In previous iterations of the academy programme, the initial applicants have been whittled down to a class of 16. However, the firm said that the quality of the applicants and competition for places meant it had opted to increase the intake.
The Just Mortgages academy programme is tweaked to meet the needs and experience of those attending. Those without CeMap1 take a five-week course, with the first fortnight focused on achieving the CeMap1 qualification.
Those who already have CeMap1 join for the remaining three weeks in order to build on that qualification and develop other skills which will serve them as a broker, such as understanding the sales process and building successful client relationships. As well as mortgages, the course covers protection.
John Phillips (pictured), national operations director at Just Mortgages, said that the demand for places on the academy showed the bright future ahead for the mortgage market as a whole.
He continued: “At a time when the mortgage market is in such a state of flux and where sound financial advice has never been so in-demand, it’s fantastic to be able to provide this valuable platform to help our biggest ever academy group take their first steps into the industry.
“Reviewing applications for this upcoming intake and seeing the high quality of applicants with degrees and higher-education qualifications, as well as experience in banks and established financial institutions, it was clear we needed to increase numbers.”
Last month Just Mortgages revealed that in the previous group, 60 per cent of applicants were women, the first time in which they have outnumbered male applicants.
