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Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Geared up
for growth
“2024 was a year of excellent progress for Personal Group.
The initiatives commenced over the last 18 months have provided
a stronger platform on which to build, increasing the proportion
of recurring revenue within the business, simplifying its structure
and introducing increased operational rigour and integrity.”
Martin Bennett
Non-Executive Chair
Read my statement | 
Page 8
Personal Group is a
workforce benefits and
health insurance provider
Focused on improving employee health, wellbeing and engagement.
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
For the latest Investor relations:
www.personalgroup.com/investors
Overview
02
2024 Highlights
03
Our Business at a Glance
04
Our Ambition
05
How we will get there
06
Our Strategy
07
Why invest in Personal Group
Governance
36
Corporate Governance
38
Board of Directors
40
Risk and Compliance Committee Report
42
Audit Committee Report
45
Remuneration Committee Report
51
Nominations Committee Report
53
Directors’ Report
54
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
Strategic Report
08
Chair’s Statement
10
Our Business Model
11
Market Overview
12
Group Chief Executive’s Statement
15
Our Strategy in Action
19
Key Performance Indicators
21
Chief Financial Officer’s Statement
26
Risk Management
29
Environmental, Social and Governance
33
Section 172 Statement
Financial Statements
55
Independent Auditor’s Report
63
Consolidated Income Statement
65
Consolidated Balance Sheet
67
Company Balance Sheet
68
Consolidated Statement of Changes
in Equity
69
Company Statement of Changes
in Equity
70
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
72
Company Cash Flow Statement
73
Notes to the Financial Statements
106
Company Information
Page 06
Our Strategy
Page 10
Our Business Model
Page 29
Environment, Social
and Governance
What’s inside
Page 19
Key Performance
Indicators
Financial Statements
01
Governance
Overview
Strategic Report
2024 Highlights
Financial
Operational
Non-financial
Group Revenue
£43.8m
(2023*: £38.6m)
Another record year for
insurance
and a record month in
September, with new annualised
insurance sales up 18% to £13.9m
in the year.
Significantly enhanced Benefits
offering
completed the
migration of the vast majority
of customers onto Hapi 2.0,
launched SEB 2.0 and completed
the migration of customers onto
the new platform.
Simplified and streamlined
the business
Disposal of Let’s
Connect, enabling a greater
focus on recurring revenue
streams, and strengthening the
balance sheet.
High levels of customer
retention
at over 80%,
testament to the value provided.
Won multiple industry awards
demonstrating the quality
and competitive strength of
the platform.
27 new Benefits clients won in
the year
with value per win up
10% year-on-year.
Reorganised and strengthened
team
including key strategic
hires of Chief Operations Officer,
and also Chief Sales Officer and
Chief Commercial Officer post-
period end.
Strengthened relationship
with Sage
with best-ever
month of leads in November
and December.
Basic EPS
17.7p
(2023*: 13.4p)
Adjusted EBITDA
£10.0m
(2023*: £7.8m)
Dividend Per Share
16.5p
(2023: 11.7p)
Profit before tax
£6.8m
(2023*: £5.1m)
Cash & Deposits
£27.4m
(2023: £20.1m)
No. of Insurance Payers
100,823
(2023: 97,327)
Total Client Number
4,834
(2023: 4,310)
Strong performance
On track with our ambitions.
*
Restated to reflect continuing operations following the disposal of Let’s Connect in July 2024.
02
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Insurance
Benefits and Reward
Affordable Insurance
On weekly or monthly rolling contracts
Benefits Platform
Delivered to employers directly and
through channel partners
Pay & Reward
Consultancy and software solutions
Insurance
Hospital plan, recovery plan, and death benefit
policies, underwritten by Group subsidiaries.
Our easy to understand, affordable plans are secured
for the lifetime of the policy, providing peace of mind
for diverse workforces from across society.
Hapi
Hapi is our technology platform that powers growth
through enhanced connectivity, engagement, health
and wellbeing.
Sage Employee Benefits
Our tailored engagement product designed for the
SME market.
Innecto
We offer strategic consultancy on pay and reward and
a suite of cloud-based SaaS solutions and surveys.
Clients can tailor their solution with our experts to help
them define and implement fair, consistent reward
programmes that align to their business strategy
and workforce.
Annualised Premium Income
£36.0m
(2023: £31.6m)
Read about The CEA (Case Study) | 
Page 16
Read about Our Business Model | 
Page 10
Benefit Platform ARR
£6.7m
(2023: £6.1m)
Pay & Reward ARR
£0.71m
(2023: £0.67m)
Read about Royal Mail (Case Study) |
Page 15
Our Business at a Glance
Personal Group provides benefits and insurance services focused on
improving employee health, wellbeing and engagement. Our vision
is to be the champion of affordable benefits, keeping businesses and
their employees happy, healthy and protected.
Helping employees thrive
In work and in life.
03
Financial Statements
Governance
Strategic Report
Overview
Our Ambition
• Access to
300k new employees
• Premium income
>£70m
10% of EBITDA
from new
insurance products and channels
Double our client base
10
additional partnerships
8,000 leads
per annum
across partners
How we are going to get there
Find our more about insurance |
Page 10
Find our more about benefits |
Page 10
Discover more about our strategy |
Page 6
Clarity of ambition
Focused on our 2030 aspirations.
Insurance
Benefits and
Reward
>£100m
Revenues
£30m
EBITDA
>£20m
SaaS ARR
04
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Geared up to deliver
A clear pathway to meet our 2030 aspirations.
To
>£100m
Revenues
Accelerate
Pursuit of select
acquisitions that
provide additional
products or expertise
to
accelerate
growth.
Find our more about
acquisitions |
Page 6
How we will get there
Expansion
Growth in
existing insurance
book through
increased customer
penetration
and
expanded
market reach.
Adoption
Growth of Benefits
and Reward through
expansion of the
Hapi platform,
increased upsell to
Insurance customers
and greater digital
integration of the
two offerings.
Innovation
Expansion of the
Insurance offering
into new products
and channels.
Partnering
Growth of Benefits
& Reward via
partnerships.
Affordable Insurance
Benefits & Rewards
from
£43.8m
Revenues
Financial Statements
05
Governance
Overview
Strategic Report
A clear strategy
To capture a significant market opportunity.
Adoption
Expansion of the Hapi
platform, increased upsell
to Insurance customers and
greater digital integration of
the two offerings
Accelerate
Pursuit of select acquisitions
that provide additional
products or expertise to
accelerate growth
Innovation
Expansion of the Insurance
offering into new products
and channels
Expansion
Growth in existing insurance
book through increased
customer penetration and
extended market reach
Partnering
Growth of Benefits & Reward
via partnerships
Affordable Insurance
Benefits & Reward
M&A
Our Strategy
Our winning aspiration is to be the champion of affordable and accessible insurance and benefits,
keeping businesses and their employees happy, healthy and protected.
Strong delivery against our initiatives in FY24:
Progress in FY24:
A second successive record
new insurance sales of £13.9m
Strong YOY retention rate
of 81.8%
Growth in API to £36.0m
Claims ratio of 29.1%
Atalian and Europa Worldwide
Group new customer wins
FY25 initiatives & priorities:
Improve penetration of
new employees in our top
100 accounts
Simplify digital SME offering
KPIs we will track:
No. of available employees
for face to face insurance
No. of insurance payers
API in Force £m
Progress in FY24:
Nearing completion on the
development of our new
employer paid cash plans
Kicking off project to redesign
and redevelop our insurance
system infrastructure
FY25 initiatives & priorities:
Broaden insurance products
and channels
Leverage potential
partnerships (white
label/brokers)
KPIs we will track:
EBITDA from new insurance
products & channels
Progress in FY24:
Growth in ARR to £7.4m
Successful migration of
customers onto Hapi 2.0
Office of National Statistics,
DHU Healthcare and Karbon
Homes new client wins
Major Pay & Reward 3-year
contract signed with BA
FY25 initiatives & priorities:
Simplified tiered offering
for Hapi
Upsell new benefit modules,
including R&R and Transform
New careers pathways tool
KPIs we will track:
SaaS ARR
No. of Hapi clients
Progress in FY24:
SME clients with Sage
increased to 4,436 in 2024
Gross transactional value
through the platform up 8.9%
to £59.7m
FY25 initiatives & priorities:
Increase partners to
target SME
Monetise eCommerce
partnerships
KPIs we will track:
No of Hapi/SME partners
Leads obtained via
partnerships
Approach to M&A:
With significant liquid funds
available to the Group, there
remains an appetite for strategic
growth through acquisition.
Acquisition targets would
be considered provided they
conformed with the Group
strategic objectives namely;
Profit generative
Recurring Revenues
Operating in target markets
Vertical alignment of product
06
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Why invest in Personal Group
Right offering for
today’s world
The world of work is changing, and our
offerings are needed now more than ever.
Employers are more aware and determined
to support the wellbeing of their employees,
to help retain and incentivise their workforce.
Meanwhile, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis,
increased sick leave and long NHS waiting
lists are putting considerable pressure on UK
businesses and their employees; our offering
can help mitigate these challenges.
Our market research has shown there are
approximately 10m employees in the UK
without or with partial short-term sick pay
support, and 74% of SMEs in the UK believe they
need to expand their Benefits offerings.
Unique sales proposition
with high levels of
brand awareness
Our market review identified that we are the
only affordable insurance offering delivered via
a face-to-face sales model, and that this is the
sales method that is most effective in our target
markets. It also identified that our brand is well
known and liked, providing a fantastic basis to
grow our already extensive customer base.
We are now focused on introducing initiatives to
increase our sales effectiveness and expand our
reach through further partnerships.
Strengthened organisation
with a clear strategy
The investments we are making in expanding our
offerings, simplifying our teams and structures,
and streamlining our organisation mean we are a
stronger business, better positioned to capture
the significant opportunity in our large, growing
and underpenetrated market.
We have set clear ambitions for the business and
are focused on strategic execution.
Strong financial position
We have achieved strong growth in
profitability, driven by record new insurance
sales and new client wins.
We have seen recurring revenue streams grow
in 2024 by 12.6% to over £40m. This high level
of revenue visibility means we can be confident
in our continued growth.
We are profitable, cash generative, debt free
with a strong balance sheet and a progressive
dividend policy.
Year on year insurance retention
81.8%
Hapi Net Retention Rate
91%
Increase in total client numbers
12.2%
to 4,834
Savings delivered to client employees
£2.9m
ARR for SaaS licenses
£7.4m
Dividend per share
16.5p
2030 Aspirations
Revenues
>£100m
EBITDA to
£30m
SaaS ARR
>£20m
A strong, profitable business with
a unique offering and a clear strategy
To capture the significant market opportunity.
See our Market Overview | 
Page 11
See Our Business at a Glance | 
Page 3
Read about Our Strategy | 
Page 6
See CFO Statement | 
Page 21
Financial Statements
07
Governance
Overview
Strategic Report
“The successes of
2024 mean we have
entered 2025 with
real momentum.”
Martin Bennett
Non-Executive Chair
2024 was a year of excellent progress
for Personal Group
Delivering growth while completing a comprehensive
overhaul of the Group’s strategy and operations.
Chair’s Statement
The strategic initiatives that have been
implemented over the last 18 months
have provided a stronger platform on
which to build, increasing the proportion
of recurring revenue within the business,
simplifying its structure and introducing
increased operational rigour and integrity.
As a result, the business has entered 2025
with real momentum.
The relevance of the Group’s Affordable
Insurance and Benefits & Rewards offerings
to our customers and their employees can
be seen in the growth of our customer
base and high retention levels. We have
seen several record insurance sales months
again this year and are confident that
we have room to improve upon these
results further still, through continuing
to refine our sales approach, expanding
our product offering and engaging with
additional partners.
Cash and deposits
£27.4m
(2023: £20.1m)
Dividend per share
16.5p
(2023: 11.7p)
Group Revenue
£43.8m
(2023: £38.6m)
08
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
The investment in our senior leadership
team, including key strategic hires of Chief
Operations Officer, Chief Sales Officer
and Chief Commercial Officer, means we
now have strength and depth across the
organisation, and it is pleasing to see the
newly formed team united by a common
conviction in the growth strategy, the
creation of which was a key priority for
the Board.
I would like to thank the entire team for
their continued dedication to supporting
our customers, while delivering these
strong results. Their passion for what we
do is evident in the high level of customer
service across the organisation, and it
is their dedication and commitment
that makes Personal Group the strong
organisation that it is.
Strategic execution delivering
strong performance
We have successfully delivered across our
KPIs once again this year, achieving double-
digit revenue growth from continuing
operations of £43.8m (2023: £38.6m) and
EBITDA growth of 29% at £10.0m (2023:
£7.8m). We continue to benefit from a
strong balance sheet, generating cash from
operations in the year of £11.4m, increasing
our cash and bank deposits position to
£27.4m as at 31 December 2024 (2023:
£20.1m) with no debt. Importantly, following
the disposal of Let’s Connect, recurring
revenues continued to increase, now
represent 92% of total Group revenue from
continuing operations (2023: 93%).
Our Affordable Insurance division and
successful face-to-face sales approach
continues to be a major asset of the
business, once again delivering a record
performance, driven by record new sales
and high retention rates.
Benefits platform revenue has also
continued to grow, delivering increased
levels of annual recurring revenue (“ARR”)
and with the migration of customers to the
second generation of the platform now all
but complete, the future for this division
looks promising.
The contribution from Pay & Reward
increased this year, supported by a
significant contract win with British
Airways, and the division has developed
innovative digital offerings which we are
now looking to roll out further.
ESG
Personal Group is a business very much
guided by its purpose, and the Board remains
committed to maintaining high standards
of ESG, ensuring we build a strong business
in a responsible way. We continue to reduce
the Group’s already low carbon footprint,
while fostering an inclusive, progressive
and diverse working environment. Our
ESG metrics were incorporated into our
Group bonus scheme for the first time this
year, and we are delighted that all targets
were achieved.
Dividend
I am pleased to announce that the Board has
recommended a final ordinary dividend of
10.0 pence per share which will be paid on
14 May 2025 to members on the register as
at 4 April 2025 (the record date). Shares will
be marked ex-dividend on 3 April 2025.
This makes a total ordinary dividend for
2024 of 16.5 pence per share, representing
an increase of 41% year on year (2023: 11.7p).
Increased profitability across the growing
business in the second half of the year as
well as the net cash inflow and realisation
of working capital resulting from the
disposal of Let’s Connect has resulted
in the cash balances of the Group being
significantly increased and this enhanced
cash position is reflected in an increased
dividend to shareholders. While the disposal
of Let’s Connect has contributed to this
year’s enhanced return, our policy remains
to grow the dividend progressively in line
with earnings and cash flow generation.
Confident Outlook
The successes of 2024 have continued into
2025 and we see real momentum across
the business. Personal Group’s high levels
of recurring revenue provide high levels
of visibility, and strong cash generation
give the Board considerable confidence.
We will continue to invest in our people
and offerings to ensure we capture the
significant opportunity ahead, and in
doing so deliver increasing returns for
our shareholders.
Martin Bennett
Non-Executive Chair
25 March 2025
Business Awards Won
Our commitment to delivering
exceptional customer service,
upholding consumer duty, and
investing in technology with Hapi is
yielding positive results, as evidenced
by our recent award successes.
09
Financial Statements
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Our Business Model
We are a workforce benefits
and health insurance provider
We exist to help businesses positively impact the happiness, health and protection of their employees.
Value created
Key inputs
People
We have a focused, energised and determined team,
comprising experts in insurance, benefits and
software development.
We are led by an experienced Board, carefully selected
to ensure a varied set of skills and experiences.
Products
Our affordable and accessible insurance offerings
include hospital, recovery and death benefit plans.
They are sold via a unique face-to-face sales model.
Our award-winning employee benefits platform,
Hapi, brings together extensive employee benefits,
discounts and rewards in one responsive platform.
We offer pay and reward consultancy services and
cloud-based SaaS solutions and surveys.
Brand
Over our 40 years in the industry, we have built
a strong brand and reputation.
Partners
We have a growing pool of powerful partners,
such as Sage, who provide us with access to
additional areas of the market.
Financial strength
We are profitable and cash generative, with double
digit growth across all areas of the business and a
high and growing proportion recurring revenues.
What we do
Affordable insurance
Employee-paid insurance plans – access to our insurance
products is made available through an individual’s wider
employee benefits offering.
Premiums are paid by the employee via a weekly or monthly
payroll deduction.
The premiums are recognised as insurance revenue and provide
high levels of recurring revenue, with low levels of churn.
Benefits & Reward
SaaS Benefits Platform
Our benefits offerings are sold direct to employers via the Hapi
platform, contributing SaaS revenue.
The offerings can be white-labelled through a corporate partner,
e.g. Sage Employee Benefits.
Alongside SaaS revenue, we generate Commission on third party
transactions – we earn a margin on some of the discounted
vouchers available to employees through Hapi and commission on
any employer purchases of third-party products or solutions.
Pay & Reward
Consultancy income
Employers pay for a full reward service – from pay
benchmarking and surveys to the development of job
evaluation and bonus schemes.
Innecto Digital subscriptions
Employers pay an annual subscription for digital analysis
and predictive SaaS tools for use in making pay decisions.
Customers
We enable organisations to stand out as an employer
of choice, retaining and rewarding their workforce.
Insurance payers
increased to
100,823
Total clients
increased to
4,834
Colleagues
We are a business focused on people, starting with
our own. We foster strong teams and invest in
continuous training and development, as well as
provide best-in-class employee benefits.
>7,000 hrs
hours of learning completed via our Continuous
Professional Development programme.
Society
The simplicity and low cost of our insurance offerings
means they are affordable for all workers, providing
vital financial protection, which is so important in
these challenging economic times.
Our benefits offering helps employees cope with the
cost of living crisis and feel recognised and rewarded
in the workplace.
Visit the ESG section of this report to learn more on
how we are contributing to a better society and
planet
Page 29
>£2m
donated to charitable causes since PACT was founded in 1993.
Shareholders
We are a profitable business delivering double
digit revenue growth, and we have a clear strategy
in place to drive further growth and increase
shareholder returns.
Read more in the CFO Report
Page 21
Revenue up
13%
EBITDA up
29%
Dividend increase
15%
10
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Market Overview
Geared up
To encapsulate future markets.
Our aspiration is to be the champion of affordable and
accessible insurance and benefits, keeping businesses
and their employees happy, healthy and protected.
Never has this been more important. The ongoing
cost-of-living pressures, increased sick leave and long
NHS waiting lists are putting considerable pressure
on UK businesses and their employees; we are focused
on providing them with the offerings they need to
mitigate these challenges.
Some of the key market metrics identified by CIL’s
market research in 2024 has been set out below.
Our opportunity
Growing market need
See our Royal Mail (Case Study) | 
Page 15
Insurance
Big space to play for – 9.8m UK
employees with no/little sick pay
90%+ Enterprises want f2f
engagement, 70% of SMEs want
to invest in insurance
Our penetration is low – we cover
12% of companies; within which we
have penetration c. 12% of the
available employee base
See our The CEA (Case Study) | 
Page 16
Benefits & Rewards
Large global market, growing
at 4.5% CAGR to 2030
In the UK, 20-40% of mid-Enterprise
clients would switch platform
53% of UK SMEs have no
Benefits platform
74% of UK SMEs believe they need
to expand their Benefits
See our Investment Case | 
Page 7
Our strengths
Only provider that offers face-to-
face Insurance sales engagement
Award winning Benefits platform
with the most comprehensive
range of rewards
Powerful partnerships provide
ability to target the significant
SME market, at scale
Employers
Increased national insurance and
business rates
Reduced ability to increase pay as
manner of retention
Higher labour standards
Employees
Cost-of-living crisis and
pricing pressures
Increased awareness of impact of
poor health on financial wellbeing
Increased employee expectations
around well-being support
Financial Statements
Overview
11
Strategic Report
Governance
“I’m excited about
what lies ahead
and confident
in achieving
our ambition.”
Paula Constant
Chief Executive
Group Chief Executive’s Statement
Strong financial and
operational progress
Underpinned by a clear strategy
and growth opportunities.
I am excited to report on another strong
financial performance by Personal Group,
in my first full year as CEO, with double
digit revenue growth across all divisions. In
addition, we have thoroughly underpinned
our strategy and have started implementing
what is required for accelerated growth in
future years.
We have delivered another record year in
Insurance sales, supported by our unique
face-to-face sales model, increasing
efficiency and effectiveness through
forensic operational management and
strong team engagement. We have
also secured notable new client wins,
including DHU Healthcare and Freshpak,
and maintained high levels of customer
retention across all our offerings, resulting
in strong growth in our recurring revenues,
providing high levels of visibility and strong
cash generation. As importantly, we have
significantly shortened our time to process
claims and handle queries, with exemplary
customer review scores and have been
recognised for our dedicated approach
to vulnerable customer treatments. It
is clear that we offer solutions which
resolutely address customer needs, with
exceptional customer support.
New client wins across the group
81
(2023: 97)
Annualised new business
premium
£13.9m
(2023: £11.8m)
SaaS annual recurring revenue
£7.4m
(2023: £6.7m)
12
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Much work has been undertaken to
strengthen and streamline the business
and we have exited the year with a leaner,
more capable organisation geared for
further growth and ready to execute on
our strategy. The successful migration of
customers onto the next generation of our
Benefits platform, Hapi 2.0, provides a basis
for greater Benefits adoption and expansion.
We have reorganised and strengthened our
team, including the key strategic hires of
a new Chief Operations Officer and, more
recently, a Chief Sales Officer for new and
existing business and a Chief Commercial
Officer to grow our product portfolio and
optimise our profitability. Considerable
progress has been made in enhancing our
data insight, risk frameworks, contract
management and security to create a more
robust business on which to build.
United behind a clear and
ambitious strategy
Crucially, the Group is now united behind
clarity of ambition supported by a clear
strategy, with KPIs to track progress. This
strategy is informed by the extensive market
research undertaken in my first year as
CEO, which highlighted the strength of the
Group’s market positioning and key areas
of opportunity.
Our strategy has four key pillars: Expansion,
Innovation, Adoption and Partnering.
Insurance growth will be driven by
expanding within customer accounts and
deepening our addressable employee base,
alongside winning new clients directly
and through partnerships, and expanding
our insurance offering into new products
and channels.
Growth in Benefits & Rewards will come
from the increased adoption of the Hapi
platform across our Insurance customer
base and expansion of our market reach,
predominantly through partnerships.
Our ambition is to exit 2030 having delivered
in excess of £100m revenues, group EBITDA
of £30m and recurring revenues of £20m
and we are confident in our ability to achieve
this organically. That said, our strong balance
sheet and excellent cash generation also
enables us to consider complementary
acquisitions that would provide additional
products or expertise and accelerate
growth. We are continuing to explore
potential M&A activity and we remain open
to acquisition opportunities that meet our
criteria and we see to be strengthening to
the existing business divisions.
Sales and Operational Review
The Group made strong progress across
both our Affordable Insurance and
Benefits & Rewards divisions, enhancing
and expanding our product offerings and
growing our reach through partners.
Affordable Insurance
The Group delivered another record year in
Insurance sales, including another record
month in September, with new annualised
insurance sales increasing by 18% in the year
to £13.9m. We are proud to have increased
both productivity and quality through
our forensic analysis of team activity and
management in addition to a laser focus on
the early cancellations, which reduced by
10% year-on-year.
Claims levels increased year on year,
as anticipated, to £8.5m (2023: £6.9m).
Customer retention levels remained high
at over 80% year-on-year, testament to
the value provided. We have invested huge
efforts in improving customer service,
achieving a Trustpilot score of 4.9, which we
believe to be outstanding in our industry. In
addition, claims processes have improved
throughout the year, with the business
processing more than 95% claims within
48 hours in Q4 with this standard expected
to be maintained going forward. Given this
strong performance, Insurance Annualised
Premium Income increased 14% to £36.0m
(2023: £31.6m).
2025 Insurance objectives
We are focused on increasing our
penetration of new employees, particularly
within our top 100 accounts, which we are
dissecting in terms of visit frequency and
attendance by skill. Further opportunities
to improve penetration include expanding
our offering into new, adjacent products
associated with ‘protection’ and increasing
our routes to market through partnerships.
We have identified our Group Cash plan and
digital insurance options as the first two
potential avenues to thoroughly test in 2025.
Benefits & Rewards
The Group’s digital benefits platform,
Hapi, directly and via our SME-focused
partnership with Sage, performed well and
secured new clients, delivering ARR growth
by 10% to £6.7m (2023: £6.1m). We improved
customer churn by over 20% by further
digitising processes and handoffs.
Hapi’s performance was steady in the year,
delivering ARR of £2.7m (2023: £2.5m),
underpinned by 27 new Benefits clients
won in 2024, comparable to the previous
year, up 10% in average value per win year
on year. Notable new client wins for Hapi
include the Office of National Statistics,
DHU Healthcare and Karbon Homes. We
won a number of industry awards in the
year, including Best Use of Technology in
the 2024 Health and Wellbeing Awards, and
Best Use of Technology in Benefits in the
2024 Workplace Savings & Benefits Awards,
demonstrating the competitive strength of
our platform. These, alongside the increased
uptake of our Benefits offerings and
Hapi’s top class Trustpilot score of 4.3, are
evidence of the quality of our offering.
A significant area of focus for the team in
2024 was the migration of customers onto
Hapi 2.0, our next generation platform.
We are delighted at the pace and the
effectiveness of our migration, with the
vast majority of customers (99.9%) now on
the new platform. Customer feedback has
been excellent, with the enhanced platform
providing improved user navigation and
personalisation, the reward and recognition
features being strongly embraced, and
the self-serve capability providing better
flexibility. As importantly, consolidating
code from the two platforms into one
significantly reduces our operating costs
into 2025.
13
Financial Statements
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Group Chief Executive’s Statement
continued
During the year we also launched SEB
2.0 (Sage Employee Benefits), based on
Hapi 2.0, and migrated all Sage customers
to the next generation platform within
weeks. The Group also strengthened its
relationship with Sage in the year and had its
best-ever month of leads in November and
December, providing a strong position from
which to expand into new segments and
geographies in 2025.
The Group’s Pay & Reward division,
comprising Innecto and QCG, now
consolidated as one operating group under
the Innecto brand, performed well, with ARR
increasing to £0.71m (2023: £0.67m). This
was largely due to the significant three-year
contract with British Airways signed in the
first quarter, worth £650,000, contributing
approximately £100,000 per annum in ARR.
The contract includes reward consultancy,
the implementation of Innecto’s job
evaluation tool and the development of a
career pathway interface, which is expected
to launch in 2025. The consultancy services
and subsequent SaaS tools continue to
serve an important strategic function.
2025 Benefits & Rewards objectives
Now that the migration onto the new
platform is nearly complete, the Group has
the capabilities and bandwidth to focus
on accelerating growth in Benefits. We are
progressing various initiatives to upsell our
benefits modules to Insurance customers,
including Reward and Recognition (R&R)
and Transform, our wellbeing health and
fitness module, and are implementing
greater digital integration of our Insurance
and Benefits offerings to reduce friction
in the sales process.
Additionally, an important avenue for
growth is via partnerships, and we
are focused on increasing our leads
across partners, progressing additional
partnerships to target the SME market and
monetising our eCommerce partnerships.
We are pleased to have agreed a new
consultancy partnership early in 2025,
which has opportunity to and interest
in expanding to benefits platform sales
later in the year.
Within our Pay & Reward division, our
priority is the completion of an industrialised
tool for Innecto and the launch of the British
Airways career pathways tool.
Passionate about our Purpose
At Personal Group, our Purpose is at
our core: to keep businesses and their
employees happy, healthy and protected.
This includes supporting our own employees
and, to that end, we have implemented 11
new employment policies, placing us ahead
of other businesses our size.
To cement adherence to our ESG
targets across the organisation, we have
established a new Bonus Gateway to
make our ESG metrics and targets a more
meaningful part of remuneration for all
employees, removing their inclusion from
any LTIP portion. We are pleased to have
achieved progress on every dimension of
ESG in 2024.
Outside of the organisation, Personal Group
is committed to ensuring our customers
are cared for above and beyond the FCA’s
Consumer Duty regulations, and we have
established an internal working group to
deliver these requirements. Our endeavours
were recognised in the year when we
were awarded the Vulnerable Consumer
Duty award in the inaugural Consumer
Duty awards.
Serving our communities is also integral
to Personal Group’s ethos, and in the
year we focused our Personal Assurance
Charitable Trust donations, for which we
pledge at least 1% of EBITDA or a minimum
of £100k each year, on charities within three
main areas: employee charity of choice,
customers and policy holders, and the
local community. We also launched a new
Volunteering Policy which is participated in
across all levels of the organisation.
Outlook
Personal Group has entered 2025 a
stronger, simpler business with a clear
strategy in place to accelerate growth
and capture the significant market
opportunity. We will build on our
momentum by further refining our sales
processes and expanding through product
innovation and new routes to market.
The Group continues to benefit from a
strong balance sheet and high levels of
recurring revenues, providing confidence
in continued growth.
Paula Constant
Chief Executive
25 March 2025
Dynamic new leadership
Hywel Phillips,
Chief Operating Officer
Hywel joins as COO after leading BT’s
fibre rollout and driving transformation
across Openreach. Known for his
strategic focus and inspirational
leadership, he brings vast experience
in sales and service innovation.
Arianne Riddell,
Chief Sales Officer
Arianne Riddell joins as CSO bringing
leadership experience from Feefo,
LinkedIn, and JCDecaux. Her expertise
in growth, client engagement, and
commercial transformation will be
instrumental to our success.
Helen Tinnelly,
Chief Commercial Officer
Helen Tinnelly joins as CCO in February,
bringing 20+ years of leadership in
strategy, product development, and
transformation. Her expertise will be
instrumental in driving growth and
innovation across our business.
14
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Our Strategy in Action
The Personal Group Solution
For over 40 years, Personal Group has
provided employee-paid insurance plans as
part of comprehensive employee benefits
packages. These plans ensure that RMG
employees and their families are supported
when it matters most—whether covering
time off for hospital appointments,
aiding recovery, or offering security
during challenging times. With fast claim
processing, these plans are highly valued
by employees.
RMG first partnered with Personal Group in
1990, with 1,000 policies purchased in the
initial year. Since then, uptake has grown
significantly, and by 2024, 17% of eligible RMG
employees now hold a Personal Group policy.
Royal Mail Group
Sector:
Postal
Employees:
> 150k
Growing Insurance by
expanding within existing
customers
The increased uptake of our
insurance plans amongst Royal
Mail employees is testament to the
value delivered by our offering to
customers and their employees and
also the success of our face-to-
face sales technique in driving sales
across our existing customer base.
Challenge
Continuous engagement and
employee wellbeing
Royal Mail Group (RMG) is a cherished UK
institution connecting communities and
businesses. With its iconic red branding
and 1,200 delivery offices nationwide,
RMG delivers billions of parcels and letters
annually. RMG values its 150,000 workforce
and recognises the significant benefits
insurance brings to their lives.
Affordable Insurance
Expansion
Outcome
To promote uptake, Personal Group’s
Employee Engagement Executives (EEEs)
visit all 1,200 RMG delivery offices twice
a year. In 2024, the team delivered 47,299
face-to-face presentations—a 7.5%
increase from the previous year—leading
to a 23% rise in enrolments. Premiums are
conveniently paid via weekly or monthly
payroll deductions, with approximately
24,000 Royal Mail employees now holding
a Personal Group insurance plan.
How is Personal Group helping
transform wellbeing and benefits?
“Our team is dedicated to
supporting Royal Mail employees
across their vast network. By
covering all shifts during our
visits, we ensure every employee
has the opportunity to engage
with us. This has been met with
overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Clearly explaining the benefits
available through ‘My Bundle’
helps improve understanding,
boost morale, and give employees
the chance to ask important
questions in person. We’re proud
to support Royal Mail’s workforce
and sincerely appreciate the warm
reception from the teams we visit.”
Hywel Phillips
Chief Operating Officer
at Personal Group
Financial Statements
Overview
15
Strategic Report
Governance
Our strategic partnership
approach
Through strategic partnerships, we
deliver game-changing wellbeing
and benefits solutions that help
businesses tackle skills shortages,
boost retention, and keep talent
engaged. By joining forces with the
CEA, we’re driving a stronger, more
resilient manufacturing industry.
The Personal Group Solution
This collaboration was developed
in response to discussions with CEA
members, addressing the skills shortages
and recruitment challenges highlighted in
the CEA Manifesto. Investing in employee
wellbeing can enhance retention, reduce
turnover, and lower training costs.
According to research from Oxford
University, happy employees are 13% more
productive, demonstrating the value of
wellbeing initiatives.
A survey gathering responses from CEA
member companies provided valuable
insights that led to the establishment
of this partnership. The key findings
from the survey show that 64% of
respondents struggle to recruit talent,
while 36% struggle to retain top talent.
An unsurprising, 73% indicated that their
ability to match salary trends has been
affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
Outcome
“This partnership strengthens the CEA’s
member benefits, enabling businesses to
enhance their employee value proposition.
Construction
Equipment
Association
Members:
142 organisations
Headquarters:
London
Challenge
Personal Group Partners with the CEA to
Strengthen Employee Wellbeing
In 2024, Personal Group formed a
strategic partnership with the
Construction Equipment Association (CEA)
to launch a new suite of member benefits.
The CEA, the UK’s trade association for
construction equipment manufacturers,
represents leading OEMs such as JCB,
Caterpillar, and Merlo, along with hundreds
of supply chain organisations.
Benefits & Rewards
Adoption
Hapi helps employees manage their
finances, easing wage pressures while
supporting their overall wellbeing.
In a predominantly male workforce, mental
health is a key concern, often impacting
productivity and increasing sick leave.
Through this initiative, we support CEA
members in attracting, retaining, and
motivating skilled workers—key priorities
identified in their recent member survey,”
said Andrew Walker, Business Development
Director at Personal Group.
How is Personal Group transforming
rewards and benefits?
“The partnership between CEA
and Personal Group is a strategic
move to enhance employee
wellbeing and engagement,
which is crucial for addressing
the skills gap in the sector. By
offering comprehensive benefits
and support through the Hapi
platform, this collaboration aims
to create a happier, healthier, and
more productive workforce for our
members. This initiative is designed
to positively impact employee
retention and productivity,
ultimately contributing to the
sector’s growth and stability.”
Viki Bell
CEA Director of Operations
Our Strategy in Action
continued
16
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
How is Personal Group
transforming rewards and
benefits?
“At San Carlo, our commitment to
excellence extends beyond our
menus and hospitality, to the
wellbeing of our dedicated team.
Partnering with Hapi has been
a transformative experience,
elevating our employee benefits
to the next level. The platform’s
comprehensive offerings have been
incredibly valuable to our staff,
allowing them to access a range
of invaluable benefits with ease
and efficiency.
Our people are the essence of our
brand, and with the support of
Hapi, we have been able to ensure
they experience the same passion
and joy that we pour into every
plate. Grazie, Hapi, for helping us
enrich the lives of our team, one
benefit at a time.”
Paul Jones-Nolan
Head of People, San Carlo
Increasing adoption of
the Hapi platform by new
customers
The success of San Carlo’s
Restaurant Group implementation
of Hapi validates the investments
made to enhance the user
experience and highlights the
growing market need for our
Reward & Benefits offerings by
employees trying to attract and
retain their workforce.
Outcome
While just in its first year alone, over 40%
of employees actively use ‘Squadra’ and
the Group plan to explore salary sacrifice
benefits and enhanced communications
to increase this engagement – meaning
the future of San Carlo’s benefits package
looks more than appetising.
Maintaining a happy, healthy workforce
and strong employee retention amid
expansion is a priority—and a challenge—
especially when engaging a predominantly
deskless workforce.
The Personal Group Solution
San Carlo partnered with Personal Group
