CAFE PROJECT

🌳Matureactive
SC234935 · private-limited-guarant-nsc-limited-exemption · incorporated 2002-08-02
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
Why now
Window steady · low confidence
Stable recent picture — watch for any upcoming trigger event.
What changed my view
Last 30 days

No material changes in the last 30 days.

Last 90 days

No snapshot from 90 days ago — start tracking from today.

Last 180 days

No snapshot from 180 days ago — start tracking from today.

🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Aug 2024
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
80/100
Exceptional
🔔
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What this business does
Primary activity: Technical and vocational secondary education
Sector: Education
Investor take
Pursue
Strong opportunity: active trading company with exceptional profile and bankable structure.

Opportunity 80/100 (exceptional), bankability 75/100. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (65/100).

Data confidence

Overall: high (80/100)

Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.

Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
18 officers (5 active, 18 linked, 16 with DOB)
88
Ownership & PSC
3 active PSC(s) of 6 total, 6 with control declared
90
Director network
3 connected companies via shared directors
54
Filing history
81 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
80/100Exceptional
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional 

Strong composite across quality, acquirability, and risk. High-priority target — progress to serious diligence.

Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
80
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.

Key financials

2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accounts
Cash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
£0£0£0£0£0£0Aug 2023Aug 2024

Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series

Financials

Extracted from Companies House accounts · FRS 102
Metric2024-08-312023-08-31
Average employees500500

Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.

🔒Filing-note intelligence

2 signals detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Recent activity

Last 30 days
1
filing
  • • 1 persons-with-significant-control
Last 90 days
1
filing
  • • 1 persons-with-significant-control
Last 180 days
1
filing
  • • 1 persons-with-significant-control
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (48 events)Click to expand
  1. 2026-05-11
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  2. 2025-08-13
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  3. 2025-05-22
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  4. 2024-09-13
    ➖
    STEIN, Colin Norman Ralph, Sheriff resigned
    director
  5. 2024-05-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  6. 2023-05-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  7. 2022-08-12
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  8. 2022-08-12
    📄
    cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
    persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
  9. 2022-05-24
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  10. 2021-05-18
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  11. 2020-08-27
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  12. 2020-08-27
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  13. 2020-08-27
    📄
    termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
    officers · TM01
  14. 2020-08-01
    ➖
    MORRISON, Maureen resigned
    director
  15. 2020-08-01
    ➖
    TALBERT, Richard George resigned
    director
  16. 2020-05-20
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  17. 2019-08-07
    📄
    appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
    officers · AP01
  18. 2019-06-12
    ➕
    CARGILL, Ross appointed
    director
  19. 2019-05-31
    📄
    accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
    accounts · AA
  20. 2018-08-07
    📄
    change-person-director-company-with-change-date
    officers · CH01
  21. 2016-08-23
    ➖
    WHELAN, Nicholas resigned
    director
  22. 2015-11-26
    ➕
    TALBERT, Richard George appointed
    director
  23. 2013-08-08
    ➖
    MILLER, David John resigned
    director
  24. 2011-08-31
    ➕
    WHELAN, Nicholas appointed
    director
  25. 2010-10-01
    ➖
    CAMPBELL, Angela Jane resigned
    director
  26. 2010-10-01
    ➕
    MILLER, David John appointed
    director
  27. 2009-07-08
    ➖
    BEATTIE, Marion resigned
    director
  28. 2007-05-01
    ➖
    SCORGIE, Irene Isabella resigned
    director
  29. 2007-02-27
    ➕
    CAMPBELL, Angela Jane appointed
    director
  30. 2006-10-10
    ➕
    MARTIN, Paul David appointed
    director
  31. 2006-01-24
    ➖
    BARNES, Colin Rae resigned
    director
  32. 2005-08-17
    ➕
    BEATTIE, Marion appointed
    director
  33. 2005-08-17
    ➖
    BIRSE, Ann Forbes resigned
    director
  34. 2005-05-10
    ➖
    VOIGT, Heinz Werner resigned
    director
  35. 2004-12-01
    ➕
    THORNTONS LAW LLP appointed
    corporate-secretary
  36. 2004-11-30
    ➖
    MESSRS THORNTONS WS resigned
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  37. 2004-06-22
    ➕
    MCKEOWN, Anne Janette appointed
    director
  38. 2003-07-30
    ➖
    WOOD, Lindsay resigned
    director
  39. 2002-08-02
    🏢
    Company incorporated
    As CAFE PROJECT
  40. 2002-08-02
    ➕
    HARDIE, Paul Michael appointed
    director
  41. 2002-08-02
    ➕
    MESSRS THORNTONS WS appointed
    corporate-nominee-secretary
  42. 2002-08-02
    ➕
    BARNES, Colin Rae appointed
    director
  43. 2002-08-02
    ➕
    BIRSE, Ann Forbes appointed
    director
  44. 2002-08-02
    ➕
    MORRISON, Maureen appointed
    director
  45. 2002-08-02
    ➕
    SCORGIE, Irene Isabella appointed
    director
  46. 2002-08-02
    ➕
    STEIN, Colin Norman Ralph, Sheriff appointed
    director
  47. 2002-08-02
    ➕
    VOIGT, Heinz Werner appointed
    director
  48. 2002-08-02
    ➕
    WOOD, Lindsay appointed
    director

Owner dependency

58/100
Moderate — manageable with handover

Some founder dependency, but not acute. A structured handover period should cover most risk.

