THE ALTERNATIVE PARCELS COMPANY LIMITED

Active
Company number 02855735Private limited companyIncorporated 1993

Key figures

£55,358,989+13.3%
Net assets 2024/25
+13.3%
Average annual growth 2023/24–2024/25
020 m40 m60 m2023/242024/25

† THE ALTERNATIVE PARCELS COMPANY LIMITED filed these accounts on paper, so Companies House publishes them only as a scanned image. The figures for the years marked † were read automatically from the scan and kept only where the statements add up (for example net assets equal total equity), but a reading error is still possible — check the original accounts at Companies House.

Ratios

2024/25

Sector comparison

SIC 53202

Where the company stands among the 6,475 active companies whose first SIC code is 53202 (Unlicensed carrier).

Turnover£127,589,260
Higher than 99% · median £50,598 among 117 that publish turnover
Net assets£55,358,989
Higher than 99% · median £2,311
Total assets£74,607,278
Higher than 99% · median £14,619
Cash£6,507,978
Higher than 99% · median £5,768
Employees751
Higher than 99% · median 1
Company age33.1 years
Older than 99% · median 3.3 years
Largest in this sector by net assets
  1. UPS LIMITED£595.4m
  2. ARAMEX (UK) LIMITED£119.7m
  3. THE ALTERNATIVE PARCELS COMPANY LIMITED£55.4m
  4. CITYSPRINT (UK) LIMITED£53.9m
  5. ROYAL MAIL COURIER SERVICES LTD£20.9m
  6. YOURWAY TRANSPORT LIMITED£16.6m
  7. WHISTL (DOORDROP MEDIA) LIMITED£15.7m
  8. AIR BUSINESS LIMITED£12.9m
  9. PARCELHUB LIMITED£8.5m
  10. SKYNET WORLDWIDE EXPRESS LIMITED£8m

Positions are approximate. Figures come from each company's latest accounts; money and employee figures are compared only with companies that filed accounts in pounds for a period ending in the last two and a half years and are not dormant, so those groups are smaller than 6,475. The line on each bar marks the median.

Summary: THE ALTERNATIVE PARCELS COMPANY LIMITED

What kind of company is it?

THE ALTERNATIVE PARCELS COMPANY LIMITED is a private limited company registered with Companies House under company number 02855735. It was incorporated on 22 Sep 1993. Its status is active. The registered office is in Cannock (WS11). Its nature of business (SIC 2007) is unlicensed carrier (53202).

How is the company doing financially?

The latest accounts in the database are for 2024/25 (period ending 31 Mar 2025); the company files full accounts. Turnover was £127,589,260. Profit for the year was £6,478,752. Net assets were £55,358,989, up 13.3% on the previous year. Cash at bank and in hand was £6,507,978. Total assets were £74,607,278 and total liabilities £16,900,225. The company had an average of 751 employees. Figures are available for 2 financial years (2023/24–2024/25).

How does it compare with similar companies?

Compared with 6,475 active companies whose first SIC code is 53202: By turnover it ranks higher than 99% of the 117 that publish turnover (median £50,598). By net assets it ranks higher than 99% of them (median £2,311). By total assets it ranks higher than 99% of them (median £14,619). By cash it ranks higher than 99% of them (median £5,768). By number of employees it ranks higher than 99% of them (median 1). It is older than 99% of them (median age 3.3 years).

What do public registers and reports show?

It appears on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors (Skilled Worker). In its latest payment practices report it took an average of 45 days to pay suppliers, and 8% of invoices were not paid within agreed terms. Its gender pay gap report for 2025/26 shows median hourly pay for women 2.3% higher than for men. It has modern slavery statements on the government registry for 2 years.

Who runs and controls the company?

One person with significant control is registered. 9 of 15 registered charges are outstanding.

When are its next filings due?

The next accounts are due by 31 Dec 2026. The next confirmation statement is due by 5 Oct 2027.

Filed accounts2023/24–2024/25
2023/24 †2024/25 †
Turnover126,087,940127,589,260
Profit for the year5,902,9936,478,752
Cash at bank and in hand6,740,4146,507,978
Total assets69,173,53574,607,278
Total liabilities18,223,38016,900,225
Net assets / total equity48,880,23755,358,989
Average number of employees767751

A dash (—) means no accounts were filed for that year or the item is not in the accounts; 0 is a zero stated in the accounts. Small companies usually file only a balance sheet, so the profit and loss account is often missing.

Statutory reporting

Payment practices1 Apr 2026 – 30 Sep 2026
Average time taken to pay invoices
45 days
Invoices not paid within agreed terms
8%
Standard payment terms
0–72 days
Member of a payment code
No
  • Within 30 days 19%
  • 31 to 60 days 62%
  • After 60 days 19%
Earlier periods (7)
Period ending
Days to pay
Within 30 days
Late
31 Mar 2026
48
12%
8%
30 Sep 2025
42
11%
7%
31 Mar 2025
48
13%
6%
30 Sep 2024
48
10%
6%
31 Mar 2024
48
11%
8%
30 Sep 2023
44
7%
8%
31 Mar 2023
50
7%
9%

View the latest report on GOV.UK

Gender pay gap2025/26
Median hourly pay
women 2.3% higher
Mean hourly pay
women 5.6% higher
Median bonus pay
women 572% higher
Employer size
500 to 999 employees
Lower pay quarter25% womenLower middle16% womenUpper middle25% womenUpper pay quarter30% women
Earlier years (8)
Year
Median hourly pay
Mean hourly pay
2024/25
women 1.9% higher
no gap
2023/24
no gap
women 4.5% higher
2022/23
women 2.4% higher
women 3.2% higher
2021/22
no gap
women 1% higher
2020/21
no gap
women 3.8% lower
2019/20
no gap
women 5.1% lower
2018/19
no gap
women 3.1% lower
2017/18
no gap
women 7.5% lower

A positive gap means women's average hourly pay is lower than men's across the whole employer; it is not a comparison of pay for the same work. View on the Gender pay gap service

Modern slavery statements2
2026
Statement · summary on GOV.UK
2021
Statement · summary on GOV.UK

Figures the company reported itself to the government's Check payment practices service, Gender pay gap service and Modern slavery statement registry (Open Government Licence v3.0). Only large companies and employers with 250 or more staff have to report, so most companies have nothing here.

Registers and licences

Sponsor licence‡
Licence type and rating
Worker (A rating)
Route
Skilled Worker

On the Home Office register of licensed sponsors, which lists organisations licensed to sponsor workers from overseas.

Sources: Charity Commission for England and Wales, Care Quality Commission, Home Office and HM Revenue & Customs, under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Entries marked ‡ come from lists that do not state a company number and were linked by an exact match on the registered name.

History

4 events
  1. Financial year 2024/25 endedAccounts: turnover £127.6m, net assets £55.4m, 751 employees
  2. Financial year 2023/24 endedAccounts: turnover £126.1m, net assets £48.9m, 767 employees
  3. The Alternative Parcels Company Bidco Limited registered as a person with significant control
  4. Company incorporatedPrivate limited company

Dates as recorded at Companies House: incorporation, name changes, officer appointments and resignations, current persons with significant control, and the end of each financial year with figures in the database. Former persons with significant control are not listed.