Broker
Rising Star – Distributor sponsored by Kensington Mortgages
The category is open to employees of businesses that distribute products in the Specialist market, including, but not limited to, complex buy to let, bridging, complex credit, commercial finance and second charge markets.
This could include employees of:
Adviser firms.
Packagers.
Mortgage clubs.
Specialist mortgage desks.
Distributors of other mortgage related products.
Nominees should have up to three years’ total experience in the intermediated mortgage market as of January 2026 (not up to 3 years in a new role, having had previous experience in the intermediated mortgage market-whether in the specialist or mainstream markets).
The award is aimed at those individuals who have made exceptional progress in their respective businesses in the last 12 months. They will have demonstrated first class results, attitude and ambition and have ample evidence that they have consistently overachieved and have taken on further responsibility within the business.
All candidates in the following broker categories must demonstrate that a minimum of 50% of their role involves advising in front of clients
Complex Buy-to-Let
The award will go to the adviser who has delivered a consistent level of quality business to lenders over the last 12 months. They will have strong relationships with lenders, a good understanding of the complex buy-to-let market requirements such as Ltd Co, HMO, portfolio landlords and have demonstrated they are working in the best interest of their clients.
Commercial Finance sponsored by Interbay
This includes the following finance options:
Commercial Owner Occupied or Investment mortgages
Semi-Commercial
Development finance
Asset Finance
The award will go to the adviser who has delivered a consistent level of quality business to lenders over the last 12 months. They will have strong relationships with lenders, a good understanding of the residential development and real estate finance markets and have demonstrated they are working in the best interest of their clients.
Second Charge
This award is aimed at those brokers who focus on second charge advice. The winner will have excellent relationships with second charge lenders, a deep understanding of product niches and a proven track record in delivering the most appropriate advice to their customers.
Bridging and Short-Term Finance
The award will go to the adviser who has delivered a consistent level of quality business to lenders over the last 12 months. They will have strong relationships with lenders, a good understanding of the bridging finance market and have demonstrated they are working in the best interest of their clients.
Complex Income sponsored by Vida Homeloans
The award will go to the adviser who has delivered a consistent level of quality business to lenders over the last 12 months. They will have strong relationships with lenders, a good understanding of product criteria and solutions to help customers who have complex incomes.
This includes:
Self-employed
Contractors
Business Owners
Gig Workers
Professional investors
Overseas clients
Bridging and Short-Term Finance sponsored by Market Financial Solutions
The award will go to the adviser who has delivered a consistent level of quality business to lenders over the last 12 months. They will have strong relationships with lenders, a good understanding of the bridging finance market and have demonstrated they are working in the best interest of their clients.
Adverse Credit sponsored by Quantum Mortgages
The award will go to the adviser who has delivered a consistent level of quality business to lenders over the last 12 months. They will have strong relationships with lenders, a good understanding of product criteria and solutions to help customers who have suffered a previous credit problem and have demonstrated they are working in the best interest of their clients.
This includes:
Adverse Credit
Defaults
Arrears
Missed payments
CCJs
Debt management plans
Bankruptcy proceedings
Administrator sponsored by Pepper Money
This category is open to individuals in an administrator role at an adviser or packager firm whose main job function is to process specialist mortgage applications for their firm. This category is not applicable to individuals who are involved in the advice process. The successful candidate will show consistently high-quality case submission, getting it right first time to a broad spectrum of lenders. They will demonstrate a high level of product and criteria knowledge and act with confidence and authority in their dealings with lenders, their adviser colleagues and customers. They will consistently exceed all regulatory and fraud prevention obligations.
Lender
Rising Star – Product Provider
The category is open to employees of mortgage lenders, general insurance and protection providers, legal services providers, and surveyors who operate in the specialist lending arena.
Nominees should have up to three years’ total experience in the intermediated mortgage market as of January 2026 (not up to 3 years in a new role, having had previous experience in the intermediated mortgage market-whether in the specialist or mainstream markets).
The award is aimed at those individuals who have made exceptional progress in their respective businesses in the last 12 months. They will have demonstrated first class results, attitude and ambition and have ample evidence that they have consistently overachieved and have taken on further responsibility within the business.
Underwriter
This award category is open to anyone in this discipline at director, officer or manager level.
