NRG Insights

The first working days of the year are often when people pause and take stock. What worked. What didn’t. And what they want this year to look like. In this Best Of episode of NRG Insights, we’ve brought together practical advice and honest reflections from across the financial services industry, focused on what actually matters as you head into a new year. Rather than predictions or trends, this e...

Careers in financial services rarely follow a straight line. In this Best Of episode of NRG Insights, we bring together standout moments from four conversations that show how people actually find their way in the industry — often by accident, necessity, or saying yes to the wrong job before it turns out to be the right one. Featuring Nick Hilton, Ashley Ilsen, David Weir, and Anastasia Ttofis, thi...

As 2025 comes to a close, the role of the Business Development Manager continues to change. Markets are tighter, expectations are higher, and relationships matter more than ever. In this special NRG Insights compilation, we look ahead to 2026 and break down what genuinely separates strong BDMs from the rest. This episode brings together insights from Jez Quinn, Dan Narwal, Andy Reid, and Will Cali...

Leadership in finance has changed. Titles matter less than trust. Process matters less than people. And the leaders who are actually performing are the ones who understand that managing numbers is easy compared to managing humans. In this special NRG Insights compilation , Marcus brings together  four conversations with leaders operating at the sharp end of specialist finance. Each guest shares pr...

Marcus sits down with Andrew Robinson, Founder of Arc & Co, to talk about how broking has changed, and why brokers who don’t adapt get left behind. Andrew started Arc & Co in 2007, grew it through some of the toughest market conditions in recent memory, and recently sold the business to FRP Advisory. His journey shows what it really takes to build and scale a brokerage when the market keep...

In this special compilation episode of NRG Insights, we explore the one thing that sits behind every successful lender, broker, and leader in financial services, people. Featuring moments from conversations with Chris Britto & Joe Eden (Bridgemore Capital), Charlie Gregory (Glenhawk), Sonia Mann (Roma Finance), and Grant Hendry (OSB Group), this episode dives into the realities of communicatio...

This week on NRG Insights, Marcus sits down with Danny Kiely, the new Head of Sales at Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB). Danny didn’t follow the usual route. No degree. No big break. He started in 2014 delivering post at Shawbrook Bank and worked his way through operations, underwriting, BDM roles and into leadership. Step by step. One job at a time. This episode is a proper look at what progression in...

In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus is joined by Chris Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Atelier, to unpack what it really takes for a lending business to stay ahead. Chris has built one of the UK’s most innovative specialist lenders, and in this conversation, he breaks down the patterns he’s seen across multiple financial cycles, the opportunities most lenders overlook, and what developers and b...

In this episode of NRG Insights , Marcus sits down with Joe Eden and Chris Britto , Co-Founders of Bridgemore Capital , to talk about what makes business partnerships work in finance and beyond. With backgrounds spanning mortgages, property investment, and specialist lending, Joe and Chris have built a brokerage that’s defined by communication, trust, and mutual respect.  In this episode... How to...

In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus sits down with Ashley Ilsen, CEO and Co-Founder of Magnet Capital, to unpack what developers, brokers, and even lenders often get wrong about development finance. Ashley shares how Magnet Capital carved out a strong position in a crowded field of over 240 short-term lenders by focusing on relationships, service, and real understanding of developers’ needs, n...

In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus is joined by Gregory Tarn, Managing Director at Avamore Capital, for a candid look behind the scenes of today’s specialist lending market.  From investment banking in Switzerland and London, to heading a small, agile team in mezzanine and second-charge lending, Gregory shares what it really takes to build, lead and adapt in a lending business that’s built fo...

In this episode of NRG Insights, we’re joined by Charlie Gregory, Business Development Manager at Glenhawk, to explore what really drives success in financial services, authenticity, adaptability, and genuine human connection. Charlie’s career has been anything but ordinary. From growing up between Paris and Japan, to starting in estate agency, and eventually finding his stride in bridging finance...