FACTORS
  • -4 active directors: Broader management team in place — suggests transferable governance.
  • +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 24 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
  • +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 61 — approaching natural succession window.

Succession & seller-readiness

70/100
Strong succession signal

Multiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.

SIGNALS
  • secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 61. Early succession window.
  • primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 24 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
  • secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 24 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
  • supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.

Red flags

clean
No red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)

Shareholders & ownership

3 active beneficial owners
NameSharesVoting rightsNature of controlNotified
Mr Paul Michael Hardie
Individual · British · DOB 01/1980 · age 46
——sig. influencesignificant influence06/04/2016
Mr Paul David Martin
Individual · British · DOB 06/1965 · age 61
——sig. influencesignificant influence06/04/2016
Miss Anne Janette Mckeown
Individual · British · DOB 11/1969 · age 57
——sig. influencesignificant influence06/04/2016
3 historic (ceased) PSCs
  • Sheriff Colin Norman Ralph Steinceased 13/09/2024· significant influence
  • Maureen Morrisonceased 01/08/2020· significant influence
  • Richard George Talbertceased 01/08/2020· significant influence

From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.

🔒Co-director network graph

Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

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D & P HAPPY DAYS LIMITED→
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——£112.1k—19y8274y
THE RED SQUIRREL NURSERY LIMITED→
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————21y8183y
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Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions

6 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →
🔒Advanced scoring suite

Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.

Available from the Pro tier upwards.

See pricing →

Company details

Statusactive
Typeprivate-limited-guarant-nsc-limited-exemption
Incorporated2002-08-02
Jurisdictionscotland
Primary SIC85320 — Technical and vocational secondary education

Registered office

Whitehall House
33 Yeaman Shore
Dundee
DD1 4BJ

Filing status

Accounts
Next due: 2026-05-31
Last made up to: 2024-08-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-28
Last: 2025-08-14

Officers (5 active · 13 resigned)

THORNTONS LAW LLP→
corporate-secretary · appointed 2004-12-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
CARGILL, Ross→
director · ~31y · appointed 2019-06-12
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
HARDIE, Paul Michael→
director · ~46y · appointed 2002-08-02
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MARTIN, Paul David→
director · ~61y · appointed 2006-10-10
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MCKEOWN, Anne Janette→
director · ~57y · appointed 2004-06-22
View their other companies + combined net worth →
Active
MESSRS THORNTONS WS→
corporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2002-08-02 · resigned 2004-11-30
Resigned
BARNES, Colin Rae→
director · ~67y · appointed 2002-08-02 · resigned 2006-01-24
Resigned
BEATTIE, Marion→
director · ~63y · appointed 2005-08-17 · resigned 2009-07-08
Resigned
BIRSE, Ann Forbes→
director · ~75y · appointed 2002-08-02 · resigned 2005-08-17
Resigned
CAMPBELL, Angela Jane→
director · ~71y · appointed 2007-02-27 · resigned 2010-10-01
Resigned
MILLER, David John→
director · ~73y · appointed 2010-10-01 · resigned 2013-08-08
Resigned
MORRISON, Maureen→
director · ~81y · appointed 2002-08-02 · resigned 2020-08-01
Resigned
SCORGIE, Irene Isabella→
director · ~80y · appointed 2002-08-02 · resigned 2007-05-01
Resigned
STEIN, Colin Norman Ralph, Sheriff→
director · ~78y · appointed 2002-08-02 · resigned 2024-09-13
Resigned
TALBERT, Richard George→
director · ~29y · appointed 2015-11-26 · resigned 2020-08-01
Resigned
VOIGT, Heinz Werner→
director · ~73y · appointed 2002-08-02 · resigned 2005-05-10
Resigned
WHELAN, Nicholas→
director · ~56y · appointed 2011-08-31 · resigned 2016-08-23
Resigned
WOOD, Lindsay→
director · ~70y · appointed 2002-08-02 · resigned 2003-07-30
Resigned

Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.

Recent filings (81 total)

cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2026-05-11
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-14
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2025-08-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2025-05-22
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-19
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-05-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-14
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-05-31
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-15
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-08-12
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-08-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2022-05-24
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2021-08-16
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2021-05-18
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2020-08-27