South Tyrone Empowerment Programme: FCA regulated?

Authorised by the FCA

This firm is on the FCA register and authorised to carry out regulated activities.

Authorised for 12 years
Complaints covered by the Ombudsman
No FCA actions
Active company since 1999

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.

Website

stepni.org (opens in a new tab)
Phone number

028 8775 0211
Address

The Junction, 12 Beechvalley Way, Dungannon, BT70 1BS, United Kingdom

In the full report: 3 background checks

When stepni.org first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
What kind of line 028 8775 0211 is
Who else gives the postcode BT70 1BS

Other names (3)

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

STEP advice service Trading name: A name it trades under now.
South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP) Former name: A name it was registered under before.
STEP Debt Advice Former trading name: A name it used to trade under.

The firm, by virtue of its constitution or any enactment, must be:(i) required (after payment of outgoings) to apply the whole of its income and any capital it expends for charitable or public purposes, and (ii) prohibited from directly or indirectly distributing amongst its members any part of its assets (otherwise than for charitable or public purposes); And the firm must not have any associate (other than a not-for profit debt advice body) which carries on debt adjusting or debt counselling or providing credit information services.)

FCA permissions and consumer protection

Lend or arrange credit No FSCS cover
Consumer credit is not covered by the FSCS, so there is no compensation scheme if the firm fails.
Complaints Ombudsman, free
You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.

Show FCA detail (3 permissions)

Debt Adjusting
Debt-counselling
Providing Credit Information Services

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: NI035735 (opens Companies House in a new tab)
Company status: Active
Company type: Private company limited by guarantee
Incorporated: 3 March 1999 (27 years old)
Registered office: The Junction, 12 Beechvalley Way, Dungannon, BT70 1BS, Northern Ireland
Nature of business: Other education not elsewhere classified (SIC 85590)
Other social work activities without accommodation not elsewhere classified (SIC 88990)
Other service activities not elsewhere classified (SIC 96090)

Directors and company secretaries

Name	Role	Born	Appointed	Other companies
John Mcneill	Director	Jan 1964	1 Mar 2007	3 other companies
Peter Donnelly	Director	Sep 1958	1 Jun 2013	2 other companies
Paul Crowe	Director	Apr 1980	24 Oct 2016	None
Clare Cavanagh	Director	Sep 1961	1 Mar 2017	None
Edel Mary Fox	Director	Jan 1973	13 Jan 2020	None
Conor Patrick Mallon	Director	Jan 1962	12 Oct 2023	10 other companies
Teresa Jane Pearson	Director	Jan 1949	12 Oct 2023	2 other companies
Peter Donnelly	Secretary	Not published	3 Mar 1999	–

Other companies run by these 7 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: 15
closed down: 9
run together: 1

In the full report: all 15 companies, named

What each company does, and whether it is still trading
Which of these 7 directors sit on each board, and since when
Any that went into liquidation or administration
The 1 company these 7 directors run together
All 22 people who have ever been directors, with their dates

Key dates in its history

South Tyrone Empowerment Programme’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (5) All events (50)

2026

16 April 2026

Changed its registered name from "South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP)"

FCA register

2014

1 April 2014

Regulated by the FCA from this date
FCA imposed a requirement (Not for profit firm)
Became authorised by the FCA

FCA register

1999

3 March 1999

Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 50 events

All 50 events in its history (5 shown here)
Every director appointment and resignation: 39

Firms like South Tyrone Empowerment Programme

Other firms of the same type (debt advice or management), nearest first.

In the Belfast (BT) postcode area

Clanmil Housing AssociationBelfastAuthorised HN Consultants LtdBelfastAuthorised MindWise New VisionBelfastAuthorised Omagh Independent Advice ServicesOmaghAuthorised Refresh Debt Services LtdNewryAuthorised Solvendo LtdBelfastAuthorised

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 South Tyrone Empowerment Programme

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

15 other companies its directors have run, named
3 background checks on its contact details
All 50 events in its history

Instant PDF One-off payment Secure checkout by Stripe

Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is South Tyrone Empowerment Programme FCA authorised?

Yes, South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (FRN 618838) is authorised by the FCA to carry out regulated activities. It has held its current authorisation since April 2014 and works as a debt advice or management. The FCA has placed no limits on its permissions.

What is South Tyrone Empowerment Programme’s phone number and website?

The FCA register lists the phone number 028 8775 0211 and the website stepni.org for South Tyrone Empowerment Programme. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.

Is South Tyrone Empowerment Programme a scam or clone?

South Tyrone Empowerment Programme 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 South Tyrone Empowerment Programme?

Its FCA permissions do not allow it to hold or control client money. Protection depends on which product you hold and how South Tyrone Empowerment Programme handles your money, so check the specific product before you commit. You can also refer complaints about South Tyrone Empowerment Programme to the Financial Ombudsman Service, free of charge.

Who runs South Tyrone Empowerment Programme?

Companies House lists 7 directors of South Tyrone Empowerment Programme: John McNeill, Peter Donnelly, Paul Crowe, Clare Cavanagh, Edel Mary Fox, Conor Patrick Mallon and 1 more.

How long has South Tyrone Empowerment Programme been in business?

The company was formed on 3 March 1999, and has held its current FCA authorisation since April 2014.

Does South Tyrone Empowerment Programme use any other names?

It trades as STEP advice service. It has previously used 2 other names: South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP) and STEP Debt Advice.