Embark Investments

What Embark Investments does

Embark Investments operates, through its legal entity Embark Investment Services Limited, the Scottish Widows Platform, a UK-regulated investment platform built for financial advisers, paraplanners, and financial professionals. The platform is headquartered at 33 Old Broad Street, London (company number 09955930) and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under Financial Services Register number 737356. The headcount of 501-1,000 staff supports a B2B, sales-led go-to-market targeting UK advisory firms.

The core product set centres on the Horizon Multi-Asset Fund range, five active, volatility-managed funds (Funds 1-5) aligned to the EValue 1-5 risk scale and managed by BlackRock under a distinctive three-layer investment process. The platform supplements these with Managed Growth Funds, PruFund, and Model Portfolio Solutions including Discretionary Fund Manager options, alongside tax wrappers (Personal Pension with proportional structure and drip-feed drawdown, Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account, Third Party Investment Account). Platform-level tools include a Capital Gains Tool, a Recommendation Tool, and a Due Diligence Tool, with integrations to EVPro, FE FundCentre, and FE Fundinfo, and independent risk ratings from EValue, Dynamic Planner, Defaqto, FinaMetrica, and Synaptic.

Embark generates revenue through recurring platform fees and fund management charges associated with the Horizon range and other investment products. Funds are distributed both directly via the proprietary Scottish Widows Platform and through third-party investment platforms including Aberdeen, Aegon, AJ Bell InvestCentre, Aviva, Nucleus, Transact, and 7IM. Marketing is conducted through the platform website, a literature library, and the Scottish Widows Expertise Hub, and the company emphasises a performance track record dating back to 2013.

Name

Embark Investments

Legal name

Embark Investment Services Limited

Website

https://embarkinvestments.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Embark Investments, via Embark Investment Services Limited, operates the FCA-regulated Scottish Widows Platform in the UK, offering the Horizon Multi-Asset Fund range and wrapper products to financial advisers and paraplanners across proprietary and third-party platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Platform Services (UK Adviser Platform)

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Managed Platforms & Wrap Programs for Private Clients (Model Portfolios, UMA/SMAs) (FSAAABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Target-Risk / Risk-Managed Allocation Funds (FSAAAEAG), Multi-Asset Income Funds (Diversified Income) (FSAAAJAG)

Keywords

• Investment platform services
• Multi-asset fund management
• Financial adviser platform
• Wealth management solutions
• UK retail investment funds

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Platform and Fund Management Services: Embark Investment Services Limited operates the Scottish Widows Platform, providing investment platform services to financial advisers. Revenue is generated through platform fees and fund management charges associated with the Horizon Multi-Asset Funds and other investment products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Embark Investment Services Limited operates the Scottish Widows Platform, an investment platform for UK financial advisers and paraplanners. It distributes the Scottish Widows Horizon Multi-Asset Fund range (five volatility-managed, risk-profiled funds managed by BlackRock), complementary multi-asset solutions (Managed Growth Funds, PruFund, Model Portfolio Solutions), and tax-wrapper accounts including Personal Pension, Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account, and Third Party Investment Account.

