Weeks after the demise of well-known Liverpool stockbroker Blankstone Sington former director Neil Blankstone returns to lead the expansion of GHC Capital Markets into the city. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool stockbroker Neil Blankstone is to lead the local expansion of wealth manager GHC Capital Markets weeks after the demise of his former firm Blankstone Sington (BSL).

In February BSL, which dated back to 1976, was declared ‘failed’ by the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme). In October 2023 the firm was put into ‘special administration’ following a court order.

BSL, which was well known for trading in the shares of Everton Football Club, saw temporary restrictions imposed on its activities in November 2021 by the Financial Conduct Authority.

These prevented the firm from disposing or diminishing the value of its own assets, accepting new client money or new custody assets from existing clients and from opening new client accounts, without the FCA’s written consent.

In February this year the special administrators – Andrew Poxon, Alex Cadwallader and Hilary Pascoe of Leonard Curtis – said they had secured all clients’ assets and safeguarded the company’s systems.

Clients were assured that their assets are safe. BSL had £400m of funds under management. It was a member of the London Stock Exchange and was based in Liverpool’s Exchange Flags office complex.

Neil Blankstone was a director of the family firm. In February he posted on Linked In that BSL’s time is “nearly over” after 37 years. The business, he added, had provided him with a “wealth of experience”.

Now he is to employ that experience as head of trading for Leicester-based GHC Capital Markets. The firm is keen to expand its investment management, stockbroking and wealth management services into Liverpool and across the North West.

Welcoming Neil to the firm, chairman Paul Harris said he believed Liverpool can provide the “talent pool and client base” to support its next chapter of growth. The city is a recognised hotspot for the wealth management sector. 

“Neil brings decades of experience in investment management and a thorough understanding of the region’s financial sector, business community and people… This appointment will support our continued growth,” added Paul.

Neil said: “GHC Capital Markets’ stockbroking and investment management services offer institutional excellence and quality but are available for retail investors as well.

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“Combined with an ability to offer specialist financial planning services, you can see why so many clients are putting their trust in them.

“Paul’s desire to deliver an outstanding customer experience is infectious and it’s great to be working with the team to continue this journey of growth and success.”