Sometimes taking a step back is the only way to move forward. In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus Nanson sits down with David Weir, National Account Manager at Hope Capital, to talk about what it really takes to change careers, grow fast, and find your place in financial services. David shares his journey from the construction industry to the world of bridging and specialist lending, including...

In this episode of NRG Insights , Marcus Nanson sits down with Stephen Baldwin , Managing Director of Credicus , to uncover what it really takes to grow a successful brokerage in today’s market. With over two decades in financial services, Stephen’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and lessons learned the hard way — from building a client base and taking the leap into self-employment, to s...

In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus Nanson sits down with Jez Quinn,  Head of Sales for the short-term finance division at West One Loans, to talk about what really makes a great Business Development Manager (BDM) in today’s financial services industry. Jez shares his journey from nearly taking over his family pub to building a 15+ year career in financial services, with roles at West Bromwich...

In this episode of NRG Insights, host Marcus Nanson sits down with Jourdan Rajwan, an entrepreneur and financial services leader whose unconventional career journey is packed with lessons for anyone in business, finance, or real estate. Jourdan shares how he went from studying history and politics to breaking into real estate, surviving the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis, and eventually p...

In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus speaks with Peter Beaumont, Director of Stamford Finance, about building a lender that stands out in today’s competitive development finance market. Peter shares his journey from being a property developer to running a privately funded lender, why trust and speed matter more than offering the cheapest rate, and how agility can be a lender’s biggest advantage...

In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus speaks with Jonathan Sealey, CEO of Hope Capital, about what it really takes to launch, grow, and lead a successful bridging finance business in the UK. Jonathan shares his career journey from the early days in property development and venture capital, through the challenges of the 2008 credit crunch, to founding Hope Capital in 2011. He talks about the high...

In this episode of The Leadership Sessions on NRG Insights, Marcus talks with Sonia Mann, Head of Sales at Roma Finance, about what it really takes to lead in today’s financial services industry. With 28 years’ experience in banking, specialist lending, and sales leadership, Sonia shares her journey from junior roles at Barclays to senior positions at NatWest and Roma Finance, and the lessons she’...

What does it really take to move from a sales role into leadership in financial services?  In this episode of The Leadership Sessions on NRG Insights, Marcus sits down with Paula Mercer, Sales Director at LendInvest, to talk about her career journey, the mentors who shaped it, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. With 17 years in financial services, Paula has gone from BDM roles to senior...

How do you prepare yourself for leadership before you’re given the title? In this episode of The Leadership Sessions, Marcus speaks with Adam Butler, Sales & Marketing Director at Avamore Capital, about his journey from financial adviser and broker to leading high-performing sales teams in specialist lending. With over a decade in specialist finance and experience at firms like Vida Home Loans...

In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus Nanson is joined by Andy Alvarez, National Intermediary Distribution Manager at Leeds Building Society, to discuss the realities of sales leadership in financial services. Andy shares his insights on leading sales teams, the challenges of moving from a top sales performer to a leadership role, and how to build a strong company culture that resonates with mod...

In this episode of The Leadership Sessions from NRG Insights, Marcus Nanson sits down with Jamie Pritchard, Managing Director at MS Lending Group, to explore what it really takes to move from a high-performing sales role into effective leadership. Drawing on over 25 years of experience in financial services, mortgage lending, and sales management, Jamie opens up about the realities of leadership i...

In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus kicks off our new series, The Leadership Sessions, where he speaks to the people building teams, leading from the front, and shaping the culture of financial services. This week, Marcus is joined by Abi Pickford, Intermediary Sales & Operations Director at Together. Abi’s worked across financial services for over a decade, moving from debt management to...

In this episode of NRG Insights, Marcus Nanson is joined by Dan Narwal, Business Development Manager at Together, to break down the real role of a BDM in specialist lending. Dan shares his full career journey — from working in mobile phone sales, to joining his family’s loan company, to underwriting, and then finding his place as a BDM. He offers candid insights into what the job really involves d...