Connect for Intermediaries has joined the Society for Mortgage Professionals as an associate firm.

The specialist network will now be bound by the society’s eight core principles, including demonstrating integrity to customers; investing in people through diversity and inclusion; and funding ongoing training and professional development.

It also includes wider commitments such as putting in place a corporate social responsibility policy and adhering to transparent governance standards and processes.

Connect now also agree to use a customer charter to aid transparency, including terms of engagement, typical timescales, charges and providing clients with a clear feedback route. Becoming an associate firm provides Connect to review its existing customer charter and consult with other like-minded firms to establish good practice.

Connect for Intermediaries chief executive Liz Syms says: “Many of the core principles and ethics laid down by the SMP are principles that our brokers and we as a company live by already, so it was a natural fit to join the society.

“Membership will help demonstrate that we operate by the very highest professional standards, not only where are clients are concerned, but also towards our staff, our network members and to the wider society through our CSR policy. Our membership will build on our approach that a broker’s key role is to look after customers by providing the highest possible advice standards rather than just focusing on products.”