Hcat

Reference number: 975144

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Introducer appointed representative

This firm can only introduce you to its principal, and cannot give financial advice, recommend products, or arrange deals alone.

Responsible principal firm

SME HCI Limited Reference number: 626422 Authorised View firm →
What does this mean?
  • An introducer appointed representative can only pass your details to its principal firm. It cannot recommend products, give financial advice, or arrange deals on its own.
  • HCAT (FRN 975144) introduces customers to SME HCI Limited (FRN 626422). Any regulated advice or arranging is done by the principal, not HCAT.
  • Example: if HCAT refers you to a financial adviser, the advice should come from the principal firm, not from HCAT itself.
  • 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 hcat.uk first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
  • What kind of line 0151 347 8456 is
  • Who else gives the postcode S72 7BD
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FCA permissions and consumer protection

  • Protection through the principal firm
    Protection works through SME HCI 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.

Company number
08654591
Company status
Active
Company type
Private company limited by guarantee
Incorporated
16 August 2013 (13 years old)
Registered office
Hcat, Unit 7 Dodworth Business Park, Dodworth, Barnsley, S75 3SP, England
Nature of business
  • Primary education (SIC 85200)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Stephen Gallagher Director Dec 1955 1 Oct 2016 1 other company
Andrew Kent Director Jun 1953 1 Oct 2016 1 other company
Michael Thomas Knight Director Feb 1988 18 Mar 2024 None
Gemma Astin-France Director Dec 1983 8 Dec 2025 None
Sandra Lesley Bailey Director Feb 1952 9 Feb 2026 3 other companies
Peter John Bell Director Apr 1971 12 Oct 2026 2 other companies
Victoria Wood Secretary Not published 16 Aug 2013 –

Other companies run by these 6 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
7
closed down
4
still active
3

In the full report: all 7 companies, named

  • What each company does, and whether it is still trading
  • Which of these 6 directors sit on each board, and since when
  • Any that went into liquidation or administration
  • All 41 people who have ever been directors, with their dates
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Key dates in its history

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

Key events (16) All events (92)

2023

18 December 2023

  • Susan Harrison gained significant control

Companies House

1 July 2023

  • Sharon Ramskill no longer has significant control

Companies House

2022

17 October 2022

  • Helen Marie Bellinger gained significant control

Companies House

4 May 2022

  • Became an introducer appointed representative

FCA register

2021

13 December 2021

  • Nick Bowen gained significant control

Companies House

5 March 2021

  • Julie Brown no longer has significant control

Companies House

2019

9 October 2019

  • Julie Brown gained significant control

Companies House

29 January 2019

  • Joanne Nixson no longer holds 25–50% of the votes

Companies House

2016

1 October 2016

  • James Gregory Andrews no longer holds 25–50% of the votes

Companies House

19 September 2016

  • Geraldine Foster Wilson gained significant control
  • Janet Christine Kilburn no longer holds 25–50% of the votes
  • Sharon Ramskill gained significant control

Companies House

30 June 2016

  • James Gregory Andrews gained 25–50% of the votes
  • Janet Christine Kilburn gained 25–50% of the votes
  • Joanne Nixson gained 25–50% of the votes

Companies House

2013

16 August 2013

  • Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 92 events

  • All 92 events in its history (16 shown here)
  • Every director appointment and resignation: 76
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Get the full report on Hcat

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

  • 7 other companies its directors have run, named
  • 3 background checks on its contact details, 1 flagged
  • All 92 events in its history

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is Hcat FCA authorised?
Hcat (FRN 975144) is not directly authorised. It is an appointed representative acting under the responsibility of a directly authorised principal firm.
What does introducer appointed representative mean for Hcat?
An introducer appointed representative can only pass your details to its principal firm. It cannot recommend products, give financial advice, or arrange deals on its own. Hcat (FRN 975144) introduces customers to SME HCI Limited (FRN 626422). Any regulated advice or arranging is done by the principal, not Hcat. Example: if Hcat refers you to a financial adviser, the advice should come from the principal firm, not from Hcat itself. 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 Hcat’s phone number and website?
The FCA register lists the phone number 0151 347 8456 and the website hcat.uk for Hcat. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.
Is Hcat a scam or clone?
Hcat 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 Hcat?
Protection works through SME HCI Limited, the principal firm responsible for Hcat's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
Who owns Hcat?
Companies House lists 4 people with significant control of Hcat: Mrs Geraldine Foster Wilson (can appoint and remove the board), Mrs Susan Harrison (significant influence or control), Mrs Helen Marie Bellinger (significant influence or control) and Nick Bowen (significant influence or control). Before that, it was controlled by Mrs Julie Brown, Mrs Joanne Nixson and Mrs Janet Christine Kilburn.
Who runs Hcat?
Companies House lists 6 directors of Hcat: Stephen Gallagher, Andrew Kent, Michael Thomas Knight, Gemma Astin-France, Sandra Lesley Bailey and Peter John Bell.
How long has Hcat been in business?
The company was formed on 16 August 2013.

Sources and links

The full report on Hcat

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