The Open School Trust

Reference number: 676788

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Authorised by the FCA

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

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

  • When nec.ac.uk first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
  • What kind of line 01223 400200 is
  • Who else gives the postcode CB22 3HJ
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Other names (1)

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

  • National Extension College Trading name

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 (1 permission)
  • Credit Broking

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
02438525
Company status
Active
Company type
Private company limited by guarantee
Incorporated
1 November 1989 (36 years old)
Registered office
Woolpack House 70 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3HJ, England
Nature of business
  • General secondary education (SIC 85310)
  • Technical and vocational secondary education (SIC 85320)
  • Post-secondary non-tertiary education (SIC 85410)

Directors and company secretaries

Name Role Born Appointed Other companies
Roslyn Louise Morpeth (Dr) Director Apr 1946 15 Dec 2010 5 other companies
Colin James Woolliscroft Director Mar 1983 23 Mar 2018 None
Vanessa Pittard (Dr) Director May 1963 9 Nov 2018 3 other companies
Ceri Lianne Rose Director Jul 1982 24 Nov 2023 1 other company
Martin James Weller (Prof) Director Jan 1967 22 Mar 2024 None
Tim Lewis Bennett-Hart Director Feb 1979 20 Jun 2025 7 other companies
James David Tweed Director Feb 1973 20 Jun 2025 1 other company
Katherine Victoria Lewis-Ward Director Jun 1979 18 Sep 2026 None

Other companies run by these 8 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
4
went insolvent
1

In the full report: all 15 companies, named

  • What each company does, and whether it is still trading
  • Which of these 8 directors sit on each board, and since when
  • The one that went into liquidation or administration
  • The 2 companies these 8 directors run together
  • All 42 people who have ever been directors, with their dates
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Key dates in its history

The Open School Trust’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (13) All events (92)

2025

4 April 2025

  • Richard Christopher Dorrance no longer has significant control
  • Vanessa Pittard gained significant control

Companies House

2021

27 April 2021

  • Esther Jane Noelle Chesterman gained significant control
  • Esther Jane Noelle Chesterman no longer has significant control
  • Roslyn Louise Morpeth no longer has significant control

Companies House

2017

4 May 2017

  • John Antony Dodds no longer has significant control
  • Richard Christopher Dorrance gained significant control

Companies House

2016

6 April 2016

  • John Antony Dodds gained significant control
  • Roslyn Louise Morpeth gained significant control

Companies House

2015

21 May 2015

  • Regulated by the FCA from this date
  • Became authorised by the FCA

FCA register

2003

21 July 2003

  • Board replaced: all 4 directors left and 3 new directors took over

Companies House

1989

1 November 1989

  • Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 92 events

  • All 92 events in its history (13 shown here)
  • Every director appointment and resignation: 76
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Firms connected to The Open School Trust

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

connected firm
1
share its postcode
1

In the full report: the connected firm, named

  • How it is linked: the same postcode (1)
  • Who links it to this firm: the named directors, with dates
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Firms like The Open School Trust

Other firms of the same type (credit broker), nearest first.

In Cambridge

Adrian GrantCambridgeAuthorisedRaj WadhwaniCambridgeAuthorisedRosalind Cleevely and David CleevelyCambridgeAuthorisedAVM Solutions LimitedCambridgeAppointed representativeDr Haroon Sheraz, Dr Imran Sheraz & Dr Irfan SherazCambridgeAppointed representativeMichael CromwellCambridgeAppointed 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 The Open School Trust

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 92 events in its history
  • 1 connected firm, named, and who links them

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Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is The Open School Trust FCA authorised?
Yes, The Open School Trust (FRN 676788) is authorised by the FCA to carry out regulated activities. It has held its current authorisation since May 2015 and works as a credit broker. The FCA has placed no limits on its permissions.
What is The Open School Trust’s phone number and website?
The FCA register lists the phone number 01223 400200 and the website nec.ac.uk for The Open School Trust. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.
Is The Open School Trust a scam or clone?
The Open School Trust 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 The Open School Trust?
Its FCA permissions do not allow it to hold or control client money. Protection depends on which product you hold and how The Open School Trust handles your money, so check the specific product before you commit. You can also refer complaints about The Open School Trust to the Financial Ombudsman Service, free of charge.
Who owns The Open School Trust?
Companies House lists 2 people with significant control of The Open School Trust: Dr Vanessa Pittard (significant influence or control) and Mrs Esther Jane Noelle Chesterman (significant influence or control). Before that, it was controlled by Mr John Antony Dodds, Dr Richard Christopher Dorrance and Dr Roslyn Louise Morpeth.
Who runs The Open School Trust?
Companies House lists 8 directors of The Open School Trust: Roslyn Louise Morpeth (Dr), Colin James Woolliscroft, Vanessa Pittard (Dr), Ceri Lianne Rose, Martin James Weller (Prof), Tim Lewis Bennett-Hart and 2 more.
How long has The Open School Trust been in business?
The company was formed on 1 November 1989, and has held its current FCA authorisation since May 2015.
Does The Open School Trust use any other names?
It trades as National Extension College.

Sources and links

The full report on The Open School Trust

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