With only one day left until the nomination deadline, we talked to some of our winners from last year to hear about how they found the nomination process, what impact winning has had on them and what advice they would give to someone thinking of entering.
To find out more about the award process, follow this link: https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/events/the-specialist-lending-event/?tsle2026source=testimonials
The deadline for nominations is Friday 20 February.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I started in the industry in 1998 as a mortgage broker for Black Horse Estate Agencies, where I spent five years as a broker and then a trainer. I moved into regional management in 2003 and decided to become a business development manager (BDM) just as the mortgage world went pop in 2008 – talk about timing! I’ve worked for a lender ever since, joining OSB Group in 2017 as head of sales, so I have over 25 years of mortgage experience through sales and distribution.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Really straightforward, to be honest. Being nominated wasn’t something I had planned for, but once I heard I had been, I was delighted even to have been considered and very humbled to have been nominated.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
To start with it was a surprise, particularly as I don’t tend to be one to shout about my experience and the work I do, but to win the award was a real highlight of my career and one I’m very proud to have won on behalf of all the teams that support me at OSB Group.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Simply, go for it. You’ve nothing to lose and it does make you reflect on the achievements you have put in over the previous year – plus the trophy looks great as a backdrop to any video meetings you are doing!
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I fell into the mortgage and finance industry quite spontaneously. At sixth form, I was studying biology, economics and business, alongside completing an LIBF Finance Diploma, and originally had plans to go to university. However, the pandemic changed a lot of things, and I decided I wanted to go straight into a real-world role instead. I applied for a summer placement at Brightstar, absolutely loved it, and never looked back.
What started as a temporary opportunity quickly turned into a genuine passion. I loved the pace, the variety, and the challenge, and over time I became particularly drawn to the specialist and commercial side of lending. I now work as a commercial finance broker, helping clients structure and secure funding to support their business growth, property investments, and long-term ambitions. Every deal is different, and I thrive on the complexity and problem-solving that comes with it.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Honestly, the nomination process was a really positive experience. It gave me a chance to properly reflect on my journey so far, how much I’ve learned, and what I’ve achieved in a relatively short space of time.
When you’re working day to day, you don’t often stop to acknowledge progress, and it was also incredibly humbling to be nominated in the first place. The specialist lending industry is full of talented people, so just being recognised among them already felt like a huge achievement.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
Winning the Rising Star award has been really nice (as would winning anything be!). On a personal level, it’s given me a huge confidence boost and reassurance that I’m on the right path. Imposter syndrome is very real in this industry – especially being young and often the youngest in the room – so having that recognition has been incredibly validating.
Professionally, it has helped strengthen my credibility with both clients and lenders. It’s opened doors, sparked new conversations, and given me even more motivation to keep pushing myself. Most importantly, it’s reinforced why I love what I do, helping people achieve things they never thought possible through finance.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Even if you don’t think you’re ‘ready’, you don’t need to be perfect or have decades of experience. If you’re passionate, hardworking, and genuinely care about what you do, I am sure to the judges that will shine through.
Regardless of the outcome, it’s an incredibly positive experience and a great way to build confidence, profile, and connections within the industry.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
My route into the mortgage industry wasn’t planned, but it’s turned into a career I’m incredibly passionate about. I began in estate agency as a trainee negotiator and progressed to residential sales manager within three years.
During that time, I loved working with people and guiding them through major life decisions, but what really caught my interest was the mortgage side of the journey. Booking clients in for mortgage appointments showed me just how important the right advice is in achieving a successful purchase.
Surrounded by family members already working in mortgages – including my mum, who is a mortgage adviser – I became fascinated by the problem-solving, structure, and customer focus behind every case. That curiosity led me to Metro Bank in 2022, where I joined the broker help desk. After 18 months of supporting brokers, I was promoted to telephone BDM. Today, I work closely with intermediaries to solve complex scenarios and build strong relationships while helping deliver the best possible outcomes for customers.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
It was very positive. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on my success during my career so far. In a fast-paced role, it is easy to move to the next challenge without reflecting on your achievements; putting my nomination together really gave me the time to reflect on the impact I have made.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
Winning the Rising Star award at the 2025 British Specialist Lending Awards has been incredibly motivating. It’s a proud moment of recognition for the hard work I’ve put in over the past few years, and also represents the support of my colleagues.
The award has given me confidence in my attitude. I am approachable, knowledgeable, and focused on education and customer outcomes. It has reinforced my desire to keep pushing myself and developing my skills, while contributing positively to the industry. Importantly, it also shines a light on the fantastic work being done by the wider Metro Bank mortgage team, which I’m proud to be part of.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
My biggest piece of advice would be to be authentic. Don’t underestimate the impact you’re making day to day, and don’t be afraid to talk about it. The judges want to hear about your journey, passion, and how you make a difference.
Take the time to reflect on what you’ve achieved, especially where you’ve gone above and beyond to helped others succeed. Be specific with real examples and let your enthusiasm come through. Entering the awards is a great opportunity to recognise your own growth and the support of the people around you. You may surprise yourself with how far you’ve come.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I have over 30 years’ experience within the financial services sector, the majority gained in the UK mortgage market, having held senior sales and distribution roles with a number of lenders. As director of mortgage distribution at Metro Bank, I have overall responsibility for both the intermediary and direct arms of the mortgage business.
