HILL & KNOWLTON LIMITED
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Next accounts due
2026-09-30 (in 4mo)
Last filed for 2024-12-31
Confirmation statement due
2027-03-03 (in 10mo)
Last made up 2026-02-17
Watchouts
Cash
—
Latest balance sheet
Net assets
£59M
+9.5% vs 2023
Employees
296
-11.6% vs 2023
Profit before tax
£6M
+16.9% vs 2023
Watchouts
Facts from the Companies House register and the latest accounts — not a rating
-
Material uncertainty over going concern
As at the 1st January 2025 Hill & Knowlton Limited's operations, trade and assets were acquired by Burson Group Limited at book value. From this date, Hill & Knowlton's ongoing trade will be recognised within Burson Group Limited with the intention of liquidating the legal entity in 2026. The financial statements have therefore been prepared on a basis other than going concern.
-
1 PSC ceased in last 24 months
Significant control changed hands — see the Ownership section.
Name history
Renamed 1 time since incorporation
- HILL & KNOWLTON LIMITED 2003-02-03 → present
- HILL AND KNOWLTON (U.K.) LIMITED 1969-05-01 → 2003-02-03
Net assets
2-year trend · vs Industrials median
Accounts
2-year trend · latest reflected 2024-12-31
| Metric | Trend | 2023-12-31 | 2024-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £53,172,000 | £48,138,000 | |
| Operating profit | £1,929,000 | £2,344,000 | |
| Profit before tax | £4,862,000 | £5,684,000 | |
| Net profit | £4,727,000 | £4,955,000 | |
| Cash | — | — | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | £68,448,000 | £59,104,000 | |
| Net assets | £53,954,000 | £59,104,000 | |
| Equity | £53,954,000 | £59,104,000 | |
| Average employees | 335 | 296 | |
| Wages | £20,508,000 | £18,460,000 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 3.6% | 4.9% | |
| Net margin | 8.9% | 10.3% | |
| Return on capital employed | 2.8% | 4.0% | |
| Gearing (liabilities / total assets) | 39.1% | 30.1% | |
| Current ratio | 4.43x | 3.38x | |
| Interest cover | 4.69x | 3.45x |
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 101
- Reporting scope
- Standalone (parent only)
- Auditor
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- Audit opinion
- Unqualified (clean)
- Going concern
- Material uncertainty disclosed
“As at the 1st January 2025 Hill & Knowlton Limited's operations, trade and assets were acquired by Burson Group Limited at book value. From this date, Hill & Knowlton's ongoing trade will be recognised within Burson Group Limited with the intention of liquidating the legal entity in 2026. The financial statements have therefore been prepared on a basis other than going concern.”
Group structure
- HILL & KNOWLTON LIMITED · parent
- Carl Byoir (UK) Limited 100%
Significant events
- “As at the 1st January 2025 Hill & Knowlton Limited's operations, trade and assets were acquired by Burson Group Limited at book value. From this date, Hill & Knowlton's ongoing trade will be recognised within Burson Group Limited with the intention of liquidating the legal entity in 2026.”
Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers
People
3 active · 97 resigned
| Name | Role | Appointed | Born | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HINTON-JONES, Mark James | Secretary | 2025-04-22 | — | — |
| BURRIDGE, Pippa | Director | 2019-09-01 | Apr 1969 | British |
| HINTON-JONES, Mark James | Director | 2025-04-22 | Aug 1973 | British |
Show 97 resigned officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| GALPIN, Joanna Amber | Secretary | 1996-07-16 | 1997-12-19 |
| GLYNN, Michael Richard | Secretary | — | 1993-01-18 |
| GOOLD, John, J Goold Esq | Secretary | 1992-10-29 | 1992-02-24 |
| JAQUES, Richard | Secretary | 1997-12-19 | 1998-07-16 |
| LEUSCHKE, Sarah Louise Jane | Secretary | 2020-01-02 | 2025-04-30 |
| PLEDGE, Michael | Secretary | 1998-01-26 | 2002-10-31 |
| STIMPSON, Anthony Gwilym | Secretary | 2002-10-01 | 2019-12-05 |
| THORNE, Mark Joriman | Secretary | 1995-01-26 | 1996-12-31 |
