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.

The episode explores the dynamic ch...

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 episode highli...

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 his career that have sha...

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 individuals struggling with me...

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 leadership.

The ...

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 green mortga...

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 for new advisors to buil...

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 insights for brokers. 

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 strong purchase lending and...

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 resilience, adaptability, current mark...

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 2025. The discussion explores how self...

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 mentors shaped his succe...

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 of face-t...

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 personality with professionalism, Bob...

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 personalised induction process to an interim d...

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 Natalie share their innovative app...

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 experience to offer insights into retention...

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 with clients. Plus, Paul discusses t...

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 emissions,...