I entered the mortgage industry completely by accident, starting my career on a lender’s broker help desk, and progressed from there. I didn’t set out with a long-term plan to work in mortgages, and it felt like a temporary step rather than a career move at the time. What changed was the realisation that this is an industry where you can genuinely make a difference.
I was drawn in by the complexity of the market, the pace of change, and the fact that every case is different. The problem-solving aspect, combined with the impact on people’s lives and businesses, quickly made it far more interesting than I’d expected.
Along the way one opportunity has led to another, and before I knew it, I was hooked. What started by accident turned into a career because I found an industry that I love and one that rewards curiosity, resilience, and relationships – and that’s what’s kept me here, along with some amazing friendships that have been made along the way.
How did you find the nomination process like for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
The nomination process is straight forward, but you do need confidence in you and your business and your achievements over the past 12 months, as you seek votes to ensure you make the top three.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
Winning this award has been incredibly rewarding on both a personal and professional level. Personally, it prompted a real moment of reflection. The recognition gave me confidence that the standards I set for myself, and the values I try to lead by, genuinely make a difference. It reinforced the importance of resilience, consistency, and staying true to a long-term vision, even in a challenging and fast-moving market.
Professionally, the impact has been significant. The award has helped strengthen my credibility both internally and externally, opening up new conversations with peers, partners, and stakeholders across the industry. It has also shone a light on the wider team and the collaborative effort behind the success, which I’m particularly proud of. Being recognised really encourages us as team to maintain momentum, while delivering both innovation and change, which truly motivates us to continue pushing standards higher for customers and intermediaries alike.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Quite simply, go for it – don’t underestimate your story, be authentic in your submission and show how your approach improved customer experience, supported brokers and added real value to the market. Also, involve your team in the process. The strongest submissions are rarely about one individual; they reflect culture, collaboration, and shared purpose.
Even if you don’t win, the process itself is invaluable – it encourages reflection, sharpens your narrative, and highlights what you’re doing well. And if you do win, the recognition can be genuinely transformative and massively enjoyable – trust me on that one!
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I’m a science graduate who got into finance when I took on the role of being the biology society’s treasurer. From there, I looked for jobs in the finance industry and took on my first role at Sirius as a case manager for high-volume brokers, which has now led me to being a senior case manager for a range of case types.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
The process was smooth and clear throughout. The award gave me confidence in the knowledge and experience I have, as well as professionally highlighting my work among peers in the industry.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
To be confident and yourself throughout the process as that matters as much as the knowledge you have within the industry.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I’m one of the rare few who actually went out of my way to get into the mortgage industry. While working a boring back-office job and applying for my first mortgage, I was asked to go into the local Halifax branch for a first-time buyer interview.
Having been fascinated by the adviser’s job – getting to talk to people about buying a home all day – I spent the entire meeting quizzing him on his job and how he got it, then left the meeting and immediately wrote to every local bank and building society asking for a job.
C&G (now Lloyds) replied with a vacancy that I applied for, so I was soon doing the same job as that Halifax adviser I was so envious of. From there, I spent many years working through the industry, for lenders, distributers, and advisory firms before getting to the point I was able to launch Quantum Mortgages.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
What was refreshing about this process was the interview with industry experts. Rather than the usual clammer for votes or behind-the-scenes voting with no transparency, the opportunity to discuss the job we have done with people who understand the pressures of running a specialist business was really enjoyable.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
Humbling is probably the most appropriate word. To be recognised by peers who understand the market was a huge validation for myself and our team. It gives you the motivation to keep going.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Speaking as someone who never previously entered awards and preferred to stay out of the limelight, I would recommend giving it a go. Even you if are not shortlisted, it gives an opportunity to reflect on the work you have done and what you could have done better.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
My career started far from property – I spent seven years working in a coffee factory. In my final year there, I began working part-time as a financial adviser, becoming a mortgage adviser in 1990 and spending the next 25 years building my industry knowledge.
Over time, it became clear the broker offering could be better, which led to the idea for SortRefer in 2007 and its launch in 2009. That journey has since grown into Sort Group, focused on improving the conveyancing process for everyone involved.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
It was a really positive experience and a great opportunity to reflect on what we’ve achieved as a business over the past year.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
It was a very proud moment. It’s hugely rewarding to see the work we’re doing to improve the conveyancing journey that is recognised by the industry and by my teams. Since the win, it’s definitely strengthened our credibility and opened up new conversations and opportunities, which is something I’m honing this year.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Go for it. Be honest about your achievements, share real examples and don’t be afraid to talk about the impact you’re making – not just for your business, but for the wider industry.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I have worked in the mortgage industry since 2013. I started as a loans executive and worked my way up to underwriting manager for short-term lending, before joining MT Finance in December 2020 to set up and manage the regulated bridging underwriting department. I was appointed head of lending for bridging in January 2023 before my most recent promotion in March 2025.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
I was nominated for the Business Leader: Bridging Lender award at the BSLAs in 2025 and found the whole process to be very transparent. I liked the fact that there were face-to-face interviews, as this gave me the opportunity to properly tell my story and articulate what I have achieved. I feel very honoured to have won the award – it helped to improve my recognition within the bridging sector as well as to shine a light on my role and what MT Finance does as a lender.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
If anyone is considering entering this year, then my advice would be to just go for it. I know how daunting it can be, but you have to put yourself out there to achieve things, even if you don’t think you have a chance. You never know – you may end up being announced as the winner.
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