Stocktrade
Stocktrade is a UK execution-only trading services provider, operating since 1993 as a trading name of Embark Investment Services Limited and part of Lloyds Banking Group since 2022. It serves advisers, SIPP providers, investment platforms, and corporates via Agent, Client, and SIPPtrade portals, administering £42.9bn across 466,186 accounts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersDundee, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Stocktrade does
Stocktrade is a UK execution-only trading services provider operating since 1993 as a trading name of Embark Investment Services Limited, a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales (company number 09955930). Its core offering centres on telephone and online dealing for retail advised clients, financial advisers, discretionary fund managers, SIPP/SSAS pension administrators, investment platforms, and large corporates needing employee share scheme administration, bulk dealing, executive option facilities, and small shareholder sale services. The technology stack comprises three portals — Stocktrade Agent, Stocktrade Client, and SIPPtrade (a dedicated sub-brand for Self Invested Personal Pension dealing) — accessible online, supplemented by telephone dealing. SIPPtrade extends the platform into the SIPP/SSAS administration channel. As at December 2025, the business administered £42.9bn across 466,186 individual accounts and 310,054 customers, and held an A (Superior) AKG rating as at January 2026. Stocktrade is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FS Register number 737356) and holds Cyber Essentials certification.
Stocktrade monetises through transaction fees on execution-only dealing and retains interest received from banking partners on pooled client cash holdings (the current rate paid to clients is 0%); trading fees and charges are not publicly disclosed. Revenue and headcount are not disclosed in the available data. Its go-to-market is hybrid: a B2B/B2B2C channel through nine named white-label partners (NatWest Group, Coutts, Standard Life, Nutmeg, Bestinvest, Charles Stanley, Moneyfarm, Wealthify, HUB Financial Solutions) whose wealth and investment platforms are powered by Embark Group technology, alongside direct relationships with advisers, SIPP providers, investment platforms, building societies, and corporate clients. Cash facility infrastructure is provided by four banking partners (RBS, HSBC, Qatar National Bank, Mizuho Bank). Distribution is exclusively UK-domestic.
Ownership is via Embark Group, which was acquired by Lloyds Banking Group in January 2022; Stocktrade therefore sits within one of the UK's largest financial services groups as a wholly owned subsidiary. Reported office locations are London (registered office, 33 Old Broad Street, EC2N 1HZ) and Leeds (11/12 Wellington Place, LS1 4AP, mailing address for client communications), with the company also associated with Dundee in firmographic data. Strategic posture is that of a mature, regulated, infrastructure-style provider embedded in the UK advised wealth and corporate dealing ecosystem rather than a high-velocity growth challenger.
Stocktrade firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Stocktrade
- Legal name
- Embark Investment Services Limited
- Website
- https://stocktrade.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Stocktrade is a UK execution-only trading services provider, operating since 1993 as a trading name of Embark Investment Services Limited and part of Lloyds Banking Group since 2022. It serves advisers, SIPP providers, investment platforms, and corporates via Agent, Client, and SIPPtrade portals, administering £42.9bn across 466,186 accounts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Stocktrade industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Execution-Only Stock Trading Services
- NAICS
- Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Agency Equity Execution (Cash Equities) (FSACAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Execution-Only / Self-Directed Investing Platforms (FSAAAAAI)
Keywords
Where Stocktrade is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dundee
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Stocktrade business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Execution-only trading services: Provider of execution-only trading services to advised clients, corporate entities, and pension administrators. Revenue generated from transaction fees and service charges.
- Interest income from cash holdings: Interest received from banking partners on pooled cash holdings is retained by Stocktrade to cover account administration costs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | No interest paid on cash deposits |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels4 records
Stocktrade product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Stocktrade is a UK trading name of Embark Investment Services Limited providing execution-only trading services since 1993 to large companies, investment platforms, pension providers, SIPP providers, building societies, and advised firms. Core offerings include telephone and online dealing for employees, advisers, and shareholders, bulk dealing for maturing share schemes, cashless exercise and sale for executive options, corporate ISAs, and execution-only dealing for SIPPs and Small Self-Administered Schemes. Services are delivered through Stocktrade Agent and Client portals, the SIPPtrade platform, and dedicated administration teams.
Product overview
Stocktrade is a trading name of Embark Investment Services Limited, providing execution-only trading services since 1993. The company operates a multi-platform architecture comprising Stocktrade (retail and adviser trading platform), SIPPtrade (dedicated SIPP trading platform), Stocktrade Corporate Dealing Services (bulk dealing, employee share schemes, corporate ISAs), and Pension Dealing Services (SIPPs and Small Self-Administered Schemes). Services are accessible through separate adviser and client portals, with telephone and online dealing access for employees, advisers, and shareholders. The company also provides literature library, banking partner facilities, and client account management tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SIPPtrade: A platform offering trading services for SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension) accounts, accessible to agents and clients.
Products and services
- Stocktrade Trading Platform Execution-only trading platform providing stock dealing services for retail clients, financial advisers, and corporate shareholders, including ISA accounts and general investment accounts. Accessible via the Stocktrade Agent and Stocktrade Client portals.
- SIPPtrade Self Invested Personal Pension trading platform providing execution-only dealing services for SIPP account holders, available through dedicated SIPPtrade Agent and SIPPtrade Client portals.
