The Mortgage Strategy Awards were held on 25 May last at Grosvenor House Hotel in London where the winners and highly commended individuals and firms were revealed.

Judging took place across the preceding months and below is an overview of the panels’ comments on why each winner was selected for the top accolade.

Best Broker for Short-term Lending

Sponsored by Precise Mortgages

WINNER: SPF Private Clients

So impressed were the judges with SPF Private Clients that it is worth quoting one of them in full: “[It] hits every criteria point with aplomb. The firm is well rounded, comprehensive, and knowledge and customer focused.” Another judge admired the way SPF had demonstrated a “process-driven” method, adding it was a clear expert in its field.

Highly Commended: Propp

Best Short-term Lender

WINNER: United Trust Bank

Smooth integration with the Land Registry was just one factor that prompted praise from our panel for the service provided by United Trust Bank. Other judges pointed out that UTB had upgraded its systems last year, making dealing with it straightforward, fast and effective — always something that will impress a room full of brokers!

Highly Commended: LendInvest

Best Broker for Protection

WINNER: Mortgage Advice Bureau

The An impressive submission was followed by a standout interview. It’s clear Mortgage Advice Bureau strives constantly to do better and is deemed a force to be reckoned with in the protection space. Its dedication to looking after customers and working for their  benefit cemented its place at the top. Judges were also impressed by the firm’s investment in the development of new and existing advisers, and how it communicated with customers.

Best Specialist Broker/Distributor

Sponsored by Kent Reliance for Intermediaries

WINNER: Brightstar Group

Brightstar has won this category for nine consecutive years; an outstanding achievement. Judges praised its “fantastic submission and exemplary pitch”, adding it had built a strong corporate culture that put customers and colleagues at the heart of all its decisions. They admired the company’s Covid response, sharing best practice across the industry

Highly Commended: Positive Lending

Best Broker for Equity Release

WINNER: StepChange Financial Solutions

The judges were very impressed with the progress made by StepChange. The firm has improved all areas of the business. This includes investing in the front end, knowledge of its clients and investment in staff. It has a clear understanding of the FCA’s Consumer Duty and what may be coming down the track. The firm is also very strong in looking after vulnerable clients. One judge said they would be happy for their family to be advised by StepChange. It has also put £150,000 into charity work.

Best Network up to 300 ARs

WINNER: Connect for Intermediaries

“A unique offering with its strongly differentiated business model,” said one judge of Connect for Intermediaries. Furthermore, it “nails the use of technology to support both advisers and customers”. Another judge said the head of this impressive operation was a role model for the industry.

Highly Commended: The Finance Planning Group

Best Network 300+ ARs

WINNER: PRIMIS Mortgage Network

The judges found both the culture of PRIMIS Mortgage Network and the way it looked after its people were the selling points for its ARs. The right outcome for the consumer is always at the heart of the business and it has invested heavily in its technology offering. Overall, our panel deemed this network “exemplary”.

Best Equity Release/Lifetime Lender

WINNER: LiveMore Capital

The panel said LiveMore Capital offered a great proposition and was bringing the equity release sector “into the modern world”. Its direct access to underwriters stood out for the judges. Also, although the firm is relatively new to the market, it has made great strides in that time and is expected to continue its growth in the sector.

Best Technology Provider

WINNER: Twenty7Tec

The judges were impressed not only with what they considered one of the best technology-based solutions on the market, but with the way Twenty7Tec regularly published useful information. “They are thought leaders in this area,” one judge remarked.

Highly Commended: One Mortgage System

Best Mortgage Administrator

Sponsored by Pepper Money

WINNER: Erin Cornthwaite, Nouveau Financial

The judges were keen to point out that every candidate in this category was great in different ways, while all showed a genuine passion and commitment to the industry. Erin stood out for her strong client focus and high level of knowledge, demonstrated by her contribution to the business. In addition, she was “conscious of how frequently customers want to stay in contact, and is unafraid to challenge brokers”, observed one judge.

Best Lender for Technology

WINNER: Skipton Building Society for Intermediaries

Skipton was praised for its four-hour case turnaround time, in particular, but the judges were also eager to point out its efforts in marketing — specifically its podcasts and use of social media. “Skipton really wanted to win this award and everything it’s done backs this up,” commented one member of the panel.

Best Broker for Digital Innovation

Sponsored by Barclays

WINNER: Fluent Money

The judges highlighted Fluent Money’s successful app launch, which provided a better customer outcome, they said, “as well as making the firm’s systems more resilient”. One judge enthused over the company’s corporate social responsibility policy, giving even more weight to this choice of winner.

Highly Commended: The Mortgage Mum

Best BDM Team 

WINNER: HSBC UK

HSBC UK proved to be a real success story in 2021, the judges said, actively adding to its BDM team and demonstrating its clear commitment to the intermediary market. This category was closely contested by all the names on the shortlist, but the judges decided HSBC UK deserved the top spot because of its exceptional service. 

Best Broker for Buy-to-Let

Sponsored by Landbay

WINNER: The Buy to Let Broker

The Buy to Let Broker demonstrated both its passion for the customer and the strength of its general and market-specific knowledge. According to the judges, although the competition was extremely tough in this category the winner answered the questions impeccably and proved how much it cared about delivering the best for its clients.

