The Society for Experimental Biology

Analysis

The Society for Experimental Biology is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Lancaster. It was registered in December 1977, 49 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and other charitable purposes, which this site groups under education and training. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 01314879). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and sponsors or undertakes research.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Society for Experimental Biology reported income of £3.5m and spending of £2.7m, leaving 22% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £3.1m to £3.5m (+11%), an average of +2.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income rose by 19%. Over the whole period it spent 82% of the income it received.

Among 21,402 England and Wales charities whose main cause is education and training and that reported income, The Society for Experimental Biology sits at the 96th percentile: it is larger than about 96% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Heartwood House (£3.4m), Shumei Eiko Limited (£3.5m) and The Tutor Trust (£3.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 95% and investments 4.9%. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 1.4%. Reserves of £4.5m would cover about 19 months of spending at that rate. It employed 15 people.