FIRST STEP (UK) LIMITED
🌳Matureactive
05326038 · ltd · incorporated 2005-01-06
Investment thesis
Established operating company — standard diligence applies, no dominant angle.
Why interesting: Live, filing, normal profile.
Why risky: No standout signals in either direction.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Sept 2024
Net worth
£3.16M
book net assets
Opportunity
74/100
Strong
What this business does
Primary activity: Other credit granting n.e.c.
Sector: Financial & insurance
Investor take
PursueActive trading company with a 61-year-old founder — textbook succession opportunity.
Opportunity 74/100 (strong), bankability 57/100. Strong seller-intent signal (70/100, director aged 61). Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Consolidate lender relationships. 7 distinct lenders creates friction — refinance into single-lender structure for cleaner diligence. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
🏦
Refinance opportunity
9 live charges · 7 lenders · oldest 11.0y
35/100
too messy
Refinance path is blocked by complexity. Rethink structure or expect bespoke, expensive terms.
- · Oldest live charge is 11.0 years old — likely at or near maturity.
- · 7 lenders named — inter-creditor friction likely.
- · Legal-friction score 25/100 — workable, but lender will want more DD.
Data confidence
Overall: high (81/100)Strong data coverage across all sections. AI outputs should be trusted with minimal caveats.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
9 charges (9/9 with lender, 9/9 with type)
90
Directors & officers
6 officers (2 active, 6 linked, 3 with DOB)
80
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
9 connected companies via shared directors
72
Filing history
76 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
74/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
60
Adequate — check latest filings for context.
Acquirability
85
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
66
Some moderate concerns — review flags.
Signal strength
100
Good data coverage for analysis.
Signals from accounts
Derived from iXBRL accounts · accounting standard not declaredPositive net assets
Net assets £3,163,657
Cash YoY
+19%
Year on year
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
£500k
↑ 19% YoY
Net Worth
£3.2m
↑ 2.7% YoY
Current Assets
£3.4m
↓ 47% YoY
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2024-09-30 | 2023-09-30 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | £16.12M | £21.70M |
| Current assets | £3.39M | £6.41M |
| Cash | £499.9k | £420.3k |
| Debtors | £572.6k | £1.68M |
| Net assets | £3.16M | £3.08M |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
2 signals detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 confirmation-statement
Last 180 days
2
filings
- • 1 confirmation-statement
- • 1 mortgage
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (44 events)Click to expand
- 2026-03-05📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2026-02-25🔒Charge registered #9Lender: United Dominions Trust Limited (Company Number 00184739)
- 2025-11-27📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-11-26📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-11-26🔒Charge registered #7Lender: Lombard North Central PLC
- 2025-11-24🔒Charge registered #8Lender: Close Leasing Limited
- 2025-11-05📄mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-datemortgage · MR01
- 2025-10-28🔒Charge registered #6Lender: Toyota Financial Services (UK) PLC
- 2025-06-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-mediumaccounts · AA
- 2024-11-25📄termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM02
- 2024-11-19📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2024-11-19📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2024-11-12📄memorandum-articlesincorporation · MA
- 2024-11-12📄resolutionresolution · RESOLUTIONS
- 2024-10-23➕QUINN, Jonathan Andrew appointeddirector
- 2024-10-23➖GANLEY, Lesley Jayne resignedsecretary
- 2024-10-23➖GANLEY, Lesley Jayne resigneddirector
- 2024-06-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2023-09-25📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-09-25📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-09-25📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-09-25🔓Charge satisfied #5
- 2023-09-25🔓Charge satisfied #3
- 2023-09-25🔓Charge satisfied #1
- 2023-05-31📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-05-31📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2023-05-31📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC02
- 2023-05-16📄mortgage-satisfy-charge-fullmortgage · MR04
- 2023-05-16🔓Charge satisfied #2
- 2023-05-03📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-02-21📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-12-19🔒Charge registered #5Lender: Shawbrook Bank LTD
- 2018-02-22🔒Charge registered #4Lender: Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) LTD
- 2017-11-15🔒Charge registered #3Lender: Close Leasing Limited
- 2017-08-31🔒Charge registered #2Lender: National Westminster Bank PLC
- 2015-06-30🔒Charge registered #1Lender: Lombard North Central PLC
- 2005-01-18➕GANLEY, Lesley Jayne appointedsecretary
- 2005-01-18➕GANLEY, Lesley Jayne appointeddirector
- 2005-01-17➕GANLEY, Vincent Roy appointeddirector
- 2005-01-10➖FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2005-01-10➖FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2005-01-06🏢Company incorporatedAs FIRST STEP (UK) LIMITED
- 2005-01-06➕FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2005-01-06➕FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
76/100
High — earn-out structure requiredMaterial founder dependency. Consider a 2-3 year earn-out and build in a handover plan before completion.
FACTORS
- +Two-director setup: Only two active directors — typical of owner-managed SMEs but limits succession.
- +Long-tenure founder: Senior director has been in place 21 years — deep operational knowledge concentrated in one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 61 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
66/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 61. Early succession window.
- secondaryTwo-director governance: Small-team governance. Succession depth is thin but not absent.
- primary20+ year tenure: Director in role 21 years. Very long tenure is a classic succession signal.
- supportingClean filings + long tenure: Disciplined long-tenure operator — classic lifestyle-business pattern that often sells quietly.
