BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY(THE)
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Next accounts due
2026-09-30 (in 4mo)
Last filed for 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement due
2026-12-18 (in 7mo)
Last made up 2025-12-04
Watchouts
Cash
£3M
-15% vs 2023
Net assets
£12M
+12.5% vs 2023
Employees
43
0% vs 2023
Profit before tax
—
Period ending 2024-12-31
Watchouts
Facts from the Companies House register and the latest accounts — not a rating
-
4 officer resignations in last 12 months
Multiple officers have left the board recently — see the People section for who.
Net assets
2-year trend · vs Consumer Discretionary median
Accounts
2-year trend · latest reflected 2024-12-31
| Metric | Trend | 2023-12-31 | 2024-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £4,360,000 | £4,319,000 | |
| Operating profit | — | — | |
| Profit before tax | — | — | |
| Net profit | £251,000 | £1,355,000 | |
| Cash | £3,630,000 | £3,086,000 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | £12,271,000 | £12,470,000 | |
| Net assets | £11,081,000 | £12,470,000 | |
| Equity | £11,081,000 | £12,470,000 | |
| Average employees | 43 | 43 | |
| Wages | £1,796,000 | £1,894,000 |
Values shown as filed in the company's annual accounts. — indicates the figure wasn't present under that line item in that period. About these numbers
Ratios
Computed from the line items above — sparklines read oldest → newest
| Ratio | Trend | 2023-12-31 | 2024-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 5.8% | 31.4% | |
| Gearing (liabilities / total assets) | 24.0% | 15.4% | |
| Current ratio | 1.76x | 1.55x |
Margins divide P&L lines by turnover. Gearing is liabilities over total assets. Current ratio is current assets over creditors falling due within one year. Interest cover is operating profit over absolute finance costs. Sector-distribution context coming next.
Audit & accounting basis
- Accounting basis
- FRS 102
- Reporting scope
- Consolidated group
- Auditor
- Sayer Vincent LLP
- Audit opinion
- Unqualified (clean)
- Going concern
- Affirmed
“The Trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate... Their conclusion is that there is no significant doubt about the Charity's ability to continue operating as a going concern.”
Group structure
- BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY(THE) · parent
- Portland Press Limited 100%
Significant events
- “The Group delivered a full programme of activities and support for both members and the wider molecular bioscience community, whilst navigating the ongoing challenges presented by the changing landscape of academic publishing.”
- “Former Society CEO and Portland Press MD Kate Baillie retired in December 2024 after over 12 years at the helm of the organisation.”
- “Our events programme continued to provide opportunities for collaboration, the sharing of ideas and the dissemination of knowledge throughout 2024, with 24 events reaching over 1,300 delegates from 59 countries.”
- “The Society's closed pension scheme was transitioned to a Master Trust in April, and an upgrade and migration of our finance system was successfully completed with minimal disruption.”
- “2024 saw the highest number of articles published OA through our Read & Publish (R&P) route since its introduction, with the proportion of OA in our hybrid titles increasing by 5% in 2024.”
- “The Society's long-standing commitment to open scholarship which is embedded into our 2022-2025 strategy, saw a 'dry run' of the transition to open access undertaken in February 2024.”
- “The successful one-year pilot of a four-day week (4DW) in 2023 continued successfully throughout 2024.”
- “A new cloud-based Azure database was built and implemented to improve the gathering and reporting capability in the Society during 2024.”
Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers
People
9 active · 91 resigned
| Name | Role | Appointed | Born | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JENNER, Sarah Jane | Secretary | 2023-05-22 | — | — |
| CAMPBELL, Susan Gerarda, Dr | Director | 2023-02-20 | Oct 1975 | Irish |
| CHISHOLM-BRITT, Hannah Mary, Dr | Director | 2023-02-20 | Jul 1992 | British |
| GOODFELLOW, Julia Mary, Professor Dame | Director | 2022-07-21 | Jul 1951 | British |
| HOOPER, Nigel Mark, Professor | Director | 2022-07-21 | Mar 1963 | British |
| MORTON, Nicholas Michael, Professor | Director | 2025-10-20 | Nov 1973 | British |
