Board Of Management Of Perth College
Latest income
£26.5m
Latest spending
£30.2m
Accounts read
FY2025
Form
Statutory corporation (Royal Charter etc)
Financial health, per FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that UHI Perth recorded an operating deficit of £3.7m and an adjusted operating deficit of £0.6m for the year ended 31 July 2025, driven by lower-than-target student numbers and unfunded pay awards. Per the trustees' report, the college faces continuing financial pressures and has implemented a Financial Recovery Plan to achieve a break-even position over a three-year period, while relying on advance grant funding from the Scottish Funding Council to manage liquidity.
What the accounts disclose
Highest-paid employee band: £110,000 - £120,000
“The mid-point of banded remuneration of the highest paid official in 2024/25 has slightly decreased due to a change in personnel. Percentile pay ratios have increased in 2024/25 due to cost of living and incremental pay rises as well as salary variances as a result of leavers and new starts during the year. This has resulted in the percentile pay multiples decreasing in 2024/25.” — page 38
Per FY2025 accounts as filed with OSCR.
Going concern: doubt noted
“The SFC sent the interim Principal of UHI Perth a letter of comfort in November 2025 confirming that they will work with the sector and individual colleges and regions to consider ways to help manage cash flow requirements for the period of 12 months from the date of approval of our balance sheet. The Board of Management therefore confirms that they consider UHI Perth to be a going concern over the period of 12 months from the date of signing the accounts as described in the Colleges Scotland Corporate Governance Code June 2022 (section 5.1.3) and that the financial statements have been prepared on this basis as set out in Note 1 of these financial statements.”
Per FY2025 accounts as filed with OSCR.
Reserves policy: break even on both an operational and resource basis in each fiscal year (held: £3.6m)
“Scottish Government budgeting and accounting requirements require the College to at least break even on both an operational and resource basis in each fiscal year and to minimise cash balances.” — page 22
Per FY2025 accounts as filed with OSCR.
Defined-benefit pension deficit: £700k
“At 31 July 2025 there is a net defined benefit liability of £0.7 million.”
Per FY2025 accounts as filed with OSCR.
Trading subsidiary: Air Service Training (Engineering) Limited
“Air Services Training (Engineering) Ltd (AST) was a charitable trading subsidiary of UHI Perth that delivered aeronautical courses that met the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards to UK and international clients.” — page 10
Per FY2025 accounts as filed with OSCR.
Governance note: Auditor General published a section 22 report due to failure to produce a budget for 2023/24.
“The Auditor General published a section 22 report on 25 September 2025 due to UHI Perth’s failure to produce a budget for 2023/24. The Auditor General concluded that, although UHI Perth has begun addressing its financial management and governance weaknesses, it needs to continue to work with the University of the Highlands and Islands and the Scottish Funding Council to strengthen how the college operates.” — page 61
Per FY2025 accounts as filed with OSCR.
Governance note: Internal audit identified significant control weaknesses in financial procedures and budget setting.
“The Auditor General published a section 22 report on 25 September 2025 due to UHI Perth’s failure to produce a budget for 2023/24. The Auditor General concluded that, although UHI Perth has begun addressing its financial management and governance weaknesses, it needs to continue to work with the University of the Highlands and Islands and the Scottish Funding Council to strengthen how the college operates.” — page 61
Per FY2025 accounts as filed with OSCR.
Independent examiner: Deloitte LLP
Per FY2025 accounts as filed with OSCR.