WORLD CHALLENGE EXPEDITIONS LIMITED
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Next accounts due
2027-06-30 (in 1y)
Last filed for 2025-09-30
Confirmation statement due
2026-05-27 (this month)
Last made up 2025-05-13
Watchouts
None on the register
Cash
£130K
+261.1% vs 2024
Net assets
-£5M
-3.6% vs 2024
Employees
47
0% vs 2024
Profit before tax
£910K
+126.6% vs 2024
Name history
Renamed 1 time since incorporation
- WORLD CHALLENGE EXPEDITIONS LIMITED 1988-12-01 → present
- WORLD CHALLENGE LIMITED 1987-10-05 → 1988-12-01
Net assets
2-year trend · vs Consumer Discretionary median
Accounts
2-year trend · latest reflected 2025-09-30
| Metric | Trend | 2024-09-30 | 2025-09-30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £10,098,000 | £10,303,000 | |
| Operating profit | -£3,311,000 | £884,000 | |
| Profit before tax | -£3,415,000 | £910,000 | |
| Net profit | -£2,236,000 | -£178,000 | |
| Cash | £36,000 | £130,000 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | -£4,175,000 | -£4,366,000 | |
| Net assets | -£4,923,000 | -£5,101,000 | |
| Equity | -£4,923,000 | -£5,101,000 | |
| Average employees | 47 | 47 | |
| Wages | £2,230,000 | £2,303,000 |
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 | 2024-09-30 | 2025-09-30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | -32.8% | 8.6% | |
| Net margin | -22.1% | -1.7% | |
| Return on capital employed | 79.3% | -20.2% | |
| Gearing (liabilities / total assets) | 270.4% | 285.0% | |
| Current ratio | 0.12x | 0.24x | |
| Interest cover | -31.84x | 88.40x |
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
- White Hart Associates (London) Limited
- Audit opinion
- Unqualified (clean)
- Going concern
- Affirmed
“The Directors have concluded that it is appropriate to prepare these financial statements on a going concern basis. At 30 September 2025, the Company has net liabilities of £5,101,000 (2024: £4,923,000) and net current liabilities of £5,443,000 (2024: £6,197,000). The Directors consider that under forecasted, and alternative reasonably possible scenarios, the Company will have sufficient liquidity to continue to trade for the foreseeable future.”
Group structure
- WORLD CHALLENGE EXPEDITIONS LIMITED · parent
- World Challenge Expeditions Pty Limited 100%
- World Challenge NZ Limited 100%
- World Challenge Expeditions Inc 100%
Significant events
- “Sales have remained strong for 2026 and beyond, and as a result, client monies received in advance have increased by £934,000 to £6,336,000 (2024: 5,402,000).”
- “In January 2021, the Travelopia Group completed an internal restructure to segregate the Company and the UK tour operating subsidiaries (known internally as the 'CAA ring-fenced group') from the rest of the Travelopia Group.”
- “Prior to the year end, it was announced that the Company, along with its immediate parent entity, Experiential Student Travel Group Limited, and sister entities, Travel Class Limited, Ski Bound Limited and TTSS Limited, would be disposed of by the Travelopia Group of Companies.”
Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers
People
2 active · 46 resigned
| Name | Role | Appointed | Born | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPTON, John Andrew | Director | 2025-12-31 | Mar 1974 | British |
| VENN, James | Director | 2014-02-05 | Feb 1980 | British |
Show 46 resigned officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIBSON, Derek George | Secretary | 1999-07-01 | 2002-06-28 |
| LEESON, Michael Christopher Richard | Secretary | 1999-01-01 | 1999-07-01 |
| MILLER, Nigel | Secretary | 2004-06-01 | 2008-05-09 |
| REDLICH, Simon James | Secretary | 2002-06-28 | 2004-01-23 |
| RIGBY, Charles Richard | Secretary | 2004-01-23 | 2004-06-01 |
| RIGBY, Charles Richard | Secretary | — | 1999-01-01 |
| WALTER, Joyce | Secretary | 2008-05-09 | 2015-12-18 |
| ALLEN, Charles Edward Gray | Director | 1994-07-08 | 1998-12-10 |
| BAINBRIDGE, Richard Charles | Director | 2012-03-07 | 2013-03-31 |
| BARROW, Clive Andrew Knapp, Mister | Director | — | 1996-08-31 |
| BURNS, Anthony John | Director | 2001-05-21 | 2001-11-01 |
| DICK, Fergus | Director | 2013-01-15 | 2013-07-23 |
| EASTLAKE, Matthew Edward | Director | 2012-02-10 | 2015-12-15 |
| EVANS, Huw | Director | 2005-10-18 | 2008-05-09 |
| EVERARD, Nicholas Charles | Director | 2006-09-26 | 2010-01-15 |
| FAWCETT, Mark | Director | 1997-04-18 | 2002-09-06 |
| FINLAY, Ian Stuart | Director | 2008-05-09 | 2012-08-02 |
