Just Mortgages will train 120 new advisers over the next 12 months at its broker academy.

The brokerage says its ten academies over the coming year will accommodate around twelve trainee brokers, who will be taught such skills as developing an understanding of sales, building rapport with customers and effective questioning to understand client’s needs.

Competition for places “is fierce with on average over 1,000 applications for each Just Mortgages’ academy”, says the firm.

Successful trainees without CeMap1 take a five-week course, the first two weeks of which are focused on achieving a CeMap1 qualification.

Those with CeMap1 will join for the final three weeks, which builds upon the qualification, to develop a further range of skills.

The course provides technology training and advice on how to use social media effectively to drive new business. It also gives guidance on protection measures for clients.

The broker firm has around 560 mortgage advisers working either as staff or on a self-employed basis.

Just Mortgages head of training Rodney Sloan says: “When we are recruiting for the academies, we don’t just look for experience in financial services, we also look at the skillset of a person and if these skills can translate to being a broker.

“The range of different experiences that those on the academies bring is really varied and everyone who joins brings a different perspective resulting in some great sessions.

“The training doesn’t end once the brokers have graduated.

“There is an experienced, dedicated trainer whose sole responsibility is to support the new brokers through a structured process as they transition from the academy, to delivering best advice.”