Governing physique studies a more healthy place after a interval of value reducing.
UK Athletics has reported a surplus for the 12 months ending March 31, 2025 — the organisation’s first in a number of years — marking a serious milestone in its plan to rebuild stability and confidence within the sport’s nationwide governing physique.
The outcome follows a interval of serious change for UKA, together with tighter value controls, inner restructuring selections and a sharper deal with core programmes. It additionally displays the success of Athletic Ventures — the three way partnership between UKA, London Marathon Occasions and The Nice Run Firm — which has enabled a extra collaborative and commercially resilient strategy to occasion supply, sponsorship and broadcast development.
UKA chair Ian Beattie mentioned: “I’m more than happy that we’re again in revenue — it’s an essential second for UK Athletics and an actual signal that the steps we have now taken over the previous two years are working. However I don’t underestimate how tough it has been to get again to this place. It has taken arduous selections, cautious administration and the dedication of an important many individuals to show issues round.
“The organisation has gone by way of a interval of actual change. We have now needed to make financial savings throughout each space, together with redundancies and lowered assist for some programmes exterior the World Class Efficiency system. These selections have been extraordinarily powerful and by no means taken evenly, however they have been essential to safe the long-term stability of the game. We’re a leaner organisation now — extra streamlined and extra targeted on the necessities and the best tradition — however we’re additionally a stronger one consequently.
“Our transfer into surplus is a real achievement, however it displays extra than simply good monetary administration. It speaks to a brand new, extra collaborative manner of working — each internally and thru our partnerships. The formation of Athletic Ventures has been key to this restoration, enabling us to share assets, cut back threat and construct a sustainable industrial mannequin that advantages the entire sport.
“That partnership has already introduced new sponsors similar to Vita Coco and Novuna, whose multi-year title settlement helps each our main occasions and the Nice Britain & Northern Eire workforce. Alongside them, our long-standing associate Nike has continued to supply unwavering and very important assist all through this era, remaining central to the turnaround, for which we’re vastly grateful.
“We’re additionally grateful for the continued dedication of UK Sport, whose funding for our World Class Programme have been instrumental to supporting athletes by way of this era of change, and whose funding for the Los Angeles 2028 cycle will probably be very important as we construct in direction of the following Olympic and Paralympic Video games. We additionally admire the backing of the BBC, whose new five-year broadcast deal will guarantee world-class protection of our greatest home occasions — together with the Novuna London Athletics Meet — by way of to 2029. Their perception within the enchantment of athletics provides us actual confidence in the way forward for the game.”
He added: “None of this implies the job is finished. We’re nonetheless working to cut back our gathered deficit, rebuild reserves and handle the challenges of lowered public funding and rising prices. However it is a turning level — the beginning of a brand new chapter for UKA. We’re working in another way, working extra collaboratively and considering long-term. I imagine we at the moment are ready to push on: to proceed the restoration, to strengthen the game’s foundations, and to assist our athletes and coaches as we glance in direction of the following Olympic and Paralympic cycle.
“Subsequent 12 months brings an thrilling milestone with the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, the primary main championship to be staged by Athletic Ventures. Will probably be a strong showcase for the partnership mannequin that has helped drive our restoration and a serious alternative to rejoice our athletes on dwelling soil.
“I wish to thank the Board, the chief workforce, our companions and, above all, our workers for his or her professionalism and resilience throughout what has been a demanding interval. Their dedication has made this progress attainable. We nonetheless have work to do, however we have now proven that UK Athletics can adapt, rebuild and thrive — and that we’re on the best path.”
To view the 2024/25 audited accounts, comply with this hyperlink.
