An estimated 245 mortgage and protection qualified advisers joined the network in the first three months of the year, and a further 46 appointed representative firms and 337 advisers are in the application pipeline.

New firms joining have included Andrews Property Group which helped take the total of mortgage and protection advisers to more than 2,500.

Mortgage advisers at Andrews and other firms are also being supported to move into wealth advice.

The record first quarter for mortgage completions follows a 3% rise in total mortgage completions to £19bn last year despite the purchase market being shut for two months by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The last three months of 2020 were particularly strong and up 30% year-on-year.

John Cupis, managing director, mortgages and protection, at The Openwork Partnership, said: “The record first quarter for mortgage completions puts us on course for another strong year with the stamp duty holiday and Mortgage Guarantee Scheme providing a boost for business.

“The mortgage business at The Openwork Partnership is really benefiting from the growth in recruitment and the addition of new firms and advisers who are helping to drive expansion.”