FreeAgent Central Limited: FCA regulated?

Appointed representative

This firm does not hold FCA authorisation of its own, and acts under a principal firm, which is legally responsible for its regulated business.

Appointed for 7 years
Protected through the principal
No FCA actions
Active company since 2007

Responsible principal firm

HISCOX UNDERWRITING LTD Reference number: 308922 Authorised View firm →

What does this mean?

An appointed representative (AR) can carry out regulated financial services, but is not directly authorised by the FCA. A principal firm holds the authorisation and is legally responsible for the AR's conduct.
FreeAgent Central Limited (FRN 848444) is an AR of HISCOX UNDERWRITING LTD (FRN 308922). When you use FreeAgent Central's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm.
Example: if you take financial advice from FreeAgent Central, complaints and compensation usually follow the same rules as dealing with the principal, but this depends on the product and your circumstances.
Before you proceed, confirm contact details match the official FCA register for both firms. Scammers sometimes clone legitimate AR names and FRNs but use fake phone numbers and websites.

This company holds another FCA record

A company can hold several FCA records, covering different parts of its business, and each one carries its own permissions and protection. The reference number you were given decides which record applies to you.

FreeAgent Central Limited Reference number: 799763 Registered

Website, phone number and address

Compare these against whatever you were given. Scammers clone real firm names and reference numbers but use their own phone number and website, so a detail that does not match the register is the clearest warning sign there is.

No website on the FCA register
No phone number on the FCA register
Address

133 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH3 9QG, United Kingdom

In the full report: 1 background check

Who else gives the postcode EH3 9QG

FCA permissions and consumer protection

Protection through the principal firm
Protection works through Hiscox Underwriting Ltd, the principal firm responsible for this firm's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
Complaints Ombudsman, free
You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.

FCA disciplinary action and complaints

No FCA disciplinary action.

The Financial Ombudsman Service only publishes complaint figures for firms with 30 or more new complaints in six months, so there are none here for this firm.

Companies House record

The company behind the firm: its status, age, registered office and directors.

Company name: FREEAGENT CENTRAL LTD
Company number: SC316774 (opens Companies House in a new tab)
Company status: Active
Company type: Private limited company
Incorporated: 19 February 2007 (19 years old)
Registered office: One Edinburgh Quay, 133 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QG, Scotland
Nature of business: Business and domestic software development (SIC 62012)

Directors and company secretaries

Name	Role	Born	Appointed	Other companies
Nicholas Alexander Hepworth	Director	Aug 1986	25 Aug 2020	2 other companies
Roan James Lavery	Director	Dec 1975	16 Jul 2021	4 other companies
Miles William Hillier	Director	Apr 1981	25 Mar 2022	1 other company
Jennifer Ann Scott	Director	Aug 1975	1 Mar 2023	2 other companies
Adeel Hyder	Director	Mar 1984	10 Jul 2026	3 other companies
NATWEST GROUP SECRETARIAL SERVICES LIMITED	Corporate secretary	Not published	25 Mar 2022	–

Other companies run by these 5 directors

A firm is run by people, and their other companies are their track record: what they built, what closed, and anything that failed. It is the check most people never think to make.

other companies: 5
still active: 5
is FCA-registered: 1

In the full report: all 5 companies, named

What each company does, and whether it is still trading
Which of these 5 directors sit on each board, and since when
Any that went into liquidation or administration
The one on the FCA register, including one no longer authorised
The 2 companies these 5 directors run together
All 21 people who have ever been directors, with their dates

Key dates in its history

FreeAgent Central’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (3) All events (39)

2019

9 October 2019

Became an appointed representative

FCA register

2016

21 October 2016

Freeagent Holdings Limited took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

2007

19 February 2007

Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 39 events

All 39 events in its history (3 shown here)
Every director appointment and resignation: 36

Get the full report on FreeAgent Central

Everything on this page, plus everything locked above, in one dated PDF you can keep, file or send on.

5 other companies its directors have run, named
1 background check on its contact details
All 39 events in its history

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is FreeAgent Central Limited FCA authorised?

FreeAgent Central Limited (FRN 848444) is not directly authorised. It is an appointed representative acting under the responsibility of a directly authorised principal firm.

What does appointed representative mean for FreeAgent Central?

An appointed representative (AR) can carry out regulated financial services, but is not directly authorised by the FCA. A principal firm holds the authorisation and is legally responsible for the AR's conduct. FreeAgent Central Limited (FRN 848444) is an AR of HISCOX UNDERWRITING LTD (FRN 308922). When you use FreeAgent Central's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm. Example: if you take financial advice from FreeAgent Central, complaints and compensation usually follow the same rules as dealing with the principal, but this depends on the product and your circumstances. Before you proceed, confirm contact details match the official FCA register for both firms. Scammers sometimes clone legitimate AR names and FRNs but use fake phone numbers and websites.

Is FreeAgent Central a scam or clone?

FreeAgent Central is a genuine FCA-listed firm, and the FCA has published no warnings about fake versions of it. Scammers do copy real firms, though, so check that any contact details you were given match the ones on the register.

Is my money safe with FreeAgent Central?

Protection works through Hiscox Underwriting Ltd, the principal firm responsible for FreeAgent Central's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.

Who owns FreeAgent Central?

FreeAgent Central is owned by Freeagent Holdings Limited, which holds 75–100% of shares, 75–100% of votes and can appoint and remove the board, since 21 October 2016.

Who runs FreeAgent Central?

Companies House lists 5 directors of FreeAgent Central: Nicholas Alexander Hepworth, Roan James Lavery, Miles William Hillier, Jennifer Ann Scott and Adeel Hyder.

How long has FreeAgent Central been in business?

The company was formed on 19 February 2007.