| REECE, Richard Jonathan, Professor | Director | 2024-07-11 | Feb 1966 | British |
| SMITH, David Paul, Professor | Director | 2024-03-01 | Apr 1977 | British |
| SOARES DA ROCHA, Sonia Maria Campos, Professor | Director | 2026-01-01 | Mar 1974 | Portuguese,British |
Show 91 resigned officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| HUGHES, Adam Denis | Secretary | 2016-09-02 | 2021-08-06 |
| JONES, Glyn David | Secretary | — | 2003-06-30 |
| MCWHINNIE, Alison Jane | Secretary | 2003-07-01 | 2014-01-24 |
| MISSELBROOK, John Robert | Secretary | 2014-01-24 | 2016-09-02 |
| AMOUR, Augustin, Dr | Director | 2021-11-25 | 2025-03-20 |
| BAILEY, Kathryn Tessa, Dr | Director | 2003-07-01 | 2003-07-01 |
| BAILLIE, Catherine Frances | Director | 2012-06-11 | 2012-06-11 |
| BANTING, George Spencer | Director | 2004-01-01 | 2007-12-31 |
| BARNETT, Yvonne Annette, Dr | Director | 2001-01-01 | 2002-12-31 |
| BAULCOMBE, David Charles, Sir | Director | 2015-01-01 | 2017-12-31 |
| BAUM, Harold, Professor | Director | — | 1994-12-31 |
| BEECHEY, Ronald Brian, Professor | Director | 2001-01-01 | 2005-12-31 |
| BEECHEY, Ronald Brian, Professor | Director | — | 1996-12-31 |
| BEYNON, Robert Jeffrey, Professor | Director | 2014-01-01 | 2018-12-31 |
| BLUNDELL, Tom, Professor Sir | Director | 2009-10-01 | 2011-12-31 |
| BOOTH, Paula Jane | Director | 2006-05-16 | 2007-12-31 |
| BRUCKDORFER, Karl Richard, Dr | Director | 1996-01-01 | 1997-12-31 |
| BULLEID, Neil, Professor | Director | 2010-01-01 | 2011-12-31 |
| BURDON, Roy Hunter, Professor | Director | — | 1993-12-31 |
| BURNS, Shamus, Dr | Director | 2012-01-01 | 2012-12-31 |
| BUSBY, Stephen John, Professor | Director | 2011-01-01 | 2016-12-31 |
| CARLING, David, Professor | Director | 2015-01-01 | 2016-12-31 |
| CHAKRABARTI, Lisa, Professor | Director | 2022-01-01 | 2025-10-17 |
| CLARK, John Benjamin, Professor | Director | 2005-01-01 | 2010-04-22 |
| COGDELL, Richard John, Professor | Director | 2008-01-01 | 2009-12-31 |
| COGGINS, John Richard, Professor | Director | 2010-05-05 | 2013-05-16 |
| COGGINS, John Richard, Professor | Director | 2003-01-01 | 2008-12-31 |
| COHEN, Philip, Prof Sir | Director | 2006-01-01 | 2008-12-31 |
| COOPER, Chris Eric, Professor | Director | 2013-01-01 | 2015-12-31 |
| COOPER, Chris Eric, Professor | Director | 2005-01-01 | 2006-12-31 |
| DAFFORN, Timothy Richard, Professor | Director | 2015-01-01 | 2015-06-30 |
| DAVIES, Raymond Jeremy Hugh, Professor | Director | 1997-01-01 | 1998-12-31 |
| DELL, Anne, Professor | Director | 2014-01-01 | 2019-08-19 |
| DOWNES, Charles Peter, Professor Sir | Director | 2018-01-01 | 2022-07-21 |
| DOWNES, Charles Peter, Professor Sir | Director | 2009-01-01 | 2011-12-31 |
| DOWNES, Charles Peter | Director | 1999-01-01 | 2004-12-31 |
| DRANSFIELD, Ian, Professor | Director | 2006-01-01 | 2011-12-31 |
| EAST, Malcolm, Dr | Director | 2010-01-01 | 2011-12-31 |
| EDWARDS, Joanne, Dr | Director | 2017-07-20 | 2021-12-31 |
| EISENTHAL, Robert, Dr | Director | 1993-11-30 | 1995-12-31 |
| FELL, David, Professor | Director | 2012-01-01 | 2014-12-31 |
| FREEDMAN, Robert Ben, Professor | Director | 1994-01-01 | 1998-12-31 |
| GALLOWAY, Tamara Susan | Director | 2004-01-01 | 2005-12-31 |
| GARTLAND, Kevan Michael Andrew, Professor | Director | 2003-05-20 | 2008-12-31 |
| GRAHAM, Sheila Veronica, Professor | Director | 2019-08-20 | 2024-07-11 |
| GRAHAM, Sheila, Dr | Director | 2012-01-01 | 2016-12-31 |
| GRANT, Michael Ernest, Professor | Director | 2003-01-01 | 2004-12-31 |
| GRAY, Nicola Kemp, Dr | Director | 2014-01-01 | 2018-12-31 |
| GRUSZKA, Dominika Teresa, Dr | Director | 2017-07-20 | 2022-12-31 |
| GULL, Keith, Professor | Director | 1996-01-01 | 2001-12-31 |
| HUMPHRIES, Martin James, Professor | Director | 2005-01-01 | 2010-12-31 |
| KLEANTHOUS, Colin, Professor | Director | 2008-01-01 | 2013-12-31 |
| KORNBERG, Hans Leo, Professor Sir | Director | — | 1995-07-31 |
| LAGNADO, John Raphael, Dr | Director | 1995-01-01 | 1996-12-31 |
| LAMOND, Angus, Professor | Director | 2000-01-01 | 2001-12-31 |
| LASKEY, Ron, Professor | Director | 2012-01-01 | 2014-12-31 |
| LEAVER, Christopher John, Professor | Director | 2002-01-01 | 2007-12-31 |
| LINDLEY, Martin, Dr | Director | 2022-01-02 | 2023-07-13 |
| MALCOLM, Alan David Blair, Professor | Director | — | 1995-12-31 |
| MCEWAN, Iain Joseph, Dr | Director | 2004-01-01 | 2008-12-31 |
| MERCER, Derry, Dr | Director | 2021-01-11 | 2021-01-13 |
