In episode #125 of the Growth Series podcast’s Mortgage Mentors series, Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director at Accord Mortgages, speaks with Louisa Sedgwick, Managing Director of Mortgages at Paragon Banking Group PLC, as she shares her inspiring rise from a Youth Training Scheme to senior roles at major institutions, offering a powerful story of resilience in a traditionally male-dominated field. The episode explores the dynamic changes within the mortgage industry, emphasising the role of techn...
Jun 17, 2025•28 min•Season 1Ep. 125
In episode #124 of the Growth Series podcast, host Iain Cunningham is joined by cybersecurity expert, Paul Lopez, to discuss the pressing issue of cybersecurity for small businesses, particularly mortgage brokers. Paul, who serves as the Director at The Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre, brings a unique perspective from his extensive background in law enforcement and cybercrime prevention. The episode highlights the collaborative efforts between various sectors to enhance cyber resilience, emphasi...
May 23, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 124
In episode #123 of the Growth Series podcast’s Mortgage Mentors series, Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director at Accord Mortgages, has an insightful conversation with Martin Reynolds, CEO of SimplyBiz. Martin shares his extensive knowledge and experience from over 30 years in the mortgage industry, exploring the challenges and opportunities brokers face today. He reflects on the pivotal moments in his career that have shaped his leadership style and discusses the importance of adaptability in navig...
Apr 30, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 123
In episode #122 of the Growth Series podcast, host Kathy Clark is joined by Emma Tomes, Managing Director of The Mental Health People, and together, they explore the often-overlooked subject of mental health in high-pressure roles like mortgage brokering. Emma shares her personal journey into mental health advocacy following a family tragedy, which led her to create a supportive space for individuals struggling with mental health. Listeners will learn about the concept of a "stress container" an...
Apr 30, 2025•25 min•Season 1Ep. 122
In episode #121 of the Growth Series podcast’s Mortgage Mentors series, host Jeremy Duncombe speaks with Stephanie Sharman, Chief Executive of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries. With nearly three decades in the industry, Stephanie shares her personal journey from an admin role at Abbey Life to leading AMI, and how values like diversity, inclusion and sustainability have shaped her leadership. The conversation with Steph explores the emotional impact of homeownership, the role of mortgag...
Apr 22, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 121
In episode #120 of the Growth Series podcast, host Nicola Alvarez sits down with Chloe Timperley from the Green Finance Institute and Matt Coulson from Heron Financial to explore the rapidly evolving world of green mortgages. They discuss the innovative certification initiative by the Green Finance Institute, designed to empower brokers with the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate the green mortgage market. Chloe shares how this certification is setting a new standard in the industry, wh...
Apr 01, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 120
In this episode of the Growth Series podcast, host Iain Cunningham sits down with Joe Milton, Director of Training and Competence at Alexander Hall, to explore the transformative shift toward hybrid working in the mortgage industry, the importance of maintaining strong team connections and adapting mentoring strategies to suit a hybrid environment. Joe emphasises the value of in-office presence for new advisors to build skills and networks, while also recognising the flexibility needed for seaso...
Mar 04, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 119
In episode #118 of the Growth Series podcast’s Mortgage Mentors series, host Jeremy Duncombe interviews Danielle Moore, Operations Director at AE3 Media. With nearly two decades in the mortgage industry, Danielle has become a transformative leader in a traditionally male-dominated field. Her journey from studying history in Bristol to excelling in financial services and media offers valuable insights for brokers. Danielle discusses strategies for managing industry relationships, emphasising hone...
Feb 25, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 118
In this insightful episode of the Accord Growth Series podcast, Jeremy Duncombe sits down with Charles Roe from UK Finance and Rob Thomas Rob Thomas from the Intermediate Mortgage Lenders Association to explore the UK mortgage market's performance in 2024 and the outlook for 2025. The episode begins by examining how the market surpassed expectations, achieving £242 billion in outcomes due to strong purchase lending and buy-to-let activity. As interest rates eased and economic conditions improved...