in 2024 to implement a tailored employee
benefits solution. Recognising the power of
reward and recognition, San Carlo aimed to
ensure its workforce felt valued, knowing
happy staff leads to happy customers and
stronger teamwork.
Hapi, branded as ‘Squadra,’ supports
employee wellbeing with access to the
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
and health tools. Initiatives like “Wellbeing
Wednesday” highlight these resources,
while its mobile-first design ensures
accessibility for deskless workers. Peer-to-
peer and manager-to-peer appreciation
tools enable a culture of gratitude.
San Carlo
Restaurant Group
Employees:
1,200
Website:
sancarlo.co.uk
Hapi launched:
2024
Renowned for its authentic Italian cuisine
and exceptional service, San Carlo operates
25 sites across the UK, including Manchester,
Liverpool, Leeds and London. The Group
continues to expand bringing its signature
Italian charm to new cities globally.
Challenges
Hospitality is often characterised by high
employee turnover, transient workforces
and a reliance on temporary staff.
However, San Carlo defies this trend. With
authentic Italian family values at its core,
the Group appreciates loyalty among its
employees. Many staff members stay
for over 20 years, reflecting meticulous
recruitment processes and a strong
company culture.
Benefits & Rewards
Adoption
17
Financial Statements
Overview
Governance
Strategic Report
How is Personal Group transforming
rewards and benefits?
“Personal Group enables us to
maximise our reward budget,
demonstrating to staff that
our value proposition extends
beyond pay. The Hapi app sets us
apart in a competitive market,
and we’re excited to expand its
functionality further.”
Arlene Stone
HR Director, Bath Spa University
Industry leading technology
driving customer expansion
Securing Bath Spa University as a
client and the value we’ve delivered
them and their employees through
our award-winning technology
is evidence of the quality of our
offering and the competitive
strength of the Hapi platform.
Outcome
Hapi has significantly boosted employee
engagement, with 54% of staff using the
platform—more than double the industry
average. A webinar promoting the platform
attracted over 200 attendees, highlighting
widespread interest. Employees praised
the retailer discounts, simplified access
to the Cycle to Work scheme, and the
environmentally friendly EV scheme, with 14
employees opting into the latter since launch.
By addressing BSU’s challenges, Hapi has
transformed benefits delivery, improving
employee satisfaction, wellbeing, and
communication.
The Personal Group Solution
BSU partnered with Personal Group to
introduce Hapi, a tailored, mobile-first
platform that consolidated all employee
benefits into a single, easy-to-use hub
accessible via smartphones or desktops.
Key features included:
1. Comprehensive Benefits Access:
Employees could easily explore and use
benefits such as retail discounts, gym
memberships, the Cycle to Work scheme,
and the newly introduced Electric
Vehicle
 (EV) Scheme.
2. Enhanced Wellbeing Support:
The app
integrated BSU’s existing Employee
Assistance Programme (EAP) to provide
mental and emotional health resources.
3. Financial Savings:
Retail discounts and
salary sacrifice schemes enabled staff to
save money on everyday expenses and
seasonal purchases like home technology
at Christmas.
4. Effective Communication:
The app
allowed HR to communicate directly with
employees, ensuring all staff—including
deskless workers—were connected
and informed.
Bath Spa University
Sector:
Education
Employees:
2,000
Challenge
Communication & Engagement;
Employee Wellbeing
Overview
Bath Spa University (BSU) serves 7,000
students and employs over 2,000 staff
across diverse roles, from lecturers to
caterers and groundkeepers. While BSU
curated an impressive benefits package,
feedback revealed many employees were
unaware of what was available.
Their existing intranet-based system lacked
accessibility for deskless staff, interactive
features, and communication tools, creating
a disconnect. BSU sought a centralised
solution to enhance visibility, improve
employee engagement, and create a
stronger employee value proposition.
Benefits & Rewards
Adoption
Our Strategy in Action
continued
18
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Key Performance Indicators
Lead indicators
As part of our strategy for delivering long-term sustainable growth, we have identified a number of lead indicators, the improvement of
which will enable us to grow both our revenue and profits and build future value for the business.
Lead Indicator
Why we chose it
31 December 2024
31 December 2023
Value of Annualised
Premium Income
Annualised premium income refers to the annualised premium
value of policies in force at the end of the financial year
net of IPT. Increasing the Annualized Premium Income is a
key performance indicator of the growth of our expanding
insurance book
£36.0m
£31.6m
Number of
insurance payers
Re-invigorating growth in insurance payers, together with a
consistent focus on retention, will help us increase the size of
our insurance business. We have chosen to use payers instead
of our historic measure of policies to reflect that the majority
of our premiums are collected through payroll deduction and
our retention rates are largely determined by the actions of
the individual payer
100,823
97,327
Number of employees
available for face-to-
face insurance
Increasing the number of employees who are available for
face-to-face insurance sales is vital to achieve increased
penetration across our existing clients as well as making us an
important part of clients’ employee wellbeing proposition
397,513
n/a (new metric)
Total number of
Enterprise clients
Winning new clients and retaining existing ones will be key to
us being able to grow our business
398
398
Total number of
SME clients
Increasing the number of SME clients we provide services to
will be fundamental to us achieving our growth aspirations
4,436
3,912
The Group meticulously reviews
its performance
Measured across a number of KPIs.
Total client number
4,834
(2023: 4,310)
Number of insurance payers
100,823
(2023: 97,327)
Annualised Premium Income
£36.0m
(2023: £31.6m)
19
Financial Statements
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Year on year insurance retention
2
81.8%
(2023: 82.5%)
2024
2023
2022
2021
82.5%
81.1%
80.8%
81.8%
2024
2023
2022
2021
Annualised new business premium
1
£13.9m
(2023: £11.8m)
£13.9m
£11.8m
£9.5m
£3.7m
2024
2023
2022
2021
Annualised recurring revenue for
SaaS licences
4
£7.4m
(2023: £6.7m)
£7.4m
£6.7m
£5.6m
£3.6m
Hapi Net Retention Rate
5
91%
(2023: 112%)
2024
2023
2022
91%
112%
109%
2024
2023
2022
2021
Activated users
6
464,294
(2023: 509,877)
464,294
509,877
470,373
422,184
Other KPIs
In addition to our lead indicators we continue to measure against a variety of
additional KPIs both across the Group and within the various business segments.
1.
Annualised new business premiums are a key
performance indicator as, whilst no direct
reconciliation to earned premiums for the year can
be carried out, they are a primary driver of earned
premiums in future years and, as such, are a key
measure for the Group. For a weekly premium, the
measure is calculated as the value of the premium
(net of IPT) x 52; for a monthly premium, the value
of the net premium (net of IPT) x 12.
2.
The year on year retention rate is the annual
retention rate of policyholders who have held the
policy for more than 1 year.
3.
The claims ratio is calculated as claims incurred
plus net change in claims provision, less reinsurers
share of claims paid as a proportion of insurance
income less outward reinsurance premiums.
4.
The SaaS license total includes Hapi, SEB and
Innecto Digital recurring revenue.
5.
Net Retention Rate measures revenue retained
from existing customers, including upgrades,
downgrades, and churn.
6.
Activated users for 2021, 2022 and 2023 has been
restated to exclude Let’s Connect users.
2024
2023
2022
2021
Claims ratio
3
29.1%
(2023: 27.0%)
29.1%
27.0%
27.3%
24.7%
Key Performance Indicators
continued
20
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
“Strong growth in
the insurance book
driven by another
record year of new
policies written.”
Sarah Mace
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial Officer’s Statement
Continuing to build recurring revenues
across all business lines
Providing confidence and visibility for 2025.
Group revenue from
continuing operations
£43.8m
(2023: £38.6m)
Adjusted EBITDA* from
continuing operations
£10.0m
(2023: £7.8m)
Earnings per share from
continuing operations
17.7p
(2023: 13.4p)
Financial Statements
Overview
21
Strategic Report
Governance
Group revenue
Group revenue from continuing operations**
grew 13% to £43.8m (2023: £38.6m).
A strong performance in our insurance
segment, driven by another record year of
new policies written, resulted in growth of
the insurance book to £36.0m Annualised
Premium Income (API) (2023 £31.6m), the
majority of which continues to renew on
weekly or monthly rolling contracts.
In line with our revised strategy, our
previously separate Benefits Platform,
and Pay and Reward, segments have been
combined to form one new “Benefits &
Reward” segment. Income in this segment
increased to £10.3m for the year (2023:
£8.9m) with growth arising from both
SaaS and Consultancy income.
Other income increased to £1.3m (2023:
£0.9m) as a result of further leveraging
the increased cash deposits held by the
insurance subsidiaries.
The Group continues to build its recurring
revenues across all business lines, with over
90% of reported revenue for 2024 deriving
from one of these sources, providing
confidence and visibility as we enter 2025.
Group results
2024
£’000
2023
£’000
Revenue
43,776
38,585
Adjusted EBITDA*
9,984
7,757
Operating profit
6,932
5,154
Profit before tax
6,826
5,078
Tax
(1,298)
(899)
Profit for the year from continuing operations
5.528
4,176
Profit from discontinued operations
968
148
Profit for the year
6,496
4,324
2024
£’000
2023
£’000
Profit before tax from continuing operations
6,826
5,078
Finance costs
106
79
Depreciation
1,111
1,065
Amortisation of acquired intangibles
110
273
Amortisation (other)
1,305
460
Share-based payment expense
202
169
Restructuring Costs
324
639
Adjusted EBITDA* from continuing operations
9,984
7,756
*
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax,depreciation, amortisation of intangible assets,
goodwill impairment, share-based payment expenses, profit or loss on disposal of subsidiaries, corporate
acquisition costs and restructuring costs.
**
Continuing operations excludes the results of Let’s Connect, which was disposed of on 9 July 2024 (see notes
28 and 30).
***
Claims ratio is calculated as claims incurred plus net change in claims provision, less reinsurers share of claims
paid as a proportion of insurance income less outward reinsurance premiums.
Chief Financial Officer’s Statement
continued
Adjusted EBITDA*
Adjusted EBITDA* from continuing
operations** for the year grew 29% to
£10.0m (2023: £7.8m) following increases in
contribution from the insurance segment,
where underwriting profit continued to
deliver strong margins while growing in
line with the size of the insurance book.
The ongoing value of our insurance
proposition to our policyholders can be seen
in the upturn in our claims ratio to 29.1%***
(2023: 27.0%) as NHS activity increased
throughout 2024.
The Benefits & Reward segment also
continued to drive growth in EBITDA,
with contribution up 20% to £5.2m (2023:
£4.3m), driven by new platform sales in
both Hapi and Sage Employee Benefits, our
white-labelled product, as well as a strong
performance across consultancy and digital
reward platform sales.
Outside of the core segments, Group
administration and central costs increased
year on year reflecting inflationary wage and
operating expense increases.
We continue to believe that adjusted EBITDA*
remains the most appropriate measure of
performance for our business, reflecting
the underlying profitability of the business
and removing the impact of one-off items
arising from past acquisitions on the Group’s
reported profit before tax. The definition
remains unchanged from previous years.
22
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Profit before and after tax
Statutory profit before tax from
continuing operations for the year was
£6.8m (2023: £5.1m), which is net of £0.3m
of restructuring costs across the Group.
The tax charge for the year was £1.3m
(2023: £0.9m), and profit after tax for the
year £5.5m (2023: £4.2m).
Discontinued operations
Profit from discontinued operations of
£1.0m (2023: £0.1m) represents the total
after tax profits relating to Let’s Connect
which was disposed of during the year,
including a £1.2m profit on disposal. Let’s
Connect was a seasonal business therefore
selling the business mid-year left the Group
with an in-year loss from activity to the
date of sale.
EPS
Resulting earnings per share were up 32%
to 17.7p (2023: 13.4p) from continuing
operations. The calculation is detailed in
Note 11.
“Strong cash generation from
operating activities of £11.4m”
Sarah Mace
Chief Financial Officer
Dividend
The Board has recommended a final ordinary
dividend of 10.0 pence per share, making
a total ordinary dividend for 2024 of 16.5
pence per share. The Board has considered
the level of dividend in the context of both
the underlying growth seen during the year
and the increased in-year profit and cash
realisation as a result of the disposal of Let’s
Connect, alongside continued confidence in
the Group’s business model and prospects.
Balance sheet
As at 31 December 2024 the Group’s balance
sheet remained strong, with cash and
deposits of £27.4m (2023: £20.1m) and no
debt. The Group’s primary underwriting
subsidiary, Personal Assurance Plc (PA),
continues to maintain a conservative
solvency ratio of 279% (unaudited), with
a £7.6m surplus over its Solvency Capital
Requirement of £4.3m. The Company has
consistently maintained a prudent position
in relation to its Solvency UK requirement.
Personal Assurance (Guernsey) Limited,
the Group’s subsidiary which underwrites
the death benefit policy, also maintained a
healthy solvency ratio of 544% (unaudited),
with a £3.6m surplus under its own regime.
Alternative performance measure
Adjusted EBITDA, which is referenced throughout this document, is an alternative
(non-Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (non-GAAP)) financial measure used by
the Group when reviewing performance, evidenced by executive management bonus
performance targets. As such, this measure is important and should be considered
alongside the IFRS measures.
Adjusted EBITDA takes into account adjustments, in addition to the standard IFRS
measure, which are considered to be non-underlying to trading activities and which
are significant in size. For example, goodwill impairment is a non-cash item relevant
to historic acquisitions; share-based payment expenses are a non-cash item which
have historically been significant in size but can fluctuate based on judgemental
assumptions made about share price and have no impact on total equity; corporate
acquisition costs and reorganisation costs are both one-off items which are not
incurred in the regular course of business. The definition above has not changed
during the year.
23
Financial Statements
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Cash flow
Cash generation is a key quality of the business and the business generated £11.4m in cash
from operations in 2024 (2023: £6.7m). This has been particularly high in the year following
the realisation of opening working capital in Let’s Connect (c. £2.8m) prior to its disposal in
July. Underlying cash generation remains strong.
With capital required of currently c£10m to support insurance business and working capital,
there is opportunity to invest to deliver the Group’s business plans including product
developments and enhancements as well as increasing the return to shareholders via in
increased dividend and selectively considering earnings enhancing acquisitions that will
enable acceleration of growth.
Segment
Description
Income Streams
Affordable
Insurance
A directly owned benefit, provision
of simple insurance products
underwritten by Group subsidiaries.
Insurance income.
Benefits &
Reward
Provision of a benefits platform to
employers both directly and through
channel partners, currently Sage for
our SME solution.
Provision of a full reward service to
employers through the Group’s pay
and reward subsidiaries, Innecto
and QCG.
Digital platform subscriptions,
commissions from third party
benefits which sit on the platform.
Consultancy, industry surveys and
digital platform subscriptions.
Segmental results
The Group reports across two core segments as detailed in the table below.
For each of the segments, the adjusted EBITDA contribution comprises the gross profit
of that segment together with any costs associated directly with the operation of
that segment. Sales and marketing costs and other central costs that are not directly
attributable to a segment, such as Finance, HR, depreciation, amortisation and Group Board
expenses are not allocated to a segment and are shown separately as ‘Group Admin and
Central Costs’.
We believe this presentation provides transparency to enable the impact of top line growth
on adjusted EBITDA contribution for each area of the business to be better understood.
Revenue
Dec-24
£’000
Dec-23
£’000
Affordable Insurance
32,166
28,708
Benefits & Reward
10,277
8,931
Other
1,333
946
Total Revenue from continuing operations
43,776
38,585
Adj EBITDA Contribution
Dec-24
£’000
Dec-23
£’000
Affordable Insurance
12,424
11,226
Benefits & Reward
5,215
4,330
Group Admin & Central Costs
(8,937)
(8,732)
Other
1,282
933
Total Adj EBITDA from continuing operations
9,984
7,757
The Benefits & Reward AND
Affordable Insurance segment
continues to drive growth in the Group EBITDA result.
Chief Financial Officer’s Statement
continued
24
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Affordable insurance
Insurance revenue from the Group’s core
insurance business grew 12% to £32.2m
(2023: £28.7m).
The continued success of our face-to-
face sales activity, which directly engages
employees with their employers’ benefit
provision, resulted in a second successive
record year for new insurance sales,
with £13.8m written (2023: £11.8m). The
combination of these new sales alongside
continued strong retention rates means
that, as at 31 December 2024, we had
£36.0m (2023: £31.6m) of Annualised
Premium Income, and over 100,00
insurance payers.
The claims ratio for the year increased to
29.1% (2023: 27.0%), in line with general
increased NHS activity across the UK.
Adjusted EBITDA contribution of £12.4m
for the year (2023: £11.2m), reflected the
increased underlying profit arising from
increased revenue despite the increase
in claims activity.
Benefits & Reward
Revenue from digital platform subscriptions
and commissions from third party benefit
suppliers which sit on the benefits platform
rose 16% to £7.8m in 2024 (2023: £6.7m).
Subscriptions for our enterprise platform,
Hapi, continued to build with ARR on the
platform increasing to £2.7m (2023: £2.5m)
with 27 new clients won during the year.
Our footprint in the SME market further
widened with Sage Employee Benefits, the
Group’s SME proposition being taken to
market through its partner Sage. ARR here
increased to £4.1m at the end of the year
(2023: £3.7m).
We delivered our largest ever reward
consultancy project during 2024 and drove
further growth in digital subscription
income from proprietary HR solutions
to £0.7m (2023: £0.6m). The operational
merger of our Innecto and QCG businesses
in the latter stages of 2023 also drove
efficiencies in both delivery effort and
costs through 2024.
Adjusted EBITDA contribution of £5.2m
(2023: £4.3m) demonstrates the continued
development in this segment and serves as
a reminder of the opportunity for growth
on which the Group plans to capitalise.
Group administration
expenses and central costs
Group administration and central costs of
£8.9m (2023: £8.7m) reflects inflationary
cost increases associated with salaries,
corporate and fleet insurances, IT delivery
and other services.
Restatement
Following the Group’s disposal of
Let’s Connect on 9th July 2024, Let’s
Connect activities have been classified as
discontinued operations. As a result, and
in accordance with IFRS 5, the prior year
income statement has been restated to
split out the discontinued operations of
Let’s Connect.
Fixed interest rate bank deposits with the
maturity date of three months or more
from the date of acquisition are classified
as financial assets. The reported balance
sheet as at 31 December 2023 included
a misallocation of cash held on deposit.
These accounts were incorrectly reported
as cash rather than financial assets.
The prior year balance sheet and cash flow
statement have been restated to correct
this allocation.
Neither of these restatements have had
an impact on the bottom line profit or net
asset position of the Group in the prior year.
Sarah Mace
Chief Financial Officer
25 March 2025
25
Financial Statements
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Risk Management
Oversight
The Board is responsible for overseeing
the effectiveness of the risk management
and internal control systems as well as
identifying the nature and extent of the
principle risks the Group is willing to take in
achieving its strategic objectives, including
the setting of the overall risk appetite and
tolerance levels.
The Board delegates oversight of risk
management to the Risk and Compliance
Committee, who in turn regularly report to
and make recommendations to the Board.
The Risk strategy, appetite and framework
are set out in a suite of policies covering
the material risks which exist in the
business; each policy is subject to annual
review and approval. We employ an
Enterprise Risk Management framework
(ERM) to manage all types of risk which,
alongside our Own Risk and Solvency
Assessment activity, enables reasonable
assurance to be provided to the Board
and external stakeholders that the Group
is achieving its risk management and
internal controls objectives.
The effectiveness of the risk management
system is also independently assessed
periodically by the outsourced Internal
Audit Function in their role as third line of
defence, with the results reported to the
Audit Committee.
The Board is satisfied that the processes set
out above enable the Group to effectively
identify, assess and manage current and
emerging risks and allow the required focus
on risk awareness, ethical behaviour and
providing customers with good outcomes.
Risk management approach
The risk environment is managed through a
two-pronged approach: top-down risks that
threaten the strategic plan, and bottom-
up financial, operational, regulatory and
non-insurance risks which threaten the
achievement of business area objectives.
Each month a Risk Forum is held where
the Senior Leadership Team discusses the
key risks, both current and emerging, with
optimising activities and timelines for
implementation agreed.
We operate a ‘three lines of defence’
approach to define risk management
within roles and responsibilities. The
Group’s risk governance is overseen by a
Risk function led by the Head of Risk, with
independence assured through direct and
separate access to the Chair of the Risk and
Compliance Committee.
Effective risk management
is central to our culture
And key to achieving our strategic objectives.
First Line
Business Area Owner
Identify, assess and manage risks on
a daily basis.
Develop and implement policies
and procedures.
Ownership of business practices.
Ensure activities are consistent
with objectives.
Implement controls.
Control self-assessment.
Third Line
Internal Audit (outsourced)
Independent assurance of the
effectiveness of the first and second
lines of defence.
Independent reporting to the Board
and to the Audit Committee.
Advisory role.
Second Line
Risk Function
Risk identification.
Developing and oversight of the
enterprise risk management framework.
Risk reporting to Risk Forum and to the
Risk and Compliance Committee.
Providing advice and guidance to business
areas and to the Senior Leadership Team
and Board.
Assurance of the effectiveness
of policies and procedures.
26
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Below is a summary of the key risks the Group faces, including current and emerging factors and risk optimisation activities:
Risk Type
Key risks
(with an impact of £500k+
within the next year)
Current and emerging factors
Optimising activities
Change in risk
exposure
Strategic Risk
The Group is unable
to take advantage of
growth opportunities
from its products and
services proposition.
The Group needs to continue to design innovative
and desirable products and services to capitalise
on opportunities to accelerate growth at pace
and to further enhance its attractiveness to
investors, in light of increasing competition in
the benefits space.
Investment in the design and build of Hapi 2.0 which has an improved user experience,
better MI for client employers, improved functionality, greater ability to integrate third-
party benefits and provides a platform to be developed to meet future client needs.
Enhanced engagement with clients to better understand their people agenda and
engagement and wellbeing priorities.
Work ongoing to relaunch Group Cash Plan Product direct to market.
Annual product governance review of the group’s personal insurance products which
considers market and product research, customer feedback, design, value, price, build,
testing, and launch and sales channels. Better analysis of MI to help drive product
enhancements and improve supporting customer service.
Successful relaunch in Q2 2024 of core Convalescence product in response to customer
feedback, value assessment and market research, as well as enhancements to the
benefits of the Hospital Plan product.
The Board approved a bi-annual insurance/fair value update in October 2024.
Stable
due to client
demand, new entrants
in the market and
increasing competition.
The Group needs to continue to deliver personal
insurance products that meet evolving demands
and needs of consumers, through positive
engagement and customer research.
The Group is unable to
harness technology to
accelerate and revolutionise
its products and services.
The use of Agile technology methodologies
in product design has revolutionised product
development by emphasising flexibility, iteration,
and customer-centricity. Low-code software
development and use of AI assistance allows for a
more agile approach to technology development.
PG is increasingly exploring these solutions to
improve products and accelerate delivery.
Investment in in-house and outsourced technology systems and people, to build,
test and deliver Hapi 2.0.
Investment in technology to support policy/pricing changes and to help improve and
streamline policy administration and the servicing of policies.
Increasing
due to
reliance on technology
to support change and
innovation and need to
make quick and efficient
business decisions.
Client &
Customer
Retention Risk
Loss of client / partner
relationships.
Clients and partners are increasingly and
understandably looking to measure value from
their commercial relationships. The Group needs
to continue to demonstrate value through data led
insights and performance to maximise return from
existing relationships and continue to be attractive
to prospective clients and partners.
Relationship management of clients and partners.
Use of customer surgeries and weekly client feedback reviews to help prioritise and
fast-track remedial work.
Early renewal/extension of key client contracts.
Stable
due to client
demand, new entrants
in the market and
increasing competition.
Client
concentration risk
.
A subset of the above risk, however the overall
impact on the Group could be significant with the
loss of one or more large clients, i.e., clients that
provide in excess of 20% of revenue.
Payroll slots for collection of insurance premiums built into contracts as ‘enduring’
wherever possible.
Stable
due to client
demand, new entrants
in the market and
increasing competition.
27
Financial Statements
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Risk Type
Key risks
(with an impact of £500k+
within the next year)
Current and emerging factors
Optimising activities
Change in risk
exposure
External
Environment/
Economic and
Regulatory Risk
Environmental or
economic
change
impacts profit.
Direct and indirect impacts of the 2024 Budget
(i.e., due to increase in employers NI) and increased
business overheads impacts the spending power
of clients, leading to them spending less on the
products and services the Group provides.
Increased business operating costs and cost of
acquisition impacts the profitability of the Group’s
products and services.
Claims uncertainty and volatility – There is a risk that
we are unable to predict our future claims liability
as we see performance deviating from assumptions
and historical norms.
Clear go to market message around how the Group’s offering can support employees
navigate through the ‘cost of living crisis’ through the use of discounts and the Group’s ‘value
propositions’, alongside wellbeing and employee assistance programmes offered via Hapi.
Engage with clients and prospective clients to help employers maximise the benefit of their
employee benefits programme to help attract and retain staff, thus promoting the value of
the Group’s proposition.
Pricing strategy.
P&L reporting, pricing reviews across the Group’s segments and stress and scenario testing.
Claims volume monitoring and stress and scenario testing. Where appropriate,
and whilst continuing to offer fair value to consumers, we will reprice our products to reflect
increased operating expenses.
Increasing
overall
due to continued
budget constraints
at clients, continued
cost-of-living
squeeze on
individual customers
and embedding of
Consumer Duty
arrangements.
Non-compliance with
regulatory
requirements
leads to regulatory
censure (and ensuing
reputational damage).
The FCA Consumer Duty intends to create a “race to
the top” in terms of the quality and value of financial
products and services, the way firms interact with
customers and the customer service and support
firms provide. The onus is on firms to demonstrate
that their products provide value relative to the
price consumers pay and have tangible ways
of monitoring the effectiveness and quality of
communications and customer service.
The Group has processes in place to help ensure we remain compliant with regulatory
and legal requirements. We have a robust regulatory horizon scanning process, to ensure we
are able to respond appropriately to current and emerging regulatory changes.
Our key areas of focus continue to be:
Measuring ourselves against FCA guidance, thematic reviews and supervisory work to ensure
we are meeting regulatory expectations and best practice;
Enhanced training and awareness for staff, to ensure that the Consumer Duty requirements
are embedded in all business processes:
Identifying and supporting vulnerable customers through staff training, monitoring, use
of management information and outcomes reporting;
Improving our product governance processes, MI, value assessments and Board
reporting; and
Improving customer communications, feedback and service.
PG is also actively engaging with the wider industry to share best practice.
In June 2024, the Group won the “Leadership in Vulnerable Customers” award at the
inaugural Consumer Duty Leadership Awards; an event held by an Innovate UK-supported
consortium comprising representatives from industry, academia and charities in the
financial services sector.
Stable
due
to increased
understanding
of regulatory
expectations of
firms, aided by FCA
guidance and sharing
of best practice and
internal audits.
Risk Management
continued
28
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Passionate about
our Purpose
Environmental, Social and Governance
ESG is at the heart of our business – our purpose
is to improve people’s health and wellbeing.
The development of our ESG strategy is overseen
by our Board, who is passionate about ensuring
Personal Group has a positive impact on our
environment and society and adheres to an
ethical and sustainable decision-making framework.
This passion is shared by our whole organisation,
and this has been reinforced by our new ESG
Bonus Gateway.
ESG Bonus Gateway
In 2024, the Group moved ESG metrics from LTIPs to bonuses, incorporating them
into a new bonus gateway. This change aimed to make ESG targets a meaningful part
of remuneration across the entire business, not just for the leadership team, while
introducing specific yearly targets.
The bonus gateway set targets under three ESG pillars, with funding linked to the
number of objectives met. Meeting four objectives released 100% of the Bonus Pool.
We are proud of this achievement and have set even more ambitious goals for 2025.
Financial Statements
Overview
29
Strategic Report
Governance
ESG overview
ESG is at the heart of our business.
Group Fleet metric
tonne output
Target:
An output of less than 305 tonnes, down from
365 tonnes in 2023.
Update:
Surpassed our target, with an output of
262 tonnes
People-related policies
Target:
Review and improve our people-related policies,
updating a minimum of 10 policies a year.
Update:
Have updated 11 of our policies – Maternity
Policy, Paternity Policy, Carers Leave, Fertility
Leave, Ordinary Parental Leave, Adoption Policy,
Menopause, Domestic Abuse, Flexible Working
Policy, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and
Miscarriage Policy.
QCA Code compliance
Target:
Understand and implement the new QCA Code
required from 2025.
Update:
The new code has been reviewed and early
adopted in FY24 – see page 37 for more detail
on Personal Group’s QCA code compliance.
PACT spend
Target:
Focus PACT donations on targeted areas.
Also arrange for volunteer days for specific
projects in 2024, with a view to making volunteer
days available through an approval process and
have the Senior Leadership Team complete at
least one volunteer day each to lead by example.
Update:
PACT donations continue to allow employees
to allocate £100 per year to a charity of
their choice as well as customers and
policyholder nominations.
Donations also benefitted the community
with amounts donated to local schools and
community foundations.
Launched our new Volunteering Policy, providing
colleagues with a day of paid leave each year,
which is also participated in by the Senior
Leadership Team.
Carbon Emissions
Target 2025:
Less than 2.0 tCO
2
emitted per full time
equivalent person (FTE).
DE&I Initiatives
Target 2025:
Review our DE&I initiatives at quarterly
meetings and implement at least four new
initiatives that support our DEIB agenda.
Volunteering
Target 2025:
At least 150 volunteering days in total to
be taken by employees to support our
charitable projects.
Group total energy
consumption
Target:
Energy consumption to be less than 800 Mwh,
improving on 845 MWh in 2023.
Update:
Surpassed our target, with a Group total energy
consumption of 769 MWh.
Environment
Social
Governance
Governance
Targets 2025:
Revise all of our mandatory training modules
to ensure they are relevant and impactful,
and have a 90% completion rate to support
Personal Group’s compliance obligations
and strategy.
All new starters to complete formalised
induction training with bi-annual updates to
be completed by all staff.
30
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Environmental, Social and Governance
continued
SECR
Compliance Statement.
Our carbon footprint for the 2024
reporting year has been calculated based
on our environmental impact across scope
1, 2 and 3 (selected categories) emissions
sources for the UK only. Our emissions
are presented on both a location and
market basis.
On a location basis, our emissions are 417
tCO
2
e, which represents an average impact
of 1.65 tCO
2
e per full time employee, and on
a market basis, our emissions are 397 tCO
2
e.
We have calculated emissions intensity
metrics on revenue, floor area and
employee bases, which we will monitor
to track performance in our subsequent
environmental disclosures.
The GHG Emissions Results table shows a
29% decrease in emissions, reflecting the
fleet changes made in late 2022, where ICE
vehicles were replaced with hybrids. This
reduced the company fleet’s share of total
emissions to 63% from 71% in 2022.
Additionally, reduced electricity usage
from closer monitoring and the closure of
the Lets Connect office led to a decrease in
tCO
2
e per employee, dropping from 2.00 in
2023 to 1.65 this year.
Our energy and carbon calculations have
been conducted in accordance with the
UK Government’s Reporting Guidelines
for Company Report. Data has been
reviewed and verified by a third-party
(Adler and Allan). GHG calculations have
been performed using the Greenhouse Gas
Protocol Corporate Reporting Standards
(GHG Protocol) and ISO14064-1:2018
Greenhouse Gases – Part 1: Specification
with guidance at the organization level for
quantification and reporting of greenhouse
gas emissions and removals. All emissions
calculations use up to date GHG Conversion
Factors for Company Report (BEIS) and are
reported as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO
2
e),
accounting for all major greenhouse gases.
The table below sets out total energy
consumption and resulting GHG emissions
by scope arising from business operations.
Summary GHG Emissions Results
Scope 1 Emissions (tCO
2
e)
FY2022
FY2023
FY2024
% From
Baseline
Natural Gas
90
97
99
+10%
Company Fleet
370
365
262
-29%
Scope 2 Emissions (tCO
2
e)
Purchased Electricity (location-based)
52
53
47
-10%
Purchased Electricity (market-based)
52
53
27
-48%
Scope 3 Emissions (tCO
2
e)
Grey Fleet Mileage
11
14
9
-18%
Total Emissions (tCO
2
e)
Total Emissions (location-based)
523
533
417
-20%
Total Emissions (market-based)
523
533
397
-24%
Intensity Ratios (location-based)
tCO
2
e per £m Revenue
10.50
10.73
9.53
-9%
kgCO
2
e per Floor Area
58.24
61.53
51.49
-12%
tCO
2
e per Employee
1.90
2.00
1.65
-12%
31
Financial Statements
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Environmental, Social and Governance
continued
Spotlight
The introduction of Paid Carers Leave.
At Personal Group, our new Paid Carer’s
Leave policy has evolved from listening to
our employees and ensuring our dedicated
carers get the support they need. Under our
new policy, which we have affectionately
named
Marie Carey’s
carers policy after a
long-serving employee advocated for the
requirement due to her own challenging
circumstances, caregivers will be entitled
to up to five days of
paid leave
within a
rolling 12-month period from day one
of employment.
Earlier in the year, new statutory regulations
mandated unpaid leave for caregivers.
We wanted to go beyond this to offer
paid leave to support employees as part
of our recognition of the financial strains
often experienced by employees in such
situations, underscoring our commitment
to supporting employees through various
life stages, alleviate the challenges faced by
caregivers, and create a
workplace culture
that values inclusivity and empathy.
Commenting on the initiative,
Marie
Carey
, Operational Risk and Compliance
Manager at Personal Group, expressed
her gratitude, stating:
“ As the sole carer for my
93-year-old Mum who was
diagnosed with dementia
in 2021, some of my annual
leave was used up on her
medical appointments.
This additional allowance
will enable me to use
my holiday for what it is
intended, to have some
much-needed ‘me’ time.
I am sure that I speak on
behalf of myself and my
colleagues who have caring
responsibilities, when I say
how extremely grateful I am
for this support.”
We have committed ourselves to
being a leader in the field regarding
vulnerable customer policies. In the
year we established a Consumer Duty
working group which ensures our
customers are cared for above and
beyond the FCA regulations. This year
we received a Vulnerable Customer
Award for our endeavours to support
vulnerable customers. We have also
set up a vulnerable customer forum,
through which we have invited a
number of charities to speak to us to
ensure we remain at the forefront of
issues. We plan to run these forums
at least once a quarter.
Consumer duty
Find out more on our website:
www.personalgroup.com/responsible-business
Find out more on our website:
www.personalgroup.com/consumerduty
32
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Section 172 Statement
To act in the way they would consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the
success of the Group for the benefit of its members as a whole and, in doing so, to have
regard (amongst other matters) to:
the likely consequences of its decisions in the long-term;
the interests of the Group’s employees;
the need to foster the Group’s business relationships with suppliers, customers
and others;
the impact of the Group’s operations on the community and the environment;
the desirability of the Group maintaining a reputation for high standards of business
conduct; and
the need to act fairly between members of the Group.
The Chairman sets out the text of s172 Companies Act 2006 on every Board agenda by
way of a reminder.
The table that follows is a description of our key stakeholder groups and how we
engaged with them in 2024.
The Directors are aware of their duty
Under s172 of the Companies Act 2006.
Why we engage with
How we engaged in 2024
What matters to the Group
Our Policyholders
Our policyholders are key to the long-term
success of the Group.
The retention of existing, and attraction of
new, policyholders is equally important.
We aim to make any interaction with
Personal Group as positive and simple as
possible and ensure that our products are
regularly reviewed and fit for purpose.
Provision of suitable and targeted employee
benefits to our relevant market sectors.
We deliver individual face-to-face presentations to potential and existing policyholders at
their workplace.
The Group remains focused on positive outcomes for policyholders, with a Consumer Duty working
party meeting regularly to ensure compliance with FCA regulations and excellent customer service.