| TURNER, Keithia Julienne | Secretary | 1993-01-18 | 1994-06-08 |
| ALLCORN, Suzette, Doctor | Director | 2003-09-18 | 2005-05-31 |
| ANDREWS, Bronwen Jane | Director | 2005-11-24 | 2006-07-07 |
| ATKINSON, Barbara | Director | 1995-01-17 | 1997-09-26 |
| BALLARD, Elizabeth | Director | 1997-05-06 | 1999-09-14 |
| BICKHAM, Edward Sidney Couer | Director | 1993-07-22 | 1994-09-26 |
| BICKHAM, Edward Sidney Cover | Director | — | 2000-04-07 |
| BLAKSTAD, Paul Matthew Bjorn | Director | 2000-11-07 | 2001-06-12 |
| BLENCOWE, Lucy Anne Montgomerie | Director | 1999-11-24 | 2000-06-23 |
| BOWMAN, Christina Marion | Director | 2001-08-09 | 2002-07-10 |
| BOYLE, Maria | Director | 2002-04-25 | 2005-12-31 |
| BROTZEN, David Howard | Director | — | 1999-09-30 |
| BULL, James Michael | Director | — | 2012-01-20 |
| BURGESS-WEBB, Anthony Arthur | Director | — | 2006-11-17 |
| CARBERRY, Deborah Claire | Director | 1995-01-17 | 1997-03-10 |
| CARTWRIGHT, Roderick Anthony | Director | 2005-06-30 | 2007-01-31 |
| CHALONER, Nick | Director | — | 1993-04-15 |
| CHAPMAN, Theodore Edward | Director | 2003-01-16 | 2005-07-08 |
| CHATAWAY, Mark | Director | — | 1993-02-03 |
| CLEARE, Joselyn Hannah Meg | Director | 2000-05-16 | 2003-11-27 |
| COLEMAN-SMITH, Ashton John | Director | 1995-12-01 | 2000-05-12 |
| COOK, Niall Robert | Director | 2002-06-17 | 2008-04-23 |
| COOPER, Giles Richard Douglas | Director | 2001-08-09 | 2002-09-09 |
| COSTERTON, Sally Patricia Anne | Director | 1999-08-10 | 2011-12-31 |
| DEVANY, Stephen John | Director | — | 1992-10-31 |
| EYLES-OWEN, Alison Janet | Director | 1998-05-12 | 2024-11-02 |
| EYNON, Lindsay Margaret | Director | 2000-02-08 | 2005-12-31 |
| FACIUS, Shelley | Director | 2001-05-17 | 2002-07-31 |
| FALLON, Tim | Director | 2004-01-22 | 2011-11-30 |
| FEARNLEY, Matt Kane | Director | 2002-02-14 | 2004-04-19 |
| FERRABEE, David | Director | 2005-06-30 | 2008-05-08 |
| FOSTER, Clair Carrick | Director | 2000-02-08 | 2002-02-28 |
| FRASER, Giles Robert | Director | 1995-04-18 | 2000-03-31 |
| FRERIS, Marika | Director | 1996-01-17 | 1996-10-15 |
| FRIEND, Rachel | Director | 2005-06-30 | 2008-02-01 |
| FURLONG, Sally | Director | — | 1993-03-24 |
| GALLUCCI, Jason | Director | 1999-04-01 | 2004-04-30 |
| GLYNN, Michael Richard | Director | — | 1993-01-18 |
| GOOLD, John, J Goold Esq | Director | 1992-10-29 | 1992-02-24 |
| GOURLAY, Sara Mackenzie | Director | 2003-05-22 | 2005-08-19 |
| GRANT, Carolyn Lesley | Director | 1996-07-16 | 2001-09-13 |
| GROTY, Amanda | Director | 2003-03-20 | 2006-11-17 |
| HALL, Noel | Director | 1995-07-18 | 1997-07-30 |
| HANDLEY, Stuart Lindsay | Director | 2005-11-24 | 2006-03-31 |
| HARDY, Gilian Vanessa | Director | 1998-05-12 | 2002-06-27 |
| HAYMAN, Michael | Director | 2003-11-19 | 2005-01-15 |
| HOLLIDAY, Daniel James | Director | 1999-04-01 | 2000-05-19 |
| HOPCRAFT, Charlotte Antonia | Director | 2019-09-01 | 2025-02-27 |
| HOWARD-ALLEN, Felicity | Director | 1991-11-19 | 2002-03-27 |
| HUDSON, Gaye | Director | — | 1995-10-17 |
| HUNT, James Linns | Director | 2002-06-17 | 2003-06-16 |
| INGHAM, Bernard, Sir | Director | — | 2002-06-30 |
| JACKSON, Mark | Director | 2005-11-24 | 2008-01-17 |
| JAMES, Alun Gwynne | Director | 2000-05-16 | 2005-02-25 |
| JAQUES, Richard | Director | — | 1998-12-18 |
| JENKINS, Tara | Director | 2001-05-17 | 2002-04-30 |
| KAN, Michael David | Director | 1998-11-03 | 2005-06-30 |
| KEARNEY, Jayne Sally | Director | 1999-11-24 | 2002-05-30 |
| LAURENCE, Andrew David | Director | 1993-04-15 | 2008-12-31 |
| LAVERACK, Anna | Director | 1997-11-04 | 2000-07-20 |
| LAWLOR, Peter | Director | 2005-01-27 | 2019-04-30 |
| LAYZELL PAYNE, Anthony | Director | 1999-11-24 | 2002-09-09 |
| LEE, Avril | Director | 2000-05-16 | 2001-09-21 |
| LEUSCHKE, Sarah Louise Jane | Director | 2020-01-02 | 2025-04-30 |
| LIPSCOMBE-NOTT, Sara Elizabeth Anne | Director | 2005-11-24 | 2006-04-28 |