| FLETCHER, Peter John | Director | 2018-09-12 | 2025-12-31 |
| FRANCIS, Felix Richard Roger | Director | — | 2005-08-24 |
| FRASER, Andrew Hector | Director | 2012-02-10 | 2013-05-14 |
| FROGGATT, Martin James | Director | 2013-01-15 | 2018-09-12 |
| GIBSON, Derek George | Director | 1999-12-17 | 2002-06-28 |
| GRAEME, David James | Director | 1999-09-14 | 2002-09-27 |
| HAWKES, Paul Christopher | Director | 2008-05-09 | 2012-02-09 |
| HAYWARD, Terence Domininc William | Director | 2000-12-19 | 2008-10-10 |
| JENKS, Richard John Peter | Director | — | 1994-06-01 |
| LEE, Jonathan Stephen | Director | 1997-08-13 | 1999-09-14 |
| LEESON, Michael Christopher Richard | Director | 1996-09-12 | 1999-07-23 |
| LOWE, Christopher John | Director | 1997-08-13 | 1999-09-14 |
| MACAIRE, Richard Francis | Director | — | 1994-06-01 |
| MAXWELL, Alistair | Director | 1995-07-04 | 1996-08-31 |
| MCILRATH, Clare Teresa | Director | 2013-01-15 | 2013-07-31 |
| MEE, Darren | Director | 2008-05-09 | 2012-10-18 |
| MILLER, Nigel | Director | 2004-06-01 | 2011-12-09 |
| OFFER, Harry John Miles | Director | 1997-08-13 | 1999-09-14 |
| OSMAN, Rebecca Louise | Director | 2013-07-31 | 2014-04-01 |
| OSMAN, Sinan Siret | Director | 1999-09-14 | 2004-08-20 |
| REDLICH, Simon James | Director | 2000-10-23 | 2004-01-23 |
| RIGBY, Charles Richard | Director | — | 2008-05-09 |
| SALWEY, Roger | Director | 1996-12-04 | 1999-06-18 |
| SCOTT, Ian Bruce | Director | 2003-04-29 | 2008-05-09 |
| STREATHER, Anthony | Director | — | 1995-07-04 |
| TRUEMAN, Michael John | Director | 2002-09-24 | 2006-08-21 |
| WALLACE, Michael Wilson | Director | — | 1996-12-04 |
| WILKINSON, Peter John Lawton | Director | 1999-09-14 | 2000-09-15 |
| WIMBLETON, John Christopher | Director | 2008-05-09 | 2012-10-10 |
Ownership
Persons with significant control
| Name | Kind | Nature of control | Notified | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experiential Student Travel Group Limited | Corporate entity | Shares 75–100%, Voting 75–100%, Appoints directors | 2021-01-11 | Active |
| Travelopia Holdings Limited | Corporate entity | Shares 75–100%, Voting 75–100%, Appoints directors | 2016-04-06 | Ceased 2021-01-11 |
Filing timeline
Last 20 of 250 total filings
| Date | Type | Category | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-04 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2026-01-07 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2026-01-07 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-05-19 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2025-04-11 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2024-09-25 | PSC05 | persons-with-significant-control | Change to a person with significant control | |
| 2024-09-25 | AD01 | address | Change registered office address company with date old address new address | |
| 2024-05-21 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2024-04-15 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2023-05-19 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2023-05-15 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2022-05-13 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2022-04-06 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2021-06-08 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2021-05-20 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2021-01-11 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with updates | |
| 2021-01-11 | PSC02 | persons-with-significant-control | Notification of a person with significant control | |
| 2021-01-11 | PSC07 | persons-with-significant-control | Cessation of a person with significant control | |
| 2020-06-04 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type full | |
| 2020-05-26 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates |
Public-record activity
Raw counts from Companies House — last 12–24 months
- Filings
- 4
- Capital events
- 0
- Officers appointed
- 1
- Officers resigned
- 1
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
FY2024 → FY2025 · period ending 2025-09-30 vs 2024-09-30
-
Turnover
+2%
£10,098,000 £10,303,000
-
Cash
+261.1%
£36,000 £130,000
-
Net assets
-3.6%
-£4,923,000 -£5,101,000
-
Employees
0%
47 47
-
Operating profit
+126.7%
-£3,311,000 £884,000
-
Profit before tax
+126.6%
-£3,415,000 £910,000
-
Wages
+3.3%
£2,230,000 £2,303,000
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