In 2024, Personal Group won the ‘Leadership in Addressing Vulnerable Customers’ Needs’ award at
the inaugural Consumer Duty Leadership Awards, recognizing our best-in-class approach. We also
engaged with local charities supporting vulnerable groups, holding roundtable discussions and
delivering bespoke training to our customer-facing teams.
We enhanced our customer contact strategy by introducing a three-month follow-up for new
policyholders, reminding them of their benefits.
To improve operations, we continued using Voyc, an AI compliance tool, enabling full sales
presentation reviews and greater support for sales executives. This contributed to improved
retention rates in the cooling-off period (first 30 days).
Our hybrid customer relations team, based in Milton Keynes, enhanced quality and productivity,
making it easier for customers to contact us via phone, email, or webchat. In 2024, we handled over
63,000 calls, 46,000 emails, 23,000 online queries, and 1,800 webchats.
We also streamlined the claims process, significantly reducing processing time, boosting customer
satisfaction, and contributing to a TrustPilot score of 4.9.
Our products are relevant and provide
cost effective protection
Fair and consistent pricing
Efficient and sympathetic processing
of claims
Ease of access to customer service
Strong net promoter score
Strong retention rates
33
Financial Statements
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Why we engage with
How we engaged in 2024
What matters to the Group
Our Clients
Our purpose is to help our clients drive
productivity and profitability by improving
employee engagement, retention and
overall effectiveness. Through our suite
of products and services we support
employee wellbeing and foster a positive
and equitable work environment, enabling
businesses to enhance performance and
create sustainable success.
We engage and build relationships with our clients and their employees through various channels,
including face-to-face sessions, digital communications, and hosting industry and business forums.
We also share thought-leadership through white papers and provide quarterly insights tailored to
our client needs. In 2024, we worked closely with all Hapi clients during their migration to Hapi 2.0,
helping them unlock the potential of enhanced features and tools, including improved MI capabilities.
Recognising the importance of data security, we are ISO27001 certified across the Group and
ISO9001 certified for our employee benefits platform. We actively inform and advise on data
security, promoting the adoption of enhanced security measures such as MFA to protect client
and customer information.
Trusted and valued partner to clients
Product range, price and quality
Convenience and accessibility
Customer service
Fair marketing
Responsible use of personal data
Ethics and sustainability
Becoming a trusted partner
Our Colleagues
The Group’s long-term success is predicated
on the commitment of our employees to
our purpose and demonstration of our
values. In order to deliver great customer
service and improve our staff engagement
scores we need to ensure that we
provide an appropriate environment and
communication channels to both attract
and retain talent for now and the future.
We have an open, collaborative, and inclusive management structure and actively engage regularly
with our employees via regular “company chats” and quarterly business updates.
We remunerate with competitive market-based pay, sector leading rewards and benefits alongside
a learning culture and great career opportunities. We continue with our hybrid working policy for all
office-based staff, feedback tells us that this helps our colleagues achieve a better work-life balance
with subsequent gains in engagement and productivity.
Following the announcement of the new QCA code, the Group has early adopted the changes and presents
its remuneration policy, see pages 46-48 of this report, ahead of a non-binding vote at our next AGM.
Fair employment
Competitive pay and benefits
Development and career opportunities
Collaborative and supportive
work environment
Health and safety and colleague wellbeing
Responsible and respectful use of
personal data
Our Suppliers
Our suppliers are fundamental to the quality
of our products and to ensuring that as
a business we meet the high standard of
conduct that we set ourselves. Our Hapi
platform contains numerous third-party
offerings which add value to the overall
proposition. It is important that we ensure
good working relationships with those
suppliers but also to choose partners that
allow the Group to fulfil its day-to-day
operations to deliver our products and
services to the best standard possible.
We regularly engage in open and two-way conversations with our largest suppliers. Key suppliers are
invited to attend and present at our client conferences or workshops.
We continually review and update our supplier onboarding process and conduct annual reviews on all
key suppliers to the Group.
We work with our suppliers to ensure that they have effective controls in place to protect the security
and privacy of our customers data.
Contract management software is being introduced to improve the onboarding process and the
management of suppliers and ongoing relationships.
Long-term partnerships
Collaborative approach
Open terms of business
Fair payment terms
Section 172 Statement
continued
34
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Why we engage with
How we engaged in 2024
What matters to the Group
Our Community & Environment
The Board recognises the importance of
leading a Group that not only generates
value for shareholders but also contributes
to the wider society.
We encourage all our employees to engage in the local community and work with our PACT
Committee to utilise the funds in the Personal Assurance Charitable Trust to support charities at
home and abroad as discussed on page 30.
We are conscious of the need for our business to focus on long-term sustainability and have seen the
replacement of most of the Group’s fleet with a range of hybrid and low CO
2
petrol cars replacing less
environmentally friendly cars. We are also taking steps to lessen commuting for our field sales team,
both for their benefit but also for the environmental impact generated.
During 2024 we entered into an agreement with a local school where we have provided funds for a
sensory room and our employees have helped the school with trips and other activities.
Reduce environmental impact
Invest in local community
Promote environmental offerings on
platform, i.e. Cycle to Work
Supporting local community by creating
jobs and providing work experience
and apprenticeships
Our Shareholders
Our shareholders are key to the long-term
success of the business. Through our
investor engagement activities, we strive
to obtain investor buy-in into our strategic
objectives and how we plan to deliver on
them. We create value for our shareholders
by generating strong sustainable profits
and dividends.
Through our investor relations programme, which includes regular updates, meetings, roadshows and
our Annual General Meeting, we ensure that shareholders’ views are brought into the Boardroom and
considered in our decision making.
In 2024 we changed our NOMAD and are using this new relationship to improve how we engage with
both our existing and potential shareholders.
Financial performance
Strategy and business model
Dividend
Long-term growth
Reputation of the Group
35
Financial Statements
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Corporate Governance
The Board continues to have a significant role to play in establishing
the culture of the business.
2024 Committee meeting dates
Board
8 Feb
29 Feb
14 Mar
2 May
23 May
19 Jun
17 Jul
17 Sep
16 Oct
3 Dec
Audit
14 Mar
17 Sep
Risk & Compliance
8 Feb
23 May
3 Dec
Nominations
8 Feb
Remuneration
8 Feb
14 Mar
17 Sep
3 Dec
Chair’s Introduction
Dear Shareholder
My role as Chair of Personal Group is to
ensure that the Board is performing its
role effectively. I am pleased to present
this section of our Annual Report, which
highlights the framework of governance
that underpins our operations and ensures
accountability and transparency, aligned
with the interests of our stakeholders.
I also have responsibility for ensuring the
robust governance of the Group through
challenge and direction of the Senior
Leadership Team. Good governance should
enhance performance and deliver positively
for our shareholders, staff, customers,
suppliers and other stakeholders whilst
still enabling achievement of the Group’s
strategic aims.
The Board continues to have a significant
role to play in establishing the culture of the
business, ensuring that it is consistent with
our business model and suitably cascaded
through the Group.
This is monitored through engagement with
the wider investor community, through
involvement of the Board Committees and
by use of the wide-ranging experience, skills
and capabilities of Board members.
The Group continues to develop an
integrated succession plan for the Board.
At present, the Board is engaged in the
recruitment of a new Non-Executive Director
as a result of the impending retirement of
Bob Head. Bob has been serving as a Non-
Executive Director of Personal Group since
2016 and is currently the Chair of both the
Audit and Risk Committees. I would like to
take this opportunity to express my gratitude
for the support, wisdom and knowledge he
has shared with me and the rest of the Board
throughout his tenure with the Group.
Since 2018, the Group has adopted and sought
to adhere to the Quoted Companies Alliance
(QCA) Corporate Governance Code. The QCA
released an update to their code effective
for periods beginning on or after 1 April 2024
and the Group has decided to early adopt the
changes for the period ending 31 December
2024. The Board considers that it complies
with each of the principles of the Code and we
will monitor our performance against each
of the 10 principles in the updated Code and
strive for continuing improvement.
A notable change resulting from Principle
9 of the Code on remuneration, is that the
Remuneration Committee will voluntarily
put separate advisory resolutions on its
remuneration report and remuneration
policy to its shareholders at the next AGM,
and annually going forward.
During 2024, we conducted our annual
internal board effectiveness review and
have subsequently begun working on
actions to address areas identified for
improvement. We are committed to
external independent reviews every three
years and will continue to complete annual
internal board effectiveness reviews in the
intervening years. The next external review
is scheduled to take place in 2025.
The Board met 10 times in 2024 and
the number of meetings each Director
attended can be seen on pages 38 and 39.
In addition, the reports of the Audit, Risk and
Compliance, Remuneration Committees and
Nominations and SM&CR Committee can be
seen later in this section.
Martin Bennett
Independent Non-Executive Chair
36
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
QCA Code compliance
The QCA published its updated Code in November 2023 which will apply to financial years beginning on or after 1 April 2024, with the first disclosures for Personal Group required
for the period ending 31 December 2025.
However, the Group has decided to early adopt the changes for the period ending 31 December 2024 to reflect its commitment to the Code and the positive changes it can make
to our business and its stakeholders.
Principle 1 – Establish a purpose,
strategy and business model
which promote long-term value
for shareholders.
Principle 3 – Seek to understand
and meet shareholders’ needs
and expectations.
Principle 5 – Embed effective risk
management, internal controls and
assurance activities, considering
both opportunities and threats,
throughout the organisation.
Principle 7 –Maintain appropriate
governance structures and ensure
that individually and collectively the
directors have the necessary up-to-
date experience, skills and capabilities.
Principle 9 – Establish a remuneration
policy which is supportive of long-
term value creation and the company’s
purpose, strategy and culture.
Personal Group provides insurance
services and a broad range of employee
benefits and wellbeing products to
businesses across the UK. The Group
enables employers to improve
employee engagement and support
their employees physical, mental, social
and financial wellbeing, supporting our
vision of creating a brighter future for
the UK workforce. Full details of our
business model can be found on page
10 and on the Group website
(www.personalgroup.com).
Regular dialogue takes place with
shareholders through initiatives
including the Annual General Meeting,
investor roadshows, regulatory
announcements and the Report and
Accounts. During 2024 our Chief
Executive, CFO, Chair and other Non-
Executive Directors met virtually, and
in person, with key investors. We also
hosted our investor events in March
and September 2024.
The Board is responsible for identifying
and mitigating risks to the Group
achieving its strategic objectives.
It addresses risk management
through an “Enterprise Risk
Management Framework”, and a
system of risk governance, including
a Risk and Compliance Committee.
During 2024, a risk based internal audit
function was again provided by RSM.
For further details see
page 42.
The Board is collectively responsible
for the long-term success of the
Group and for setting and executing
the business strategy. It fulfils this
responsibility through Board and
other Committee meetings held
regularly throughout the year.
The background and experience of
the Board ensures there is an effective
and appropriate balance of skills and
knowledge. Additional training is
provided where needed and Board
members are encouraged to maintain
their professional development.
The meetings held in 2024 for the
Board and other Committees can be
seen on 
page 36.
A new principle in the updated QCA
code, this has been in place for many
years. Our remuneration policy reflects
our commitment to ensuring that our
approach to remuneration remains
competitive, transparent, and in the
best interests of our shareholders.
As part of our engagement with the
QCA code, and our early adoption of the
new changes, both our remuneration
policy and our remuneration statement
will be put forward for a non-binding
vote at the upcoming AGM.
Principle 2 – Promote a corporate
culture that is based on ethical values
and behaviours.
The Board believes Group culture is
set from the top of the organisation.
These values form a core part of
how the business is managed, from
recruitment to training, and ongoing
reward and recognition. An employee
engagement survey was conducted in
August 2024 which produced valuable
feedback enabling positive change to
be made to the business culture in the
last half of the year as noted in the ESG
report on
page 29.
Principle 4 – Take into account
wider stakeholder interests,
including social and environmental
responsibilities, and their
implications for long-term success.
As a Board we understand our duty
to promote the success of the Group
whilst considering the views of, and
impact on, our wider stakeholder group
of customers, policyholders, suppliers,
colleagues and our community
and environment as well as our
shareholders. A more detailed summary
of the Group’s engagement with all
our stakeholders can be seen on pages
33 to 35. ESG is also central to all key
decisions at a board level and, to ensure
this remains an area of focus day to
day, ESG targets have been added as a
gateway to all staff bonus payments
from 2024.
Principle 6 – Establish and maintain
the Board as a well-functioning,
balanced team led by the chair.
The Group maintains, and is satisfied
that, the Board has a suitable balance
of independence and knowledge, with
Directors encouraged to challenge all
matters. The Board meets regularly,
with a formal schedule of matters for
its approval. The Board is supported by
regular engagement with the Senior
Leadership Team, and a system of
formal Board committees. Directors
are required to devote sufficient time
to carry out their role.
Principle 8 – Evaluate Board
performance based on clear and
relevant objectives, seeking
continuous improvement.
Board members are each set annual
objectives, with performance feedback
provided by corresponding Executive
and Non-Executive members.
Board evaluation is the responsibility
of the Chair. Board effectiveness
reviews are undertaken yearly, with
independent reviews at least every
three years.
Principle 10 – Communicate how
the Company is governed and is
performing by maintaining a dialogue
with shareholders and other relevant
key stakeholders.
The Group communicates through a
variety of regular digital and traditional
communications. These include face-
to-face meetings, the Annual Report
and Accounts, Interim Results, investor
news announcements and information
provided on the Group’s website.
37
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Overview
Board of Directors
Sarah Mace
Chief Financial Officer
Appointed October 2020
(previously Company
Secretary from April 2014)
Sarah joined Personal Group in January
2014 as Group Financial Controller and
Company Secretary.
Previously Head of Finance for private equity
owned Chicago Leisure Ltd, she also has
experience in a broad range of industries
including roles at large communications
firm Cable and Wireless and various life and
pensions companies.
Skills, personal qualities and capabilities
Sarah is a Fellow Member of the Association
of Chartered Certified Accountants and also
has a Master’s degree in mathematics from
Oxford University.
10/10
Meetings attended
The Board has a combined wealth of knowledge and
experience to help the business achieve success.
Martin Bennett
Non-Executive Chairman
Appointed January 2021
(previously Non-
Executive Director; appointed Chairman May 2021)
Martin is an experienced non-executive and
chairman, bringing over 20 years of financial
service experience. He has a diverse and
extensive skill set, stretching across commerce,
operations and finance. Prior to embarking on a
non-executive career in 2018 Martin spent nearly
15 years at HomeServe plc creating a FTSE 250
services business, holding CEO, COO and CFO
responsibilities in the UK, US and Europe.
Before this he spent three years as Finance
Director of Clarity Group and 10 years at
Arthur Andersen where he worked in audit and
transaction services.
Skills, personal qualities and capabilities
An accounting and finance graduate, Martin is a
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
External appointments
Chairman of Ventureprise plc, Oncourse
Home Solutions Inc, and Pacifica Group
Limited. Previously Chair of Lumon plc and the
Association of Foreign Exchange and Payment
Companies (AFEP).
10/10
Meetings attended
Paula Constant
Group Chief Executive
Appointed August 2023
With a career spanning over 25 years in the
fields of telecoms, banking, and outsourcing,
Paula brings a wealth of experience and expertise
to the role. Her executive journey includes
notable positions at renowned companies such
as National Australia Bank, Mitie, BT, Vodafone,
Accenture and PE-backed Woven.
She has a strong track record of delivering growth
through enhancing distribution and improving
customer service in B2C and B2B organisations.
During her time with BT, she delivered substantial
improvements in B2B engineering revenues, in
addition to working with the regulator and over
500 customers to significantly reduce delivery
lead times and complaints.
Skills, personal qualities and capabilities
Paula holds a BA in music from Cambridge
University. In 2016, she was honoured with
a Leader Award from FDM Everywoman in
Technology, showcasing her leadership and
influence in the industry.
10/10
Meetings attended
Maria Darby-Walker
Senior Non-Executive Director
Appointed June 2019
(Appointed Senior
Non-Executive Director in January 2021)
Maria joined Personal Group as Non-Executive
Director in June 2019 and has Chaired the
Remuneration Committee since January 2020.
After a career in financial PR and Investor
Relations working for a variety of businesses
including Barclays and Rolls-Royce, she started
her own consultancy in 2005, advising the boards
of leading brand names on business-critical
issues including mergers and acquisitions, crisis
management, brand and reputation, ESG, equality
and diversity, and financial regulation. Her client
list included: The Financial Conduct Authority,
The Investment Association, Unum, Iglo / Birds
Eye, Cadbury and Rio Tinto amongst others.
Skills, personal qualities and capabilities
Beyond her technical and industry qualifications,
Maria is also a qualified leadership coach
and mentor. She was appointed an honorary
visiting fellow of Oxford University’s Corporate
Reputation Academy in September 2022.
External appointments
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director at
Redwood Bank Ltd; Non-Executive Director,
Ecclesiastical Insurance plc and Trustee,
National Park Rescue.
8/10
Meetings attended
Committee
Membership Key
Audit
Committee
Nominations
& SM&CR Committee
Remuneration
Committee
Chair of the
Committee
Risk and Compliance
Committee
Independent
38
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Bob Head
Non-Executive Director
Appointed November 2016
Bob joined Personal Group in July 2016.
With over 25 years in Non-Executive Director
roles, Bob brings an extensive range of
knowledge and experience to the Board.
His diverse working life has seen him work
worldwide with almost every branch of financial
services. He also has experience of software and
marketing companies as well as government.
Skills, personal qualities and capabilities
Further to his ACA, ACII and FCIB with an MA from
Oxford, Bob has solid blue-chip experience with
big brands and business and a rich tapestry of
management roles.
External appointments
Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit
and Remuneration committees at Mirriad.
Director at Red Rose Recovery and Vincent
House Management.
Andy Lothian
Non-Executive Director
Appointed July 2017
(previously Executive
Director, appointed Non-Executive Director
in January 2021)
Andy Lothian joined Personal Group in 1998 as
a Group Account Executive focusing on new
business sales and client servicing. His passion
for excellence, drive, and commitment has seen
him go from strength to strength. His journey at
Personal Group has evolved greatly over the last
two decades, through Sales Management roles
and eventually 11 years as Managing Director of
Personal Group Benefits.
In January 2021 Andy moved into a Non-
Executive Director role on the Board.
Skills, personal qualities and capabilities
Andy has extensive knowledge and experience of
the important day-to-day role that all Personal
Group employees play in the development and
growth of the business.
External appointments
Director of Lothian Property Group.
Josh Roberts-Jones
Head of Finance
and Company Secretary
Appointed January 2025
Josh has been with Personal Group since 2018,
joining the business as a Finance Manager.
After becoming Financial Controller in 2020, he
was appointed Head of Finance in 2023 and has
taken on the appointment of Company Secretary
since February 2025.
Josh trained as an auditor at KPMG LLP,
gaining his professional chartered accountancy
qualification with the ICAEW. Having gained
valuable experience in a variety of sectors,
including financial services, Josh gained industry
experience at bpha limited prior to joining
Personal Group.
Skills, personal qualities and capabilities
Josh is a Chartered Accountant and holds a
degree in Mathematics with French from Royal
Holloway University of London.
Josh replaces Damian Kane who, prior to his
resignation, attended 9/10 board meetings as
Company Secretary.
n/a
Meetings attended
10/10
Meetings attended
Ciaran Astin
Non-Executive Director
Appointed May 2022
Ciaran is an experienced leader in consumer
services businesses across the insurance,
telecoms and energy sectors. Ciaran is currently
Managing Director of KGM Underwriting Services
Ltd, a leading specialist motor insurance MGA.
From 2019 to 2023, Ciaran was Managing
Director of ClearScore’s Insurance-related
business. Between 2012 and 2019, he held
senior leadership roles at leading personal lines
insurers, Hastings Group and Direct Line Group.
Earlier in his career, Ciaran spent two years
driving product transformation in Centrica’s
consumer business, following seven years in
commercial leadership roles in the telecoms
sector with BT Group and Telewest.
Skills, personal qualities and capabilities
Ciaran holds a Masters in Engineering from
Cambridge University.
9/10
Meetings attended
10/10
Meetings attended
Committee
Membership Key
Audit
Committee
Nominations
& SM&CR Committee
Remuneration
Committee
Chair of the
Committee
Risk and Compliance
Committee
Independent
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Overview
39
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to present the Risk and
Compliance Committee Report for the
year ending 31 December 2024.
Activity during the year
The Committee focuses its debate on
key risks, emerging risks, and areas where
we perceive we have increased risk. We
then assess whether the risk has been
optimised. We use the word “optimise”
rather than “mitigated” since not all risk can
be economically eliminated – for example,
the economy.
The Committee’s Chair reports formally
to the Board on its proceedings after each
meeting and during the year the Committee
met three times, overseeing significant
Group-wide projects which included:
Consideration of the Group’s approach to
the challenging economic outlook which
persisted throughout 2024, including how
to optimise the Group’s current offering
and tailor the go to market message
to mitigate the risk of any impacts on
income from clients and customers.
Reviewing and approving the annual
Consumer Duty Board Report, which
confirmed that customers are receiving
good outcomes and fair value, that the
future business strategy is consistent
with delivering good outcomes and
identifying areas of further enhancement.
Reviewing and approving the bi-annual
insurance/fair value update, which
included fair value management
information (MI) assessment and
pricing strategy.
A deep dive into the value in the insurance
products underwritten, and sold, by
Personal Group companies, reviewing
peer-related data, the FCA GI Value
Measures data and internal MI.
Update and further development of
the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment
(ORSA) for Personal Assurance Plc to
account for current risks and exposures,
particularly in relation to inflationary
pressures and negative cost of living
effects and strategic risks which have
persisted throughout 2024.
Approval of the group’s operational
resilience self-assessment, which
incorporates cyber risk considerations
and business continuity/disaster
recovery planning.
Risk oversight of the group’s
technological transformation of its
insurance IT systems and services,
which is designed to allow for a more
dynamic approach to affecting policy/
pricing changes throughout the
lifecycle of policies, to streamline policy
administration, improve customer self-
service capability and improve overall
customer satisfaction.
Providing risk oversight for the Hapi v2.0/
Saas delivery project, i.e., how it can be
“de-risked” to ensure that client and user
experiences remain high quality, that
resource is used efficiently and effectively
and that the current risk position is
commonly understood and optimised in
a proportionate way.
Consideration of a commissioned external
review of the group’s position in the
insurance and employee benefits market,
taking into account competitor offerings,
competitor consolidation in the market
and existing client feedback.
Consideration of the group’s proposed
approach to managing the business risks
associated with the UK Government’s
2024 Budget measures.
Risk and Compliance Committee Report
The Committee’s role is to assess the effectiveness of the Group’s risk
management framework, to set the Group’s risk appetite and to oversee
compliance with regulatory requirements.
Meetings held
3
Risk and Compliance
Committee members
Meeting Attendance
Bob Head (Chair)
3/3
Martin Bennett
3/3
Maria Darby-Walker
2/3
Andy Lothian
2/3
Ciaran Astin
3/3
Sarah Mace
3/3
Paula Constant
3/3
40
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
In addition, other work undertaken during
the year included:
Ongoing consideration of the Own Risk
and Solvency Assessment (ORSA) for
Personal Assurance Plc to account for
current risks and exposures.
The regular review of the group’s
exposure to the risks and threats to the
strategic objectives, setting the risk
appetites and agreeing tolerances.
The review, consideration and approval
of existing Board Group policies.
Consideration of management
information which assesses levels
of quality and compliance, and the
effectiveness of the Information Security
Management System.
Consideration of the quality of the
sales of the insurance policies, and
understanding how artificial intelligence
(AI) is used to enhance quality and protect
consumers. We are using AI to help assess
whether sales are compliant and meet
Personal Group standards.
Oversight of the resolution of actions
arising from an external review of our
health and safety regime.
As in previous years, the Committee has
continued to apply its mind to the risk
logs both in terms of completeness and
how risks are optimised. The Committee
has also worked closely with the Audit
Committee to ensure that the Committees
neither duplicate work nor allow things
to slip between the gaps. All directors are
members of risk committee. We believe
the size of Personal Group is such that
we get a better result by organising
ourselves this way.
Bob Head
Independent Non-Executive Director
25 March 2025
41
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Overview
Dear Shareholder
The Audit Committee is a key component
of the corporate governance framework at
Personal Group. Its primary responsibility
is to oversee the financial reporting
process, ensure the accuracy and integrity
of financial statements, and monitor
compliance with applicable accounting
standards, including International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Committee
also oversees the company’s internal
controls and risk management processes.
The Committee oversees the appointment
of, and relationship with, the external
auditor and ensures compliance with other
regulatory requirements that are relevant
to the Group, as well as gaining reassurance
that the control environment is robust and
operating effectively. The Committee is also
responsible for overseeing the effectiveness
of internal audit, currently outsourced to
a third-party, in line with the Chartered
Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA’s) Guidance
on Effective Internal Audit.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Audit Committee assists the Board in
discharging its responsibilities with regard to
the oversight of:
Financial reporting:
The Group’s annual and interim financial
statements, ensuring they are in
compliance with applicable accounting
standards IFRS and present a true and fair
view of the Group’s financial position;
Reviewing and challenging any changes
to accounting policies, accounting for
significant or unusual transactions and
the application of appropriate judgements
and estimates;
Considering new accounting standards
and pronouncements and comments
from the Financial Reporting Council; and
Monitoring the Group’s financial reporting
processes, ensuring that financial reports
are clear, accurate, and timely.
Internal and external audit:
Overseeing the Group’s relationship
with its external and internal
auditors, including their appointment,
remuneration, independence and the
effectiveness of the audit processes; and
Monitoring and reviewing the scope
of work and effectiveness of the
outsourced internal audit function in
the context of the Group’s overall risk
management system.
Internal controls:
Overseeing the Group’s internal
control systems to ensure they are
effective in safeguarding assets,
preventing fraud, and ensuring accurate
financial reporting; and
Reviewing the Group’s arrangements
with regard to employee/
contractor whistleblowing, fraud
detection, prevention of bribery and
money-laundering.
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee’s role is to ensure the integrity of financial reporting,
robust internal controls, and effective risk management processes, all
essential to maintaining investor confidence, regulatory compliance, and
good corporate governance.
Meetings held
2
Audit Committee
members
Meeting Attendance
Bob Head (Chair)
2/2
Martin Bennett
2/2
Maria Darby-Walker
2/2
Ciaran Astin
2/2
42
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Membership and meetings
Committee bringing extensive experience
in financial reporting, auditing, and
governance. The Committee meets at
least twice a year.
The Directors’ profiles and qualifications
are included on pages 38 and 39.
Risk matters are covered at the Risk and
Compliance Committee but all members of
the Audit Committee are also members of
the Risk and Compliance Committee, which
ensures full co-ordination between the
two committees.
Two formal meetings were held during
2024 and all Committee members were
in attendance. Additionally, the remaining
Board members and Company Secretary
were present at all meetings.
The meetings of the Committee are
designed to facilitate and encourage
communication among the Committee,
the Group’s outsourced internal audit
function (RSM) and the appointed external
auditor. The Committee meets with the
internal auditors and the external auditors,
with and without management present, to
discuss the results of their examinations,
their evaluations of the Group’s internal
control and the overall quality of the
Group’s financial reporting. In addition, the
members of the Audit Committee also meet
separately to consider any issues.
Activities of the Audit Committee
during the year
The Committee discussed with the Group’s
internal and external auditors the overall
scope and plans for their respective
audits. As a part of these discussions the
Committee has considered whether there
are further risk areas that need to be
considered in addition to those raised by
both sets of auditors. In addition, the key
work undertaken by the Committee during
the year under review and up to the date of
this Annual Report included:
Review and approval of the 2023 Annual
Report and Accounts and 2024 Interim
Results statement.
Approval of the Solvency and Financial
Condition Report.
Review of internal audits carried out
by RSM.
During 2024 RSM undertook audits, in line
with the agreed scope, of areas including
financial promotions, assurance frameworks
and consumer journeys.
The Committee received reports from
the internal auditors throughout the year
and was satisfied with the effectiveness
of internal controls. It supports the
recommendations made by the internal
auditors and is satisfied with the actions
taken or planned by management in
response to these recommendations and
monitors the resolution of these actions
in a timely basis.
The Audit Committee regularly discusses
the performance of internal audit within
the Committee, with management and
with internal audit. Given the size of the
Group we believe that an outsourced
Internal Audit function gives us access to
more areas of expertise than an internally
resourced department.
Significant reporting issues
and judgements
In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the
Committee has reviewed and discussed the
audited consolidated financial statements
and the related schedules within the Annual
Report with Group management, including
a discussion of the appropriateness of the
accounting principles, the reasonableness
of significant judgements and the clarity of
disclosures in the financial statements.
The areas the Audit Committee have
focused on are detailed later in the report.
Key Group issues included:
Consideration was given to going
concern, the adequacy of capital in a
variety of scenarios and the ability to pay
a dividend whilst maintaining our target
of 150% of required regulatory capital.
The carrying value of goodwill in the
Group’s financial statements was
reviewed as required by IAS36.
The Committee reviewed the
recommendations of the finance function
and received reports from the external
auditor on their findings. Where cost
effective to do so the Committee has
encouraged the external auditors to adopt
a controls approach to the audit rather
than substantive audit approach.
43
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Overview
The significant reporting matters and judgements the Committee considered during the year included:
Carrying value of goodwill and other intangibles
Note 13 & 14
As a result of business acquisitions, the Group has recognised significant balances for
goodwill. Goodwill must be tested annually for impairment; other intangible assets are
tested when there are indicators that they may be impaired. The assessment of potential
impairment requires a number of judgements and estimates to be made in determining
the relevant future cash flows and the discount rate to be applied.
The Committee reviewed the key financial assumptions underpinning cash flow projections, the
discount and long-term growth rates applied thereto and the results of sensitivity analyses.
The Committee was satisfied that no impairment was needed on the goodwill of Pay &
Reward, and reiterated that the initial assessment of the acquired intangible assets and
goodwill was appropriate.
The presentation of “Adjusted EBITDA” alongside statutory profit
Note 5
Adjusted EBITDA, in this context, looks to adjust for non-underlying trading activity
within the financials for year which are material in size, in order to fairly remunerate the
management on underlying performance.
The Committee considered the approach adopted and was satisfied that the approach
continues to help provide a clear and balanced view of the underlying performance of
the business than simply focusing on profit after tax. It also concluded that the approach
is being applied consistently from year to year and the rationale is clearly presented and
reconciled back to the IFRS published numbers.
The valuation of the liabilities for incurred claims
Note 24
In line with IFRS 17 the Group retains a liability for incurred claims arising from claims in the
current and preceding financial years which have not yet given rise to claims paid.
It is estimated based on the current information, and the ultimate liability may vary as a
result of subsequent information and events.
The Committee has reviewed the methodology and calculations relating to the claims
provisions held by the insurance entities within the Group to ensure that the incurred but
not reported claims reflect not only the historical trends of the insurance policies sold
but also continuing impacts such as the current increase in NHS activity. The Committee
was satisfied that the amount reserved for across the Group is appropriate given the data
available. It should be noted that the insurance business is short tail and post year end
claims are examined before the accounts are signed off.
External audit
EY LLP were first appointed for the 2019 financial year. We value continuity providing the
Group gets value for money both for the formal reporting and the third-party assurance
that the business has a good control environment.
The Committee considers a number of areas when reviewing the external auditor
reappointment, namely their performance in discharging the audit, the scope of the audit
and terms of engagement, their independence and objectivity, and their reappointment and
remuneration. In addition, as noted, we are seeking more value from the audit and encourage
a control based approach rather than substantive where it is cost effective to do so.
The external auditor reports to the Committee on actions taken to comply with professional
and regulatory requirements and is required to rotate the lead audit partner every five years.
There is also an active, ongoing dialogue between the Committee and the external
auditor on actions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the external audit process.
In addition, the Committee considers risk areas that might inform the audit strategy and
discusses this with the external auditors.
The Committee has confirmed it is satisfied with the independence, objectivity and
effectiveness of EY LLP as auditor.
No non-audit services were provided by the external auditors during this financial year or
since they were originally appointed.
Bob Head
Independent Non-Executive Director
25 March 2025
Audit Committee Report
continued
44
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Dear Shareholder
On behalf of the Board and the
Remuneration Committee, I am pleased
to present this report for the year ended
31 December 2024. As the committee
responsible for overseeing remuneration
policies of the Group, our primary aim is to
ensure that the remuneration framework
is aligned with our long-term strategic
objectives and supports the creation of
sustainable value for stakeholders.
During 2024, the Remuneration Committee
has continued to ensure that our executive
pay structures support the Group strategy
and reflect business performance. We have
conducted a thorough review of our
remuneration policies and, in line with
Principle 9 of the Quoted Companies Alliance
(QCA) Code on remuneration, the Committee
will put separate advisory resolutions on
its remuneration report and remuneration
policy to its next AGM.
During the course of the year, the main
activities of the Committee were:
Approving annual bonus structure and
targets for the year to December 2024
Determining the executive annual bonus
outcome for the year to December 2023
Considering changes to Executive salaries
at the outset of the year in line with our
normal cycle
Approval of grant of LTIP awards for the
Executive Directors and other senior
employees in April 2024
Approval of the grant of CSOP awards
across the Group
Post year end, the committee has:
Approved annual bonus structure and
