NIAB
Activities within the general areas of crop varieties and seeds, including:Provision of information and advice to farmers, growers and educators.A programme of public good plant breeding which will positively impact the environment and public well-being.Crop variety performance trials and laboratory testing. Contract research for a wide range of organisations.Education and Training.
Latest income
£48.0m
Latest spending
£47.7m
Registered
1997
Accounts read
FY2024
Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts
The accounts state that the group reported a total net deficit of £183k for the year ended 31 March 2024, driven primarily by a pension scheme deficit of £14,356k. The trustees report an underlying unrestricted reserve surplus of £68k after excluding fixed assets, the pension liability, and long-term debt, and confirm the group is a going concern with adequate resources for at least twelve months.
What the accounts disclose
Highest-paid employee band: £190,001 - £200,000 — in the top quarter for charities its size (median £130k)
“In the band £190,001 - £200,000 1”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Reserves policy: between two and four and a half months’ worth of unrestricted fund expenditure (held: £68k)
“On a risk-based analysis the Trustees have concluded that their aim is to achieve a general reserve equivalent to between two and four and a half months’ worth of unrestricted fund expenditure. At the current annual spend, the reserves target is therefore between £5m and £10m.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: Remuneration paid to the Chair of the Board of Trustees totalled £23,423. The Chair of the Finance Committee received an honorarium of £3,600. Meeting fees totalling £5,600 were paid to six trustees. Professor M J Caccamo received £208k (remuneration, pension, benefits) while serving as both Trustee and employee.
“Remuneration paid to the Chair of the Board of Trustees totalled £23,423 (2023:Nil). In 2023 the Chair of the Board of Trustees received an Honorarium of £4,000. The Chair of the Finance Committee received an honorarium of £3,600 (2023:£2,700). Meeting fees totalling £5,600 were paid to six trustees (2023:£9,800 for six trustees).” — page 40
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: NIAB Trading Ltd, East Malling Services Ltd. and TAG Consulting Limited, which gift aid their profit to NIAB.
“NIAB has three wholly owned subsidiaries, NIAB Trading Ltd, East Malling Services Ltd. and TAG Consulting Limited, which gift aid their profit to NIAB.”
“NIAB EMR and The Arable Group Limited are charitable companies limited by guarantee. In both cases NIAB, as the sole voting member, has the power to appoint the Trustee Board of NIAB EMR and The Arable Group Limited and they are therefore considered to be subsidiary undertakings during 2023/24 by virtue of control.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: NIAB EMR and The Arable Group Limited are charitable companies limited by guarantee. NIAB, as the sole voting member, has the power to appoint the Trustee Board.
“NIAB has three wholly owned subsidiaries, NIAB Trading Ltd, East Malling Services Ltd. and TAG Consulting Limited, which gift aid their profit to NIAB.”
“NIAB EMR and The Arable Group Limited are charitable companies limited by guarantee. In both cases NIAB, as the sole voting member, has the power to appoint the Trustee Board of NIAB EMR and The Arable Group Limited and they are therefore considered to be subsidiary undertakings during 2023/24 by virtue of control.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The National Institute of Agricultural Botany Trust (the ‘Trust’ Charity No. 1144528) provides support to NIAB, including land, facilities, and funding.
“NIAB has three wholly owned subsidiaries, NIAB Trading Ltd, East Malling Services Ltd. and TAG Consulting Limited, which gift aid their profit to NIAB.”
“NIAB EMR and The Arable Group Limited are charitable companies limited by guarantee. In both cases NIAB, as the sole voting member, has the power to appoint the Trustee Board of NIAB EMR and The Arable Group Limited and they are therefore considered to be subsidiary undertakings during 2023/24 by virtue of control.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: NIAB has a long-term loan of £1,500k from The Trust.
“NIAB has three wholly owned subsidiaries, NIAB Trading Ltd, East Malling Services Ltd. and TAG Consulting Limited, which gift aid their profit to NIAB.”
“NIAB EMR and The Arable Group Limited are charitable companies limited by guarantee. In both cases NIAB, as the sole voting member, has the power to appoint the Trustee Board of NIAB EMR and The Arable Group Limited and they are therefore considered to be subsidiary undertakings during 2023/24 by virtue of control.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: NIAB Trading Ltd, East Malling Services Ltd., TAG Consulting Limited
“NIAB has three wholly owned subsidiaries, NIAB Trading Ltd, East Malling Services Ltd. and TAG Consulting Limited, which gift aid their profit to NIAB.”
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 28/09/2025)
Total income
£59.7m
Total spending
£47.7m
Cost of raising funds
£11.7m
Reserves (reported)
£283k
Employees
341
Trustees
- Dr Belinda Rosanna Clarke OBE
- Dr David James Buckeridge
- Dr Guy Henry Smith
- Dr Helen Ferrier
- Jonathan Peter Regan
- Patricia Malarkey
- Richard James Taylor
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 28/09/2025 | £48.0m | £47.7m |
| 30/03/2024 | £32.9m | £32.4m |
| 30/03/2023 | £29.7m | £32.4m |
| 30/03/2022 | £41.8m | £31.6m |
| 30/03/2021 | £31.1m | £27.5m |
Common questions
Is NIAB financially healthy?
Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the group reported a total net deficit of £183k for the year ended 31 March 2024, driven primarily by a pension scheme deficit of £14,356k. The trustees report an underlying unrestricted reserve surplus of £68k after excluding fixed assets, the pension liability, and long-term debt, and confirm the group is a going concern with adequate resources for at least twelve months. Its FY2024 accounts were audited by Moore Kingston Smith LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of NIAB earn?
Per its FY2024 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £190,001 - £200,000 band.
Who funds NIAB?
Funders whose own accounts filings name NIAB as a grant recipient include FELIX THORNLEY COBBOLD AGRICULTURAL TRUST, THE DOUGLAS BOMFORD TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FELIX THORNLEY COBBOLD AGRICULTURAL TRUST | FY2026 | £8k | |
| THE DOUGLAS BOMFORD TRUST | FY2025 | £432 | Travel to conference |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK government | 14/05/2020 | £33k | Growing Kent & Medway |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| DARTINGTON CATTLE BREEDING TRUST | 1 | £59k |
| THE NFU MUTUAL CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £57k |
| YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY | 1 | £56k |
| Mercer Family Charitable Foundation | 1 | £22k |
| CHK Foundation | 1 | £10k |
| CLAN TRUST LIMITED | 1 | £1k |
Charities like this
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL BOTANY TRUST
- Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust
- JOHN INNES FOUNDATION
- NUFFIELD INTERNATIONAL FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS
- THE NASIO TRUST
- THE NORTH OF ENGLAND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIAB | £48.0m | £190,001 - £200,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL BOTANY TRUST | £2.1m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust | £804k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| JOHN INNES FOUNDATION | £1.7m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NUFFIELD INTERNATIONAL FARMING SCHOLARSHIPS | £294k | — | 0 | unclear | — | noted |
| THE NASIO TRUST | £453k | Under £60,000 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |