L-R: Nigel Barratt, Ben Bradley and Tim Potter
As long-serving leader Nigel Barratt prepares to step down, HURST Corporate finance has announced his successor. Ben Bradley will now transition to the managing partner role – having come through the firm’s ranks after joining as a graduate trainee 15 years ago.
Buying or selling a business can be one of life’s most difficult yet defining moments for any owner or entrepreneur. Based in the North-West of England, HURST Corporate Finance is made for transactions between £5 million and £30 million – priding itself on “quality over quantity”, the firm’s eight corporate finance experts are supported by 100 colleagues in HURST’s business services, tax and digital teams, handling six-to-eight deals a year.
Recently, this has included being lead advisor to Alpine Fire Engineers on its sale to Core Capital Partners; to CareConcepts during its acquisition of Marion Lauder House; and advisor to EDM Group in its acquisition of RGF Support.
Ben Bradley joined the firm as a graduate trainee in 2011 after a 12-month university placement. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 2014 while working in the business services team, before joining HURST Corporate Finance in 2015. He progressed through the ranks, becoming a partner in 2023 and joining the HURST board.
Over that time, Bradley has advised on a broad range of transactions, typically up to £50 million in value, with experience on a number of deals topping £100 million. These include company sales and acquisitions, management buyouts and private equity investments, along with debt and growth capital fundraising. In his new role, he will lead a team of M&A experts advising owner-managed companies and entrepreneurs across the UK, supported by the wider firm’s business services, tax and digital teams.
Bradley commented, “Having joined HURST as a graduate, it’s incredibly rewarding to now lead the corporate finance team. We have built a strong team and reputation over the years, and I’m looking forward to taking that to the next level, expanding our reach and support more ambitious businesses on their growth journeys.”
Nigel Barratt, the incumbent managing partner of HURST Corporate Finance, will now begin to step away from the role he has held since 2007. In a planned transition, he will continue to be a senior partner, supporting Bradley and providing strategic advice to clients.
Barratt remarked, “I have thoroughly enjoyed leading the corporate finance team and am very proud of what we have created. I am grateful for the support I have had from our clients, HURST’s partners and staff, and particularly the colleagues who have been part of our success. Ben is fantastic to work with, and I know that under his leadership the team will continue to flourish. I look forward to continuing alongside him through this transition.”
The move comes a year after HURST unveiled plans to double in size to become a £20 million turnover practice in 2028, underpinned by an expanding national client base, extensive recruitment and new service lines, alongside a multimillion-pound investment in technology. To push this forward, the Stockport-headquartered practice recently became part of the Dains Group, a national accountancy and business advisory firm with 30 locations across the UK and Ireland, further strengthening its resources for clients in the UK and internationally.
HURST managing partner Tim Potter added, “I’m delighted that Ben has achieved this great step in his career, and I’m looking forward to working alongside him as he continues to build the HURST Corporate Finance team. Nigel has delivered a terrific performance over many years, and I’m grateful to him for all he has achieved. He now transitions to a senior role, remaining in corporate finance while also working within the senior leadership team to deliver the firm’s strategy.”