targets for the year to December 2025
Determined the executive annual bonus
outcome for the year to December 2024
Reviewed the Remuneration Policy
We are committed to ensuring that
our approach to remuneration remains
competitive, transparent, and in the best
interests of our shareholders, while also
considering the wider workforce and
ensuring fairness across the Group.
The Group welcomes dialogue with its
shareholders over matters of remuneration.
The Chair of the Remuneration Committee
is available for contact with investors
concerning the approach to remuneration.
While there were no specific changes
to the executive director remuneration
or the wider remuneration policy that
Personal Group felt required shareholder
consultation, regular communication
with shareholders was maintained by
the Committee Chair.
The Committee considers that the
Remuneration Policy has operated as
intended. The bonus scheme has also
operated as intended, incentivising
collective effort across the senior team
towards common financial goals as well
as bringing individual focus on specific
contributions to Group strategic goals.
The Committee did not exercise discretion
in respect of the LTIPs which vested
during the year or on the bonus awards
during the year.
Role of the Remuneration
Committee
On behalf of the Board, the Remuneration
Committee reviews and determines the
pay, benefits and other terms of service
of the Company’s Executive Directors and
provides support to the Chief Executive, as
required, on the remuneration of the wider
Senior Leadership Team. The Committee
also keeps under review the broad
compensation strategy with respect to all
other Group employees.
Remuneration Committee Report
The Committee’s objective is to align our reward strategy with the delivery
of profitable and sustainable growth for the benefit of all our stakeholders.
Meetings held
4
Remuneration Committee
members
Meeting Attendance
Maria Darby-Walker (Chair)
4/4
Martin Bennett
4/4
Bob Head
4/4
Ciaran Astin
4/4
45
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Overview
Element
Link to remuneration
policy / strategy
Operation
Maximum Opportunity
Performance Metric
Base Salary
To help recruit and retain high
performing Executive Directors.
Reflects the individual’s
experience, role and importance
to the business.
Base salary is reviewed annually
with any changes effective
1 January with reference to each
Executive performance and
contribution, Group performance,
the scope of the Executive Directors’
responsibilities and consideration of
competitive pressures.
The Committee is guided by the general
increase for the broader employee population
but has discretion to decide on a lower or a
higher increase.
The Committee considers individual
and Group performance when setting
base salary.
Benefits
To help recruit and retain high
performing Executive Directors.
To provide market
competitive benefits.
Executive Directors benefit from car
allowances, private medical, health
cash plan, travel insurance and life
assurance cover.
Maximum benefit applies according to
the underlying insurance policy and is
four times base salary in the case of life
assurance. Car allowances are paid in line
with market rates.
Not applicable.
Pension
To help recruit and retain high
performing Executive Directors.
To provide market
competitive pensions.
Employer’s pension contributions paid
in line with the wider employee base.
The Group may contribute up to 5% of
base salary.
None.
Annual Bonus
To incentivise and reward
performance.
To align the interests of the
Executives and shareholders in
the short and medium term.
The Annual Bonus is earned by the
achievement of one-year performance
targets set by the Remuneration
Committee. The parameters,
performance criteria, weightings and
targets are ordinarily set at the start
of each financial year.
From 2025, awards are subject to
malus and clawback provisions.
The maximum bonus opportunity for the
CEO and CFO is 100% of base salary.
Performance measures may include
financial, non-financial, personal and
strategic objectives.
Performance criteria and weightings may
be changed from year to year.
At present, the performance targets are
based on EBITDA, recurring revenue and
personal targets, which mirror Group
strategic objectives.
Remuneration Policy
The Group’s remuneration structure has been designed to bring the Group into line with
best Remuneration practice and to improve the alignment of senior leadership with
shareholder interests.
The Committee’s aim, as in previous years, is that the rewards that can be earned provide
a competitive level of incentive and are appropriate for a Group of comparable size and
complexity at each level of performance.
To this end, the Committee considers appropriate strategic goals from time to time which it
believes will best ensure delivery of the Group’s short and long term objectives and ensure
alignment with stakeholder interests.
The table below details the remuneration policy for all elements of fixed and variable pay,
including the maximum opportunity available to executives and any relevant performance
metrics applied to each element.
Remuneration Committee Report
continued
46
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Element
Link to remuneration
policy / strategy
Operation
Maximum Opportunity
Performance Metric
Long Term
Incentive
Plan (LTIP)
To incentivise and reward
long term performance and
value creation.
To align the interests of
Executive Directors and
shareholders in the long-term.
Executive Directors and selective
other senior employees are eligible to
receive awards under the LTIP at the
discretion of the Committee. Awards
are granted as nominal or cost options
which vest after three years subject to
the meeting of objective performance
conditions specified at award.
Executive Directors are required
to hold vested shares until their
shareholding reaches the guideline
set out below.
LTIP awards are subject to malus and
clawback provisions.
In accordance with the scheme rules
the exceptional maximum award in any
financial year is 250% of base salary.
The normal policy maximum is 150% of
basic salary with a maximum of 200% in
exceptional circumstances.
Awards in FY24 were set at 150% and 100% of
base salary for the CEO and CFO respectively.
Performance criteria and weightings may
be changed from year to year.
For awards made in 2024, 50% of the
award was subject to a compounding
3-year TSR target and 50% subject to
EBITDA based targets.
Share Incentive
Plan (SIP)
To encourage all employees to
make a long-term investment
in the Company’s shares in a
tax efficient way.
The Executive Directors may
participate in the SIP on the same
terms as other eligible employees.
The maximum participation level will be
aligned to HMRC limits.
None.
Company Share
Ownership
Plan (CSOP)
To incentivise and reward
retention and value creation.
To align the interests of
Executive Directors and
shareholders in the
long-term.
CSOPs are awarded at the discretion
of the Remuneration Committee but
require Executive Directors to have
been in tenure for 6 months.
Other senior employees are also
awarded CSOP options after meeting
relevant tenure requirements.
The maximum participation level will be
aligned to HMRC limits.
CSOPs issued from 2024 onwards include
EBITDA based performance conditions for
the Executive Directors.
47
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Overview
Element
Link to remuneration
policy / strategy
Operation
Maximum Opportunity
Performance Metric
Shareholding
guideline
Encourages Executive Directors
to achieve the Group’s long term
strategy and create sustainable
stakeholder value.
Aligns with shareholder
interests.
The shareholding guideline is 100%
of salary for the CEO the CFO and
50% of base fees for the Non-
Executive Directors.
The shareholding requirement is
expected to be met within 5 years of
the policy adoption date (September
2024) or their appointment date,
whichever is later.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Non-Executive
Director
remuneration
To provide fees appropriate
to time commitments and
responsibilities of each role.
Non-Executive Directors are paid
a base fee in cash. Additional fees
are also paid for specific committee
roles. Fees are reviewed annually and
effective from 1 January each year.
In addition, reasonable business
expenses may be reimbursed.
The Group Board is guided by the
general increase for the broader employee
population and takes into account relevant
market movements.
Not applicable.
Policy Discretion
The Remuneration Committee reserves the right to apply discretion in any and all cases of executive pay, within the remit of good governance and best practice. This includes, but
is not limited to, additional remuneration on recruitment (in particular compensation for remuneration forfeited on leaving a previous employer), termination arrangements, LTIP
awards and bonus payments. Any discretion exercised in respect of LTIP awards and bonus payments would be within the scope for discretion provided by the plan rules.
Remuneration Committee Report
continued
Employee Remuneration
The principles behind the Remuneration Policy for Executive Directors are cascaded down through the Group. They aim to attract and retain the best staff and to focus their remuneration
on the delivery of long-term sustainable growth by using a mix of salary, benefits, bonus and longer-term incentives. As a result, no element of the Executive Director Remuneration Policy
is operated solely for the purpose of the Executive Directors.
Other information
Remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors is determined by the Chair and the Executive Directors. They may be paid additional fees in the event that their workloads are significantly in
excess of their contractual obligations. The Chair’s remuneration is determined by the Remuneration Committee. The Chair is not entitled to vote on the matter.
Contracts and letters of appointment
The Executive Directors are employed under rolling service contracts which may be terminated by the Group or the individual giving 6 months’ notice. Non-Executive Directors are retained
under Letters of Appointment which may be terminated by either the Group or the individual giving 6 months’ notice, or immediately in the event that the director is not re-elected by
shareholders at an AGM or have reached the end of their 3 year appointment without agreement of extension.
48
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Remuneration during the year ended 31 December 2024
Directors’ Remuneration
The aggregate remuneration payable to the Directors in respect of the period was as follows:
Salary
Bonus
Pension
Vested LTIP
Other Benefits
Total
2024
£000
2023
£000
2024
£000
2023
£000
2024
£000
2023
£000
2024
£000
2023
£000
2024
£000
2023
£000
2024
£000
2023
£000
Executive Directors
P Constant
330
137
206
40
19
8
21
9
576
194
S Mace
207
195
130
86
14
15
11
20
1
382
297
D Frost
333
15
10
185
543
Non-Executive Directors
M Bennett
107
103
107
103
R Head
55
52
55
52
A Lothian
44
43
44
43
C Astin
47
45
47
45
M Walker
55
52
55
52
Salaries
Effective 1 January 2024, the salary of the Chief Executive was £330,000 and the salary
of the Chief Financial Officer was £207,380.
Annual bonus
The Committee considered the performance of the Executive Directors in the financial year
against the criteria of the Annual Bonus Scheme that comprised a 40% element of basic
salary based on financial performance and 60% of basic salary on performance against
personal objectives.
In the financial year the Group achieved revenue and EBITDA results within the range
of performance targets (set according to the Group budget for the financial year) and
performance against personal targets was scored at 69%. Accordingly, our CEO received
a bonus at 62% of maximum and our CFO received a bonus at 63% of maximum.
Long term incentives
The Group made awards under its LTIP to Executive Directors and other senior employees
on 4 April March 2024 subject to three year performance targets for compounding Total
Shareholder Return (“TSR”) and EBITDA. 50% of the award vests based on achievement of the
TSR objectives and 50% of the award vests based upon achievement of the EBITDA targets.
During 2024, 7,492 of 62,438 LTIP options awarded to Sarah Mace in 2021 vested as
the performance conditions were partially satisfied. While the EBITDA and TSR vesting
thresholds were not met, 12% of the award vested due to satisfaction of ESG conditions.
The remaining options have now expired.
Details of awards held by Executive Directors under the LTIP and CSOP awards at
31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024 are set out below:
Date of
Grant
No of
awards
as at 31
Dec 2023
No of
awards
granted in
year
Exercise
Price (£)
Share
price at
date of
grant (£)
Earliest
exercisable
date
No of
awards
as at 31
Dec 2024
LTIP
P Constant
04-Aug-23
286,574
0.05
1.88
01-Apr-26
286,574
04-Apr-24
294,643
0.05
1.58
01-Apr-27
294,643
581,217
S Mace
06-Apr-21
*62,438
0.05
2.45
01-Apr-24
19-Apr-22
84,602
0.05
3.15
01-Apr-25
84,602
20-Jun-23
137,858
0.05
2.17
01-Apr-26
137,858
04-Apr-24
123,440
0.05
1.58
01-Apr-27
123,440
345,900
CSOP
P Constant
04-Apr-24
37,151
1.62
1.62
05-Apr-27
37,151
S Mace
27-Jan-14
**6,122
4.90
4.90
28-Jan-17
19-Jun-23
13,888
2.16
2.16
19-Jun-26
13,888
04-Apr-24
18,575
1.62
1.62
05-Apr-27
18,575
A Lothian
13-Feb-14
**6,026
4.98
4.98
14-Feb-17
*
These options partially vested in 2024 as above.
**
These options lapsed in the year due to time limitations in line with the rules of the CSOP scheme.
49
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Overview
Directors’ interests
Directors’ Shareholdings as at 31 December 2024 were as follows:
2024
2023
Number of shares
% of issued shares
Number of shares
% of issued shares
P Constant
9,998
0.03%
0.00%
S Mace
16,441
0.05%
12,275
0.04%
M Bennett
18,070
0.06%
18,070
0.06%
R Head
0.00%
0.00%
A Lothian
37,532
0.12%
37,532
0.12%
C Astin
13,883
0.04%
0.00%
M Walker
5,555
0.02%
5,555
0.02%
Remuneration for the year ending 31 December 2025
Salaries
Executive salaries and Non-Executive Director fees have been reviewed effective 1 January
2025 as laid out below.
2025
2024
P Constant
339,900
330,000
S Mace
213,601
207,380
M Bennett
110,592
107,371
R Head
55,538
54,494
A Lothian
46,538
44,322
C Astin
46,538
46,538
M Walker
55,538
54,494
Annual bonus plan
The Annual Bonus Plan applies to both Executive Directors and the SLT. Funding of the
bonus pool will only be released if sufficient progress has been made towards the
Group’s ESG objectives. Performance targets for 2025 are split as to 40% linked to EBITDA
performance and 60% linked to achievement of personal targets set by the Remuneration
committee. On target EBITDA performance for the Executive Directors is set at meeting the
Group’s budget for the year and results in payment of 65% of the maximum opportunity.
The proposed personal objectives for the CEO and CFO for 2025 are focused on delivering
ARR and EBITDA growth in key strategic areas, building the Group towards its 5-year
strategy and driving efficiencies across the business.
Long term incentives
The Committee intends to make LTIP awards to its Executive Directors and other senior
employees during 2025. These will operate in line with the Group’s policy.
Annual General Meeting
In line with Principle 9 of the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) Code on remuneration, the
Committee will voluntarily put separate advisory resolutions on its remuneration report and
remuneration policy to its AGM on 8 May 2025.
Remuneration Committee Report
continued
50
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Dear Shareholder
The Nominations Committee (the
“Committee”) is pleased to present its
report for the year ended 31 December
2024. This report provides an overview of
the Committee’s activities during the year,
the processes followed in relation to board
composition, and the nominations put
forward for appointment or re-election.
Role and Responsibilities of the
Nominations Committee
The Committee is responsible for:
Reviewing the structure, size, and
composition of the Board, including the
skills, experience, and diversity required
to support the business strategy.
Leading the recruitment process for new
directors, including succession planning
for the Board and Senior Leadership Team.
Making recommendations for the re-
election of directors at the AGM.
Reviewing the performance of individual
directors and the Board as a whole.
Provide independent oversight of the
Group’s compliance with the Senior
Managers and Certification Regime; and
Determine whether employees who are
subject to disciplinary procedures have
breached the Conduct Rules applicable
to their role and whether dismissal is an
appropriate outcome.
The Nominations Committee, assisted
by external executive search agencies as
required, primarily manages appointments
to the Board, but all Board members
have the opportunity to meet shortlisted
candidates, ensuring a wide range of
feedback in the appointment process.
All Executive Directors are engaged on a
full-time basis. Non-Executive Directors
have letters of appointment stating their
annual fee, the minimum required time
commitment and confirmation that their
appointment is subject to satisfactory
performance. Their appointment may be
terminated with a maximum of six months’
written notice at any time.
Activity during the year
The Committee’s Chairman reports formally
to the Board on its proceedings after each
meeting and during the year the Committee
met once, detail of what was reviewed by
the Committee is as follows;
Board succession
We actively manage our Board succession
plan, to ensure that our Board has an
appropriate and diverse range of skills to
enable us to deliver our strategy for the
benefit of all of our stakeholders.
We are a small and cohesive Board, and
take care to ensure that all new members
of our Board are aligned to our culture and
share our values, whatever their skills and
background. Our Board induction process,
undertaken by all new members upon
appointment, is an important way to get our
new Board members up to speed and valued
by our Non-Executive Directors.
We have a formal plan for how Board
membership should develop which aims
to balance continuity of service with a
regular refreshment of skills and experience
needed to deliver our evolving strategy.
We regularly review the balance of skills
on the Board as a whole, taking account of
the future needs of the business, and the
knowledge, experience, length of service
and performance of the Directors.
The Committee is currently engaged in
the recruitment of a new Non-Executive
Director as a result of the impending
retirement of Bob Head from the Personal
Group board. We would like to express our
appreciation to Bob for his tireless efforts
and valuable insight as a member of the
board and as Chairman of the Audit and
Risk Committees.
Nominations Committee Report
The objective of the Nominations Committee is to recommend for selection
by the full Board, Director nominees and to ensure compliance with the
requirements around Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SM&CR).
Meetings held
1
Nominations Committee
members
Meeting Attendance
Martin Bennett (Chair)
1/1
Maria Darby-Walker
1/1
Bob Head
1/1
Ciaran Astin
1/1
The Chief Executive, Non-Independent NEDs,
Chief People Officer and Company Secretary
are normally present at the meetings.
51
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Overview
Board and Director effectiveness
The Chief Executive receives a formal evaluation of their performance during the year,
which is conducted by the Chairman. In addition, the Chief Executive discusses with the
Non-Executive Directors the performance of individuals of the Executive team and any
changes that she proposes to make to this team. Whilst this activity does not take place
formally within the meetings of the Nominations Committee, it does form part of its work in
overseeing Executive team development and succession process, and the pipeline of talent
available for succession to the Board. The performance of our Board and the Committees is
evaluated by the Chair.
An internal board effectiveness review was conducted in 2024. The evaluation process was
conducted via a self-assessment questionnaires with feedback gathered from all directors.
The results of the evaluation highlighted several key strengths, including:
Effective performance of Audit and Remuneration Committees and their members.
Robust oversight of management and the development of Group strategy.
Areas for improvement were also identified, including enhancing technical and digital
expertise and the need to replace the audit and risk expertise that will be lost following the
retirement of the audit committee chair. These areas will be addressed through CPD training
and a rigorous recruitment process to find a suitable successor.
A full external review is scheduled for Q2 2025, with the last external review having taken
place in 2022.
Diversity
We fully support diversity as an important contribution to good quality decision making
and innovative thinking. We have on our Board a diversity of gender, skills, experience,
personality, and cognitive approach. Across the business, teams are diverse with an even
split of males and females in management positions. We are however, mindful of the need
to further enhance the diversity of thought, experience, and skills on the Board and Senior
Leadership of the Group. This will remain a priority in the coming year.
We continue to review how we can further broaden our approach, encouraging diversity
and inclusion throughout the Board and the business.
Culture and values
Our culture is brought to life through our shared values and business principles which the
Board monitors through Board reports and agenda items, engagement with employees,
and visits to the Group’s offices.
Our culture and values are an important part of what we look for in new candidates to join
our Board, so that they may promote and engage with the development of these aspects
throughout the business. It is important that they are aligned with our values so that they
can be role models for all our employees and stakeholders.
Certification & conduct rules (SM&CR)
It is important for the ongoing success of the business that rigorous certification processes
and training and oversight of compliance with the conduct rules are completed and
monitored by the Committee. We have worked hard to articulate the conduct rules as part
of the wider Group values and have no tolerance for any breaches of the rules.
Martin Bennett
Independent Non-Executive Chairman
25 March 2025
Tenure and Re-Election of Directors
The Nominations Committee considers the length of service of Board members at least
annually. The tenure of the Directors is set out below:
Member
Appointment
Board role
Last AGM
renewal
Up for renewal
at 2025 AGM
Martin Bennett
January 2021
Non-Executive
Chairman
AGM 2023
Paula Constant
August 2023
Chief Executive
AGM 2024
Sarah Mace
October 2020
Chief Financial Officer
AGM 2023
Maria
Darby-Walker
June 2019
Senior Non-Executive
Director
AGM 2024
Ciaran Astin
May 2022
Non-Executive
Director
AGM 2023
Renewal by
rotation
Bob Head
November 2016
Non-Executive
Director
AGM 2022
Retiring
Andy Lothian
July 2017
(previously Executive
Director, appointed
NED Jan 2021)
Non-Executive
Director
AGM 2024
Nominations Committee Report
continued
52
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Directors’ Report
The Directors present their report together with the audited financial
statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Political contributions
Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries made any political donation or
incurred any political expenditure during
the year (2023: £nil).
Charitable donations
Donations to charitable organisations
amounted to £100,000 (2023: £100,000).
Principal risks and
uncertainties
The principal risks and uncertainties
facing the Group, along with the risk
management objectives and policies are
discussed in the Risk and Compliance and
Audit Committee reports and Note 3 of
these financial statements.
Capital requirements
See Note 4 of these financial statements.
Principal activities
The Group is principally engaged in providing
employee services, including short-term
accident and health insurance, benefits
and platform products, pay and reward
consultancy and the provision of salary
sacrifice technology products in the UK.
Results and dividends
A review of the year’s results is given in
the Chief Financial Officer’s Statement
(see page 21).
The profit from continuing operations for
the year is £6,826,000 (2023: £5,078,000)
before taxation of £1,298,000 (2023:
£899,000). During the year ordinary
dividends of £3,857,000 (2023: £3,482,000)
were paid.
Directors
The membership of the Board at the end
of the year is set out in the Remuneration
Report on pages 45 to 50. The Remuneration
Committee Report also includes details
of the Directors’ remuneration and
interests in the ordinary shares of the
Company. During the year all Directors
and officers were covered by third party
indemnity insurance.
Corporate governance
The Board of Personal Group Holdings Plc
supports the principles and is committed
to achieving high standards of corporate
governance and has adopted the Quoted
Companies Alliance Corporate Governance
Code in its entirety. The Board’s report
on the Group’s corporate governance
procedures is set out on pages 36 and 37.
Disclosure of information
to auditor
The Directors who held office at the date
of approval of this Directors’ Report confirm
that, so far as they are each aware, there
is no relevant audit information of which
the Group’s auditor is unaware; and each
Director has taken all the steps that they
ought to have taken as a Director to make
themselves aware of any relevant audit
information and to establish that the
Group’s auditor is aware of that information.
Auditor
EY LLP have expressed willingness to
continue in office. In accordance with
section 489 (4) of the Companies Act 2006
a resolution to both formally appoint and
reappoint EY LLP will be proposed at the
Annual General Meeting to be held on
Thursday 8 May 2025.
Other information
An indication of likely future developments
in the business and particulars of significant
events which have occurred since the end of
the financial year have been included in the
Strategic Report.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
Sarah Mace
Chief Financial Officer
25 March 2025
53
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Overview
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic report, Directors’
report and the Group and parent company financial statements in accordance
with applicable law and regulations.
Under company law the Directors must not
approve the financial statements unless
they are satisfied that they give a true and
fair view of the state of affairs of the Group
and parent Company and of their profit or
loss for that period. In preparing each of
the Group and parent Company financial
statements, the Directors are required to:
Select suitable accounting policies and
then apply them consistently.
Make judgements and estimates that are
reasonable, relevant and reliable.
State whether they have been prepared in
accordance with UK adopted IFRS.
Assess the Group and parent Company’s
ability to continue as a going concern,
disclosing, as applicable, matters related
to going concern.
Use the going concern basis of accounting
unless they either intend to liquidate the
Group or the parent Company or to cease
operations, or have no realistic alternative
but to do so.
In respect of the Strategic
Report, Directors’ Report and
the Financial Statements
The Directors are responsible for preparing
the Strategic Report, Directors’ Report and
the Group and parent Company Financial
Statements in accordance with applicable
law and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors
to prepare Group and parent Company
financial statements for each financial year.
Under the AIM Rules of the London Stock
Exchange they are required to prepare the
Group financial statements in accordance
with International Financial Reporting
Standards as adopted by the UK (UK adopted
IFRS) and applicable law and they have
elected to prepare the parent Company
financial statements on the same basis.
The Directors are responsible for keeping
adequate accounting records that are
sufficient to show and explain the parent
Company’s transactions and disclose
with reasonable accuracy at any time the
financial position of the parent Company
and enable them to ensure that its financial
statements comply with the Companies
Act 2006. They are responsible for such
internal control as they determine is
necessary to enable the preparation
of financial statements that are free
from material misstatement, whether
due to fraud or error, and have general
responsibility for taking such steps as are
reasonably open to them to safeguard the
assets of the Group and to prevent and
detect fraud and other irregularities.
Under applicable law and regulations,
the Directors are also responsible for
preparing a Strategic Report and a Directors’
Report that complies with that law and
those regulations.
The Directors are responsible for the
maintenance and integrity of the corporate
and financial information included on
the Company’s website. Legislation in
the UK governing the preparation and
dissemination of financial statements may
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
54
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Personal Group Holdings Plc
Opinion
In our opinion:
Personal Group Holdings Plc’s group financial statements and parent company financial
statements (the “financial statements”) give a true and fair view of the state of the
group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of the group’s
profit for the year then ended;
the group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK
adopted international accounting standards;
the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with
UK adopted international accounting standards as applied in accordance with section 408
of the Companies Act; and
the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the
Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements of Personal Group Holdings Plc (the ‘parent
company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 December 2024
which comprise:
Group
Parent company
Consolidated balance sheet as at
31 December 2024
Balance sheet as at 31 December 2024
Consolidated income statement for the year
then ended
Statement of changes in equity for the year
then ended
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year then ended
Cash flow statement for the year then ended
Consolidated cash flow statement for the year
then ended
Related notes 1 to 32 to the financial
statements including material accounting
policy information (excluding the component
of Note 4 which is marked as unaudited)
Related notes 1 to 32 to the financial
statements, including material accounting
policy information (excluding the component
of Note 4 which is marked as unaudited)
The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable
law and UK adopted international accounting standards and as regards to the parent
company financial statements, as applied in accordance with section 408 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 group and parent 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 as applied to listed entities, 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 directors’ use of the going
concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment of the group and parent company’s ability to
continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included the following procedures:
confirming our understanding of management’s going concern assessment process and
obtained management’s assessment which covers the period to 26 March 2026;
obtaining the financial forecasts prepared by the Group and assessed the appropriateness
of assumptions applied in the financial forecasts and in modelled stress scenarios based
on our understanding of the business and the Group’s historical performance;
performing enquiries of management and those charged with governance to identify
risks or events that may impact the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.
We also reviewed management’s assessment approved by the Board, minutes of
meetings of the Board and its committees, and made enquiries as to the impact of
market conditions on the business; and
assessing the appropriateness of the going concern disclosures by comparing the
consistency with management’s assessment and for compliance with the relevant
reporting requirements.
Based on management’s assessment, we have observed that the Group is able to continue
to have surplus cash and solvency above the solvency requirements within its two
regulated entities in a number of extreme downside scenarios and the Group will be able to
continue to service customers and meet its commitments in the current environment.
55
Strategic Report
Overview
Governance
Financial Statements
Independent Auditor’s Report
continued
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 group and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern for the period to
26 March 2026.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern
are described in the relevant sections of this report. However, because not all future events
or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a guarantee as to the group’s ability to
continue as a going concern.
Overview of our audit approach
Audit scope
We performed an audit of the complete financial information of 7
components and audit procedures on specific balances for a further
4 components and central procedures on all group accounts, with the
exception of specific balances for which we instructed EY Guernsey
to audit.
We performed full and specific scope procedures for all audit areas
except those as outlined in the tailoring the scope section.
Key audit matters
Valuation of goodwill relating to the pay and reward CGU
(Innecto and QCG)
Capitalisation of software development costs as intangible
assets (PAS)
Materiality
Overall group materiality of 341,000 which represents 5% of Group
profit before tax adjusted for the non-recurring nature of the
disposal of Lets Connect.
An overview of the scope of the parent company and
group audits
Tailoring the scope
In the current year our audit scoping has been updated to reflect the new requirements of
ISA (UK) 600 (Revised). We have followed a risk-based approach when developing our audit
approach to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence on which to base our audit opinion.
We performed risk assessment procedures, with input from our component auditors,
to identify and assess risks of material misstatement of the Group financial statements
and identified significant accounts and disclosures. When identifying components at
which audit work needed to be performed to respond to the identified risks of material
misstatement of the Group financial statements, we considered our understanding of the
Group and its business environment, the potential impact of climate change, the applicable
financial framework, the Group’s system of internal control at the entity level, the existence
of centralised processes, applications and any relevant internal audit results.
We identified ten components (detailed below) as individually relevant components to the
Group. These were due to relevant events and conditions underlying the identified risks
of material misstatement of the Group financial statements being associated with the
reporting components or a pervasive risk of material misstatement of the Group financial
statements or a significant risk or an area of higher assessed risk of material misstatement
of the Group financial statements being associated with the components.
For those individually relevant components, we identified the significant accounts
where audit work needed to be performed at these components by applying
professional judgement, having considered the Group significant accounts on which
full scope and specific scope procedures will be performed, the reasons for identifying
the financial reporting component as an individually relevant component and the size of
the component’s account balance relative to the Group significant financial statement
account balance.
56
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
We, as the primary team, performed full scope and specific scope procedures for the
following entities:
Personal Group Holdings Plc (full scope)
Personal Assurance Plc (full scope)
Personal Group Limited (full scope)
Personal Management Solutions Limited (full scope)
Personal Assurance Services Limited (full scope)
Let’s Connect IT Solutions Limited (specific scope)
Innecto People Consulting Limited (full scope)
Berkeley Morgan Limited (specific scope)
Quintige Consulting Group Limited (specific scope)
Procedures for Personal Assurance Guernsey Limited, a full scope component, were
performed by both the primary team and EY Guernsey.
We then considered whether the remaining group significant account balances not yet
subject to audit procedures, in aggregate, could give rise to a risk of material misstatement
of the group financial statements. We selected Personal Group Benefits Ltd to include in our
audit scope to address these risks.
Our scoping to address the risk of material misstatement for each key audit matter is set out
in the Key Audit Matters section of our report.
Involvement with component teams
In establishing our overall approach to the Group audit, we determined the type of work that
needed to be undertaken at each of the components by us, as the Group audit engagement
team, or by component auditors from other EY global network firms operating under our
instruction. Of the scoped-in components, audit procedures were performed on six full
scope and four specific scope components directly by the primary audit team, whilst for the
other full scope component (Personal Assurance (Guernsey) Limited) audit procedures were
performed by both the primary audit team and the component audit team, EY Guernsey.
The Group audit team interacted regularly with the component team where appropriate
during various stages of the audit, reviewed relevant working papers and were responsible
for the scope and direction of the audit process. This, together with the additional
procedures performed at Group level, gave us appropriate evidence for our opinion on
the Group financial statements.
Climate change
Stakeholders are increasingly interested in how climate change will impact Personal
Group Holdings Plc. The Group has explained their climate targets on pages 29 to 32 of
Environmental, Social and Governance disclosures. These disclosures form part of the
“Other information,” rather than the audited financial statements. Our procedures on these
unaudited disclosures therefore consisted solely of considering whether they are materially
inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the course of the
audit or otherwise appear to be materially misstated, in line with our responsibilities on
“Other information”.
In planning and performing our audit we assessed the potential impacts of climate change
on the Group’s business and any consequential material impact on its financial statements.
The Group has explained in the Basis of preparation note that they have concluded that
the physical and transition risks of climate change do not have a material impact on the
recognition and measurement of the assets and liabilities in these financial statements.
This is because the assets are reported at fair value under UK adopted international
accounting standards.
Our audit effort in considering the impact of climate change on the financial statements
was focused on evaluating management’s assessment of the impact of climate risk, physical
and transition, and their climate commitments. As part of this evaluation, we performed
our own risk assessment to determine the risks of material misstatement in the financial
statements from climate change which needed to be considered in our audit.
We also challenged the Directors’ considerations of climate change risks in their assessment
of going concern and associated disclosures.
Based on our work we have not identified the impact of climate change on the financial
statements to be a key audit matter or to impact a key audit matter.
57
Strategic Report
Overview
Governance
Financial Statements
Independent Auditor’s Report
continued
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period and include the most
significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we identified. These matters included those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit
strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements
as a whole, and in our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Risk
Our response to the risk
Valuation of Goodwill relating to the Pay and Reward cash generating unit (“CGU”) (Innecto and
QCG) (2024: £2.68m, 2023: £2.68m)
Refer to Accounting policies (page 75); and Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements
(pages 89-90)
Innecto was acquired by PGH in 2019, and QCG in 2022. Both businesses are treated as one CGU
due to the commonality of their business models, cash flows and management team.
As at 31 December 2024 we noted that the value of the Pay and Reward goodwill was sensitive
to the discount rate and the short-term growth rates of digital sales. The forecasted cash
flows are dependent on the continued projected growth from digital and consultancy income.
Current 2024 forecasts show a more positive outlook for the CGU, but due to economic
uncertainty and inflationary pressures this may impact the CGU’s ability to generate new
business and maintain its cost base, which in turn leads to uncertainty around future cash
flows and a heightened sensitivity to the applied discount rate.
The identified key assumptions involve significant judgement about future events for which
small changes can result in a material impact to the resultant valuation and therefore leads to
a greater risk of material misstatement.
