BELL & BAIN (HOLDINGS) LIMITED

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

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.

Accounting basis

FRS 102

Reporting scope

Consolidated group

Auditor

Azets Audit Services

Audit opinion

Unqualified (clean)

Going concern

Affirmed

“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 or parent company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.”

Group structure

1. BELL & BAIN (HOLDINGS) LIMITED · parent
   1. Bell & Bain Limited 100% · Scotland · Printing and binding books and journals
   2. J. Thomson Colour Printers Limited 100% · Scotland · Printing products to customer's specifications and providing a sophisticated project management service
   3. Lithotec Services Ltd 100% · Scotland · Dormant

Significant events

• “Storm damage to one of Bell & Bain Limited's factories in June 2023 resulted in significant disruption to operations over subsequent months. A digital press was irreparably damaged however the business continued to supply customers whilst a new replacement press was commissioned. Under the income recognition rules, the full insurance payout was accounted for on receipt in the 2023 Profit & Loss Account, offset by the loss on scrapping the damaged digital press.”
• “The July 2024 general election was called at short-notice and therefore the political marketing timescale cut significantly. This had an adverse effect on anticipated sales as the company produced less than half of what it would normally expect in an election year.”
• “Given the ageing condition of the company's 10-colour printing press, and the associated repair costs, the decision was taken to invest in a second hand 8-colour LED UV printing press as a replacement. This will bring a number of benefits – faster running speeds, greater flexibility and increased reliability – as well as making the company's manufacturing platform completely LED UV which should result in a better, more consistent quality of product.”
• “2023 saw Bell & Bain set its baseline year for carbon measurement...J Thomson Colour Printers Limited was successful in achieving 'carbon balanced' status during 2024...”
• “During 2024, as part of our recycling programme, we recycled 2,790 tonnes of materials, 10% less than the 3,085 tonnes recycled in 2023...”
• “Bell & Bain Limited, and J. Thomson Colour Printers Limited granted a bond and floating charge to Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Ltd on 12 May 2025 in connection with Bell & Bain Limited's new invoice finance facility, which was transferred from ABN Amro to Lloyds Bank Commercial Finance Ltd on that date.”

Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers

Filings

5

last 12 months

Capital events

2

last 24 months

Officers appointed

0

last 12 months

Officers resigned

0

last 12 months

Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.

• Turnover

  -6.5%

  £33,248,062 → £31,086,546

• Cash

  -37.7%

  £1,054,032 → £656,177

• Net assets

  -15.1%

  £2,438,793 → £2,069,475

• Employees

  -13.7%

  249 → 215

• Operating profit

  -75.6%

  £2,401,552 → £585,490

• Profit before tax

  -128.5%

  £1,372,770 → -£391,528

• Wages

  -2.6%

  £7,867,703 → £7,662,520

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