| LLOYD, Suzanne Jennifer | Director | 2003-03-20 | 2010-05-10 |
| LUCKETT, Timothy | Director | 2005-11-24 | 2016-09-01 |
| LYTHGOE, Samantha | Director | 2003-09-18 | 2025-02-27 |
| MAIR, Wendy Margaret | Director | — | 2005-08-12 |
| MARLOW THOMAS, Piers John Derrick | Director | 1992-06-09 | 1995-07-17 |
| MARTIN, Zena Monique | Director | 2004-07-22 | 2005-06-06 |
| MAY, Nicholas Michael | Director | 2003-05-22 | 2006-11-17 |
| MCGRORY, Geraldine | Director | 1999-05-04 | 2001-04-03 |
| MCLAREN, David John | Director | 1994-11-21 | 2004-12-31 |
| MCLEAN, Virginia | Director | 1999-07-01 | 2000-11-30 |
| MCNALLY, Tom | Director | — | 1993-04-15 |
| MILLAR, Richard William | Director | 2004-07-22 | 2021-02-10 |
| MILLER, Simon Frank George | Director | 2000-11-07 | 2004-04-23 |
| MINASI, Iolanda | Director | 1995-12-01 | 1999-03-19 |
| MOYSE, Karen Elizabeth | Director | — | 1999-08-30 |
| NEWBOLD, Vicki | Director | 2005-03-17 | 2007-12-31 |
| NOBLE, Fiona | Director | 2002-05-06 | 2004-10-21 |
| O'CONNOR, Rachel Victoria Louise | Director | 1999-07-01 | 2001-11-30 |
| O'HANLON, Damaris Frances | Director | 1997-05-06 | 2007-12-07 |
| OGDEN, Alan Graeme Howes | Director | — | 1997-02-28 |
| PEARCE, Simon Nicholas Charles | Director | 1997-11-04 | 1999-08-20 |
| PHAROAH, Andrew Jonathan | Director | 1999-04-01 | 2006-11-17 |
| PILL, Mark Elliot | Director | 2000-02-08 | 2000-09-15 |
| PORTER, Karen Hazel | Director | 2001-05-17 | 2020-07-24 |
Ownership
Persons with significant control
| Name | Kind | Nature of control | Notified | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burson Group Limited | Corporate entity | Shares 75–100%, Voting 75–100% | 2025-01-01 | Active |
| Wpp Samson Limited | Corporate entity | Shares 75–100%, Voting 75–100% | 2017-08-31 | Ceased 2025-01-01 |
Filing timeline
Last 20 of 429 total filings
| Date | Type | Category | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2026-03-02 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with updates | |
| 2025-05-12 | AP03 | officers | Appoint person secretary company with name date | |
| 2025-05-12 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-05-12 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-05-12 | TM02 | officers | Termination secretary company with name termination date | |
| 2025-04-02 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-02-28 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with updates | |
| 2025-02-27 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-02-27 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-02-05 | PSC02 | persons-with-significant-control | Notification of a person with significant control | |
| 2025-01-23 | PSC07 | persons-with-significant-control | Cessation of a person with significant control | |
| 2024-12-20 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-08-21 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2024-02-29 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2023-10-17 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2023-10-03 | AD01 | address | Change registered office address company with date old address new address | |
| 2023-09-25 | AD01 | address | Change registered office address company with date old address new address | |
| 2023-02-22 | RP04CS01 | confirmation-statement | Second filing of confirmation statement with made up date | |
| 2023-02-21 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates |
Public-record activity
Raw counts from Companies House — last 12–24 months
- Filings
- 6
- Capital events
- 0
- Officers appointed
- 0
- Officers resigned
- 0
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
-9.5%
£53,172,000 £48,138,000
-
Cash
—
Not reported
-
Net assets
+9.5%
£53,954,000 £59,104,000
-
Employees
-11.6%
335 296
-
Operating profit
+21.5%
£1,929,000 £2,344,000
-
Profit before tax
+16.9%
£4,862,000 £5,684,000
-
Wages
-10%
£20,508,000 £18,460,000
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