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THE SAINSBURY LABORATORY

Registered charity 1065510 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

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Latest income
£14.2m
Latest spending
£12.3m
Registered
1997
Accounts read
FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The charity reported a consolidated surplus of £1,897,719 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with total unrestricted reserves of £11,427,940. The trustees maintain sufficient unrestricted reserves to ensure stability, designating £5,400,000 for long-term sustainability beyond 2029 when major donor funding is no longer secured. The accounts state there are sufficient assets to support scientific plans into the foreseeable future.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: three months of annual charitable spend (held: £11.4m)
“Trustees consider approximately three months of annual charitable spend to be a reasonable allocation of reserves to cover such a likelihood. At year end this amounted to approximately £1,500,000.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Payments to trustees: Appolinaire Djikeng received £12,000 and Neil Gow received £19,500 remuneration as Directors of Plant Science Innovations Ltd.
“Appolinaire Djikeng received £12,000 (2024: £6,000) and Neil Gow received £19,500 (2024: £7,500) remuneration as Directors of Plant Science Innovations Ltd.” — page 24
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: NBI Partnership Ltd charged £924,000 for administrative and support services under a cost share agreement.
“During the year The Sainsbury Laboratory was charged £924,000 (2024 £813,000) under this agreement.” — page 31
“During the year Gatsby provided £7.6m (2024: £6.4m) of funding.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Gatsby Charitable Foundation provided £7.6m of funding.
“During the year The Sainsbury Laboratory was charged £924,000 (2024 £813,000) under this agreement.” — page 31
“During the year Gatsby provided £7.6m (2024: £6.4m) of funding.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Plant Bioscience Ltd paid £310 under a 'Rewards to Inventors' agreement.
“During the year The Sainsbury Laboratory was charged £924,000 (2024 £813,000) under this agreement.” — page 31
“During the year Gatsby provided £7.6m (2024: £6.4m) of funding.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP charged £123,527 for service charges and rent.
“During the year The Sainsbury Laboratory was charged £924,000 (2024 £813,000) under this agreement.” — page 31
“During the year Gatsby provided £7.6m (2024: £6.4m) of funding.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: UEA provided payroll and pension services, owed £926,000 at year end.
“During the year The Sainsbury Laboratory was charged £924,000 (2024 £813,000) under this agreement.” — page 31
“During the year Gatsby provided £7.6m (2024: £6.4m) of funding.”
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Trading subsidiary: Plant Science Innovations Limited
“The Sainsbury Laboratory has a 100% owned subsidiary Plant Science Innovations Ltd” — page 5
Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts audited by Crowe U.K. LLP. Discloses 4 of 6 completeness components.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income
£14.2m
Total spending
£12.3m
Reserves (reported)
£3.4m
Employees
85

Reported reserves equal ~3.3 months of spending — below the median for charities its size (median 4.6 months; benchmarks).

Trustees

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/03/2025£14.2m£12.3m
31/03/2024£12.7m£10.4m
31/03/2023£10.8m£10.0m
31/03/2022£9.4m£9.6m
31/03/2021£10.1m£9.4m

Common questions

Is THE SAINSBURY LABORATORY financially healthy?

The charity reported a consolidated surplus of £1,897,719 for the year ended 31 March 2025, with total unrestricted reserves of £11,427,940. The trustees maintain sufficient unrestricted reserves to ensure stability, designating £5,400,000 for long-term sustainability beyond 2029 when major donor funding is no longer secured. The accounts state there are sufficient assets to support scientific plans into the foreseeable future. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Crowe U.K. LLP.