Highly Commended: Mortgages for Business

Best Second Charge Broker

WINNER: Believe Loans

Believe Loans showed the panel how it put both staff and customers at the heart of the business. It also demonstrated a focus on educating consumers as well as the industry about the second charge market. It had a solid plan to help clients improve their energy efficiency and meet their green ambitions. The emphasis on technology shone through, while options were maintained for less tech-savvy customers.

Best Second Charge Lender

WINNER: West One Loans

The judges praised West One Loans’ “slick and flexible approach” to lending, along with its effective training initiatives for brokers — something the panel deemed of high importance in this sector. “West One Loans is maturing into quite a player in the market, beyond products,” was one notable comment.

Highly Commended: United Trust Bank

Best Specialist Lender 

WINNER: Kent Reliance for Intermediaries

Judges called Kent Reliance the leader in the specialist buy-to-let market and the go-to for non-vanilla products. It has innovative offerings and excellent service while taking a “more human” approach to underwriting. This specialist lender continues to demonstrate its commitment to the intermediary market and was a standout winner in this category, the judges said.

Best Mortgage Club

Sponsored by Skipton Building Society for Intermediaries

WINNER: PMS

In this closely contested category, the judges had a difficult task to pick a winner. Ultimately, PMS triumphed for its efforts to drive real change in the industry. It demonstrated a keen desire to improve things and highlighted the need for a collective effort. Judges praised initiatives to support members and mentioned PMS’s focus on diversity and inclusion. The firm’s impressive net promoter score and success in growing market share also stood out.

Highly Commended: Legal & General Mortgage Club

Best Mortgage Protection Provider

WINNER: Legal & General

“The standout provider at the moment,” said one judge of Legal & General, to a room full of nods. This is a firm that does not rest on its laurels, the panel agreed. It appears to be committed to improving the lot of both clients and employees, through its behaviour and its business outcomes.

Best But-to-Let Lender 

WINNER: Landbay

The judges were impressed by Landbay’s proposition and ethos, including its mental health approach. They said it was leading the way on diversity and inclusion in the sector. It had proved it made the wellbeing of colleagues a priority through its internal initiatives. In addition, Landbay had a truly innovative offering and top-class green finance options, while demonstrating it really cared about the intermediary market.

Best Mortgage Broker (less than 8 advisers)

WINNER: InTouch Financial Advice

InTouch Financial Advice always puts the customer first, said one judge, “and has a great mentality and strategy regarding customer retention”. What’s more, it focuses on lender spread, not just the price, which the judges were impressed enough to mention multiple times.

Highly Commended: Watts Mortgage & Wealth Management

Best Large Loan Lender

Sponsored by The Openwork Partnership

WINNER: Bank of Ireland for Intermediaries

Bank of Ireland for Intermediaries “understands the space, knows what it’s trying to be and has the numbers to back this up”, said one impressed judge. Another admired how the lender’s application assessment methods “make things work where other lenders won’t”. This behaviour should be rewarded, continued the judge. Which is exactly what happened.

Best Mortgage Broker (8 to 50 advisers)

Sponsored by Atom Bank

WINNER: Coreco

Coreco showed impressive strategic thinking across all areas and gave substantial proof of this, the panel said. Its newsletters, blogs and other educational content were praised for being aimed at the whole industry rather than just in house. One judge commented that Coreco “recognises that the industry can be a force for good”.

Highly Commended: Create Finance

Best Mortgage Lender

Sponsored by Mortgage Advice Bureau

WINNER: Halifax Intermediaries

This was another hotly contended category but Halifax Intermediaries stood out for its solid, reliable service and exceptional intermediary market support. The judges said it had delivered an “all-round super” proposition with a clear ESG agenda and a focus on staff wellbeing. There was also mention of its efforts on product transfer and out-of-hours underwriting. Overall, the judges said the winner ticked every box.

Best Mortgage Broker (50 or more advisers)

WINNER: Fluent Money

The judges said Fluent Money had built a great business that was constantly evolving. It demonstrated a really positive culture for employees, providing mental health support and ensuring those working from home had the best set-up. Its use of technology to support the customer journey was praised, as was the help offered for disenfranchised customers.

Mortgage Personality of the Year

Sponsored by Bank of Ireland for Intermediaries

WINNER: Clare Jupp

As group director of people development at Brightstar Group, Clare Jupp was described by the judges as an inspiration to the younger generation and to those coming into the industry, whom she always welcomes with open arms, offering support and guidance. Clare was nominated by many members of our panel for making a big difference in the industry and being a role model for women, particularly through her work with the Women in Finance Charter. She was summed up as “a truly passionate person doing great work to better the mortgage market”. A truly worthy winner.

Outstanding Contribution Award

Sponsored by HSBC UK

WINNER: Bob Young

This year’s Outstanding Contribution Award goes to an individual who has enjoyed a varied career in both the mortgage and property sectors — one that spans 48 years. Bob Young is known across the industry for his calm, professional approach. Never one to seek the limelight and put himself above his business, he places much value in relationships with all parts of the mortgage chain and recognises the part we all have to play in making mortgages happen for our customers. Bob founded Fleet Mortgages in 2014, leading it to a turnover of almost £1bn per year.