Hartley Pensions

What Hartley Pensions does

Hartley Pensions Limited is a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales, founded in 1981 and headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, that historically operated as a manager and operator of Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) and Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSASs). The firm served approximately 17,000 SIPP clients and a smaller SSAS book, including white-labelled SIPP arrangements on behalf of partners such as RL360, Ardan, Trireme, Platform One, James Brearley, Fundment, and Octopus. Revenue was generated through recurring annual administration fees charged to SIPP holders regardless of asset class or performance, with clients free to select and manage their own investments across a broad range of permitted assets.

The company was regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for SIPP activity and by The Pensions Regulator for SSAS activity. It entered administration on 29 July 2022 following FCA-imposed requirements and the director's determination that the company was or was likely to become cash flow insolvent. Joint Administrators Peter Kubik and Brian Johnson of UHY Hacker Young LLP were appointed on the same date and now manage the orderly transfer of the SIPP and SSAS client books to alternative operators, funded by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. As of October 2025, 2,636 SIPPs had been transferred or closed, 6,000 clients had been contacted, and approximately 8,626 clients held impaired or toxic assets — primarily storepods linked to Store First Self Storage Limited — which are the subject of ongoing FSCS, HMRC, and SFO engagement. The Court has extended the Administration to 28 July 2027 to complete transfers and conclude the investigation into misappropriated client monies identified between January 2020 and April 2022.

Name

Hartley Pensions

Legal name

Hartley Pensions Limited

Website

https://hartleypensions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hartley Pensions Limited was a UK-regulated SIPP and SSAS operator and administrator serving approximately 17,000 clients. The company entered administration in July 2022 and is now in orderly wind-down, with client books being transferred to alternative pension operators under FSCS funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pension Administration

NAICS

Pharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (524292)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Retirement & Pension Wealth (401(k)/IRA/SIPP/Superannuation Retail) (FSAAAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Employee Benefit & Retirement Plan Trust Services (FSAAANAC)

Keywords

• Pension administration
• Self-invested pensions
• SIPP management
• SSAS schemes
• Pension transfers

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Pension Administration Services: Hartley Pensions charged annual administration fees to SIPP clients for managing their pension investments. The fees were charged regardless of asset type or performance. An Exit and Administration charge (a one-off fee) was being developed to cover the extra costs of administering the orderly transfer of SIPPs to new operators given Hartley's failure.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Hartley Pensions Limited operated as a pension manager and administrator for Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) and Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSASs), charging annual administration fees for managing client pension investments. Following entry into administration on 29 July 2022, the company's primary activity is now the orderly transfer of approximately 17,000 SIPP and SSAS clients to alternative pension operators, managed by Joint Administrators from UHY Hacker Young LLP and funded by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Product overview

Hartley Pensions Limited operated as a pension administration company offering Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) and Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSASs). The company entered administration on 29 July 2022 due to serious operational and regulatory issues. The Joint Administrators (Peter Kubik and Brian Johnson of UHY Hacker Young LLP) are now managing the orderly transfer of approximately 17,000 SIPP clients to alternative operators, as Hartley is no longer accepting new contributions and is facilitating client exits to new pension providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) A pension scheme that allows individual members to make investment decisions about their retirement funds, including choosing and managing their own investments from a wide range of options. Hartley Pensions operated as a SIPP manager and administrator serving approximately 17,000 clients.
• Small Self-Administered Scheme (SSAS) An occupational pension scheme used by small businesses, allowing employers to control their own pension investments and make bespoke investment decisions. Hartley Pensions operated as SSAS manager and administrator, with ongoing transfers coordinated with The Pensions Regulator.