The risk has remained unchanged from prior year.
To obtain sufficient and appropriate evidence to conclude on the valuation of goodwill at the
year end, we performed the following procedures:
Examined and assessed the appropriateness of management’s impairment model, including
an identification of the CGU and attributable cashflows, an assessment of discounted cash
flows, and understanding of the significant assumptions used in the impairment test for the
identified CGU;
Considered the increased uncertainty in the underlying forecasts and challenged the future
cash flow projections of the CGU, including the appropriateness of the applied short-term
and long-term growth rates and estimated conversion rates;
Challenged the future cash flow projections of the CGU to ensure pipeline business and
conversion rates included in the projections are appropriate by comparing to prior year
accuracy of forecasting and applying sensitivity analysis;
Engaged our valuation specialists to assess methodologies and assumptions used in the
analysis including the reasonableness of the discount rate by considering the CGU’s specific
circumstances as well as those of comparable companies;
Performed sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of certain key variables on levels of
headroom, including discount rate and growth assumptions; and
Considered whether the applied accounting treatment is in compliance with IFRS and
the Group’s accounting policy, and the Group disclosures are in line with the required
reporting framework.
Key observations communicated to the Audit Committee
We conclude that the carrying value of the goodwill is not materially misstated as there is sufficient headroom at 31 December 2024 under a reasonable range of scenarios, therefore no impairment
is required. We have reviewed the related disclosures and concluded that these appropriately reflect the uncertainty associated with the future cash flows of the Pay and Reward CGU, as well as the
sensitivities and key assumptions.
How we scoped our audit to respond to the risk
Goodwill arises solely on consolidation and as such the audit work to address this risk was performed by the primary audit team.
58
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Risk
Our response to the risk
Capitalisation of Computer Software and Website Development Costs as Intangible Assets
(2024: £4.41m, 2023: £0.44m)
Refer to Accounting policies (page 77); and Note 14 of the Consolidated Financial Statements
(pages 91-92)
Costs relating to the development of the HAPI v2 software, incurred in Personal Assurance
Services Limited (PAS), have been capitalised as computer software during the year. In the prior
year, this was held as work in progress (WIP).
There is a risk that costs may have been capitalised prematurely or inappropriately, without
having met the criteria set out in accounting standards, IAS 38 Intangible Assets. Inappropriate
capitalisation could lead to a material misstatement through overstatement of the company’s
assets and net income.
The risk is newly identified in the current year due to the significant growth in the intangible
asset in the year.
As part of our audit procedures, we performed the following:
Examine the company’s accounting policies for capitalisation of intangible assets to ensure
they are in line with IAS 38;
Evaluate whether the policies have been consistently applied;
Assessed whether the recognition criteria set out in IAS 38 Intangible Assets had been met,
such as identifiability, control over a resource, and the existence of future economic benefits;
Tested that costs are capitalised only when it is probable that the expected future economic
benefits will flow to the entity;
Reviewed the nature, existence and accuracy of the costs incurred to determine if they meet
the criteria for capitalisation (e.g., development costs vs. research costs);
Assessed the methods used for valuing intangible assets and test for impairment;
Reviewed cash flow projections and other valuation models used to determine if the
intangible assets were carried at more than their recoverable amount;
Assessed the amortisation methods and useful lives assigned to intangible assets to ensure
they are reasonable and consistent with the assets’ expected patterns of economic benefits;
Perform substantive testing on significant intangible asset additions to ensure they were
properly authorised, recorded, and supported by appropriate documentation; and
Reviewed financial statement disclosures related to intangible assets to ensure they are
complete, accurate, and in accordance with the relevant accounting standards.
Key observations communicated to the Audit Committee
We conclude that the Capitalisation of Computer Software and Website Development Costs recorded during the period are in line with IAS 38 Intangible Assets and are fairly stated.
How we scoped our audit to respond to the risk
Computer software and website development costs originate in Personal Assurance Services Limited and consolidates into Personal Group Holdings Plc, all audit work performed to address this
risk was undertaken by the primary audit team.
In the prior year, our auditor’s report included a key audit matter in relation to the Transition to IFRS 17. In the current year, this has been removed as the transition was a one-off event.
59
Strategic Report
Overview
Governance
Financial Statements
Independent Auditor’s Report
continued
Our application of materiality
We apply the concept of materiality in planning and performing the audit, in evaluating the
effect of identified misstatements on the audit and in forming our audit opinion.
Materiality
The magnitude of an omission or misstatement that, individually or in the aggregate,
could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of the users of the
financial statements. Materiality provides a basis for determining the nature and extent
of our audit procedures.
We determined materiality for the Group to be £341,000 (2023: £266,700), which is 5%
(2023: 5%) of profit before tax from continuing operations, adjusted for the profit on the
sale of Let’s Connect. We believe the focus of the shareholders to be the Group’s underlying
profitability and earnings per share. We consider that it remains the most appropriate basis
to determine materiality for the Group.
We determined materiality for the Parent Company to be £255,000 (2023: £258,940), which
is 1% (2023: 1%) of the Parent Company equity. We have used the capital-based measure for
determining materiality due to the Parent Company being a holding company. For the Group
audit purposes, we performed our audit procedures to the lower of the Parent Company and
the Group allocated performance materiality.
Starting basic
Profit before Tax £7.7m
Based on 31 December 2024
Adjustments
Adjustments related to the disposal of Lets Connect to
reflect the non-recurring nature of the transaction – £(0.9)m
Materiality
Totals £6.8m materiality basis
Materiality of £341K (5% of materiality basis)
During the course of our audit, we reassessed initial materiality and the change in final
materiality from our original assessment at planning is due to the difference between the
actual profit before tax as compared to forecasted profit before tax.
Performance materiality
The application of materiality at the individual account or balance level. It is set at an
amount to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate of
uncorrected and undetected misstatements exceeds materiality.
On the basis of our risk assessments, together with our assessment of the Group’s overall
control environment, our judgement was that performance materiality was 75% (2023: 75%)
of our planning materiality, namely £255,750 (2023: £200,030). We have set performance
materiality at this percentage because our prior year audit experience indicates a lower risk
of misstatements. Our assessment of the restatement of the cash and cash equivalents
concluded that this is non-recurring in nature and not indicative of a pervasive weakness
in the control environment.
Audit work was undertaken at component locations for the purpose of responding to the
assessed risks of material misstatement of the Group financial statements. The performance
materiality set for each component is based on the relative scale and risk of the component
to the Group as a whole and our assessment of the risk of misstatement at that component.
In the current year, the range of performance materiality allocated to components was
£49,950 to £199,800 (2023: £30,000 to £200,025).
Reporting threshold
An amount below which identified misstatements are considered as being clearly trivial.
We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them all uncorrected audit
differences in excess of £17,050 (2023: £13,335), which is set at 5% of planning materiality,
as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on
qualitative grounds.
We evaluate any uncorrected misstatements against both the quantitative measures of
materiality discussed above and in light of other relevant qualitative considerations in
forming our opinion.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report set out
on pages 1 to 54, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon.
The directors are responsible for the other information within the annual report.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except
to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in this report, we do not express any form of
assurance conclusion thereon.
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Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
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 course of 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements
themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material
misstatement of the 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 in the course of the audit:
the information given in the strategic report and the directors’ report for the financial
year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial
statements; and
the strategic report and directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with
applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company
and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material
misstatements in the strategic report or 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 by the parent company, or returns
adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the parent company 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
Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 54,
the directors 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 directors
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 directors are responsible for assessing the group
and parent 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 directors either intend to liquidate the group or the parent 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 the aggregate, they could
reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis
of these financial statements.
Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered
capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations.
We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect
irregularities, including fraud. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement due
to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may
involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations,
or through collusion. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting
irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.
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Financial Statements
However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with
both those charged with governance of the Group and management.
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable
to the Group and determined that the most significant are those that relate to the
reporting framework (UK adopted international accounting standards and the Companies
Act 2006) and the relevant direct tax regulation in the UK. In addition, the Company
is required to comply with laws and regulations relating to its operations, including
health and safety, employees, anti-bribery and corruption and General Data Protection
Regulation (‘GDPR’). Our considerations of other laws and regulations that may have
a material effect on the financial statements included permissions and supervisory
requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority (‘PRA’), the Financial Conduct
Authority (‘FCA’) and the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (‘GFSC’).
We understood how the Personal Group Holdings Plc is complying with those frameworks
by making inquiries with those charged with governance, internal audit and management
to understand how the Company maintains and communicates its policies and procedures
in these areas and corroborated this by reviewing supporting documentation. We also
reviewed correspondence with relevant authorities.
We assessed the susceptibility of the Group’s financial statements to material
misstatement, including how fraud might occur by considering the controls that the
Company has established to address the risks identified by the entity and to prevent
or detect fraud. Where fraud risk, including the risk of management override, was
considered to be higher, we performed audit procedures to address each identified
risk. These procedures included:
Reviewing estimates for evidence of management bias. Supported by our valuation
specialists, we assessed if there were any indicators of management bias in the
valuation of goodwill.
Testing the appropriateness of a sample of revenue transactions for the year ended
31 December 2024 including revenue earned around the cut-off date.
Testing the appropriateness of the capitalisation of computer software and website
development costs as intangible assets to ensure this is in line with the requirements
of IAS 38.
We evaluated the appropriateness of journal entries recorded in the general ledger,
with a focus on manual journals, and evaluated the business rationale for significant
and/or unusual transactions.
Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-
compliance with such laws and regulations. For direct laws and regulations, we
considered the extent of compliance with those laws and regulations as part of our
procedures on the related financial statement items. For both direct and other laws and
regulations, our procedures involved making enquiry of those charged with governance,
management and internal audit for their awareness of any non-compliance of laws and
regulations, inquiring about the policies that have been established to prevent non-
compliance with laws and regulations by officers and employees, inquiring about the
Company’s method of enforcing and monitoring compliance with such policies and
inspecting significant correspondence with the FCA, PRA and GFSC.
The Group operates in the insurance industry which is a highly regulated environment.
As such, the Senior Statutory Auditor considered the experience and expertise of the
engagement team to ensure that the team had the appropriate competence and
capabilities, which included the use of specialists where appropriate.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at https://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 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 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 company and the company’s
members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Ben Morphet (Senior statutory auditor)
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor
Birmingham
25 March 2025
Independent Auditor’s Report
continued
62
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Note
2024
£’000
Restated*
2023
£’000
Insurance revenue
32,166
28,708
Benefits and reward revenue
10,277
8,931
Other income
136
139
Investment income
6
1,197
807
Revenue
5
43,776
38,585
Insurance service expenses
7
(16,915)
(14,593)
Net expenses from reinsurance contracts held
7
(79)
(135)
Benefits and reward expenses
5
(7,810)
(7,362)
Other expenses
(73)
(94)
Group administration expenses
(11,788)
(11,159)
Share based payment expenses
(202)
(169)
Unrealised gains on equity investments
123
181
Charitable donations
(100)
(100)
Expenses
(36,844)
(33,431)
Results of operating activities
6,932
5,154
Finance costs
(106)
(76)
Profit before tax from Continuing Operations
6,826
5,078
Taxation
10
(1,298)
(899)
Profit for the year from Continuing Operations
5,528
4,179
Discontinued Operations
Gain on disposal of Let’s Connect
28
1,167
Other owned benefits revenues
2,572
11,081
Other owned benefits costs
(2,837)
(10,825)
Taxation on Discontinued Operations
66
(111)
(Loss)/profit for the year from Discontinued Operations
968
145
Profit for the year
6,496
4,324
*
Following the Group’s disposal of its entire issued share capital of Let’s Connect on 09 July 2024, Let’s Connect has been classified as a discontinued operation, and the prior-
year comparative figures have been restated accordingly in line with IFRS 5: Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations. See Note 28 for further details.
Consolidated Income Statement
for the year ended 31 December 2024
There is no other comprehensive income for
the year and, as a result, no statement of
comprehensive income has been produced.
The accompanying policies and
notes form an integral part of these
financial statements.
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Strategic Report
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Financial Statements
The profit for the year is attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc.
Basic EPS
Pence
Pence
From Continuing Operations
11
17.7
13.4
From Discontinued Operations
11
3.1
0.4
Total Basic EPS
20.8
13.8
Diluted EPS
Pence
Pence
From Continuing Operations
11
17.1
13.1
From Discontinued Operations
11
3.0
0.4
Total Diluted EPS
20.1
13.5
Consolidated Income Statement
continued
64
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Note
2024
£’000
Restated*
2023
£’000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Goodwill
13
2,684
2,684
Intangible assets
14
4,854
3,654
Property, plant and equipment
15
4,479
5,020
12,017
11,358
Current assets
Financial assets
16
9,912
6,961
Trade and other receivables
18
9,994
16,015
Inventories
17
272
Cash and cash equivalents
19
19,060
14,571
Current tax assets
304
12
39,270
37,831
Total assets
51,287
49,189
*
Financial assets and cash and cash equivalents have been restated. For further details, please see Note 30.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
at 31 December 2024
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Strategic Report
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Governance
Financial Statements
Note
2024
£’000
Restated
2023
£’000
EQUITY
Equity attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc
Share capital
20
1,562
1,562
Share premium
20
1,134
1,134
Capital redemption reserve
24
24
Share based payments reserve
495
513
Other reserve
(27)
(36)
Profit and loss reserve
31,652
28,798
Total equity
34,840
31,995
LIABILITIES
Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
21
1,158
790
Trade and other payables
22
343
567
1,501
1,357
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
22
14,052
15,100
Reinsurance contracts held
5
2
Insurance contract liabilities
23
889
735
14,946
15,837
Total liabilities
16,447
17,194
Total equity and liabilities
51,287
49,189
The financial statements were approved by the Board on 25 March 2025.
S Mace
P Brown (née Constant)
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Executive
Company number: 3194991
The accompanying accounting policies
and notes form an integral part of these
financial statements.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
continued
66
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Company Balance Sheet
at 31 December 2024
2024
2023
Note
£’000
£’000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Investment in subsidiary undertakings
24
25,798
25,620
25,798
25,620
Current assets
Financial assets
16
4,750
Trade and other receivables
18
331
803
Cash and cash equivalents
19
37
50
5,118
853
Total assets
30,916
26,473
EQUITY
Equity attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc
Share capital
20
1,562
1,562
Share premium
20
1,134
1,134
Capital redemption reserve
24
24
Share based payment reserve
495
575
Other reserve
(27)
(36)
Profit and loss reserve
22,374
22,635
Total equity
25,562
25,894
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
22
5,354
579
Total liabilities
5,354
579
Total equity and liabilities
30,916
26,473
The parent Company has taken advantage of section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not included its own profit and loss account
in these financial statements. The parent Company’s profit for the year was £3,343,000 (2023: £3,913,000).
The financial statements were approved by the Board on 25 March 2025.
S Mace
P Brown (née Constant)
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Executive
Company number: 3194991
The accompanying accounting policies
and notes form an integral part of these
financial statements.
67
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Financial Statements
Equity attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc
Share capital
£’000
Capital
redemption
reserve
£’000
Share premium
£’000
Share based
payment reserve
£’000
Other reserve
£’000
Profit and loss
reserve
£’000
Total equity
£’000
Balance as at 1 January 2024
1,562
24
1,134
513
(36)
28,798
31,995
Dividends paid
(3,857)
(3,857)
Employee share-based compensation
178
24
202
Proceeds of SIP* share sales
86
86
Cost of SIP shares sold
91
(91)
Cost of SIP shares purchased
(82)
(82)
Clearance of SBP Reserve for Lapsed Options
(196)
196
Transactions with owners
(18)
9
(3,642)
(3,651)
Profit for the year
-
-
-
-
-
6,496
6,496
Balance as at 31 December 2024
1,562
24
1,134
495
(27)
31,652
34,840
Balance as at 1 January 2023
1,562
24
1,134
367
(55)
27,946
30,978
Dividends paid
(3,482)
(3,482)
Employee share-based compensation
146
23
169
Proceeds of SIP* share sales
22
22
Cost of SIP shares sold
35
(35)
Cost of SIP shares purchased
(16)
(16)
Transactions with owners
146
19
(3,472)
(3,307)
Profit for the year
4,324
4,324
Balance as at 31 December 2023
1,562
24
1,134
513
(36)
28,798
31,995
*
PG Share Ownership Plan (SIP).
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 December 2024
68
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Company Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 December 2024
Equity attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc
Capital
redemption
Share based
Profit and loss
Share capital
reserve
Share premium
payment reserve
Other reserve
reserve
Total equity
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Balance as at 1 January 2024
1,562
24
1,134
575
(36)
22,635
25,894
Dividends paid
(3,857)
(3,857)
Employee share-based compensation
178
178
Proceeds of SIP share sales
86
86
Cost of SIP shares sold
91
(91)
Cost of SIP shares purchased
(82)
(82)
Clearance of SBP Reserve for Lapsed Options
(258)
258
Transactions with owners
(80)
9
(3,604)
(3,675)
Profit for the year
3,343
3,343
Balance as at 31 December 2024
1,562
24
1,134
495
(27)
22,374
25,562
Balance as at 1 January 2023
1,562
24
1,134
429
(55)
22,217
25,311
Dividends paid
(3,482)
(3,482)
Employee share-based compensation
146
146
Proceeds of SIP* share sales
22
22
Cost of SIP shares sold
35
(35)
Cost of SIP shares purchased
(16)
(16)
Transactions with owners
146
19
(3,495)
(3,330)
Profit for the year
3,913
3,913
Balance as at 31 December 2023
1,562
24
1,134
575
(36)
22,635
25,894
*
PG Share Ownership Plan (SIP).
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
69
Strategic Report
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Financial Statements
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
The accompanying accounting policies
and notes form an integral part of these
financial statements.
The Group presents the information
required by IFRS 5 in the notes to the
financial statements with no analysis of
continuing and discontinued operations on
the face of the statement of cash flows.
For more information, see Note 28.
Note
2024
£’000
Restated**
2023
£’000
Net cash from operating activities (see next page)
11,441
6,678
Investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment
15
(103)
(157)
Additions to intangible assets
14
(2,665)
(2,040)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
74
78
Purchases of financial assets**
(2,828)
(3,749)
Interest received
1,197
807
Proceeds from disposal of Let’s Connect
6
1,840
Net cash from investing activities
(2,485)
(5,061)
Financing activities
Interest paid
(1)
Purchase of own shares by the SIP*
(81)
(16)
Proceeds from disposal of own shares by the SIP*
85
25
Payment of lease liabilities
29
(614)
(530)
Dividends paid
12
(3,857)
(3,482)
Net cash used in financing activities
(4,467)
(4,004)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
4,489
(2,387)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
19
14,571
16,958
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
19
19,060
14,571
*
PG Share Ownership Plan (SIP).
**
2023 has been restated to reflect the additional purchases of financial assets (£2,926k) in the year, with the corresponding impact reducing the closing cash position by
this amount as at 31 December 2023. For more information on this, please see Note 30.
70
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Note
2024
£’000
Restated**
2023
£’000
Operating activities
Profit after tax
6,496
4,324
Adjustments for
Depreciation
15
1,145
1,135
Amortisation of intangible assets
14
1,429
770
Goodwill impairment
13
Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment
(9)
8
Profit on disposal of discontinued operations
(1,167)
Realised and unrealised investment (gains)/losses
(123)
(181)
Interest received
(1,197)
(807)
Interest charge
106
79
Share-based payment expenses
202
169
Taxation expense recognised in income statement
10
1,232
1,010
Changes in working capital
Trade and other receivables
5,106
(2,569)
Trade and other payables
(839)
3,247
Movement in insurance liabilities
154
(275)
Inventories
52
454
Taxes paid
(1,146)
(686)
Net cash from operating activities
11,441
6,678
*
PG Share Ownership Plan (SIP).
**
2023 has been restated to reflect the additional purchases of financial assets (£2,926k) in the year, with the corresponding impact reducing the closing cash position by
this amount as at 31 December 2023. For more information on this, please see Note 30.
The accompanying accounting policies
and notes form an integral part of these
financial statements.
The Group presents the information
required by IFRS 5 in the notes to the
financial statements with no analysis of
continuing and discontinued operations on
the face of the statement of cash flows.
For more information, see Note 28.
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Financial Statements
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
72
Company Cash Flow Statement
2024
2023
Note
£’000
£’000
Net cash from operating activities (see below)
4,840
(1,012)
Investing activities
Purchase of financial assets
(4,750)
Dividends received
3,750
4,300
Net cash used in investing activities
1,000
4,300
Financing activities
Purchase of own shares by the SIP*
(81)
(16)
Proceeds from disposal of own shares by the SIP*
85
25
Dividends paid
12
(3,857)
(3,482)
Net cash used in financing activities
(3,853)
(3,473)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
(13)
(187)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
19
50
237
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
19
37
50
Operating activities
Profit after tax
3,278
3,913
Changes in working capital
Trade and other receivables
472
(482)
Trade and other payables
4,840
(143)
Dividends received
(3,750)
(4,300)
Net cash from operating activities
4,840
(1,012)
*
PG Share Ownership Plan (SIP).
The parent Company has cash and cash
equivalents at 31 December 2024 including
£6,000 (2023: £3,000) of Company’s own
cash and £31,000 (2023: £47,000) relating to
the purchase and sale of SIP shares by the
employee benefit trust.
The accompanying accounting policies
and notes form an integral part of these
financial statements.
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
73
Notes to the Financial Statements
1 General information
The principal activities of Personal Group Holdings Plc (“the Company”) and subsidiaries
(together “the Group”) include providing employee services and transacting short-term
accident and health insurance in the UK.
The Company is a limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in England.
The address of its registered office is John Ormond House, 899 Silbury Boulevard, Milton
Keynes, MK9 3XL.
The Company is listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
These financial statements have been approved for issue by the Board of Directors on
25 March 2025.
2 Accounting policies
These financial statements of Personal Group Holdings Plc are for the year ended
31 December 2024. The consolidated Group and individual Company financial statements
are prepared in accordance with UK endorsed IFRS in conformity with the requirements of
Companies Act 2006.
No individual profit and loss account is prepared for Personal Group Holdings Plc as provided
by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.
Standards issued but not yet effective
The new and amended standards and interpretations that are issued, but not yet effective,
up to the date of issuance of the Group’s financial statements are disclosed below.
The Group intends to adopt these new and amended standards and interpretations,
if applicable, when they become effective.
IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements
In April 2024, the IASB issued IFRS 18, which replaces IAS 1 Presentation of Financial
Statements. IFRS 18 introduces new requirements for presentation within the statement
of profit or loss, including specified totals and subtotals. Furthermore, entities are required
to classify all income and expenses within the statement of profit or loss into one of five
categories: operating, investing, financing, income taxes and discontinued operations,
whereof the first three are new.
It also requires disclosure of newly defined management-defined performance measures,
subtotals of income and expenses, and includes new requirements for aggregation and
disaggregation of financial information based on the identified ‘roles’ of the primary
financial statements (PFS) and the notes.
In addition, narrow-scope amendments have been made to IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows,
which include changing the starting point for determining cash flows from operations
under the indirect method, from ‘profit or loss’ to ‘operating profit or loss’ and removing the
optionality around classification of cash flows from dividends and interest. In addition, there
are consequential amendments to several other standards.
IFRS 18, and the amendments to the other standards, is effective for reporting periods
beginning on or after 1 January 2027, but earlier application is permitted and must be
disclosed. IFRS 18 will apply retrospectively.
The Group is currently working to identify all impacts the amendments will have on the
primary financial statements and notes to the financial statements.
Insurance contracts
IFRS 17 sets out the classification, measurement and presentation and disclosure
requirements for insurance contracts. It requires insurance contracts to be measured using
current estimates and assumptions that reflect the timing of cash flows and recognition of
profits as insurance services are delivered. The standard provides two main measurement
models which are the General Measurement Model (“GMM”) and the Premium Allocation
Approach (“PAA”).
The PAA simplifies the measurement of insurance contracts for remaining coverage
in comparison to the GMM. The PAA is very similar to Personal Group’s previous
accounting policies under IFRS 4 for calculating revenue, however there are some
presentation changes.
The GMM is used for the measurement of the liability for incurred claims.
PAA eligibility
Under IFRS 17, Personal Group’s insurance contracts issued are all eligible to be measured by
applying the PAA, due to meeting the following criteria:
Insurance contracts with coverage period of one year or less are automatically eligible.
This covers all hospital, recovery, and death benefit insurance contracts.
Modelling of contracts with a coverage period greater than one year (employee default
policies) produces a measurement for the group of insurance contracts that does not
differ materially from that which would be produced applying the GMM.
Level of aggregation
Personal Group manages all insurance contracts as one portfolio within the insurance
operating segment as they are subject to similar risks.
2 Accounting policies
continued
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
74
Onerous contracts
Under the PAA, it is assumed there are no contracts in the portfolio that are onerous at
initial recognition, unless there are facts and circumstances that may indicate otherwise.
Given the short-tailed nature of policies issued be Personal Group, management do
not consider there to be any material circumstance under which policies in issue would
be onerous.
Modification and derecognition
Personal Group derecognises insurance contracts when the rights and obligations relating
to the contract are extinguished (meaning discharged, cancelled, or expired) or the contract
is modified such that the modification results in a change in the measurement model or the
applicable standard for measuring the contract.
Contract boundaries
The measurement of insurance contracts includes all future cash flows expected to arise
within the boundary of each contract. Cash flows are within the boundary of an insurance
contract if they arise from substantive rights and obligations that exist during the reporting
period in which Personal Group can compel the policyholder to pay premiums or in which it
has a substantive obligation to provide the policyholder with services.
Personal Group assesses the contract boundary at initial recognition and at each
subsequent reporting date to include the effects of changes in circumstances on the
Group’s substantive rights and obligations. The assessment of the contract boundary, which
defines the future cash flows that are included in the measurement of the contract, requires
judgement and consideration.
Personal Group primarily issues insurance contracts which provide coverage to
policyholders in the event of hospitalisation, recovery, or death. While the contracts are
typically weekly or monthly in their term length, the contract boundary is assessed with
consideration of the delayed timing around claims of this nature and the timing of expected
future claims payments with reference to the covered loss event.
Measurement – Liability for remaining coverage
On initial recognition of insurance contract, the carrying amount of the liability for
remaining coverage is measured as the premiums received on initial recognition, if any,
minus any reinsurance acquisition expense cash flows allocated to the contracts and any
amounts arising from the derecognition of the prepaid reinsurance acquisition expense
cash flows asset. Personal Group has chosen to expense insurance acquisition expense cash
flows as incurred on its contracts as they have coverage of less than one year.
Subsequently, at the end of each reporting period, the liability for remaining coverage is
increased by any additional premiums received in the period and decreased for the amounts
of expected premium cash flows recognised as reinsurance revenue for the services
provided in the period.
Personal Group has elected not to adjust the liability for remaining coverage for the time
value of money as its insurance contracts do not contain a significant financing component.
2.1 Basis of preparation
The functional and presentational currency of the Group is Sterling. These statements
and the prior year comparatives have been presented to the nearest thousand, unless
otherwise stated.
In preparing these consolidated financial statements, management has made judgements,
estimates and assumptions that affect the application of the Group’s accounting policies
and the reported amount of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may
differ from these estimates. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an
ongoing basis. Revisions to estimates are recognised prospectively.
Climate Risk
In preparing these financial statements the Directors have considered the impact of the
physical and transition risks of climate change, but have concluded that it does not have a
material impact on the recognition and measurement of the assets and liabilities in these
financial statements as at 31 December 2024. This is because the assets are reported at
fair value except for non-current assets of £12m which are reported at historical cost less
impairment under UK endorsed international accounting standards. Market prices will
include the current expectations of the impact of climate change on these investments.
Insurance liabilities are accrued based on past insurable events so will not be impacted by
any future impact of climate change and are short tailed in nature. However, we recognise
that government and societal responses to climate change risks are still developing and the
future impact cannot be predicted. Future valuations of assets may therefore differ as the
market responds to these changing impacts or assesses the impact of current requirements
differently and the frequency/magnitude of future insurable events linked to the effect of
climate risks could change.
Judgements
Information about judgements made in applying accounting policies that have the most
significant effects on the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements is
included in the following note:
Agent vs principal (Note 2.22) – whether the sale of discounted vouchers should be
treated as a principal or agency transaction.
2 Accounting policies
continued
2.1 Basis of preparation
continued
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
75
Assumptions and estimation uncertainties
Information about assumptions and estimation uncertainties that have a significant risk of
resulting in a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the
year ending 31 December 2024 is included in the following notes:
Goodwill valuation (Note 13) – key assumptions underlying recoverable amounts.
Establishing the value of insurance contract liabilities (Note 23) – key assumptions
regarding the provisions for claims.
Going concern
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis. In considering going
concern, the Directors have reviewed the Group’s and Company’s future cash requirements,
earnings projections and capital projections over the period to 26 March 2026. The Directors
believe that projections have been prepared on a prudent basis and have also considered the
impact of a range of potential changes to trading performance over the period to 26 March
2026, including the impacts of climate risk discussed above.
Having prepared and considered these stress scenarios the Directors have concluded that
the Group and Company will be able to operate without requiring any external funding
and therefore believe it is appropriate to prepare the financial statements of the Group
and Company on a going concern basis. This is supported by the Group’s, and Company’s,
liquidity position at the year end.
2.2 Basis of consolidation
Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The Group controls an entity when it is
exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has
the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. In assessing control,
the Group takes into consideration potential voting rights that are currently exercisable.
The acquisition date is the date on which control is transferred to the acquirer. The financial
statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the
date that control commences until the date that control ceases.
Intra-Group balances and transactions, and any unrealised income and expenses arising
from these transactions, are eliminated on consolidation.
2.3 Goodwill and acquired intangibles
Goodwill representing the excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the
Group’s share of the identifiable net assets acquired, is capitalised and reviewed annually
for impairment. Goodwill is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Negative
goodwill is recognised immediately after acquisition in the income statement. Intangible
assets meeting the relevant recognition criteria are initially measured at cost and amortised
on a systematic basis over their useful lives.
2.4 Revenue
Revenue is measured by reference to the fair value of consideration received or
receivable by the Group for goods supplied and services provided, excluding VAT,
IPT and trade discounts. Whilst IFRS 15 considerations have been noted for the most
significant revenue streams to which it is applicable, the insurance revenue stream is out
of scope for IFRS 15.
Insurance Revenue
Insurance income is recognised in the period in which the Group is legally bound through
a contract to provide insurance cover, which is typically a week or a month in length
and renews at the end of each cover period. Insurance revenue represents the expected
premium cash flows net of any deductions that are paid to reinsurance providers, excluding
any investment components. Insurance revenue is shown before deduction of commission
and excludes any sales-based taxes or duties.
Other insurance related
Commission receivable on the renewal of previously sold financial services are recognised
by the Group as the renewal takes place with the underwriter.
Platform income
Platform income, including that derived from Hapi, is recognised on a straight-line basis
over the length of the contract.
Where a proportion of this income and costs, credited or charged in the current year, relate
to the provision of services provided in the following year, they are carried forward as
deferred income or costs, calculated on a daily pro-rata basis.
   