Feb 19, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 117
Meet ballet dancer turned banking figurehead, Esther Dijkstra, Managing Director for Lloyds Banking Group as she joins us on the second episode of Mortgage Mentors, hosted by Jeremy Duncombe. From Esther’s humble beginnings in a Dutch village to becoming a global leader in the mortgage industry, this episode will take you through the pivotal milestones in Esther’s career, exploring topics of resilience, adaptability, current market insights and more. Perhaps most interesting is the personal tone...
Jan 28, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 116
In episode #115 of the Growth Series podcast, Ian Cunningham, Corporate Account Manager at Accord Mortgages, is joined by Business Development Managers at Accord Mortgages, Kathy Clark and Mike Houston, to discuss the evolving role of self-serve tools in the mortgage industry. They reflect on the challenges of 2024, including market volatility and affordability, and share their predictions for 2025. The discussion explores how self-serve solutions can complement BDM support to help brokers work ...
Jan 15, 2025•34 min•Season 1Ep. 115
In this episode of the Growth Series podcast’s Mortgage Mentors series, Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director at Accord Mortgages talks with Ben Thompson, Deputy CEO at Mortgage Advice Bureau, about his career journey, leadership philosophy and insights into the evolving mortgage industry. From overcoming early setbacks to becoming a leader in financial services, Ben shares how persistence and key mentors shaped his success. The discussion explores current challenges for brokers, including regulato...
Dec 20, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 114
In this episode of the Growth Series podcast, Chantelle Wilson chats with Matthew Williams, Mortgage Consultant at London Money, about how brokers can build a strong local brand. Matt shares how hosting weekly mortgage clinics at a local coffee shop and partnering with businesses like estate agents and solicitors has helped him become a trusted figure in Chelmsford. He highlights the importance of face-to-face interactions, social media engagement, and positive client reviews in building credibi...
Dec 13, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 113
In episode #112 of the Growth Series podcast, host Gurpreet Chahal sits down with Bob Singh, Director of Chess Mortgages, to discuss how TikTok has transformed his business. Known as the "Mortgage Maharaja," Bob shares how he overcame initial scepticism and leveraged TikTok to create a powerful personal brand that attracts diverse clients. From mastering the platform’s live feature to balancing personality with professionalism, Bob provides actionable insights that any broker can adopt to grow t...
Dec 02, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 112
In episode #111 of the Growth Series podcast, Natalie Pater, Regional Account Manager at PMS is joined by Darren Polson, Head of Mortgage Operations at Aberdein Considine to discuss the secrets to crafting training plans that not only boost business growth but also nurture personal development in your team. Darren breaks down the essential elements of an effective training plan, from a personalised induction process to an interim development period with targeted support and the vital role of ong...
Nov 07, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 111
In episode #110 of the Growth Series podcast, Charlotte Bates and Natalie Wilcox, Directors of BatesWilcox, join our host Adam Parker, Accord BDM, to discuss how they’ve built a thriving mortgage broker firm by leveraging the power of apprenticeships and integrating fresh talent into their business by collaborating with companies that specialise in financial services apprenticeships. Charlotte and Natalie share their innovative approach, emphasising the value of personality and communication ski...
Sep 10, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 110
In episode 109 of the Growth Series podcast, Charlotte Bates and Natalie Wilcox, Directors of BatesWilcox, join our host Adam Parker, Accord BDM, to discuss effective recruitment strategies for brokers. The discussion covers how to navigate the competitive job market, defining recruitment USPs and leveraging technology to streamline the hiring process. Both brokers lean on their extensive experience to offer insights into retention strategies and the importance of creating a positive work enviro...
Sep 05, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 109
In episode 108 of the Growth Series podcast, Gurpreet Chahal, Corporate Account Manager at Accord speaks with Paul Sherman, Mortgage Proposition Director at the Openwork Partnership, who shares insights on supporting vulnerable customers in the mortgage sector. The conversation explores how brokers can identify and address client needs, recognise various types of vulnerabilities, and build trust with clients. Plus, Paul discusses the comprehensive training and support initiatives by the Openwork...