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UHY Hacker Young LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 29 July 2022UHY Hacker Young LLP is the firm of insolvency practitioners appointed as Joint Administrators of Hartley Pensions Limited. Peter Kubik and Brian Johnson serve as Joint Administrators, managing the affairs, business, and property of Hartley Pensions Limited during the administration process.
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FCA imposed requirements on Hartley Pensions due to operational and regulatory issues. FCA consented to the appointment of Joint Administrators. Ongoing discussions with FCA regarding the treatment of impaired/toxic assets and the transfer process.
• HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHMRC is involved in discussions regarding the treatment of impaired assets and how failed investments should be dealt with. Client consent and HMRC agreement may be required for writing down or writing off failed investments.
• The Pensions Regulator (TPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTPR is the regulatory body for SSASs (Small Self-Administered Schemes). The Joint Administrators are in contact with TPR regarding the administration of Hartley's SSAS book.
• Morgan LloydmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMorgan Lloyd has agreed to take on a significant tranche of Hartley's SIPP clients (approximately 2,577 clients identified). Transfer packs sent to clients in two groups (September 2024 and February 2025). Morgan Lloyd is reviewing further batches of clients.
• IFGL PensionsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIFGL received the transfer of RL360 clients (905 clients) via a scheme transfer. Additionally, Ardan and Trireme clients (338 total) are being transferred to IFGL.
• Platform OnemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatform One is a receiving operator for Hartley SIPP clients. 390 clients identified for transfer to Platform One. Transfer process ongoing with fee reconciliation being completed.
• Curtis BanksminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCurtis Banks is the proposed receiving operator for Octopus/Nova clients (10 clients). Transfer discussions concluded and transfer packs sent to clients in August 2025.
• FundmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFundment is a receiving operator for 240 Hartley SIPP clients. Transfer pack issued in May 2025 with transfers commencing.
• Wilton UK (Group) LimitedcoreOthersWilton UK (Group) Limited is identified as the parent company of Hartley Pensions Limited. The Hartley Action Group website made inaccurate claims regarding the parent company's relationship to the administration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• Morgan Lloyd: UK SIPP and SSAS administration specialist. Direct peer to Hartley in both core products and is absorbing the largest identified tranche (~2,577 clients) from the Hartley administration.
• Platform One: UK SIPP provider and administrator offering bespoke self-invested pensions. Direct peer with comparable product and customer base, and is one of the principal receiving operators for Hartley's SIPP book (390 clients identified).
• IFGL (RL360): International pensions and SIPP provider operating in the UK market. Direct peer for SIPP administration and the principal receiving operator for Hartley's RL360 white-labelled book (905 clients) plus Ardan and Trireme clients.
• InvestAcc (formerly Novia): UK investment and SIPP platform. Direct peer in SIPP administration and platform services, comparable in target market and product offering to Hartley's self-invested pension proposition.
• James Brearley: UK SIPP operator and administrator offering self-invested personal pensions. Directly comparable to Hartley's SIPP administration offering and is identified as a receiving operator for Hartley clients, including white-labelled Simply Ethical SIPPs.
• Curtis Banks: UK SIPP and SSAS provider and administrator. Directly comparable to Hartley as both operate the same product set for individual and small-business pension clients, and Curtis Banks is itself named as a receiving operator for Hartley's Octopus/Nova clients.
• Fundment: UK investment and pension platform offering SIPP administration. Direct peer operating in the same product category and identified as a receiving operator for 240 Hartley clients.

Broad incumbents

• Barnett Waddingham: UK actuarial and pensions administration firm offering SSAS and SIPP administration services. Comparable in SSAS administration and corporate pension services, with broader actuarial and consulting capabilities.
• Hargreaves Lansdown: Largest UK retail investment platform offering SIPPs alongside other retirement and investment products. Comparable in offering SIPP administration but at significantly greater scale and broader product breadth.
• AJ Bell: Major UK SIPP and SSAS provider with significantly larger scale than Hartley. Comparable product set (SIPP/SSAS administration) but operates a much broader investment platform serving mass-affluent and advised segments.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HartleyPensions
• Facebookfacebook.com/HartleyPensions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hartleypensionslimited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hartley Pensions