Red flags
2 med · 1 low4 new charges in last 12 months
mediumHeavy recent charge activity can indicate refinancing pressure, aggressive leverage, or multiple lender rotation.
Evidence: 2026-02-25: A registered charge; 2025-11-26: A registered charge; 2025-11-24: A registered charge
Charge satisfaction-then-recreation pattern
mediumMultiple instances where a charge was satisfied and a new charge created within 6 months. Suggests active refinancing cycle.
5 live charges
lowHeavily leveraged with multiple live security positions — understand the capital structure before proceeding.
Group structure
First Step Uk (Holdings) Limited is the ultimate parent — holding 75%+ shares. This company sits inside their group.
🏛️ultimate parent
First Step Uk (Holdings) Limited
Corporate parent · holds 75-100% shares
⬇
FIRST STEP (UK) LIMITED
This company · 05326038
Parent relationships inferred from Persons with Significant Control filings. Full subsidiary tree requires reverse-lookup (coming).
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
First Step Uk (Holdings) Limited Corporate entity | 75–100% | 75–100% | 75-100% shares · 75-100% voting | 01/10/2016 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Mrs Lesley Jayne Ganleyceased 06/12/2016· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
- Mr Vincent Roy Ganleyceased 06/12/2016· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
🔒Co-director network graph
Radial SVG graph showing every company connected via shared directors, colour-coded by status.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Similar companies
Active · Financial services · BL postcode area| Company | Est. value | Turnover | Net worth | Staff | Age | Opp | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACKCROWN INVESTMENTS LIMITED→ 16963321 · est 2026 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CONNECT BROKERS LIMITED→ 11365141 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| DAVID MORRIS FINANCE LIMITED→ 06981985 · est 2009 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 16y | — | — |
| DOCTOR SPEX LIMITED→ 11661951 · est 2018 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 7y | — | — |
| FAST TRACK PCP LTD→ 16291774 · est 2025 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| FIRESTONE LEGAL LTD→ 15262244 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| FLUENT MORTGAGES HORWICH LTD→ 14127588 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| GANTLCC LIMITED→ 14564758 · est 2023 | — | — | — | 1 | 3y | — | — |
| GLASS PAYMENTS LTD→ 14798339 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| GMC FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD→ 04431190 · est 2002 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 23y | — | — |
| GNT SPECIALIST FINANCE CONSULTANCY LTD→ 15452652 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| HAAC SOURCE LTD→ 11000909 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
8 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →🔒Advanced scoring suite
Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Company details
Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated2005-01-06
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC64929 — Other credit granting n.e.c.
Registered office
70 Market Street
Tottington
Bury
BL8 3LJ
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2026-09-30
Last made up to: 2024-09-30
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2027-06-14
Last: 2026-05-31
Officers (2 active · 4 resigned)
GANLEY, Vincent Roy→
Activedirector · ~61y · appointed 2005-01-17
View their other companies + combined net worth →
QUINN, Jonathan Andrew→
Activedirector · ~35y · appointed 2024-10-23
View their other companies + combined net worth →
GANLEY, Lesley Jayne→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2005-01-18 · resigned 2024-10-23
FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2005-01-06 · resigned 2005-01-10
GANLEY, Lesley Jayne→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2005-01-18 · resigned 2024-10-23
FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2005-01-06 · resigned 2005-01-10
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Mortgages & charges
9
Total charges
5
Outstanding
5
Active lenders
Status:Lender:9 of 9 shown
| Type | Properties | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| outstanding | United Dominions Trust (Company Number 00184739) United Dominions Trust Limited (Company Number 00184739) | A registered charge | — | 25/02/2026 | — | |
| outstanding | Lombard North Central Lombard North Central PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 26/11/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Close Leasing Close Leasing Limited | A registered charge | — | 24/11/2025 | — | |
| outstanding | Toyota Financial Services (UK) Toyota Financial Services (UK) PLC | A registered charge | 1 property | 28/10/2025 | — | |
| satisfied | Shawbrook Shawbrook Bank LTD | A registered charge | — | 19/12/2018 | 25/09/2023 | |
| outstanding | HSBC Hsbc Equipment Finance (UK) LTD | A registered charge | — | 22/02/2018 | — | |
| satisfied | Close Leasing Close Leasing Limited | A registered charge | — | 15/11/2017 | 25/09/2023 | |
| satisfied | National Westminster Bank National Westminster Bank PLC | A registered charge | — | 31/08/2017 | 16/05/2023 | |
| satisfied | Lombard North Central Lombard North Central PLC | A registered charge | — | 30/06/2015 | 25/09/2023 |
Click column headers to sort. Use filters above to narrow by status and lender.
Recent filings (76 total)
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2026-06-02
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2026-03-05
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-11-27
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-11-26
mortgage-create-with-deed-with-charge-number-charge-creation-date
mortgage · MR01
2025-11-05
accounts-with-accounts-type-medium
accounts · AA
2025-06-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-06-03
termination-secretary-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM02
2024-11-25
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2024-11-19
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2024-11-19
memorandum-articles
incorporation · MA
2024-11-12
resolution
resolution · RESOLUTIONS
2024-11-12
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2024-06-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-06-10
mortgage-satisfy-charge-full
mortgage · MR04
2023-09-25