The Accord Mortgages Growth Series Podcast

In episode #125 of the Growth Series podcast's Mortgage Mentors series, Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director at Accord Mortgages, speaks with Louisa Sedgwick, Managing Director of Mortgages at Paragon Banking Group PLC, as she shares her inspiring rise from a Youth Training Scheme to senior roles at major institutions, offering a powerful story of resilience in a traditionally male-dominated field....

In episode #124 of the Growth Series podcast, host Iain Cunningham is joined by cybersecurity expert, Paul Lopez, to discuss the pressing issue of cybersecurity for small businesses, particularly mortgage brokers. Paul, who serves as the Director at The Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre, brings a unique perspective from his extensive background in law enforcement and cybercrime prevention. The episo...

In episode #123 of the Growth Series podcast's Mortgage Mentors series, Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director at Accord Mortgages, has an insightful conversation with Martin Reynolds, CEO of SimplyBiz. Martin shares his extensive knowledge and experience from over 30 years in the mortgage industry, exploring the challenges and opportunities brokers face today. He reflects on the pivotal moments in hi...

In episode #122 of the Growth Series podcast, host Kathy Clark is joined by Emma Tomes, Managing Director of The Mental Health People, and together, they explore the often-overlooked subject of mental health in high-pressure roles like mortgage brokering. Emma shares her personal journey into mental health advocacy following a family tragedy, which led her to create a supportive space for individu...

In episode #121 of the Growth Series podcast's Mortgage Mentors series, host Jeremy Duncombe speaks with Stephanie Sharman, Chief Executive of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries. With nearly three decades in the industry, Stephanie shares her personal journey from an admin role at Abbey Life to leading AMI, and how values like diversity, inclusion and sustainability have shaped her leaders...

In episode #120 of the Growth Series podcast, host Nicola Alvarez sits down with Chloe Timperley from the Green Finance Institute and Matt Coulson from Heron Financial to explore the rapidly evolving world of green mortgages.  They discuss the innovative certification initiative by the Green Finance Institute, designed to empower brokers with the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate the gre...

In this episode of the Growth Series podcast, host Iain Cunningham sits down with Joe Milton, Director of Training and Competence at Alexander Hall, to explore the transformative shift toward hybrid working in the mortgage industry, the importance of maintaining strong team connections and adapting mentoring strategies to suit a hybrid environment. Joe emphasises the value of in-office presence fo...

In episode #118 of the Growth Series podcast's Mortgage Mentors series, host Jeremy Duncombe interviews Danielle Moore, Operations Director at AE3 Media. With nearly two decades in the mortgage industry, Danielle has become a transformative leader in a traditionally male-dominated field. Her journey from studying history in Bristol to excelling in financial services and media offers valuable insig...

In this insightful episode of the Accord Growth Series podcast, Jeremy Duncombe sits down with Charles Roe from UK Finance and Rob Thomas Rob Thomas from the Intermediate Mortgage Lenders Association to explore the UK mortgage market's performance in 2024 and the outlook for 2025. The episode begins by examining how the market surpassed expectations, achieving £242 billion in outcomes due to stron...

Meet ballet dancer turned banking figurehead, Esther Dijkstra, Managing Director for Lloyds Banking Group as she joins us on the second episode of Mortgage Mentors, hosted by Jeremy Duncombe.  From Esther's humble beginnings in a Dutch village to becoming a global leader in the mortgage industry, this episode will take you through the pivotal milestones in Esther's career, exploring topics of resi...

In episode #115 of the Growth Series podcast, Ian Cunningham, Corporate Account Manager at Accord Mortgages, is joined by Business Development Managers at Accord Mortgages, Kathy Clark and Mike Houston, to discuss the evolving role of self-serve tools in the mortgage industry. They reflect on the challenges of 2024, including market volatility and affordability, and share their predictions for 202...

In this episode of the Growth Series podcast's Mortgage Mentors series, Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director at Accord Mortgages talks with Ben Thompson, Deputy CEO at Mortgage Advice Bureau, about his career journey, leadership philosophy and insights into the evolving mortgage industry. From overcoming early setbacks to becoming a leader in financial services, Ben shares how persistence and key me...

