Foundation Home Loans has hired a range of staff across its underwriting, new business and sales teams to cope with an “anticipated busy first quarter” ahead of the end of the stamp duty holiday.

The intermediary-only specialist lender has promoted two internal business development managers, David Wheatley and Patrick Ogrigri, to become regional account managers this month. Wheatley, in London and Ogrigri in the South Central area, will work with intermediaries in those regions.

The Bracknell-based business also promoted Sarah Wade to head of marketing in January, previously she filled the role on an interim contract basis.

Also, this month the firm says it has hired seven new experienced underwriters, and adds that over the past few months several new underwriting assistants, processing team members and completions staff have been employed.

The lender also hired two new internal business development managers and a new sales support team member in January.

The range of new recruitment means that the total headcount at the business in January is 17 per cent higher compared to the same period last year.

Foundation Home Loans commercial director George Gee says: “The next couple of months will undoubtedly be busy from a completions perspective as we work to ensure as many cases as possible can complete before the stamp duty deadline, but we certainly don’t view this as a temporary arrangement.”

Gee adds that because 2020 was a “highly successful year” for the business, the additional staff will be needed right through 2021.

He says: “It’s why we’ve also increased the numbers and experience within our underwriting and sales team to support the ongoing demand that advisers are seeing in the specialist residential and buy-to-let sectors.”