Product overview

Embark Investment Services Limited operates the Scottish Widows Platform, a financial adviser-focused investment platform offering a unified suite of products. The core portfolio includes five Horizon Multi-Asset Funds (Fund 1 through Fund 5), which are actively managed, volatility-controlled multi-asset solutions with pre-defined risk profiles aligned to the EValue risk scale. These are complemented by Managed Growth Funds and PruFund, forming a comprehensive multi-asset solutions range. The platform also provides the full spectrum of investment accounts including Personal Pension (with proportional structure and drip-feed drawdown options), Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account, and Third Party Investment Account. Model Portfolio Solutions including Discretionary Fund Manager options round out the advisory tools. Platform-level features include integrated tools for capital gains planning, due diligence reporting, and recommendation generation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Horizon Multi-Asset Fund 1 Lowest-risk volatility-managed multi-asset solution in the Horizon range, aligned with EValue risk level 1, designed for clients seeking minimal volatility with growth potential over the medium to long term.
• Horizon Multi-Asset Fund 2 Low-risk volatility-managed multi-asset solution in the Horizon range, aligned with EValue risk level 2, targeting clients with low risk appetite seeking moderate growth.
• Horizon Multi-Asset Fund 3 Medium-risk volatility-managed multi-asset solution in the Horizon range, aligned with EValue risk level 3, suitable for clients with moderate risk tolerance seeking balanced growth.
• Horizon Multi-Asset Fund 4 Higher-risk volatility-managed multi-asset solution in the Horizon range, aligned with EValue risk level 4, designed for clients willing to accept greater volatility for potentially higher returns.
• Horizon Multi-Asset Fund 5 Highest-risk volatility-managed multi-asset solution in the Horizon range, aligned with EValue risk level 5, targeting clients with high risk appetite seeking maximum growth potential.
• Personal Pension Pension product offered on the Scottish Widows Platform, available with proportional structure and drip-feed drawdown options for retirement planning.
• Stocks and Shares ISA Individual Savings Account allowing clients to invest in stocks and shares with potential tax advantages.
• General Investment Account Flexible investment account for holding a wide range of investments outside of tax-wrapper products.
• Third Party Investment Account Investment account enabling clients to access investments from third-party providers beyond the platform's own funds.
• Managed Growth Funds Multi-asset solution designed to grow investments over the medium to long term with actively managed allocation.
• PruFund Multi-asset fund solution available on the Scottish Widows Platform for retirement and investment goals.
• Model Portfolio Solutions Pre-constructed portfolio solutions including Discretionary Fund Manager (DFM) options for advisers and clients.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BlackRockcoreTechnology or IntegrationBlackRock serves as the investment manager for the Scottish Widows Horizon Multi-Asset Fund range, responsible for portfolio implementation and asset allocation decisions. This is a key strategic partnership for fund management.
• Aberdeen PlatformminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the third-party investment platforms where Scottish Widows Horizon Multi-Asset Funds are available for distribution to advisers and their clients.
• AegonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the third-party investment platforms where Scottish Widows Horizon Multi-Asset Funds are available for distribution to advisers and their clients.
• AJ Bell InvestCentreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the third-party investment platforms where Scottish Widows Horizon Multi-Asset Funds are available for distribution to advisers and their clients.
• AvivaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the third-party investment platforms where Scottish Widows Horizon Multi-Asset Funds are available for distribution to advisers and their clients.
• NucleusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the third-party investment platforms where Scottish Widows Horizon Multi-Asset Funds are available for distribution to advisers and their clients.
• TransactminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the third-party investment platforms where Scottish Widows Horizon Multi-Asset Funds are available for distribution to advisers and their clients.
• 7IMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the third-party investment platforms where Scottish Widows Horizon Multi-Asset Funds are available for distribution to advisers and their clients.
• EValuecoreTechnology or IntegrationRisk profiling provider whose five-point risk scale (1-5) is used to align the Horizon Multi-Asset Funds with client risk appetite needs. Funds are independently risk-rated against EValue standards.
• Dynamic PlannercoreTechnology or IntegrationRisk profiling provider whose risk scale is used to independently rate the Horizon Multi-Asset Funds and help advisers select appropriate options for clients.
• DefaqtocoreTechnology or IntegrationFinancial information provider that independently risk-rates the Horizon Multi-Asset Funds, providing Defaqto Risk Ratings as part of the fund selection framework.
• FinaMetricacoreTechnology or IntegrationRisk profiling provider whose standards are used to independently rate the Horizon Multi-Asset Funds and support adviser suitability assessments.
• SynapticcoreTechnology or IntegrationRisk profiling provider whose risk scale is used alongside other industry-standard providers to independently rate the Horizon Multi-Asset Funds.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AJ Bell: UK investment platform operator serving advisers and direct investors with SIPPs, ISAs, and a broad fund range including risk-profiled multi-asset solutions, overlapping directly with Embark's adviser platform and fund offering.
• 7IM (Seven Investment Management): UK wealth manager offering adviser platforms and risk-profiled multi-asset model portfolios, and listed as a third-party distribution partner of Embark's Horizon range.
• Transact: Adviser-focused UK investment platform offering wrap accounts, model portfolios, and risk-profiled multi-asset solutions; also listed as a distribution partner of Embark, indicating close product overlap and shared adviser client base.
• Hargreaves Lansdown: Largest UK direct-to-consumer and adviser platform offering multi-asset funds, ISAs, pensions, and general investment accounts with multi-manager risk-profiled portfolios — directly comparable to Embark's Scottish Widows Platform proposition.
• Aviva Investors Platform: Aviva operates a UK adviser platform distributing its own multi-asset funds (including risk-graded ranges) and is also a distribution partner of Embark, making it a direct competitor and channel partner in parallel.
• Nucleus Financial Platforms: UK adviser-built platform providing wrap accounts, model portfolios, and integrated fund research tools for IFAs — directly comparable offering to the Scottish Widows Platform and listed among Embark's distribution partners.
• Aegon UK Platform: UK adviser platform providing wrap accounts, SIPPs, ISAs, and risk-graded multi-asset fund ranges, with Embark's Horizon funds distributed via the platform — directly comparable in scope and audience.
• Aberdeen (Abrdn) Platform: UK adviser platform (formerly Standard Life Wrap) offering risk-profiled multi-asset solutions and pensions, and listed as a distribution partner of Embark — making it both a comparable operator and a channel.

Broad incumbents

• Quilter Investors: UK wealth manager with an adviser platform and risk-profiled multi-asset fund ranges; broad incumbent operating across the same adviser distribution and multi-asset fund categories as Embark.
• Fidelity International UK: Large UK investment manager and platform provider with multi-asset fund ranges, adviser tools, and ISAs/SIPPs — broader incumbent competing across the same adviser platform and fund distribution value chain.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/embark-investments

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Embark Investments