25. Employees and Directors


2009
£000 		2008
£000
Wages and salaries 3,233 3,147
Social security costs 350 357
Other pension costs (note 26) 231 228
Total before share based payment charge 3,814 3,732
Share based payments - 3,202
Total 3,814 6,934

Average monthly number of persons (including Executive Directors) employed:

By activity 2009
Number 		2008
Number
Investment and technology transfer 27 30
Central Group functions (see below) 13 15
Total 40 45

Central Group functions comprise general management, finance, legal, human resources, marketing and information technology.

Key management compensation 2009
£000 		2008
£000
Salaries and short-term employee benefits 742 611
Share-based payments charge - 1,793
Total 742 2,404

The Group considers all members of the Board to be key management. Directors’ emoluments are as follows:

Directors 2009
£000 		2008
£000
Aggregate emoluments 644 514
Company contributions to defined contribution pension schemes 38 37
Sums paid to third parties for Directors’ services 60 60
Total 742 611

The Directors to whom retirement benefits accrued under money purchase pension schemes in the year to 31 July 2009 were S. Searle, J. Smith and R. Cummings. Pension contributions in the previous period accrued to S. Searle, J. Smith and R. Cummings.