Stonebridge has announced three new board appointments as it seeks to continue its performance in the broker network sector. Head of sales, John Scrivens, has been promoted to sales director after joining in 2023, assuming responsibility for the network’s protection and general insurance propositions. Recruitment and growth director, Lesley Sharkey, and operations director, Gavin Earnshaw, have also been appointed to Stonebridge’s board. Sharkey joined the parent group, MSS, in 2013 and has held strategic roles at Countrywide and Shepherd Direct prior. Earnshaw rejoined the company in 2021 and has held leadership roles at several other networks, including Sesame Bankhall and HLPartnership. Martyn Franklin, who has been a board member since 2018, has been promoted to chief financial officer.
Stance Asset Finance has appointed Rebecca Walton as business development manager for the North of England. She has worked in financial services and asset finance for a decade, with the last five years spent with Haydock Finance in operational sales roles. She will use her experience to support the launch and development of United Trust Bank’s asset finance brand, helping to grow business volumes and establish strong relationships with brokers in the North of England. Walton’s appointment follows those of Cherrice Baffana and Alex Fowler as Stance continues to develop its sales team as it approaches a launch to Founders Club members.
Access Financial Services is set to host its inaugural Women of Access event, following the launch of its Equity Council. The mortgage and protection brokerage said the event aims to celebrate women, share their stories and journeys and boost its recruitment of women. It will be held at the Delta hotel in Waltham Abbey on 25 February. Access Financial Services’ advisers will discuss their stories following a keynote speech on mindset, motivation and wellness by ex-senior consultant at BT Group’s diversity, equality and inclusion centre, Cordelia Osewa-Ediae.
Perenna and the long-term fixed mortgage market
Content editor, Dan McGrath, spoke to head of product, proposition and distribution at Perenna, John Davison, to explore the long-term fixed mortgage market, the role that Perenna plays in this sector and the impact of the recent Autumn Budget
The role of the bridging market and technology usage in the industry
Content editor, Dan McGrath, sat down with chief operating officer at Black & White Bridging, Damien Druce, and head of development finance at Empire Global Finance, Pete Williams, to explore the role of the bridging sector, the role of AI across the industry and how the property market has fared in the Labour Government’s first year in office.
NEW BUILD IN FOCUS - NEW EPISODE OF THE MORTGAGE INSIDER PODCAST, OUT NOW
Figures from the National House-Building Council saw Q1 2025 register a 36% increase in new homes built across the UK compared with the same period last year, representing a striking development for the first-time buyer market. But with the higher cost of building, ongoing planning challenges and new and changing regulations, how sustainable is this growth? And what does it mean for brokers?
Does the North-South divide still exist in the UK housing market?
What do the most expensive parts of the country reveal about shifting demand? And why is the Manchester housing market now outperforming many southern counterparts?
In this episode of the Barclays Mortgage Insider Podcast, host Phil Spencer is joined by Lucian Cook, Head of Research at Savills, and Ross Jones, founder of Home Financial and Evolve Commercial Finance, to explore how regional trends are redefining the UK housing, mortgage and buy-to-let markets.
In this episode of the Barclays Mortgage Insider Podcast, host Phil Spencer is joined by Lucian Cook, Head of Research at Savills, and Ross Jones, founder of Home Financial and Evolve Commercial Finance, to explore how regional trends are redefining the UK housing, mortgage and buy-to-let markets.
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