knowledge:

·    that the condensed consolidated half year financial statements for the six months to 30 September 2023 have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as per UK adopted international accounting standards; and

·    that the Half Year Report includes a fair review of the information required by sections 4.2.7R and 4.2.8R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the period and their impact on the condensed consolidated half year financial statements; a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remainder of the current financial year; and the disclosure requirements in respect of material related party transactions.

By order of the Board

James McDonald

Company Secretary

19 December 2023

Names of the current Board of Directors can be found on the Company website at www.triad.co.uk.