IFRS 15 – Platform income (Benefits and Reward)
Performance Obligations
Ongoing access to Hapi platform with each relevant month access
 
is provided being considered a separate performance obligation.
Transaction Price
Prices are typically set on a per employee or fixed rate and are
 
agreed with each client individually.
Allocation of Price
Price allocated evenly to each period/performance obligation.
Satisfaction of Obligations
Recognised straight-line over period of agreement of service as the
 
performance obligation is deemed to be met each month as the
 
contract progresses.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
2 Accounting policies
continued
2.4 Revenue
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
76
Voucher income derives from customers ordering retail vouchers through the Hapi
platform. E-vouchers are fulfilled and made available instantly to the customer while, for
reloadable cards, customers receive these several working days after placing the order.
Income from the sale of reloadable cards and e-vouchers is recognised as orders are fulfilled
by the Group. These transactions the Group acts as agency income. Refer to 2.22 for further
details of agent vs principal assessment.
   
IFRS 15 – Voucher resale income (Benefits and Reward)
Performance Obligations
Provision of voucher to individuals/companies.
Transaction Price
Prices are based on each retailer’s discount on purchase into
 
the Group.
Allocation of Price
Whole price allocated to the sole performance obligation.
Satisfaction of Obligations
Recognised on dispatch of voucher as this is the point at which the
 
Group has fulfilled its part of the agreed contract.
The Group receives income from its provision of HR consultancy services to corporate clients.
Consultancy income is recognised in the profit and loss account at the relevant charge out
rates of the consultants and based on the chargeable time spent on each client project.
   
IFRS 15 – Consultancy income (Benefits and Reward)
Performance Obligations
Provision of consultancy services, typically based on an agreed
 
number of consultant hours.
Transaction Price
Prices are based on each contractual client agreement, dependant
 
on the level and duration of consultant hours spent.
Allocation of Price
Each chargeable hour will have an agreed price dependant on the
 
level and experience of the consultant.
Satisfaction of Obligations
Each consultant hour charged is considered a separate performance
 
obligation and recognition is recorded periodically (typically
 
monthly) based on chargeable hours in that period.
Costs incurred to fulfil a contract
Costs incurred to fulfil a contract under IFRS 15 are recognised as an asset under certain
conditions laid out in IFRS 15.95. The capitalised contract costs are amortised on a
systematic basis that is consistent with the Company’s transfer of the related goods or
services to the customer.
Capitalised contract costs are subject to an impairment assessment at the end of each
reporting period. Impairment losses are recognised in the profit or loss. There are no
contracts in the Group for which these conditions are met and, as such, no assets have
been recognised.
Investment income
Interest income is recognised on an effective interest rate method.
Discontinued operations – Other Owned Benefits – IT Salary Sacrifice
Income from the provision of salary sacrifice technology products were recognised when
the goods were dispatched.
   
IFRS 15 – IT salary sacrifice income (Other Owned Benefits)
Performance Obligations
Provision of IT goods to employer companies. Goods were acquired
 
by the Group from various suppliers and held as inventory until sold
 
to customers at an agreed price.
Transaction Price
Purchase price varied dependant on product purchased but is
 
clearly indicated.
Allocation of Price
Prices were allocated by product, volumes and values.
Satisfaction of Obligations
Revenue was recognised on dispatch as Group has met its
 
performance obligation as per the contracts in place.
2.5 Reinsurance
Outwards reinsurance premiums are accounted for in the same accounting period as the
insurance revenue for the related direct or inwards business being reinsured.
Amounts recoverable under reinsurance contracts are assessed for impairment at each
balance sheet date. As required, impairment losses are recognised in the income statement
and the carrying amount of assets are impaired so that they do not exceed the expected net
cash inflow for the Group.
2.6 Measurement – Liability for incurred claims
The liability for incurred claims represents the estimated ultimate cost of settling all
insurance claims arising from events that have occurred up to the end of the reporting
period, including the operating costs that are expected to be incurred in the course of
settling such claims. The liability for claims is derived from the estimated fulfilment cash
flows relating to expected claims. The fulfilment cash flows incorporate, in an unbiased
way, all reasonable and supportable information available, without undue cost of effort,
about the amount, timing and uncertainty of those future cash flows. They also include
an explicit risk adjustment. Estimates of future cash flows for incurred claims are not
discounted on initial recognition due to the immateriality of the impact of the time value
of money as discussed in Note 23.
2 Accounting policies
continued
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
77
2.7 Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment and software intangibles are stated at cost, net of
depreciation, amortisation and any provision for impairment. No depreciation or
amortisation is charged during the period of construction.
Research and development
Expenditure on research activities is recognised in the income statement as an expense
as incurred.
Expenditure on development activities is capitalised if the product or process is technically
and commercially feasible and the Group intends, and has the technical ability and sufficient
resources to, complete development, future economic benefits are probable and if the
Group can measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its
development. Development activities involve a plan or design for the production of new or
substantially improved products or processes.
The expenditure capitalised includes the cost of materials, external consultancy costs and
salary costs where a distinct product has been created. Other development expenditure is
recognised in the income statement as an expense as incurred. Capitalised development
expenditure is stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and less accumulated
impairment losses.
Disposal of assets
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between
the disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in the
income statement.
Amortisation and depreciation
Amortisation and depreciation are calculated to write down the cost or valuation less
estimated residual value of all intangible assets, and tangible assets other than freehold
land excluding investment properties by equal annual instalments over their estimated
economic useful lives.
Residual value is reviewed annually and amended if material.
The rates generally applicable are:
Freehold properties
50 years
Motor vehicles
3 – 4 years
Computer equipment
2 – 4 years
Furniture, fixtures and fittings
5 – 10 years
Computer software and development
2 – 4 years
Internally generated intangibles
3 – 5 years
Intangible assets
3 – 5 years
Right of Use Assets
Term of Lease
2.8 Leases
Under IFRS 16, with the exception of short-term or low value leases, all operating and
finance leases are accounted for in the balance sheet. On inception of the lease, the
future payments, including any expected end of life costs, are discounted based on the
implicit interest rate in the specific lease. A “Right of Use” asset is created at an equal value
depreciated over the life of the lease which is determined by the contract with any break
clauses being reviewed as to the expected use at the time of inception and at each following
year end. Payments made to the lessor are debited to the balance sheet and the income
statement is charged with monthly depreciation and interest which is included as finance
costs in the accounts.
Low value leases or short life leases of less than one year are expensed directly into the
income statement account on a straight line over the life of the lease.
2.9 Impairment of non-financial assets
For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which
there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash-generating units). As a result, some assets
are tested individually for impairment and some are tested at cash-generating unit level.
Goodwill is allocated to those cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from
synergies of the related business combination and represent the lowest level within the
Group at which management monitors the related cash flows.
Goodwill, other individual assets or cash-generating units that include goodwill and those
intangible assets not yet available for use are tested for impairment at least annually.
All other individual assets or cash-generating units are tested for impairment whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be
recoverable. See Note 13 for further details on the impairment testing of goodwill.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
2 Accounting policies
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
78
2.10 Taxation
Current tax is the tax currently payable based on taxable profit for the year.
Deferred income taxes are calculated using the liability method on temporary differences.
Deferred tax is generally provided on the difference between the carrying amounts of
assets and liabilities and their tax bases.
However, deferred tax is not provided on the initial recognition of goodwill, nor on the initial
recognition of an asset or liability unless the related transaction is a business combination or
affects tax or accounting profit.
Deferred tax on temporary differences associated with shares in subsidiaries is not provided
if reversal of these temporary differences can be controlled by the Group and it is probable
that reversal will not occur in the foreseeable future. In addition, tax losses available to be
carried forward as well as other income tax credits to the Group are assessed for recognition
as deferred tax assets.
Deferred tax liabilities are provided in full, with no discounting. Deferred tax assets are
recognised to the extent that it is probable that the underlying deductible temporary
differences will be able to be offset against future taxable income. Current and deferred tax
assets and liabilities are calculated at tax rates that are expected to apply to their respective
period of realisation, provided they are enacted or substantively enacted at the balance
sheet date.
2.11 Financial assets
Financial assets include; equity investments, bank deposits (as defined below); loans and
other receivables. Financial assets are assigned to the different categories by management
on initial recognition, depending on the purpose for which they were acquired.
A financial asset is measured at amortised cost if it is both: held within a business model
whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows; and its contractual
terms give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the
amount outstanding. For the purposes of this assessment, “principal” is defined as the fair
value of the financial asset on initial recognition, and “interest” is defined as consideration
for the time value of money and for the credit risk associated with the principal amount
outstanding. In assessing whether the contractual cash flows are solely payments of
principal and interest, the Group considers the contractual terms of the instrument,
including any terms which may affect the timing or amount of contractual cash flows.
Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable
payments that are not quoted in an active market. Loans and receivables are measured
subsequent to initial recognition at amortised cost using the effective interest method,
less provision for impairment. Any change in their value through impairment or reversal of
impairment is recognised in the income statement.
Fixed interest rate bank deposits with a maturity date of three months or more from
the date of acquisition are measured at fair value (historical cost plus accrued interest).
Equity investments are financial assets categorised as fair value through profit and loss and
are initially recognised at fair value on the date acquired and are subsequently re-measured
at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of equity investments are recognised in profit or
loss. In assessing impairment requirements on financial assets (which are not categorised as
fair value through profit and loss), the Group considers the rate of historic losses on similar
assets in conjunction with expected future losses and credit losses as a result of potential
defaults. This will, as mandated by IFRS 9, continue to be reassessed as and when further
information becomes available or when conditions change.
A financial asset is de-recognised only where the contractual rights to the cash flows
from the asset expire or the financial asset is transferred, and that transfer qualifies for
de-recognition. A financial asset is transferred if the contractual rights to receive the cash
flows of the asset have been transferred or the Group retains the contractual rights to
receive the cash flows of the asset but assumes a contractual obligation to pay the cash
flows to one or more recipients. A financial asset that is transferred qualifies for de-
recognition if the Group transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the
asset, or if the Group neither retains nor transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of
ownership but does transfer control of that asset.
Impairment of financial assets
The Group assesses on a forward-looking basis, the expected credit losses (ECL) associated
with its debt instrument assets carried at amortised cost. The Group calculates the lifetime
ECL as a practical expedient for short-term receivables. A loss allowance is recognised for
such losses at each reporting date. The Group measures ECL on each balance sheet date
according to a three stage ECL impairment model:
Stage 1 – from initial recognition of the financial asset to the date on which the asset has
experienced a significant increase in credit risk (SICR) relative to its initial recognition, a
loss allowance is equal to the credit loss expected to result from default occurring over 12
months following the reporting date.
Stage 2 – following a significant increase in credit risk relative to the initial recognition of
the financial asset, a loss allowance is recognised equal to the credit losses expected over
the remaining lifetime of the asset. Where an SICR is no longer observed, the instrument will
move back to Stage 1.
2 Accounting policies
continued
2.11 Financial assets
continued
Impairment of financial assets
continued
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
79
Stage 3 – when the financial asset is considered to be credit impaired, a loss allowance
is recognised equal to the credit losses expected over the remaining life of the asset.
Interest and revenue is calculated based on the gross carrying amount of the asset, net of
the loss allowance.
The measurement of the ECL reflects an unbiased and probability-weighted amount that is
determined by evaluating a range of possible outcomes, the time value of money and reasonable
and supportable information that is available without undue cost and effort at the reporting
date about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions.
2.12 Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are classified as measured at amortised cost or fair value through
profit and loss (FVTPL). A financial liability is classified as at FVTPL if it is classified as
held-for-trading or it is designated as such on initial recognition.
Financial liabilities are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective
interest method, with interest related charges recognised as an expense in finance cost
in the income statement. Finance charges, including premiums payable on settlement or
redemption and direct issue costs, are charged to the income statement on an accruals basis
using the effective interest method and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument
to the extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise.
There are no financial liabilities categorised as at fair value through profit or loss.
A financial liability is de-recognised only when the obligation is extinguished, that is, when
the obligation is discharged or cancelled or expires.
2.13 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and demand deposits, together with
other short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into known amounts
of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.
As stated in Note 2.11 fixed interest rate bank deposits with the maturity date of three
months or more from the date of acquisition are classified as financial assets.
2.14 Investments in subsidiary undertakings
Company investments in subsidiary undertakings and joint ventures held in the Company
Balance Sheet are shown at cost less impairment provisions. Impairment testing is
completed as and when an indicator for impairment under IAS 36 arises. If the carrying
amount of the investment exceeds its recoverable amount (calculated as the higher of Fair
Value Less Costs of Disposal or Value in Use), an impairment loss is recognised in accordance
with IAS 36, reducing the investment’s alue to its recoverable amount.
2.15 Equity
Equity comprises the following:
“Share capital” represents the nominal value of equity shares.
“Share premium account” represents the amount paid on issue for equity shares in excess
of their nominal value.
“Capital redemption reserve” represents the nominal value of its own equity shares
purchased, and then cancelled, by the Group.
“Share based payments reserve” represents the equity value of the accumulated share
based payments expenses in long-term incentive plans.
“Other reserve” represents the investment in own Company shares by the Employee
Benefit Trust.
“Profit and loss reserve” represents retained profits.
2.16 Employee benefits
Defined contribution group and self-invested personal pension schemes.
The pension costs charged against profits are the contributions payable to the schemes in
respect of the accounting period.
2.17 Share-based payment
Equity-settled share-based payment
All goods and services received in exchange for the grant of any share-based payment are
measured at their fair values. Where employees are rewarded using share-based payments,
the fair values of employees’ services are determined indirectly by reference to the fair value
of the instrument as at the date it is granted to the employee.
All equity-settled share-based payments are ultimately recognised as an expense in the
income statement with a corresponding credit to “profit and loss reserve”.
If vesting periods or other non-market vesting conditions apply, the expense is allocated
over the vesting period, based on the best available estimate of the number of share options
expected to vest. Estimates are subsequently revised if there is any indication that the
number of share options expected to vest differs from previous estimates. Any cumulative
adjustment prior to vesting is recognised in the current period.
No adjustment is made to any expense recognised in prior periods if share options ultimately
exercised are different to that estimated on vesting.
Upon exercise of share options, the proceeds received net of attributable transaction costs
are credited to share capital, and where appropriate share premium.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
2 Accounting policies
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
80
2.18 Employee benefit trust
The assets and liabilities of the Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) have been included in the
Group accounts. Any assets held by the EBT cease to be recognised on the Group balance
sheet when the assets vest unconditionally in identified beneficiaries.
The costs of purchasing own shares held by the EBT are shown as a deduction against
equity. The proceeds from the sale of own shares held increase equity. Neither the
purchase nor sale of own shares leads to a gain or loss being recognised in the Group
income statement.
At present the Company operates a plan whereby all employees are entitled to make
monthly payments to the trust via payroll deductions. The current allocation period is
six months and shares are allocated to employees at the end of each allocation period.
The shares are allocated at the lower of the mid-market price at the beginning and
end of the allocation period. The trust Company has not waived its right to dividends
on unallocated shares. Any profit or loss on allocation of shares to individuals is taken
directly to the “other reserve” within equity.
2.19 Shares held in an employee benefit trust
Transactions of the Company sponsored EBT are treated as being those of the Company and
are therefore, reflected in these financial statements.
2.20 Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due
allowance for obsolete and slow-moving items. Cost includes all direct costs and an
appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.
2.21 Provisions
A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the Group has a present legal, or
constructive, obligation as a result of a past event, that can be reliably measured, and it is
probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation.
Provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate
that reflects risks specific to the liability.
2.22 Agent vs Principal
The sale of discounted vouchers, be it physical or electronic, represents a significant
activity for the Group with revenue presented as voucher resale income within the Benefits
and Reward segment. The Group has a mixture of relationships with retailers and third-
party suppliers, depending on the offering. Some offerings require purchasing inventory
in advance while others require the maintaining of cash floats with suppliers and others
require the settlement of supplier invoices as they are received.
Depending on the contractual relationship and the nature of the transactions with the
relevant suppliers, the Group has made a judgement on whether the offerings constitute
agency or principal transactions. This judgement is significant in nature as it has a material
impact on the revenue and cost of sales of the Group.
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
81
3 Risk management objectives and policies
The Board recognises that the effective management of risks and opportunities is
fundamental to achieving the Group’s strategic objectives. As a result, it is important there
is a strong risk management culture throughout the Group, and that we identify, assess and
appropriately optimise the key risks to the Group achieving this strategy.
To achieve its objectives as well as sustainable profitability, the Group may pursue the
opportunities that gave rise to risk. Therefore, we have adopted an Enterprise Risk
Management Framework as part of our decision making and business management process.
As a result of this rigorous approach, the Group can maintain financial security, produce
good outcomes and the fair treatment of customers, and meet the needs of other parties
such as shareholders, employees, suppliers and regulators.
We review the risk management strategy regularly, particularly after any significant change
to the change environment and, each year, after the approval of the Group’s strategy and
business plans. The most significant financial risks to which the Group and Company are
exposed under normal circumstances are described in this section.
Credit risk
The Group’s and Company’s exposure to credit risk includes the carrying value of certain
financial assets at the balance sheet date, summarised as follows:
   
