Annual Delegates’ Conference 2025: SoR AGM and gallery

On the first day of this year’s Annual Delegates’ Conference – held at the Novotel London West in Hammersmith, London on 29 April – members of the SoR heard from senior leadership about the society’s progress over the past year.

Key topics included the growing membership and engagement levels between 2023 and 2024, the society’s strong financial position and voting on important topics for the trade union’s future.

This year’s AGM consisted of one count of general business – reviewing the minutes of the SoR’s 2024 AGM, which took place on 15 April last year – and two counts of ordinary business: the acceptance of the consolidated accounts and the reappointment of the auditor.

Richard Evans, CEO of the SoR, offered attendees a summary of the progress of the society, its achievements and challenges over the course of the previous year. He said: “We saw continued membership growth, which is great news. Not such great news, at this time last year, we were in dispute with the government over pay. Strike action for any union is a last resort. We’d much rather resolve things without going into action. But we did see amazing engagement from members, first to vote for action and then to take part in the strike.”

Richard explained that the SoR had spent much of the year completing work on the strategy established during the pandemic and lasting through 2024. This work resulted, among other achievements, in a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging action plan.

The launch of a new strategic plan, Vision for Our Profession: A Strategic Framework for Radiography 2024-27, was planned within the previous year. “The prior strategy was extensive and complicated and we did extremely well in meeting the objectives that were set out,” Richard continued. “It’s a privilege to meet and work with the UK Council – any member can be elected to the council. What’s extraordinary about these people is the amount of time and dedication they put in on behalf of the profession and on behalf of their patients.

“I’ve been really impressed today at ADC how many people have said ‘we’ instead of ‘you’. We are all the SoR.”

The minutes of last year’s AGM were noted, and will be available to members on the SoR website after the UK Council has approved them at its May meeting.

Members then received the annual accounts, the summary of which was delivered by Ian Hadlow, head of finance. Consolidated financial statements for the society show a surplus of £1,254,475 (2023: £180,017) with total funds at the end of the year of £14,242,193 (2023: £13,538,718). 

Operating surplus for the year was £169,786, compared to a loss of £294,914 in the previous year, primarily as a result of unexpectedly lower operating costs. Operating income increased by 4.7% to £9,380,114 (2023: £8,962,146). And membership income rose by 6.1% to £8,624,592 (2023: £8,128,440).

The SoR’s substantial investment portfolios represented some 81% of its total net assets at year end. Markets generated strong returns during the year, with portfolio values increasing by 9.6% to £11,550,991 (2023: £10,535,381).

Ian explained that operating income had increased and that the SoR maintained a strong balance sheet and investment portfolio, despite recent market volatility. He answered members’ questions on potential cost pressures, which he said would include upgrading digital architecture, and queries on safeguarding against volatility, which he explained largely rested on the SoR’s diverse portfolio.

Two ordinary resolutions were passed: that the society’s consolidated accounts, the independent auditor’s report and the directors’ report for the financial year ending 30 September 2024 are considered and received, and that Crowe UK is reappointed as independent auditor of the SoR.

All AGM 2025 supporting documentation can be found online here.