The managing director of Sparkrite Ltd, a trading business, has just received summary sets of financial statements for last year and this year:

Sparkrite Ltd Income statements for years ended 30 September last year and this year Last year This year

£000 £000 £000 £000 Sales revenue 1,800 1,920 Cost of sales Opening inventories 160 200 Purchases 1,120 1,175 1,280 1,375 Closing inventories (200) (250)

(1,080) (1,125)

Gross profit 720 795 Expenses (680) (750)

Profit for the year 40 45 Statements of financial position (balance sheets) as at 30 September last year and this year Last year This year

£000 £000 Non-current assets 950 930 Current assets Inventories 200 250 Trade receivables 375 480 Bank 4 2 579 732 Total assets 1,529 1,662 Equity Fully paid £1 ordinary shares 825 883 Retained earnings 509 554 1,334 1,437 Current liabilities 195 225 Total equity and liabilities 1,529 1,662 The finance director has expressed concern at the increase in inventories and trade receivables levels.

Required:

(a) Show, by using the data given, how you would calculate ratios that could be used to measure inventories and trade receivables levels during last year and this year.

(b) Discuss the ways in which the management of Sparkrite Ltd could exercise control over:

(i) inventories levels;

(ii) trade receivables levels.