 
Group
Company
   
Restated
   
 
2024
2023
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Other receivables
7,878
13,857
Accrued interest
2
2
Cash and cash equivalents
19,060
14,571
37
50
Equity investments
1,593
1,470
Bank deposits
8,319
5,491
4,750
Total credit risk
36,852
35,391
4,787
50
A large proportion of the Group’s revenue is generated from the sale of insurance policies
to individual customers, with most of the premiums collected, and paid over to the Group,
by the individuals’ employer via payroll deduction. The vast majority of employers pay over
payroll deductions made, within one month, on a regular basis, thereby minimising the
credit risk exposure to the Group.
The use of payroll deductions by a “host company employer” would not be permitted where
the Board believed there may be a significant credit risk. Receivables past their due date are
summarised within Note 18. The credit risk for liquid funds and other short-term financial
assets is considered negligible, since the counterparties are all regulated in the UK by
the PRA.
At 31 December 2024 the counterparties were as follows: The Co-operative Bank plc,
HSBC Bank Plc, Lloyds Bank Plc, Link Treasury Services Limited and Aberdeen Standard
Investments. Long-term rate credit ratings for these counterparties range from AA to B
(ratings sourced from Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s) (2023: AA to B rating range).
The Group is also exposed to the recoverability of receivables from reinsurers.
At 31 December 2024, the Group utilised two reinsurances counterparties, namely,
Swiss Re Europe S.A., United Kingdom Branch and AXA XL Insurance Life Syndicate 3002.
Credit ratings for this reinsurer range from A+ to AA.
All subsidiary undertakings are 100% owned by the Company or subsidiaries thereof.
There is at least one Director of Personal Group Holdings on each of the larger subsidiary
companies’ Boards and all operations are controlled from within the registered office
in Milton Keynes. The Company Directors have a good understanding of the operational
performance of each of the subsidiary undertakings. The Company Directors are satisfied
that the subsidiary undertakings have sufficient future income streams to enable the
liabilities to be repaid in full in the foreseeable future.
Information relating to the fair value measurement of financial assets can be found in
Note 16.
Interest rate risk
The Group is not exposed to any financial liabilities with an interest element aside from the
interest element intrinsic in leases.
At 31 December 2024, bank deposits and cash and cash equivalents were £27,400,000
(2023: £20,100,000). If UK interest rates increased by 2%, net finance income would increase
by approximately £548,000 with a corresponding increase to equity.
Market risk
The Group is exposed to market risk, in the form of equity price risk, in respect of its equity
investments in managed funds which are invested in worldwide equities and so are valued
via directly observable inputs (level 1 inputs). The assets are measured at fair value through
profit and loss. An increase of 10% in the Group’s equity investments would result in an
unrealised gain in the income statement of £159,000.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
3 Risk management objectives and policies
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
82
Liquidity risk
Cash balances are managed internally and amounts are placed on short-term deposits
(currently not exceeding six months) to ensure that sufficient funds are available at all times
to pay all liabilities as and when they fall due.
As at 31 December 2024, the Group’s and Company’s liabilities have contractual maturities
(including interest payments where applicable) as summarised below:
   
 
Within 6
6–12
   
 
months
months
1–5 years
Total*
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Group
       
At 31 December 2024
       
Trade and other payables
12,965
141
43
14,395
Insurance contract liabilities
479
889
Total liquidity risk
13,444
141
43
15,284
At 31 December 2023
       
Trade and other payables
14,382
174
43
15,667
Insurance contract liabilities
(20)
735
Total liquidity risk
14,362
174
43
16,402
*
The table above excludes non-cash items relating to insurance liabilities for remaining coverage or unearned
revenue across the different business segments.
As at 31 December 2024, the Company did not have any contractual maturities (including
interest payments where applicable).
Currency risk
The Group is not exposed to any currency risk as all business is conducted in GBP and all bank
accounts were held in GBP in both 2024 and 2023.
Insurance claim and related risks
During the year, Personal Assurance Plc (PA) underwrote two categories of business and
Personal Assurance (Guernsey) Ltd (PAGL) a further two categories, which are described in
detail below:
Hospital cash plans and other personal accident and sickness policies
These have been PA’s core products since 1984 and, at 31 December 2024, represent 99.4%
(2023: 99.2%) of PA’s gross premiums written. The vast majority of these policies are sold to
individuals at their place of work as part of an employee benefits package introduced by PGH
on behalf of the employer. The gross loss ratio (excluding claims handling costs) on these
policies at 31 December 2024 was 28.7% (2023: 26.9%). While the loss ratio has increased year
on year, historic losses have been consistent over the period of time that these policies have
been underwritten and therefore the Board has taken the decision to continue to accept the
underwriting risk in full and not to use reinsurance as a way of managing insurance claim
risk. This will continue to be reviewed to ensure that this remains appropriate going forward.
At present the maximum payable on any one single claim is £91,375 (2023: £91,375) and would
only be payable after a period of hospital confinement of two years. The total number of these
individual policies in force at 31 December 2024 was 199,566 (2023: 177,073) and the total
annualised premium value of these policies was £26,793,752 (2023: £23,399,000). The average
amount paid per claim in 2024 was £180 (2023: £187).
Voluntary Group Income Protection policies (VGIP)
In July 2012 PA commenced the underwriting of VGIP policies. In order to manage this
insurance risk, the Board took out a quota share reinsurance policy to exclusively cover
this part of the business. Under this reinsurance policy 90% of the value of each claim is
recoverable from the reinsurer.
At 31 December 2024 these policies represent 0.6% (2023: 0.8%) of PA’s gross
premiums written. The total annualised premium value of these policies was £134,000
(2023: £163,000). The gross loss ratio (excluding claims handling costs) on these policies at
31 December 2024 was 10.1% (2023: 17.5%). The total number of these individual policies in
force at 31 December 2024 was 357 (2023: 430) and the average amount paid per claim in
2023 was £7,836 (2023: £2,583).
Death benefit policies
Death benefit policies have been underwritten by PAGL since March 2015. These policies are
sold primarily to individuals at their place of work in the same way as the hospital cash plans.
3 Risk management objectives and policies
continued
Death benefit policies
continued
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
83
At 31 December 2024 these policies represent 96% (2023: 91%) of PAGL’s gross premiums.
The total annualised premium value of these policies was £8,936,000 (2023: £7,949,000).
The gross loss ratio (excluding claims handling costs) on these policies at 31 December
2024 was 19.3% (2023: 18.6%). A stop loss reinsurance policy is in place to cover claims over
£3,000,000 at any given location. The total number of these individual policies in force at
31 December 2024 was 71,955 (2023: 67,756) and the average amount paid per death in 2024
was £9,790 (2023: £9,779).
Employee default policies
In February 2020 PAGL commenced the underwriting of employee default policies in
relation to salary sacrifice sales made by Let’s Connect. These policies provided cover to Let’s
Connect’s largest customer in the event that employees left owing salary sacrifice deductions
to their employer and these monies were unable to be recovered by alternative means.
The last policy was written in March 2023.
At 31 December 2024 these policies represent 4% (2023: 9%) of PAGL’s gross premiums.
The gross loss ratio (excluding claims handling costs) on these policies at 31 December 2024
was 54.7% (2023: 38.4%) and the average amount paid per individual default in 2024 was
£317 (2023: £438).
Group loss ratio
For the year ended 31 December 2024 the gross claims ratio of the Group was 29.1%
(2023: 27.0%), by taking claims incurred as a proportion of insurance revenue. A 2% increase
in the claims ratio would increase claims incurred by approximately £643,000.
There are no material individual claims and open claims over 12 months old are also
immaterial. As a result, the Group has elected to not disclose claims development tables.
4 Capital management and requirements
The Group’s capital management objective is to maintain sufficient capital to safeguard
the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and to protect the interests of all of
its customers, investors, regulator and trading partners while also efficiently deploying
capital and managing risk to sustain ongoing business development. The Group manages its
capital resources in line with the Group’s capital management Policy, which is reviewed on
an annual basis. The Group’s capital position is kept under constant review and is reported
monthly to the Board.
Since 1 January 2016, Personal Assurance Plc (PA) has been subject to the requirements of
the Solvency UK (SUK) Directive and must hold sufficient capital to cover its Solvency Capital
Requirement (SCR). In addition, PA maintains a buffer in excess of this capital requirement,
specified in line with the capital risk appetite agreed by the Board. The SCR is calculated in
accordance with the Standard Formula specified in the Solvency UK legislation.
At least annually, the Group undertakes the Own Risk and Solvency Assessment (ORSA).
This process enables the Group to assess how well the Standard Formula SCR reflects the
Group’s actual risk profile, and comprises all the activities by which PA establishes the level
of capital required to meet its solvency needs over the planning period given the Company’s
strategy and risk appetite. The conclusions from these activities are summarised in the ORSA
Report which is reviewed by the Risk Committee, approved by the Board and submitted to
the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) at least annually.
PA’s unaudited Eligible Own Funds, determined in accordance with the Solvency UK
valuation rules, were £11.9m (2023: £10.8m) which was in excess of the estimated SCR
of £4.3m (2023: £4.0m). This represented an estimated solvency coverage ratio of 279%
(2023: 272%). The movement year on year remains well within the Board’s risk appetite of
holding greater than 150% of the requirement.
Other than disclosed above there have been no changes to what is managed as capital or
the Group’s capital management objectives, policies or procedures during the year.
At 31 December 2024, the requirements of the Group’s regulated companies were
as follows:
   
     
Surplus
 
 
Capital
 
over capital
 
 
resources
Capital
resources
 
 
requirement
resources
requirement
Relevant
 
unaudited
unaudited
unaudited
regulatory
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
body
Company
       
Personal Assurance Plc
4,252
11,882
7,631
FCA, PRA
Personal Assurance Services Limited
70
1,377
1,307
FCA
Personal Group Benefits Limited
54
825
771
FCA
Berkeley Morgan Limited
5
152
147
FCA
Personal Assurance (Guernsey)
       
Limited
807
4,391
3,583
GFSC
Personal Assurance Plc and Personal Assurance (Guernsey) Limited maintain the majority of
their assets in cash and short-term fixed interest rate deposits. The capital resources and
corresponding capital resource requirement for each PRA regulated entity is calculated in
accordance with PRA regulations. The capital resources and corresponding capital resource
requirement for each FCA regulated entity is calculated in accordance with FCA regulations.
The Group’s capital comprises all components of equity. The Group’s regulated entities have
complied with all externally imposed capital requirements during the year.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
84
5 Segment analysis
The segments used by management to review the operations of the business are
disclosed below.
1) Affordable Insurance
Personal Assurance Plc (PA), a subsidiary within the Group, is a PRA regulated general
insurance Company and is authorised to transact accident and sickness insurance. It was
established in 1984 and has been underwriting business since 1985. In 1997 Personal Group
Holdings Plc (PGH) was created and became the ultimate parent undertaking of the Group.
Personal Assurance (Guernsey) Limited (PAGL), a subsidiary within the Group, is regulated
by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and has been underwriting death benefit
policies since March 2015.
This operating segment derives the majority of its revenue from the underwriting by PA
and PAGL of insurance policies that have been bought by employees of host companies via
bespoke benefit programmes.
2) Benefits and Reward
Revenue in this segment relates to the annual subscription income and other related income
arising from the licensing of Hapi, the Group’s employee benefit platform. This includes
sales to both the large corporate and SME sectors. This segment includes agency revenue
generated from the resale of vouchers (Note 2.22). Revenue also includes consultancy,
surveys, and licence income derived from selling digital platform subscriptions.
3) Other
The other operating segment consists exclusively of revenue generated by Berkeley Morgan
Group (BMG) and its subsidiary undertakings along with any investment income obtained by
the Group.
Discontinued Operations – Other Owned Benefits
This segment constitutes any goods or services in the benefits platform supply chain which
was owned by the Group, prior to its disposal in July 2024. As such, this segment is treated
as discontinued operations within these accounts.
   
   
Restated
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Revenue by segment from continuing activities
   
Affordable Insurance
32,166
28,708
Benefits & Reward
13,024
11,691
Benefits & Reward – Group Elimination
(2,747)
(2,760)
Other income
   
Other
136
139
Investment income
1,197
807
Total Revenue from continuing activities
43,776
38,585
Adjusted EBITDA* contribution from continuing
   
activities by segment
   
Affordable Insurance
12,424
11,226
Benefits & Reward
5,215
4,330
Other
1,382
1,033
Group admin and central costs**
(8,937)
(8,732)
Charitable donations
(100)
(100)
Adjusted EBITDA* from continuing activities
9,984
7,757
Interest
(106)
(76)
Depreciation**
(1,111)
(1,063)
Amortisation**
(1,415)
(732)
Restructuring costs**
(324)
(639)
Share based payments expenses
(202)
(169)
Profit before tax from continuing activities
6,826
5,078
5 Segment analysis
continued
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
85
   
Restated
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Revenue by Segment from
   
discontinued activities
   
Other Owned Benefits
2,572
11,081
Group Revenue from discontinued activities
2,572
11,081
Adjusted EBITDA contribution from discontinued
   
activities
   
Other Owned Benefits
(216)
369
Adjusted EBITDA from discontinued activities
(216)
369
Profit on disposal of Let’s Connect
1,167
Depreciation
(34)
(71)
Amortisation
(14)
(36)
Interest
(1)
(3)
Profit before tax from discontinuing activities
902
259
*
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, goodwill impairment,
restructuring costs, share-based payment expenses, profits on disposal of subsidiaries, corporate acquisition
costs, and release of tax provision.
**
These costs constitute Group administration expenses on the face of the Consolidated Income Statement.
Segmental assets and liabilities
 
2024
2023
 
Assets
Liabilities
Assets
Liabilities
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Insurance
30,867
9,237
24,230
8,193
Other Owned Benefits
7,585
2,509
Benefits Platform
9,417
7,158
7,994
6,471
Pay & Reward
1,348
52
1,100
21
Other
9,655
8,280
Total segment assets and liabilities
51,287
16,447
49,189
17,194
Other assets comprise mostly of goodwill, intangible assets and equity investments.
5a Further segmental analysis
The following note provides additional analysis on Group segmental income
and expenditure.
Benefits and Reward income
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Benefits Platform
10,507
9,445
Pay & Reward
2,517
2,246
Group elimination*
(2,747)
(2,760)
Total employee benefits and service income
10,277
8,931
Insurance operating expenses
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Operating expenses
19,662
17,353
Group elimination*
(2,747)
(2,760)
Total insurance operating expenses
16,915
14,593
*
In order to properly assess the segments individually, this Group elimination apportions at arm’s length value
to platform sales offered at a discount in return for insurance selling opportunities at corporate clients. This
value is then added to Benefits Platform income and Insurance service expenses before being eliminated out.
Benefits and Reward expenses
 
2024
2023
 
Cost of
Operating
Total
Cost of
Operating
Total
 
sales
expenses
expenses
sales
expenses
expenses
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Benefits Platform
2,576
3,554
6,130
2,225
3,384
5,609
Pay & Reward
25
1,655
1,680
35
1,718
1,753
Total employee benefits
           
and services expenses
2,601
5,209
7,810
2,260
5,102
7,362
Gross transactional value
Gross transactional value from the sale of goods and vouchers is recognised at the net
value when significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods and vouchers have
been passed to the buyer, usually on the dispatch of the goods and vouchers. The Group is
considered to be an agent for voucher sales with a total transaction value of £59,676,000
(2023: £54,805,000).
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
86
6 Investment income
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Interest income from cash on deposit
1,197
807
Total investment income
1,197
807
7 Insurance service expenses
Net expenses from reinsurance contracts held
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Outward reinsurance premium
(92)
(105)
Reinsurer’s share of claims paid
13
(30)
Net expenses from reinsurance contracts held
(79)
(135)
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Claims paid
8,279
6,799
Claims handling expenses paid
828
763
Claims Incurred
9,107
7,562
Changes to liabilities for claims
241
117
Net change in claims provision
241
117
Incurred acquisition costs
5,990
5,488
Administration expenses
1,577
1,426
Total Insurance operating expenses
7,567
6,914
Total insurance service expenses
16,915
14,593
8 Directors’ and employees’ remuneration
a) Staff costs (excluding Non-Executive Directors’ fees) during the year
were as follows:
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Wages and salaries
11,900
12,693
Share-based payments expense
202
169
Social security costs
1,368
1,609
Other pension costs
604
636
Total staff costs
14,074
15,107
The average number of employees employed through the year was as follows:
 
2024
2023
 
Number
Number
Administration
159
180
Sales and marketing
94
89
Total number of employees
253
269
b) Directors’ remuneration:
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Emoluments
1,222
1,111
Gain on exercise of options
11
Termination payment
185
Pension contributions to Group and self-invested
   
personal pension schemes
32
33
Total Director’s remuneration
1,265
1,329
During the year, two Directors (2023: three Directors) participated in Group and
self-invested personal pension schemes.
The amounts set out above include remuneration in respect of the highest paid Director as
follows. All emoluments relate to payments made by subsidiary undertakings.
8 Directors’ and employees’ remuneration
continued
b) Directors’ remuneration
continued
:
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
87
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Emoluments
557
348
Termination payment
185
Pension contributions to Group and self-invested
   
personal pension schemes
19
10
Total
576
543
Details of individual Director’s remuneration are given in the Remuneration Report on pages
45 to 50. The Company does not incur employee remuneration.
Key management of the Group are the Directors of Personal Group Holdings Plc
together with the members of the Senior Leadership Team. Key management personnel
remuneration includes the following expenses:
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Short-term employee benefits:
   
Salaries including bonuses
1,805
1,630
Social security costs
249
225
Gain on exercise of options
21
 
2,075
1,855
Post-employment benefits:
   
Defined contribution pension plans
57
60
Total remuneration
2,132
1,915
9 Profit before tax
 
2024
2023
Profit before tax is stated after:
£’000
£’000
Auditor’s remuneration (inclusive of non-recoverable VAT):
   
Audit services:
   
Audit of Company financial statements
246
180
Audit of subsidiary undertakings
152
135
Non-audit services:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
1,111
1,135
Amortisation
1,415
770
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
88
10 Tax
The relationship between the expected tax expense based on the effective tax rate of
Personal Group Holdings Plc at 25% (2023: 23.5%) and the tax expense recognised in the
income statement can be reconciled as follows:
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Profit before tax
7,728
5,334
Tax rate
25%
23.5%
Expected tax expense
1,932
1,253
Adjustment for non-deductible expenses
102
22
Adjustment for tax exempt revenues
(689)
(458)
Other adjustments
   
Effect of tax rate changes on deferred tax
Tax (credit)/charge in respect of prior years
(113)
193
Adjustment for previously non-deductible expenses
Actual tax expense
1,232
1,010
Continuing operations
1,298
899
Discontinuing operations
(66)
111
Current tax expense
977
708
In respect of prior years
(113)
193
Deferred tax
   
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
368
109
Effect of tax rate changes
Total tax
1,232
1,010
11 Earnings per share
 
2024
2023
  
Weighted
  
Weighted
 
  
average
Pence
 
average
Pence
 
Earnings
number of
per
Earnings
number of
per
 
£’000
shares
share
£’000
shares
share
Basic EPS from
      
continuing operations
5,528
31,226,632
17.7
4,179
31,226,632
13.4
Dilutive effect of shares
      
in Employee Share
      
Ownership Plan
0.0
1,175,648
(0.6)
0.0
750,552
(0.3)
Diluted
5,528
32,402,281
17.1
4,179
31,977,184
13.1
The weighted average number of shares shown above excludes unallocated own Company
shares held by Personal Group Trustees Ltd.
 