- Stocktrade Corporate Dealing Services Corporate dealing services including telephone dealing for employees and shareholders, bulk dealing for maturing share schemes, cashless exercise and sale facility for executive options, small shareholders sale facility, and corporate ISAs. Targeted at large UK companies.
- Pension Dealing Services Execution-only dealing services for Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) and Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSAS), supported by a dedicated administration team specialising in SIPP and SSAS execution-only dealing.
- Stocktrade Agent Platform Online platform for financial advisers and agents to manage client accounts, execute trades, and access account administration features on behalf of their advised clients.
- Stocktrade Client Portal Client-facing online portal providing access to account management, trade execution, document library, and banking partner cash facilities for retail advised clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- £42.9bn assets under administration
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Stocktrade
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Stocktrade technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Stocktrade partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NatWest GroupcoreWhite label partner powered by Embark Group technology. NatWest Group offers stock trading services to its customers through Stocktrade's infrastructure.
- CouttscoreWhite label partner powered by Embark Group technology. Coutts provides wealth management services incorporating Stocktrade's trading infrastructure.
- Standard LifecoreWhite label partner powered by Embark Group technology. Standard Life integrates Stocktrade services for investment and pension solutions.
- NutmegminorWhite label partner powered by Embark Group technology. Nutmeg uses Stocktrade infrastructure for its investment services.
- BestinvestminorWhite label partner powered by Embark Group technology.
- Charles StanleyminorWhite label partner powered by Embark Group technology.
- MoneyfarmminorWhite label partner powered by Embark Group technology.
- WealthifyminorWhite label partner powered by Embark Group technology.
- HUB Financial SolutionsminorWhite label partner powered by Embark Group technology.
- RBScoreBanking partner providing cash facility for Stocktrade client accounts. Money is pooled and held in account in the name of Embark.
- HSBCcoreBanking partner providing cash facility for Stocktrade client accounts.
- Qatar National BankminorBanking partner providing cash facility for Stocktrade client accounts.
- Mizuho BankminorBanking partner providing cash facility for Stocktrade client accounts.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Stocktrade competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AJ Bell: UK-listed execution-only platform serving advised firms, SIPP providers, and direct retail clients. Direct competitor in the same product category with similar advised-client and SIPP positioning.
- Hargreaves Lansdown: Largest UK direct-to-consumer execution-only broker and SIPP provider. Direct competitor on retail execution-only dealing, with broader brand visibility and scale advantages.
- Interactive Investor: UK execution-only platform with flat-fee pricing and SIPP offerings; acquired by Abrdn in 2022. Direct competitor on advised and direct retail execution, with comparable AUA scale.
- IG Group: Multi-asset online trading platform with UK execution-only dealing for retail and professional clients. Comparable on technology-driven execution and platform infrastructure, though broader product scope.
- Bestinvest: UK execution-only platform serving advised firms and direct clients. Both direct competitor and a Stocktrade white-label partner, sharing technology stack.
- EQi (Equiniti): UK execution-only investment platform serving retail and advised clients. Direct competitor on execution-only dealing and corporate share plan services, overlapping with Stocktrade's corporate dealing offering.
- Charles Stanley Direct: UK execution-only platform serving direct and advised clients. Direct competitor on execution-only dealing and product overlap with Stocktrade's platform.
Broad incumbents
- Fidelity International (UK): UK wealth platform offering execution-only dealing, SIPPs, and advised services. Larger incumbent with broader investment product portfolio, competing with Stocktrade on adviser and SIPP channels.
- Saxo Bank: Global trading platform serving advised and institutional clients with white-label and execution capabilities. Broader incumbent operating in same space as Stocktrade's B2B platform offering.
Emerging players
- Trading 212: Commission-free UK/Cypriot retail trading platform with rapid growth in self-directed accounts. Emerging competitor on retail execution-only dealing, with younger customer demographic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Stocktrade social profiles
Digital presenceStocktrade compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Stocktrade financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Stocktrade leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Stocktrade funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Stocktrade M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Stocktrade
What does Stocktrade do?
Stocktrade is a UK trading name of Embark Investment Services Limited providing execution-only trading services since 1993 to large companies, investment platforms, pension providers, SIPP providers, building societies, and advised firms. Core offerings include telephone and online dealing for employees, advisers, and shareholders, bulk dealing for maturing share schemes, cashless exercise and sale for executive options, corporate ISAs, and execution-only dealing for SIPPs and Small Self-Administered Schemes. Services are delivered through Stocktrade Agent and Client portals, the SIPPtrade platform, and dedicated administration teams.
Is Stocktrade a public or private company?
Stocktrade is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Stocktrade founded?
Stocktrade was founded in 1993.
Where is Stocktrade based?
Stocktrade is headquartered in Dundee, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Stocktrade make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Execution-only trading services are the primary driver. The others are interest income from cash holdings.
Who are Stocktrade's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AJ Bell, Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor, IG Group, Bestinvest, EQi (Equiniti) and Charles Stanley Direct. Broad incumbents are Fidelity International (UK) and Saxo Bank. Trading 212 is listed as an emerging player.
Does Stocktrade have an API?
No public API is recorded for Stocktrade.
What industry is Stocktrade in?
Stocktrade's product category is Execution-Only Stock Trading Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSACAFAA, Agency Equity Execution (Cash Equities), with a secondary code of FSAAAAAI, Execution-Only / Self-Directed Investing Platforms. Its NAICS code is 523150 and its SIC code is 6211.