Rising Star: Calum Waite, Funding 365

What does your role entail and how long have you been doing it?

At Funding 365, the underwriters are the sole point of contact to the introducer or borrower from the initial enquiry through to completion and beyond. Primarily, I critically analyse the credit worthiness of a loan and process the application, but I also work to build relationships with our partners and have been doing so for three years.

What attracted you to working in the property finance sector?

I hold a keen interest in both property and finance probably as a result of the family business – my mum is a property professional and so from a young age I have lived countless refurbishment projects.

What were you doing in the five years before starting here?

I was working on building sites, before travelling around Asia, and then three years of accruing student debt while gaining a degree in business economics.

What personal skill is most valuable in doing your job?

Remaining calm under pressure is vital when you are working at a fast-paced bridging lender where borrowers often need funds yesterday.

What personal skill would you most like to improve on?

I am always looking to improve as an underwriter and better my credit and industry knowledge, as well as focusing on training and guiding the next generation of skilled underwriters here.

What is the most interesting property deal/case you’ve been involved in?

It’s very exciting to work on complex seven figure transactions for ultra high net worth clients that complete in a matter of a few days, but mostly I enjoy working with repeat borrowers and watching their businesses flourish.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

Ideally, I’d like to be on a beach in a hammock with a mojito in one hand and a guitar in the other. In reality, I might not have reached retirement just yet and will have to settle for running the best bridging lender in the country.

If present-day you could go back in time and tell yourself something five years ago, what would it be?

I would tell myself to make the most of the last long summer holidays before real life begins.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve tackled so far in your career?

Refining the new criteria and making sure we respond to broker feedback to ensure we provide new products that fit the market has been a great experience.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

I’m not interested in flying or being able to teleport, my superpower would be to be able to sing like Marvin Gaye.

And finally, what’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?

“Will you lend on a retired racehorse?”