Eighty-six per cent of Primis brokers in the North of England expect to write more business in 2026, Primis has stated.

The firm’s latest survey found the majority of brokers in the North East and the North West described themselves either as optimistic or somewhat optimistic about the year ahead.

Confidence was similarly strong for protection business, with the same proportion anticipating increased volumes this year.

However, brokers highlighted a number of challenges for the year ahead, with economic uncertainty and employment concerns topping the list for 32% of respondents. Three in 10 (30%) cited customer affordability pressures, while 29% pointed to regulation and compliance as potential hurdles.

When asked where opportunities lie for the year, almost half (47%) of brokers in the North identified remortgaging as the biggest growth driver, with 15% adding that first-time buyer mortgages and income protection were also areas for growth respectively.

Alongside this confidence, 89% of respondents expect a cut to the Bank of England’s base rate in 2026. Primis said this reinforces optimism that affordability and market activity may improve across the year.

Sales director at LSL Financial Services, Neil Hoare, said that this optimism surpasses the levels recorded in Wales, the South and the Midlands.

He concluded: "Expectations that interest rates will fall this year, combined with a large volume of refinance opportunities, paves the way for new business in the remortgage market while also providing a reason to have a conversation and review protection needs with customers.

"The survey in the North also revealed a clear understanding of the challenges brokers face. With broadly similar proportions of brokers citing respectively key challenges for the year ahead as economic uncertainty, customer affordability pressures, and regulatory burden, the need for effective support that goes beyond a one-size-fits-all approach is clear.

"That means giving advisers practical support to communicate with customers, navigate affordability conversations, manage regulatory change efficiently to make the most of the opportunities 2026 holds, all while continuing to deliver good outcomes for customers."

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