Gerard Mann Limited

Reference number: 405813

Instant download

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.

Responsible principal firm

GROUP 1 RETAIL LIMITED Reference number: 312637 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.
  • Gerard Mann Limited (FRN 405813) is an AR of GROUP 1 RETAIL LIMITED (FRN 312637). When you use Gerard Mann's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm.
  • Example: if you take financial advice from Gerard Mann, 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.

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.

In the full report: 3 background checks, 1 thing worth a closer look

  • When group1auto.co.uk first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
  • What kind of line 01273 423312 is, and the 5 other firms that give it
  • Whether ME16 0LS is a shared office: 26 other firms give it
Instant PDF download
Other names (23)

If you were contacted under any of these names, it is this firm.

  • Mercedes-Benz of Cheshire Oaks Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz of Chester Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz Of Coventry Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz of Derby Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz of Leicester Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz of Liverpool Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz of Loughborough Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz of North Wales Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz of Nottingham Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz Of Oxford Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz of Southport Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz Of Stratford Upon Avon Trading name
  • Mercedes-Benz of Warrington Trading name
  • smart of Cheshire Oaks Trading name
  • smart of Coventry Trading name
  • smart of Derby Trading name
  • smart of Leicester Trading name
  • smart of Liverpool Trading name
  • smart of Nottingham Trading name
  • smart of Oxford Trading name
  • smart of Warrington Trading name
  • Gerard Mann Commercials- Birmingham Former trading name
  • Gerard Mann Commercials-Coventry Former trading name

FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Protection through the principal firm
    Protection works through Group 1 Retail Limited, 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.

Concerns on the company record

  • Accounts are overdue at Companies House.
Company number
00660644
Company status
Active
Company type
Private limited company
Incorporated
26 May 1960 (66 years old)
Registered office
First Point St. Leonards Road, Allington, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0LS, England
Nature of business
  • Sale of new cars and light motor vehicles (SIC 45111)
  • Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles (SIC 45200)
  • Wholesale trade of motor vehicle parts and accessories (SIC 45310)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Gillian Hobson Director Jul 1971 1 Aug 2024 None
Daniel James Mchenry Director May 1974 1 Aug 2024 None
Farheen Ahmad Director Apr 1987 5 Jun 2026 27 other companies
Jane Louise Cadell Director Jan 1969 24 Aug 2026 29 other companies
Craig Rodney Strike Director Oct 1975 24 Aug 2026 27 other companies
Gillian Hobson Secretary Not published 1 Aug 2024 –

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
29
still active
29
are FCA-registered
9

In the full report: all 29 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 9 on the FCA register
  • The 27 companies these 5 directors run together
  • All 35 people who have ever been directors, with their dates
Instant PDF download

Key dates in its history

Gerard Mann’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (6) All events (96)

2024

1 August 2024

  • Board replaced: both directors left and 4 new directors took over
  • Group 1 Automotive UK Limited took control (75–100% of shares)
  • Inchcape International Holdings Limited gave up control

Companies House

2016

6 April 2016

  • Inchcape International Holdings Limited took control (75–100% of shares)

Companies House

2005

14 January 2005

  • Became an appointed representative

FCA register

1960

26 May 1960

  • Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 96 events

  • All 96 events in its history (6 shown here)
  • Every director appointment and resignation: 65
Instant PDF download

Firms connected to Gerard Mann

Other FCA-listed firms that share a director, phone number or address with Gerard Mann. A link shows who the firm is tied to, not whether either can be trusted.

connected firms
8
share a director
8
share its phone number
4

In the full report: all 8 connected firms, named

  • How each is linked: shared directors (8), the same phone number (4), the same postcode (7)
  • Who links each one: the named directors, with dates
  • 1 past link through former directors
Instant PDF download

Firms like Gerard Mann

Other firms of the same type (car dealer), nearest first.

In Maidstone

Barons Automotive LimitedMaidstoneAppointed representativeChapelgate Motors LtdMaidstoneAppointed representativeFairfield Garage ( Leigh on Sea ) LimitedMaidstoneAppointed representativeHodgson Automotive LimitedMaidstoneAppointed representativeRobinsons Autoservices LimitedMaidstoneAppointed representativeSpire Automotive LtdMaidstoneAppointed representative

Firms are listed by type and location, best known first. Being listed is not a recommendation: check any firm before you deal with it.

Get the full report on Gerard Mann

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

  • 29 other companies its directors have run, named
  • 3 background checks on its contact details, 1 flagged
  • All 96 events in its history
  • 8 connected firms, named, and who links them

Instant PDF One-off payment Secure checkout by Stripe

Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is Gerard Mann Limited FCA authorised?
Gerard Mann Limited (FRN 405813) 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 Gerard Mann?
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. Gerard Mann Limited (FRN 405813) is an AR of GROUP 1 RETAIL LIMITED (FRN 312637). When you use Gerard Mann's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm. Example: if you take financial advice from Gerard Mann, 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.
What is Gerard Mann’s phone number and website?
The FCA register lists the phone number 01273 423312 and the website group1auto.co.uk for Gerard Mann. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further. The same number is also given by 5 other FCA firms.
Is Gerard Mann a scam or clone?
Gerard Mann 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 Gerard Mann?
Protection works through Group 1 Retail Limited, the principal firm responsible for Gerard Mann's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
Who owns Gerard Mann?
Gerard Mann is owned by Group 1 Automotive UK Limited, which holds 75–100% of shares, 75–100% of votes and can appoint and remove the board, since 1 August 2024. Before that, it was controlled by Inchcape International Holdings Limited.
Who runs Gerard Mann?
Companies House lists 5 directors of Gerard Mann: Gillian Hobson, Daniel James McHenry, Farheen Ahmad, Jane Louise Cadell and Craig Rodney Strike.
How long has Gerard Mann been in business?
The company was formed on 26 May 1960.
Does Gerard Mann use any other names?
It trades as Mercedes-Benz of Cheshire Oaks, Mercedes-Benz of Chester, Mercedes-Benz Of Coventry, Mercedes-Benz of Derby and Mercedes-Benz of Leicester, and 16 more names. It has previously used 2 other names: Gerard Mann Commercials- Birmingham and Gerard Mann Commercials-Coventry.

Sources and links

The full report on Gerard Mann Limited

£19.99 · Instant PDF download

Loading secure checkout…