Gary Hargreaves is a leading figure in the UK’s insolvency and restructuring sector. With more than three decades of experience spanning corporate banking, property finance, and corporate recovery, he has become recognised for his expertise in insolvency processes, property recovery, and healthcare turnaround management. Currently serving as Partner at FRP Advisory Trading Limited, based in Greater Manchester, he co-leads the firm’s national Property Recovery Team. His career demonstrates the evolution of a professional who has combined banking, finance, and restructuring knowledge to address some of the most complex challenges faced by lenders, investors, and care providers.
This article takes a closer look at Hargreaves’ career, educational background, and contributions to both the property and healthcare sectors.
Early Career in Banking
Hargreaves began his professional journey in the late 1980s with National Westminster Bank (NatWest). Over the course of 11 years, he worked as a Corporate Manager, primarily focused on relationship management with mid-cap corporates. He was involved in lending between £0 and £10 million, gaining first-hand experience in structuring finance for growing businesses. This role provided him with a foundation in corporate lending, credit risk, and relationship management that would shape his career.
Following his time at NatWest, he moved to Bank Hapoalim, where he spent two years as a Corporate Manager. His responsibilities included purchasing $25 million tranches in the secondary syndicated loan market and developing bilateral banking relationships. This phase of his career expanded his exposure to international corporate lending and more complex syndicated finance structures.
In 2002, Hargreaves transitioned to Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander, a role that allowed him to deepen his involvement in structured corporate and property finance. He was responsible for sourcing and analysing syndicated corporate lending propositions worth between £5 million and £10 million, as well as property development lending up to £5 million. This period reinforced his expertise in structuring deals and analysing high-value transactions, skills that would later become essential in the restructuring and insolvency arena.
Oakbridge Financial Services: Entrepreneurial Leadership
In 2005, Hargreaves co-founded Oakbridge Financial Services Limited, an FCA-regulated bridging finance provider. As Operations Director, he took on responsibility for policy setting, compliance, and day-to-day management of the loan book. His role required balancing regulatory requirements with business growth objectives, an experience that provided him with insights into short-term lending markets and the challenges of managing loan portfolios.
This entrepreneurial experience gave Hargreaves a practical understanding of lending from the provider’s perspective. Managing regulatory compliance alongside financial risk placed him in a position to later advise and manage distressed loan portfolios with authority.
Transition into Restructuring and Insolvency
The 2008 financial crisis reshaped global markets, and like many professionals in finance, Hargreaves shifted focus to restructuring. He joined Duff & Phelps Corporate Restructuring as a Senior Manager, a position he held for nearly nine years. His work concentrated on property and healthcare insolvencies, areas that would become central to his later career.
During this time, he also worked as a Recoveries Secondee with Santander UK Corporate & Commercial between 2014 and 2015. In that role, he managed a distressed debt portfolio requiring restructuring, insolvency, or exit management strategies. This secondment gave him direct exposure to the lender’s perspective in distressed situations, further broadening his skillset in managing risk and recovery.
FRP Advisory: Property Recovery and Healthcare Specialisation
In 2017, Hargreaves joined FRP Advisory, a leading professional services firm focused on restructuring, financial advisory, and property recovery. Over the years, he has progressed to Partner, leading the national Property Recovery Team alongside Steve Williams.
His responsibilities involve acting as Fixed Charge Receiver and handling property administration for major clearing banks, buy-to-let (BTL) lenders, and private financiers. He has worked extensively in the short-term lending sector, managing workouts of sub-prime loan books with portfolio values ranging from £3 million to £100 million. Notable cases include his involvement with Davenham Group plc and Tiuta International Limited, where he played a central role in recovering value for lenders and investors.
At FRP, Hargreaves has combined his banking and insolvency expertise to provide clients with clear options, outcome-focused strategies, and practical solutions that maximise recovery.
Focus on the Healthcare Sector
One of the most distinctive aspects of Hargreaves’ career is his deep involvement in the adult social care sector. Over the past decade, he has worked with both lenders and care providers, developing a bespoke pre-lend review and Independent Business Review (IBR) framework. This framework evaluates business performance and ensures that financial and compliance elements are aligned, helping lenders make informed decisions before committing funds.
Hargreaves has led numerous administrations and receiverships of care homes, drawing on his sector knowledge and turnaround management skills. His work often requires navigating sensitive negotiations with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Local Authorities. By combining financial restructuring with operational turnaround strategies, he has helped stabilise care providers while protecting the interests of lenders and residents.
Beyond individual assignments, Hargreaves has contributed to broader sector initiatives. He worked with the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) to develop national guidance on provider failure in social care. He has also collaborated with a North-West Local Authority to design a new funding model for adult social care. This model emphasises early warning systems, action planning, and quality assurance, aiming to create a more sustainable framework for care provision.
Educational Background
Hargreaves’ career has been underpinned by a strong academic foundation. He has pursued education alongside his professional commitments, often through part-time or evening study.
- HNC in Business & Finance – University of Bolton (1994–1996)
- B.A. (Hons) Business Studies – University of Bolton (1997–2000), First Class
- MBA, Business Administration and Management – University of Bolton (2005–2008), First Class
- CPI in Insolvency – BPP Law School (2010)
- JIEB in Insolvency – BPP Law School (2013–2014)
- Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health & Social Care – Progress to Excellence (2019–2020)
His commitment to continued education has equipped him with both the technical qualifications and sector-specific knowledge needed to succeed in a highly regulated field.
Approach and Professional Philosophy
Colleagues and clients describe Hargreaves as outcome-driven and pragmatic. His work often involves situations where stakeholders are under significant pressure—whether lenders managing distressed portfolios, or care providers facing regulatory intervention. By focusing on practical solutions and clear recommendations, he aims to provide clarity in uncertain circumstances.
His dual expertise in property recovery and healthcare turnaround sets him apart in the restructuring field. In property recovery, his background in corporate banking and finance allows him to evaluate lending portfolios with precision. In healthcare, his knowledge of compliance, regulation, and sector dynamics enables him to manage cases where financial challenges intersect with public service obligations.
Contributions and Impact
Hargreaves’ career illustrates how insolvency practitioners can play a constructive role in stabilising businesses and industries. In property finance, his work has supported lenders in recovering value from distressed portfolios. In healthcare, his efforts have extended beyond recovery to shaping frameworks for sustainable care provision.
His involvement in developing guidance on provider failure reflects his recognition of the broader implications of insolvency in essential sectors. Unlike many industries, failures in healthcare directly affect vulnerable individuals. By applying restructuring tools with sensitivity and sector awareness, Hargreaves has demonstrated how insolvency professionals can balance commercial realities with social responsibility.
Conclusion
Gary Hargreaves’ professional journey highlights the evolution of a career from banking to insolvency, with a unique focus on property and healthcare sectors. Through roles at major banks, a bridging finance start-up, and leading advisory firms, he has built expertise across lending, restructuring, and recovery. His work at FRP Advisory and contributions to adult social care demonstrate how technical knowledge, sector understanding, and pragmatic problem-solving can deliver value for clients and communities alike.
As challenges in property finance and healthcare continue to grow, professionals like Hargreaves remain vital in guiding stakeholders through periods of uncertainty. His career serves as a case study in how focused expertise, combined with a commitment to practical outcomes, can make a tangible impact in both financial and social contexts.
