The Prison Opticians Company Ltd.

The Prison Opticians Company Ltd, based in Brighton, UK, is a small, active company founded 16 years ago in 2009. It employs six people and holds £886,445 in assets. With two directors and one owner, the company operates from a real address and is a regular importer of optical and medical tools and devices, with six months of import activity recorded.

The company’s mission, as outlined on its website, is to provide training in optics to prisoners, helping them gain valuable skills and secure employment within the optics industry upon their release. It began by training both female and male prisoners on day release in Maidstone, Kent, but now delivers training behind prison walls in Category B and C prisons. The course, lasting approximately 10 weeks, prepares trainees for work as an Optical Assistant, providing an accredited Level 2 Qualification. The company also offers a distance learning course for ex-offenders, providing a resource pack and feedback on assignments. Success stories on the website highlight the positive impact of the program, with trainees securing employment in the optics industry.

Financially, The Prison Opticians Company Ltd shows a mixed picture. While cash reserves increased by 65% to £570,000, net assets plummeted 62% to £140,000. Creditors surged by 59% to £990,000, and trade debtors decreased by 6.5% to £320,000. The company’s small size (meeting two of three criteria for turnover under £10.2m, assets under £5.1m, and fewer than 50 employees) helps it remain flexible, but the significant drop in equity raises concerns. The company is exempt from an audit, so the figures are unaudited. Average number of employees during the period decreased by 17% to five. Depreciation impairment property plant equipment increased by 50% for plant machinery.

It’s clear that the company is dedicated to its social mission, but the financial data suggests it may be burning through money. Whether the company can sustain its operations and continue to provide valuable training to prisoners remains to be seen.

Registered in England/Wales under the registration number 06828145, with a registered address at BN1 2BB, England, Brighton, 164-165 Western Road Western Road.

WARNING:The numbers have been rounded for simplicity and may be inaccurate.Please, refer to the latest financial report for verification.