The nominee will have delivered strong initiatives in the last year to improve the quality of business, overall performance and/or controls within their provider which demonstrates that they are exceptional in their position. They would be able to demonstrate a clear visible impact that their initiatives have had on the business.
Business Development sponsored by e.surv Chartered Surveyors
The award will be given to the individual responsible for business development in a telephony or face to face capacity. This individual will always go the extra mile for their brokers. Someone who is always available, knows their products inside out and offers support and suggestions to the distribution channels they serve. They will take ownership of the relationships, ensuring that they consistently achieve positive results for the intermediary and their business.
Head of Sales
This award category is open to anyone who manages a sales force that successfully delivers core and cross-sales targets (this will include people with the following job titles – Commercial Director, Head of Sales or Sales Director). As an inspiring leader, the nominee will have exceptional leadership and communication skills to inspire a sales team to perform at their highest level, exceeding lending targets, developing deeper relationships with distribution partners and delivering support and value to create a smoother transaction process which ultimately benefits the customer.
Head of National Accounts
The nominee will design and implement the national account strategy with key distribution partners (this will include people with the following job titles – Head of National Accounts, Head of Key Accounts or Head of Networks or Clubs). They will show an extensive understanding of different intermediary business models and show that they can deliver value to each of these relationships. They should have the ability to act strategically, demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and ensure that internal company functions give the highest level of customer service to the national account partners.
Business Leader
Development & Innovation Advocate
This includes, but is not limited to,
Technology
Product design,
Training and development,
Customer contact strategies,
Business efficiency.
Nominees will have demonstrated that they are bringing new thinking and development to any aspect of the process within the specialist mortgage market. The successful person will have made a proven positive impact on their own business in the last 12 months, while delivering change that could potentially have positive implications for the wider market.
Specialist Distribution sponsored by Together
This award category will be applicable to those individuals that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the specialist arena. They will be able to demonstrate their depth of lender and broker relations and an entrepreneurial spirit which has seen their business adapt to the challenges of the changing specialist landscape.
Surveyor
Nominees will embody the ethos of their firm; delivering a consistently high-quality offering, accurate reports and quick & efficient service.
Conveyancer
Nominees will have demonstrated an innovative approach to specific sector challenges, while pushing for a speedy and faultless service to clients.
Bridging Lender
The successful nominee will be someone who has successfully managed their business in the last 12 months, who understands the needs of both brokers and lenders and delivers a proposition that adds value to both parties.
Commercial Finance Lender
For leaders of a business offering Commercial Owner Occupied or Investment mortgages, Semi-Commercial finance, Development finance or Asset Finance. The award is for a standout individual who provides leadership and authority.
They will have overseen growth in their business in the last 12 months and shown a willingness to work with all parties to sustain and evolve the marketplace.
Complex Buy-to-Let Lender sponsored by Phoebus Software
Lenders must provide specialist solutions to complex customer requirements i.e. Ltd Co, HMO and portfolio landlords. The award is for a standout individual who provides leadership and authority. They will have overseen growth in their business in the last 12 months and shown a willingness to work with all parties to sustain and evolve the marketplace.
Second Charge Lender
The award is for a standout individual who provides leadership and authority. They will have overseen growth in their business in the last 12 months and shown a willingness to work with all parties to sustain and evolve the marketplace.
Bridging Lender
The successful nominee will be someone who has successfully managed their business in the last 12 months, who understands the needs of both brokers and lenders and delivers a proposition that adds value to both parties.
Complex Income Lender
The successful nominee will be someone who has shown exceptional leadership and will have successfully managed their business in the last 12 months. They will understand the needs of brokers, and critically the consumer, and will deliver a proposition that adds value to both parties. They would have captured the demand of the sector and raised the profile of the solutions available to the adviser market to help customers who have complex incomes.
This includes:
Self-employed
Contractors
Business Owners
Gig Workers
Professional investors
Adverse Credit Lender sponsored by The Brightstar Group
The successful nominee will be someone who has shown exceptional leadership and will have successfully managed their business in the last 12 months. They will understand the needs of brokers, and critically the consumer, and will deliver a proposition that adds value to both parties. They would have captured the demand of the sector and raised the profile of the solutions available to the adviser market. This category focuses on lending to customers in the following circumstances:
Adverse Credit
Defaults
Arrears
Missed payments
CCJs
Debt management plans
Bankruptcy proceedings