In this episode of the Growth Series podcast, Chantelle Wilson chats with Matthew Williams, Mortgage Consultant at London Money, about how brokers can build a strong local brand.   Matt shares how hosting weekly mortgage clinics at a local coffee shop and partnering with businesses like estate agents and solicitors has helped him become a trusted figure in Chelmsford. He highlights the importance...

In episode #112 of the Growth Series podcast, host Gurpreet Chahal sits down with Bob Singh, Director of Chess Mortgages, to discuss how TikTok has transformed his business. Known as the "Mortgage Maharaja," Bob shares how he overcame initial scepticism and leveraged TikTok to create a powerful personal brand that attracts diverse clients. From mastering the platform's live feature to balancing pe...

In episode #111 of the Growth Series podcast, Natalie Pater, Regional Account Manager at PMS is joined by Darren Polson, Head of Mortgage Operations at Aberdein Considine to discuss the secrets to crafting training plans that not only boost business growth but also nurture personal development in your team. Darren breaks down the essential elements of an effective training plan, from a personalise...

In episode #110 of the Growth Series podcast, Charlotte Bates and Natalie Wilcox, Directors of BatesWilcox, join our host Adam Parker, Accord BDM, to discuss how they've built a thriving mortgage broker firm by leveraging the power of apprenticeships and integrating fresh talent into their business by collaborating with companies that specialise in financial services apprenticeships. Charlotte and...

In episode 109 of the Growth Series podcast, Charlotte Bates and Natalie Wilcox, Directors of BatesWilcox, join our host Adam Parker, Accord BDM, to discuss effective recruitment strategies for brokers. The discussion covers how to navigate the competitive job market, defining recruitment USPs and leveraging technology to streamline the hiring process. Both brokers lean on their extensive experien...

In episode 108 of the Growth Series podcast, Gurpreet Chahal, Corporate Account Manager at Accord speaks with Paul Sherman, Mortgage Proposition Director at the Openwork Partnership, who shares insights on supporting vulnerable customers in the mortgage sector. The conversation explores how brokers can identify and address client needs, recognise various types of vulnerabilities, and build trust w...

In this episode of the Growth Series podcast, Corporate Account Manager Gurpreet Chahal is joined by Giles Smith, Technical Director at SDL Surveying and Simon Jackson, CEO at SDL Surveying, to discuss the critical role brokers play in supporting clients to retrofit homes, aiding the UK's journey towards net zero carbon emissions.  They explore the complexities of housing contributions to carbon e...

Welcome to another episode of Accord Mortgages Growth Series podcast, in episode #106 Gurpreet is joined by industry colleagues Paul Purewal from Coventry Building Society and John Samra from Just Mortgages. The discussion centres around the significance of names, personal identity and cultural heritage in the context of South Asian Heritage Month.  Paul and John share their personal stories about...

In this episode of the Accord Mortgages Growth Series podcast, host Gurpreet Chahal, Corporate Account Manager at Accord discusses the evolving mortgage market with Richard Howes, Director of Mortgages at Paradigm Mortgage Services, and Anthony Rose, CEO at LDN Finance.  They explore significant changes in the industry, from the impacts of COVID-19 and economic turmoil to fluctuating interest rate...

In the latest Accord Mortgages Growth Series podcast, Natalie Pater, Regional Key Account Manager for PMS interviews Jamie Lewis, Managing Director at Affinity Mortgages and Tim Atkinson, Managing Director at Mortgage Required. They discuss the evolution of their businesses, their individual journeys in the mortgage industry and the strategies they used to attract and retain talent while maintaini...

In episode 103 of the Growth Series podcast, Nicola Alvarez, Senior Manager Proposition Development at Accord Mortgages, speaks to Megha Srivastava, National Account Manager at Twenty7Tec, Rachel Edwards, Senior Policy Advisor at the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, and Dom Scott, Managing Director at Lifetime Connect, about the benefits of mentoring.

In episode 102 of the Growth Series podcast, Mike Houston, Business Development Manager at Accord Mortgages, speaks to Rob Chart, Mortgage and Protection Advisor at The Finance Planning Group, about client contact strategies and why they are so important.

In episode 101 of the Growth Series podcast, Jeremy Duncombe, Managing Director of Accord Mortgages, speaks to Kevin Roberts, Managing Director of L&G Mortgage Services, and Clare Beardmore, Director of L&G's Mortgage Club, about allyship and investing in women.