| MERCER, Derry, Dr | Director | 2021-01-01 | 2026-01-31 |
| MICHELANGELI, Francesco, Dr | Director | 2009-01-01 | 2013-12-31 |
| NEWBURY, Henry John, Professor | Director | 2009-01-01 | 2013-12-31 |
| PARKER, Peter, Professor | Director | 2000-01-01 | 2003-12-31 |
| PETERS, Timothy John, Professor | Director | 2000-01-01 | 2002-01-09 |
| POGSON, Chris Ian, Dr | Director | — | 1994-12-31 |
| POOL, Martin Richard, Dr | Director | 2017-07-20 | 2022-12-31 |
| PYE, David Alexander, Dr | Director | 2017-01-01 | 2020-12-31 |
| RAGAN, Charles Ian, Dr | Director | 1999-01-01 | 2000-12-31 |
| RANDLE, Philip John, Professor Sir | Director | 1996-01-01 | 2000-12-31 |
| REECE, Richard, Professor | Director | 2013-05-16 | 2022-07-21 |
| REECE, Richard Jonathan | Director | 2003-05-20 | 2004-03-18 |
| RICE-EVANS, Catherine Anne, Professor | Director | 1991-09-19 | 1995-12-31 |
| ROBERTS, Stefan, Professor | Director | 2017-01-01 | 2021-12-31 |
| RYAN, Norma Mary, Dr | Director | 1996-01-01 | 2000-12-31 |
| SARGENT, Frank, Professor | Director | 2018-01-01 | 2025-12-31 |
| SAYERS, Jon Roland, Dr | Director | 2008-01-01 | 2012-12-31 |
| SAYERS, Jon Roland, Dr | Director | 2001-01-01 | 2006-01-31 |
| SHEPHERD, Peter Robin, Professor | Director | 2008-01-01 | 2014-12-31 |
| SIDDLE, Kenneth, Professor | Director | 1995-01-01 | 1999-12-31 |
| SKIDMORE, Christopher John, Dr | Director | 1998-01-01 | 2003-05-19 |
| SNELL, Keith, Dr | Director | 1991-09-19 | 1993-12-31 |
| STOCKLEY, Peter George, Prof | Director | 2002-01-01 | 2003-12-31 |
| THOMAS, Jean Olwen, Professor | Director | 2003-05-20 | 2005-12-31 |
| TRAYER, Ian Patrick, Professor | Director | 2003-01-01 | 2007-12-31 |
| TURNER, Anthony John, Proffesor | Director | 1993-10-01 | 2004-12-31 |
| VIEIRA DE MELLO RIGDEN, Luciane, Professor | Director | 2019-04-05 | 2025-12-31 |
| WALLACE, Alan, Dr | Director | 2013-01-01 | 2015-12-31 |
| WALLACE, Heather Mann, Prof. | Director | 2011-01-01 | 2012-12-31 |
| WATMOUGH, Nicholas James, Dr | Director | 2012-01-01 | 2017-12-31 |
Ownership
Persons with significant control
Filing timeline
Last 20 of 336 total filings
Material constitutional events — rename, articles re-file, resolution
- 2025-07-28 MA Memorandum articles
- 2025-07-28 RESOLUTIONS Resolution
| Date | Type | Category | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2026-01-16 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2026-01-08 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2026-01-08 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-12-04 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2025-10-21 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-10-21 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-07-28 | MA | incorporation | Memorandum articles | |
| 2025-07-28 | RESOLUTIONS | resolution | Resolution | |
| 2025-07-16 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2025-06-26 | AD01 | address | Change registered office address company with date old address new address | |
| 2025-04-17 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-01-02 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-12-05 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2024-07-22 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-07-17 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-07-15 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2024-03-08 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-01-04 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2023-12-06 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates |
Public-record activity
Raw counts from Companies House — last 12–24 months
- Filings
- 11
- Capital events
- 0
- Officers appointed
- 2
- Officers resigned
- 4
last 12 months
last 24 months
last 12 months
last 12 months
Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.
Year-on-year
FY2023 → FY2024 · period ending 2024-12-31 vs 2023-12-31
-
Turnover
-0.9%
£4,360,000 £4,319,000
-
Cash
-15%
£3,630,000 £3,086,000
-
Net assets
+12.5%
£11,081,000 £12,470,000
-
Employees
0%
43 43
-
Wages
+5.5%
£1,796,000 £1,894,000
Each % is (latest − prior) ÷ |prior| for the line item as filed. The comparison is only shown when the latest and prior accounts cover broadly equal-length periods — short or long stubs (typical around incorporation or a year-end change) are suppressed rather than misrepresented. Lines a company doesn't report are omitted. About these numbers