Just Mortgages has revealed there have been more female than male applicants for its broker academy places for the first time.

Sixty per cent of applicants for the brokerage firm’s latest broker academy were women, figures showed.

Each of Just Mortgages’ academies is often oversubscribed with over 1,000 applicants for the 20 available places, and in the past the overwhelming majority of applicants have typically been male.

However, the firm has stated that a new recruitment strategy targeting those outside of the industry by utilising social media and images that show clearly a more inclusive working environment have “struck a chord with women” who are looking to start a new career in financial services.

The number of successful female candidates increased by 180% in 2021 and is on course to more than double again by the end of 2022.

Head of talent acquisition and business support at Just Mortgages, Linsey Davies, said: “We work hard to create an environment within Just Mortgages where anyone can thrive and success is defined by the quality of the person and nothing else.

“For some time now the percentage of women applying for academy places has been increasing but this is the first time but we have had more female than male applicants and it is a significant sixty forty split.

“Looking back at previous years, just three out of ten applicants would be women which is why this is such a significant change. We are thrilled so many women now see financial services as a great career path and an environment where their potential can be realised.”

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