MSS Group, which is also the parent of Stonebridge mortgage network, will now support over 1,450 mortgage advisers across both Connect and Stonebridge. It has interests in surveying, valuations, mortgage services and adviser technology.

Connect said the substantial investment by MSS will enhance its financial strength and give it the ability to deliver greater scale and influence across the lending, insurance, and surveying sectors.

“This marks the next step in the evolution of Connect and will enhance our position as a major player in the specialist mortgage network market. The operations of both groups overlap without competing and by working together we will be able to secure additional benefits and operating efficiencies,” Liz Syms, chief executive at Connect, said.

“MSS already has extensive relationships with mortgage lenders as a surveying and valuations partner and we intend to extend the group’s reach in terms of aggregating mortgage lending and building deeper relationships with those lenders,” Rob Clifford, MSS Group’s chief commercial officer, said.