2024
2023
  
Weighted
  
Weighted
 
  
average
Pence
 
average
Pence
 
Earnings
number of
per
Earnings
number of
per
 
£’000
shares
share
£’000
shares
share
Basic EPS from
      
discontinued
      
operations
968
31,226,632
3.1
145
31,226,632
0.4
Dilutive effect of shares
      
in Employee Share
      
Ownership Plan
0.0
1,175,648
(0.1)
0.0
750,552
(0.0)
Diluted
968
32,402,281
3.0
145
31,977,184
0.4
 
2024
2023
   
Weighted
   
Weighted
 
   
average
Pence
 
average
Pence
 
Earnings
number of
per
Earnings
number of
per
 
£’000
shares
share
£’000
shares
share
Basic EPS from total
           
operations
6,496
31,226,632
20.8
4,324
31,226,632
13.8
Dilutive effect of shares
           
in Employee Share
           
Ownership Plan
0.0
1,175,648
(0.7)
0.0
750,552
(0.3)
Diluted
6,496
32,402,281
20.1
4,324
31,977,184
13.5
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
89
12 Dividends
   
 
2024
2023
   
 
Pence per
Pence per
2024
2023
 
share
share
£’000
£’000
Equity dividends
       
Q2
5.850
5.300
1,829
1,655
Q4
6.500
5.850
2,031
1,829
 
12.350
11.150
3,860
3,484
Less: amounts paid on own shares
   
(3)
(2)
Total dividends
12.350
11.150
3,857
3,482
The dividends listed above were paid in the calendar year.
13 Goodwill
The carrying amount of goodwill which has been allocated to those cash-generating units
can be analysed as follows:
   
 
Let’s
Pay &
 
 
Connect
Reward
Total
 
£’000s
£’000s
£’000s
Cost
     
At 1 January 2024
10,575
2,684
13,259
Additions in the year
Disposals in the year
(10,575)
(10,575)
At 31 December 2024
2,684
2,684
Amortisation and impairment
     
At 1 January 2024
10,575
10,575
Impairment charge for year
Disposals in the year
(10,575)
(10,575)
At 31 December 2024
Net book value at 31 December 2024
2,684
2,684
   
 
Let’s
Pay &
 
 
Connect
Reward
Total
 
£’000s
£’000s
£’000s
Cost
     
At 1 January 2023
10,575
2,684
13,259
Additions in the year
At 31 December 2023
10,575
2,684
13,259
Amortisation and impairment
     
At 1 January 2023
10,575
10,575
Impairment charge for year
At 31 December 2023
10,575
10,575
Net book value at 31 December 2023
2,684
2,684
The net carrying values at 31 December 2024 have been reviewed for impairment.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
13 Goodwill
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
90
Pay & Reward
Innecto Reward Consulting Limited was acquired by PGH in 2019, and goodwill of £2.1m was
recognised as a result of this acquisition. QCG Limited was acquired in 2022 and resulted in
goodwill of £0.6m. Both businesses are now treated as one cash generating unit (CGU), this
is due to the commonality of their business models and cashflows, as well organisational
changes put in place at the end of 2023 which merged the team into one combined
consultancy unit. The teams now work in unison under one management structure to
deliver pay and reward consultancy to clients.
For the purpose of the value in use model, the CGU value is comprised of the total goodwill
allocated, the carrying value of the intangible assets recognised on acquisition and the
assets of the CGU such that the carrying amount of the CGU has been determined on a basis
consistent with the way the recoverable amount of the CGU is determined.
An expected cash flow approach was used applying multiple scenarios and affixed
probabilities that were deemed to be appropriate under management’s best understanding
of the business.
Key assumptions
Five years of future cash flows were included in the discounted cash flow model,
including a long-term growth rate of 2.4% (30-year average of UK consumer price index).
These cash flows were then discounted using a risk mitigating post-tax discount rate
of 22.5% (2023: 22.4%) based on the CGU’s weighted average cost of capital, using the
capital asset pricing model with a risk premium in line with the risks associated with the
uncertainties around the forecasted growth.
Sensitivity
While management are confident that the CGU will generate forecasted income, it is
recognised that there is an inherent uncertainty within the forecasted cash flows used in
the impairment model.
Below is a table showing the sensitivity of the key assumptions and the impact of various
changes (in base percentage point terms) on the headroom. The Base column refers to the
headroom on the impairment review model completed by management.
- %
Base
+ %
Sensitivity Analysis – Impact on headroom
£’000s
£’000s
£’000s
Discount Rate (+/- 5%)
800
487
232
Terminal Growth Rate (+/- 0.5%)
441
487
532
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
91
14 Intangible assets
For the year ended 31 December 2024
   
   
Pay &
         
 
Let’s
Reward
 
Computer
Internally
   
 
Connect
customer
 
software
generated
   
 
customer
book and
Innecto
and website
computer
   
 
value
trade name
technology
development
software
WIP
Total
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Cost
             
At 1 January 2024
1,648
1,063
298
2,773
506
2,948
9,236
Transfers
5,256
(5,256)
Additions in the year
79
2,586
2,665
Disposals
(1,648)
(451)
(2,099)
At 31 December 2024
1,063
298
7,657
506
278
9,802
Amortisation and impairment
             
At 1 January 2024
1,648
803
290
2,335
506
5,582
Amortisation charge for year
92
8
1,329
1,429
Disposals
(1,648)
(415)
(2,063)
At 31 December 2024
895
298
3,249
506
4,948
Carrying value at 31 December 2024
168
4,408
278
4,854
Carrying value at 31 December 2023
260
8
438
2,948
3,654
The Pay & Reward customer values and trademark include acquired intangibles relating to Innecto and QCG. This, and the Innecto technology, is being amortised through the consolidated
income statement over a five-year period. The carrying values on 31 December 2024 have been assessed for impairment and no impairment was deemed necessary. The assets were
assessed in conjunction with the goodwill value in Note 13. The total value of amortisation relating to acquired intangibles was £100k (2023: £273k).
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
14 Intangible assets
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
92
For the year ended 31 December 2023
   
Pay &
         
 
Let’s
Reward
 
Computer
Internally
   
 
Connect
customer
 
software
generated
   
 
customer
book and
Innecto
and website
computer
   
 
value
trade name
technology
development
software
WIP
Total
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Cost
             
At 1 January 2023
1,648
1,063
298
2,678
506
1,003
7,196
Transfers
Additions in the year
95
1,945
2,040
Disposals
At 31 December 2023
1,648
1,063
298
2,773
506
2,948
9,236
Amortisation and impairment
             
At 1 January 2023
1,648
590
230
1,838
506
4,812
Amortisation charge for year
213
60
497
770
Disposals
At 31 December 2023
1,648
803
290
2,335
506
5,582
Carrying value at 31 December 2023
260
8
438
2,948
3,654
Carrying value at 31 December 2022
473
68
840
1,003
2,384
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
93
15 Property, plant and equipment
For the year ended 31 December 2024
   
 
Freehold land and
Motor
Computer
Furniture fixtures
Lease
Right of use
 
 
properties
vehicles
equipment
& fittings
improvements
assets
Total
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Cost
             
At 1 January 2024
5,037
53
1,570
2,294
38
2,261
11,253
Acquisitions
Additions
99
2
2
643
746
Disposals
(53)
(326)
(84)
(40)
(1,074)
(1,577)
At 31 December 2024
5,037
1,343
2,212
1,830
10,422
Depreciation
             
At 1 January 2024
2,002
41
1,300
1,633
38
1,219
6,233
Acquisition
Provided in the year
84
6
212
158
685
1,145
Eliminated on disposals
(47)
(320)
(80)
(38)
(950)
(1,435)
At 31 December 2024
2,086
1,192
1,711
954
5,943
Net book amount at 31 December 2024
2,951
151
501
876
4,479
Net book amount at 31 December 2023
3,035
12
270
661
1,042
5,020
In line with IFRS 16, right of use (ROU) assets relate to motor vehicles and building leases, a breakdown for which can be found in Note 29.
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
15 Property, plant and equipment
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
94
For the year ended 31 December 2023
 
Freehold land and
Motor
Computer
Furniture fixtures
Lease
Right of use
 
 
properties
vehicles
equipment
& fittings
improvements
assets
Total
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Cost
             
At 1 January 2023
5,037
157
1,443
2,318
38
1,139
10,132
Acquisitions
Additions
127
30
1,446
1,603
Disposals
(104)
(54)
(324)
(482)
At 31 December 2023
5,037
53
1,570
2,294
38
2,261
11,253
Depreciation
             
At 1 January 2023
1,916
134
1,058
1,474
38
873
5,493
Acquisition
Provided in the year
86
11
242
213
583
1,135
Eliminated on disposals
(104)
(54)
(237)
(395)
At 31 December 2023
2,002
41
1,300
1,633
38
1,219
6,233
Net book amount at 31 December 2023
3,035
12
270
661
1,042
5,020
Net book amount at 31 December 2022
3,121
23
385
844
266
4,639
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
95
16 Financial investments
   
 
Group
Company
   
Restated
   
 
2024
2023
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Bank deposits
8,319
5,491
4,750
Equity investments
1,593
1,470
Total financial investments
9,912
6,961
4,750
IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement establishes a fair value hierarchy that categorises into three
levels the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The fair value hierarchy
gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets
or liabilities (Level 1 inputs) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs).
Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
All current equity investments are valued using Level 1 inputs.
Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the
asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices).
Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data
(unobservable input).
Bank deposits, held at amortised cost, are due within six months and the amortised cost is
a reasonable approximation of the fair value. These would be included within Level 2 of the
fair value hierarchy.
17 Inventories
   
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Finished goods – Salary Sacrifice
272
Total financial investments
272
18 Trade and other receivables
   
 
Group
Company
   
Restated
   
 
2024
2023
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Loans and receivables:
       
Other receivables due within one year
7,878
13,857
Amounts due from subsidiary
       
undertakings
157
611
Accrued interest
2
2
Other prepayments and accrued
       
income
2,114
2,156
174
192
Total trade and other receivables
9,994
16,015
331
803
All of the Group’s receivables due within one year have been reviewed for indicators of
impairment. IFRS 9 compliant credit loss provisions have been made where applicable and
the values shown above are net of those provisions.
Other receivables include non-insurance trade receivables, and receivables relating to
float payments on the e-voucher platform. There have been no significant changes in any
contract asset balances during the reporting period.
A weighted average ageing of the expected loss provision is shown below:
   
 
2024
2023
 
Trade/
 
Credit
Trade/
 
Credit
 
Insurance
Weighted
Loss
Insurance
Weighted
Loss
 
Debtor
Average
Provision
Debtor
Average
Provision
 
£’000
Provision
£’000
£’000
Provision
£’000
Not invoiced
3,700
0.3%
9
Current
7,066
0.1%
9
8,687
0.1%
6
30 Days
400
1.0%
4
1,000
1.0%
10
60 Days
200
2.1%
4
275
1.9%
5
90 Days
121
4.1%
5
212
5.7%
12
150 Days
150
24.2%
37
73
66.1%
48
Total
7,937
0.6%
59
13,947
0.6%
90
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
18 Trade and other receivables
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
96
Credit Loss Provision
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Stage 1
Stage 2
59
90
Stage 3
Total
59
90
Set out below is the movement in the allowance for expected credit losses of trade
receivables and contracted assets:
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
At 1 January
90
51
Provision for expected credit losses
59
90
Provision release
(90)
(51)
At 31 December
59
90
In the past, the Group has not incurred significant bad debt write offs and consequently
whilst the above may be overdue, the risk of credit default is considered to be low.
The Group has no charges or other security over any of these assets.
19 Cash and cash equivalents
 
Group
Company
   
Restated
   
 
2024
2023
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Cash at bank and in hand
18,335
14,145
37
50
Short-term deposits
725
426
Total cash and cash equivalents
19,060
14,571
37
50
20 Share capital
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Authorised 200,000,000 ordinary shares of 5p each
10,000
10,000
Allotted, called up and fully paid 31,248,822 (2023: 31,248,822)
   
ordinary shares of 5p each
1,562
1,562
Share Premium
1,134
1,134
Each ordinary share is entitled to one vote in any circumstance.
The total number of own shares held by the Employee Benefit Trust at 31 December 2024
was 77,242 (2023: 85,396). Of this amount, there are 61232 (2023: 69,955) SIP shares that
have been unconditionally allocated to employees.
As at 31 December 2024, the Group maintained two share-based payment schemes for
employee compensation.
a) Company Share Ownership Plan (CSOP) and unapproved options
For the options granted to vest, performance criteria obligations are imposed on Executive
Directors. For other recipients, there are no conditions other than continuous employment
during the three-year period. Exceptions are made for early termination of employment by
attaining normal retirement age, ill health or redundancy.
All share-based employee compensation will be settled in equity. The Group has no legal or
constructive obligation to repurchase or settle the options.
Share option and weighted average exercise price are as follows for the reporting
periods presented:
 
2024
2023
   
Weighted
 
Weighted
   
average
 
average
   
exercise
 
exercise
   
price
 
price
 
Number
Pence
Number
Pence
Outstanding at 1 January
266,761
326.5
209,251
387.6
Options granted in year
71,229
168.5
124,993
216.0
Options exercised in year
Options cancelled or lapsed
(169,766)
371.7
(67,483)
311.2
Outstanding at 31 December
168,224
214.0
266,761
326.5
20 Share capital
continued
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
97
credit is taken to equity. No liabilities were recognised from share-based transactions.
a) Company Share Ownership Plan (CSOP) and unapproved options
continued
The weighted average exercise price of 55,331 (2023: 128,060) share options exercisable at
31 December 2024 was pence per share 271.09 (2023: 398.34).
There were 71,229 options granted under the CSOP scheme in 2024 (2023: 124,993).
The weighted average remaining contracted life of outstanding options at 31 December
2024 was eight years and one month (2023: four years and four months). The underlying
expected volatility was determined by reference to historical data. No special features
imminent to the options granted were incorporated into the measurement of fair value.
In total, £24,000 of employee compensation by way of share-based payment expense
has been included in the consolidated income statement for 2024 (2023: £23,000).
The corresponding credit is taken to equity. No liabilities were recognised due to
share-based transactions.
b) Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
The Remuneration Committee approved a new LTIP scheme on 4 April 2021. Under the
scheme share options of Personal Group Holdings Plc are granted to senior executives with
an Exercise Price of 5p (nominal value of the shares). The share options have a market and
non-market performance condition which are required to be achieved for the options to
vest. The options also contain service conditions that require option holders to remain in
employment of the Group.
Total shareholder return (market condition)
Up to 50% of the awards vest under this condition. Subject to Compound Annual Growth
Rate (CAGR) of the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) over the Performance Period.
EBITDA targets (non-market condition)
Up to 50% of the awards vest under the condition of EBITDA measures over the
Performance Period.
The fair value of the share options is estimated at the grant date using a Monte-Carlo
binomial option pricing model for the market conditions, and a Black-Scholes pricing model
for non-market conditions. However, the above performance condition is only considered in
determining the number of instruments that will ultimately vest.
There are no cash settlements alternatives. The Group does not have a past practice of cash
settlement for these share options. The Group accounts for the LTIP as an equity-settled plan.
Four tranches of awards have been made to date since April 2021.
In total, £178,000 of employee share-based compensation has been included in the
consolidated income statement to 31 December 2024 (2023: £146,000). The corresponding
Share option and weighted average exercise price are as follows for the reporting
periods presented:
   
 
2024
2023
Outstanding at 1 January
822,248
791,556
Options granted in year
656,109
653,958
Options exercised in year
(13,486)
Options cancelled or lapsed
(240,641)
(623,266)
Outstanding at 31 December
1,224,230
822,248
21 Deferred Taxation
   
 
2024
2023
 
Deferred
Deferred Tax
Deferred
Deferred Tax
 
Tax Assets
Liabilities
Tax Assets
Liabilities
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Non-current assets and liabilities
       
Property, plant and equipment
13
1,254
16
826
Intangible Assets
40
57
Share Options
123
77
 
136
1,294
93
883
Offset
(136)
(136)
(93)
(93)
Total deferred tax
1,158
790
   
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
At 1 January
(790)
(681)
Movement in provisions debited to income
   
statement
(368)
(109)
Movement in provisions due to tax rate changes
At 31 December
(1,158)
(790)
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
98
22 Trade and other payables
Current
 
Group
Company
 
2024
2023
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Financial liabilities measured at
       
amortised cost:
       
Amounts owed to subsidiary
       
undertakings
4,904
311
Other creditors
9,517
10,466
123
37
Accruals
2,191
2,717
327
231
Right of use creditor
621
559
Deferred income
1,723
1,358
Total trade and other payables
14,052
15,100
5,354
579
Group
Company
2024
2023
2024
2023
Non-Current
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Right of use creditor over 1 year
343
567
Total
343
567
These liabilities are not secured against any assets of the Group.
Other creditors include trade creditors and creditors relating to e-vouchers from
the platform.
23 Insurance contract liabilities
This section shows how the net carrying amounts of insurance contracts issued by the
Group have changed during the year, as a result of changes in cash flows and amounts
recognised in profit or loss. Insurance liabilities included within the Group’s statement of
financial position are made up of multiple components. No loss component is recorded for
insurance contracts held. Personal Group has elected not to adjust the liability for remaining
coverage for the time value of money as its insurance contracts do not contain a significant
financing component.
The liability for incurred claims represents the gross estimated liability arising from claim
episodes in the current and preceding financial years which have not given rise to claims
paid. It is estimated based on current information, and the ultimate liability may vary as
a result of subsequent information and events. Adjustments to the amount of claims
provision for prior years are included in the Income Statement in the financial year in which
the change is made.
The valuation of the liability for incurred claims in the Group’s subsidiary, Personal Assurance
Plc is estimated by using a Chain Ladder method, and the main assumption underlying this
technique is that the Company’s past claims development experience can be used to project
future claims development and hence ultimate claims costs.
The valuation in the Group’s subsidiary, Personal Assurance Group Guernsey Limited is also
estimated based on the Company’s past claims experience to predict future claims and
claims costs.
It is estimated that the majority of all claims will be paid within 12 months and therefore
claims development information is not disclosed.
23 Insurance contract liabilities
continued
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
99
In setting the provision for claims outstanding, a best estimate is determined on an undiscounted basis and then a 10% margin of prudence (risk adjustment) is added such that there is
confidence that future claims will be met from the provisions. The Group has estimated the risk adjustment using a confidence level (probability of sufficiency) approach at the 80th
percentile. That is, the Group has assessed its indifference to uncertainty as being equivalent to the 80th percentile confidence level less the mean of an estimated probability distribution
of the future cash flows.
The Group is exposed to insurance credit risk to the extent that premiums yet to be paid may default or not pay in full. The maximum level of this exposure is limited to the amount of unpaid
premiums which, at the end of 2024 was £2.2m (2023; £2.5m).
Maturity analysis as dictated by IFRS 17 has not been performed here as the Group expects all insurance contracts to mature within 12 months of the reporting date.
Liabilities for remaining coverage
Liabilities for incurred claims
Estimates of the
Excluding Loss
Loss
value of future
Risk
Component
Component
cash flows
Adjustment
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Insurance contract liabilities at 1 January 2024
(1,709)
2,289
155
735
Insurance revenue
(32,166)
(32,166)
Incurred claims
8,279
8,279
Insurance operating and claims handling expenses
8,395
8,395
Changes to liabilities for incurred claims
217
24
241
Total insurance service expenses
16,891
24
16,915
Insurance service result
(32,166)
16,891
24
(15,251)
Premiums received
32,078
32,078
Claims and other expenses paid
(8,279)
(8,279)
Insurance operating expense cash flows
(8,394)
(8,394)
Total cash flows
32,078
(16,673)
15,405
Insurance contract liabilities at 31 December 2024
(1,797)
2,507
179
889
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
23 Insurance contract liabilities
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
100
Liabilities for remaining coverage
Liabilities for incurred claims
Estimates of the
Excluding Loss
value of future
Component
Loss Component
cash flows
Risk Adjustment
Total
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Insurance contract liabilities at 1 January 2023
(1,239)
2,203
118
1,082
Insurance revenue
(28,708)
(28,708)
Incurred claims
6,799
6,799
Insurance operating and claims handling expenses
7,677
7,677
Changes to liabilities for incurred claims
80
37
117
Total insurance service expenses
14,556
37
14,593
Insurance service result
(28,708)
14,556
37
(14,115)
Premiums received
28,238
28,238
Claims and other expenses paid
(6,799)
(6,799)
Insurance operating expense cash flows
(7,671)
(7,671)
Total cash flows
28,238
(14,470)
13,768
Insurance contract liabilities at 31 December 2023
(1,709)
2,289
155
735
The liability for incurred claims is sensitive to the key assumptions in the table below. It has not been possible to quantify the sensitivity of certain assumptions such as legislative changes
or uncertainty in the estimation process.
The following sensitivity analysis shows the impact on profit before tax and equity for reasonably possible movements in key assumptions held constant. To demonstrate the impact due to
changes in each assumption, assumptions have been changed on an individual basis. The method used for deriving sensitivity information and significant assumptions did not change from
the previous period.
Change in
Impact on profit
Assumption
before tax
Impact on equity
Expected loss
+5%
(120)
(90)
Risk adjustment
+5%
(89)
(67)
Inflation rate
+2%
(3)
(2)
101
24
Company investment in subsidiary undertakings
and joint venture
   
 
Shares in subsidiary undertakings
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Cost
   
At 1 January
38,518
38,372
Share-based expenses
178
146
At 31 December
38,696
38,518
Amounts written off
   
At 1 January
12,898
12,898
Impairment provision in year
At 31 December
12,898
12,898
Net book amount at 31 December
25,798
25,620
At 31 December 2024 the Company held 100% of the allotted share capital of the following
trading companies, all of which were incorporated in England and Wales, with the exception
of Personal Assurance (Guernsey) Limited which is incorporated in Guernsey, and have been
consolidated in the Group financial statements. The registered address of all Group entities
is John Ormond House, 899 Silbury Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3XL, with the
exception of Personal Assurance (Guernsey) Limited whose registered address is Level 5,
Mill Court, La Charroterie, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1EJ.
   
Subsidiary undertaking
Nature of business
Personal Group Limited
Intermediate holding Company
Personal Assurance Plc*
General insurance
Personal Assurance Services Limited*#
Administration services
Personal Group Benefits Limited*#
Employee benefits sales and marketing
Personal Group Trustees Limited*
Trustee for employee share options
Personal Management Solutions Limited*
Employee benefits sales and marketing
Berkeley Morgan Group Limited*#
Berkeley Morgan Group Holding Company
Berkeley Morgan Limited+
Independent financial advisers
Personal Assurance (Guernsey) Limited*
Death insurance underwriting services
Innecto People Consulting Limited*
HR consultancy and technology providers
Quintige Consulting Group Limited*#
HR consultancy
Multiplelisting Limited
Dormant
Mutual Benefit Limited
Dormant
Partake Services Limited
Dormant
Personal Assurance Financial Services Plc
Dormant
Berkeley Morgan Healthcare Limited+
Dormant
B M Agency Services Limited+
Dormant
Berkeley Morgan Property Limited+
Dormant
Summit Financial Solutions Limited+
Dormant
Summit Financial Holdings Plc+
Dormant
Berkeley Morgan Trustees Limited+
Dormant
Personal Group Mobile Limited*
Dormant
Universal Provident Limited+
Dormant
*
Indirectly owned by Personal Group Holdings Plc via Personal Group Limited.
+
Indirectly owned by Personal Group Holdings Plc via Personal Group Limited and Berkeley Morgan
Group Limited.
#
Exempt from audit under parental guarantee.
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
24
Company investment in subsidiary undertakings
and joint venture
continued
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
102
The following subsidiaries of the Group are exempt from the requirements of the
Companies Act 2006 (“the Act”) relating to the audit of individual accounts by virtue of
s479A. The parent undertaking, Personal Group Holdings Plc, gives a guarantee to these
subsidiaries under section 479C in respect of the year ending 31 December 2024.
Personal Assurance Services Limited – 3194988.
Personal Group Benefits Limited – 3195037.
Berkeley Morgan Group Limited – 3456258.
Quintige Consulting Group Limited – 3773926.
25 Capital commitments
The Group has no capital commitments at 31 December 2024 and 31 December 2023.
26 Contingent liabilities
There were no contingent liabilities at 31 December 2024 and 31 December 2023.
27 Pensions
Group and self-invested personal pension schemes
The Group operates a defined contribution Group personal pension scheme for the benefit
of certain Directors and employees. The scheme is administered by Aegon UK plc and the
funds are held independent of the Group.
These schemes are administered by independent third-party administrators and the funds
are held independent of the Group.
28 Let’s Connect Disposal
On 9 July 2024, the Group completed the disposal of its entire issued share capital of Let’s
Connect IT Solutions Limited (“Let’s Connect”), its technology salary sacrifice division to
SME HCI Limited (trading as The Perkbox Vivup Group) for a total consideration of £2.5m on
a cash-free, debt-free basis.
The disposal resulted in a profit on disposal of £1.2m, which has been recognised separately
on the face of the Consolidated Income Statement. The disposal aligns with the Group’s
strategic focus on its core business areas and accelerated growth, and is not expected to
have a material impact on the Group’s continuing operations.
In the year ended 31 December 2024, Let’s Connect generated a loss before tax of £265,000
(year-ended 31 December 2023: profit before tax of £256,000).
The financial impact of the disposal on the Group’s consolidated financial statements is
summarised as follows.
 
£000
Total Consideration Received
2,463
Net Assets of Let’s Connect at Disposal
(1,247)
Transaction Costs
(49)
Gain on Disposal
1,167
The net cash inflow/(outflow) arising on disposal was as follows.
 
£000
Cash consideration received
2,463
Let’s Connect cash at disposal
(574)
Transaction Costs Paid
(49)
Net Cash Inflow
1,840
The table below shows the results of the discontinued operation which are included in the
Consolidated Cash Flow statement for the year ended 31 December 2024.
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Cash flows from operating activities
2,532
858
Cash flows from investing activities
5
(7)
Cash flows from financing activities
(2,027)
(1,045)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from
   
discontinued operations
510
(194)
103
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
29 Leasing commitments and rental income receivable
Amounts recognised in the balance sheet
Following the adoption of IFRS 16 the balance sheet at 31 December 2024 includes assets
and liabilities relating to Right of Use (ROU) assets as detailed below:
2024 – Right of use assets & lease liabilities
   
 
Net Book Value
Lease
 
of Assets
Liability
 
£000
£000
Motor vehicles
876
964
Buildings
Total
876
964
2023 – Right of use assets & lease liabilities
   
 
Net Book Value
Lease
 
of Assets
Liability
 
£000
£000
Motor vehicles
948
1,012
Buildings
94
114
Total
1,042
1,126
The initial valuation of the asset is equal to the discounted lease liability on the inception
of the lease and this is depreciated over the shorter of either the life of the asset or the
lease term.
Amounts recognised in the consolidated statement of profit or loss
   
 
Depreciation
Interest
 
Charge
Expense
 
£000
£000
Motor vehicles
655
105
Buildings
30
1
Total
685
106
Total operating lease payments due until the end of the lease, or the first break clause,
total £1,063,000 (2023: £1,203,000). An analysis of these payments due is as follows:
Amounts recognised in the consolidated statement of profit or loss
   
 
2024
2023
 
£’000
£’000
Total lease payments falling due:
   
Within one year
691
593
Within one to two years
335
482
Within two to five years
37
128
Total
1,063
1,203
Below is a reconciliation of changes in liabilities arising from financing activities:
   
 
1 January
Cash
New
 
31 December
 
2024
Flows
leases
Other
2024
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Current lease liabilities
559
(614)
482
194
621
Non-current lease liabilities
567
(224)
343
Total liabilities from
         
financing activities
1,126
(614)
482
(30)
964
The “Other” column includes the effect of reclassification of non-current leases to current
due to the passage of time, the effect of the disposal of lease assets with their related
creditors and the effect of the unwinding of the discounted ROU creditors over time.
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
104
Notes to the Financial Statements
continued
30 Prior Year Restatement
Let’s Connect Disposal
Following the Group’s disposal of Let’s Connect on 9th July 2024, Let’s Connect activities
have been classified as discontinued operations. As a result, and in accordance with IFRS 5,
the prior year income statement has been restated to split out the discontinued operations
of Let’s Connect. The Consolidated Income Statement has been restated in these financial
statements as follows. The impact on the cash flow statement is reflected in Note 28.
Consolidated Income Statement
Previous
LC
Restated
2023
Disposal
2023
£’000
£’000
£’000
Insurance Revenue
28,708
28,708
Benefits and Reward Revenue
20,012
(11,081)
8,931
Other income
139
139
Investment income
807
807
Revenue
49,666
(11,081)
38,585
Insurance Service Expenses
(14,593)
(14,593)
Net expenses from reinsurance contracts held
(135)
(135)
Benefits and Reward expenses
(18,077)
10,715
(7,362)
Other expenses
(94)
(94)
Group Administration Expenses
(11,266)
107
(11,159)
Share based payment expenses
(169)
(169)
Unrealised Losses on Equity Investments
181
181
Charitable donations
(100)
(100)
Expenses
(44,253)
10,822
(33,431)
Results of operating activities
5,413
(259)
5,154
Finance costs
(79)
3
(76)
Profit before tax
5,334
(256)
5,078
Tax
(1,010)
111
(899)
Profit for the period after tax
4,324
(145)
4,179
Discontinued
Previous
LC
Restated
2023
Disposal
2023
£’000
£’000
£’000
Let’s Connect – Income
Discontinued
11,081
11,081
Let’s Connect – Expense
(10,825)
(10,825)
Let’s Connect – Tax
(111)
(111)
Profit from discontinued operations
145
145
Overall Profit
4,324
4,324
Reclassification of funds held on deposit
As stated in Note 2.11, fixed interest rate bank deposits with the maturity date of three
months or more from the date of acquisition are classified as financial assets. The reported
balance sheet as at 31 December 2023 included a misallocation of cash held on deposit.
These accounts were incorrectly reported as cash rather than financial assets. The prior
year Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Cash Flow Statement have been
restated as follows to correct this allocation. There was no impact on the Consolidated
Income Statement.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Previous
Restated
2023
Deposits
2023
£’000
£’000
£’000
Non- Current assets
11,358
11,358
Financial Assets
4,035
2,926
6,961
Cash & cash equivalent
17,497
(2,926)
14,571
Current assets
37,831
37,831
Total Assets
49,189
49,189
Total Equity
31,995
31,995
Total Liabilities
17,194
17,194
Total Equity & Liabilities
49,189
49,189
30 Prior Year Restatement
continued
Overview
Strategic Report
Governance
Financial Statements
105
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
Previous
LC
Restated
 
2023
Disposal
2023
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
Net cash from operating activities
6,678
6,678
Purchase of financial assets
(823)
(2,926)
(3,749)
Net cash from investing activities
(2,135)
(2,926)
(5,061)
Net cash used in financing activities
(4,004)
(4,004)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
539
(2,926)
(2,387)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year
16,958
16,958
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year
17,497
(2,926)
(14,571)
31 Related party transactions
Personal Group Holdings Plc holds a bank account which it uses for payments to Company
specific creditors. During 2024 and 2023, the Company paid its own dividends and expenses.
A list of intercompany balances that are outstanding at the balance sheet date with
subsidiary undertakings is as follows:
 
2024
 
2023
 
 
Receivable
Payable
Receivable
Payable
 
£’000
£’000
£’000
£’000
Personal Assurance Plc
2,491
145
Personal Assurance Services Limited
37
31
Personal Group Benefits Limited
66
31
Personal Assurance Financial
       
Services Plc
137
137
Multiplelisting Limited
100
100
Personal Management
       
Solutions Limited
38
27
Mutual Benefit Limited
12
12
Partake Services Limited
3
3
Personal Group Limited
2,061
381
Berkeley Morgan Group Limited
57
13
Innecto People Group
       
Consulting Limited
50
42
Total
148
4,904
611
311
All balances are repayable on demand. None of the balances are secured. All balances relate
to intercompany funding balances.
Transactions with Directors
During the year, no transactions were undertaken with Directors or companies in which
Directors were key decision makers.
32 Post balance sheet events
There have been no post balance sheet events.
Personal Group Holdings Plc
| Annual Report and Accounts 2024
106
Company Information
Company registration number:
3194991
Registered office:
Personal Group Holdings Plc
John Ormond House
899 Silbury Boulevard
Central Milton Keynes
MK9 3XL
Telephone: 01908 605000
www.personalgroup.com
Directors:
M Bennett – Non-Executive Chairman
P Constant – Chief Executive
S Mace – Chief Financial Officer
M Darby-Walker – Senior Non-Executive Director
R Head – Non-Executive Director
C Astin – Non-Executive Director
A Lothian – Non-Executive Director
Secretary:
J Roberts-Jones
Banker:
The Lloyds Bank plc
25 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HN
Auditor:
EY LLP
1 Colmore Square
Birmingham
B4 6HQ
Nominated Broker and Adviser:
Canaccord Genuity Limited
88 Wood Street
London
EC2V 7QR
CBP030150
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Personal Group Holdings Plc
John Ormond House
899 Silbury Boulevard
Central Milton Keynes
MK9 3XL
www.personalgroup.com
Personal Group Holdings Plc
Annual Report and Accounts 2024