Aug 15, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 108
In this episode of the Growth Series podcast, Corporate Account Manager Gurpreet Chahal is joined by Giles Smith, Technical Director at SDL Surveying and Simon Jackson, CEO at SDL Surveying, to discuss the critical role brokers play in supporting clients to retrofit homes, aiding the UK's journey towards net zero carbon emissions. They explore the complexities of housing contributions to carbon emissions, the need for large-scale retrofitting, the challenges presented by the UK’s old housing sto...
Aug 01, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 107
Welcome to another episode of Accord Mortgages Growth Series podcast, in episode #106 Gurpreet is joined by industry colleagues Paul Purewal from Coventry Building Society and John Samra from Just Mortgages. The discussion centres around the significance of names, personal identity and cultural heritage in the context of South Asian Heritage Month. Paul and John share their personal stories about using more westernised names to fit in and how this has impacted their professional lives. They expl...
Jul 18, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 106
In this episode of the Accord Mortgages Growth Series podcast, host Gurpreet Chahal, Corporate Account Manager at Accord discusses the evolving mortgage market with Richard Howes, Director of Mortgages at Paradigm Mortgage Services, and Anthony Rose, CEO at LDN Finance. They explore significant changes in the industry, from the impacts of COVID-19 and economic turmoil to fluctuating interest rates and the crucial role of brokers in providing tailored advice. The discussion covers strategies for ...
Jul 11, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 105
In the latest Accord Mortgages Growth Series podcast, Natalie Pater, Regional Key Account Manager for PMS interviews Jamie Lewis, Managing Director at Affinity Mortgages and Tim Atkinson, Managing Director at Mortgage Required. They discuss the evolution of their businesses, their individual journeys in the mortgage industry and the strategies they used to attract and retain talent while maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. The conversation also touches on the challenges of tran...
Jun 20, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 104
In episode 103 of the Growth Series podcast, Nicola Alvarez, Senior Manager Proposition Development at Accord Mortgages, speaks to Megha Srivastava, National Account Manager at Twenty7Tec, Rachel Edwards, Senior Policy Advisor at the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, and Dom Scott, Managing Director at Lifetime Connect, about the benefits of mentoring.
Jun 06, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 103
In episode 102 of the Growth Series podcast, Mike Houston, Business Development Manager at Accord Mortgages, speaks to Rob Chart, Mortgage and Protection Advisor at The Finance Planning Group, about client contact strategies and why they are so important.
May 20, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 102
In episode 101 of the Growth Series podcast, Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director of Accord Mortgages, speaks to Kevin Roberts, Managing Director of L&G Mortgage Services, and Clare Beardmore, Director of L&G’s Mortgage Club, about allyship and investing in women.
May 02, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 101
In episode 100 of the Growth Series podcast, Kathy Clark, Business Development Manager at Accord Mortgages, speaks to Lea Karasavvas, Managing Director at Prolific Mortgage Finance, about first-time buyers, the difficulties they face and how brokers can help this particular group.
Apr 11, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 100
In episode 99 of the Growth Series podcast, Stephanie Charman, Strategic Relationships Director at Sesame Bankhall Group, speaks to Richard Danna, Co-Founder of Tembomoney about intergenerational lending.
Mar 21, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 99
In episode 98 of the Growth Series podcast, Gurpreet Chahal, Corporate Account Manager at Accord Mortgages, is joined by Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI), and Nick Piper, Senior Manager, Governance and Strategy at Accord Mortgages, to discuss the implementation and ongoing impact of Consumer Duty.
Mar 11, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 98
In episode 97 of the Growth Series podcast, Gurpreet Chahal, Corporate Account Manager at Accord Mortgages, speaks to Giles Smith, Technical Director at SDL Surveying, about what’s in store for the housing market this year.
Feb 29, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 97
In episode 96 of this two part Growth Series podcast, Jeremy Duncombe,Managing Director at Accord Mortgages, speaks with Rob Thomas, Principal Researcher at IMLA, and Charles Roe, Director of Mortgages at UK Finance, about what’s in store for the mortgage market in 2024.
Feb 19, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 96
