The gender equality snapshots

In honour of International Women's Day on 8 March, StreamBank asked six executives to answer some critical questions about our industry, gender and achieving career success.

Q1: What would complete gender equality look like to you in the UK? 

Sarah Irons, senior commercial finance mortgage and insurance adviser at Abacus Financial Options (broker) 

It would be great if females could be considered as capable as men in senior roles. Equivalent pay would be great. I’m keen to see grace being given to women and/or men who wish for it, in terms of child flexibility in a working day. Women continue to delay starting a family if you aspire to do well in your career. This has a knock-on effect on the NHS, in terms of infertility and also from a child’s point of view, in that many can lose out on a sibling due to this. Professionally speaking, men are unaffected by the same issue. 

  

Alison Jones, service delivery manager at StreamBank  

Complete gender equality would mean that women have the same opportunities, pay, and career progression as men across all industries. For example, in financial services and IT, it would mean an equal number of women in these industries as men, and in senior leadership roles, clear pathways for career growth, and workplace policies that support work/life balance without penalising women for caregiving responsibilities. 

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Roz Cawood, managing director for property finance at StreamBank 

We can only achieve true equality when we have equity. So, while equality means treating everyone the same, giving everyone the same opportunities, true equity is recognising that different people have different starting points. As such, equity is required to achieve real equality. Also, we need equal pay, equal representation at board or senior level, no workplace discrimination and plenty of diverse role models. 

 

Cherim Nicholls, head of compliance at StreamBank 

Transparent pay scales and pay equality, plus more women on boards and in senior positions. 

 

Amandeep Battu, head of mortgages at Landmark Private Finance (broker) 

To me, it means equal representation across all sectors. For example, a significant increase in women holding senior positions in finance. 

 

Ellie Gibbs, senior manager for second line credit risk at StreamBank  

Gender equality means parity at work, respect for the importance of family alongside the day-to-day task load and the recognition that a balanced team of men and women brings a range of strengths, empowering the business. 

 

Q2: What are some of your own greatest achievements? 

Sarah Irons, senior commercial finance mortgage and insurance adviser at Abacus Financial Options 

Building a portfolio of investment properties in my 20s. Being a broker for 20 years and having the privilege of helping people buy their dream home. Recently, I completed on a £10m commercial mortgage for a care home client in Surrey. Being one of few female commercial brokers in the UK – and having my daughter. Personal achievements pre-work life have included competing in an equine show jumping, dressage and cross-country event and regularly competing as an amateur Latin American dancer. 

 

Alison Jones, service delivery manager at StreamBank  

One of my proudest achievements is successfully managing a career in IT as a service delivery manager and owning an award-winning cafe, The Crepe Escape – all while being a hands-on mother. Balancing these roles has allowed me to develop resilience, leadership, and business know-how.  

 

Roz Cawood, managing director for property finance at StreamBank 

Raising two well-adjusted children (now young adults) and being a strong role model for them. Running my first-ever marathon in my 50s – proving that anything is possible if you want to do it. Being successful without having to compromise my morals or personal standards. 

 

Cherim Nicholls, head of compliance at StreamBank 

I raised £3,500 for a women’s charity by cycling 450km through the mountains of China and, more recently, ran 13 consecutive half marathons, raising £1,500 for a local mental health charity. 

 

Amandeep Battu, head of mortgages at Landmark Private Finance (broker) 

I’ve successfully coached women navigating financial challenges during divorce. I also organised a women-only empowerment event on property finance and career advancement. I also created a safe space through my own mindfulness workshop, Intuitive Painting. These sessions help women connect with themselves on a spiritual level offering a grounding experience to help their mental and emotional wellbeing. 

 

Ellie Gibbs, senior manager for second line credit risk at StreamBank  

Receiving the ‘Underwriter of the Year’ accolade at the Women’s Recognition Awards 2023. This is an outstanding event celebrating and recognising talented women in our industry. I was humbled to receive the nomination, but to have won the category alongside the other deserving finalists was a career highlight. 

  

Q3: How could the finance industry make it easier for women to thrive? 

Sarah Irons, senior commercial finance mortgage and insurance adviser at Abacus Financial Options 

Mentorships and handholding could be useful. A space for women to learn and grow in the specialist finance industry without feeling inadequate. Corporate days not being golf days or male-dominated ideas needs a refresh. 

  

Alison Jones, service delivery manager at StreamBank  

Ensuring fair pay, creating mentorship and sponsorship programmes and promoting flexible working arrangements. More investment in female entrepreneurs through grants and business loans would also make a significant impact. Encouraging an inclusive culture where women feel valued and supported in leadership roles is also key. 

 

Roz Cawood, managing director for property finance at StreamBank 

Start with bias-free recruitment – I love the story of the practice of blind auditions, which was famously adopted by orchestras like the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the 1970s and 1980s. 

To reduce bias in hiring, many orchestras started using screens to conceal the identity of the musicians from the judges. However, they later realised that even the sound of footsteps – such as the click of high heels – could reveal a musician’s gender. To counter this, some orchestras asked musicians to audition barefoot so that their footwear wouldn’t give them away. 

This approach significantly increased the number of women in major orchestras. For example, before blind auditions, women made up only about 5-10% of orchestra members, but after these changes, their representation rose to around 30-40% in many ensembles. We could also encourage more women into finance early starting with schools and university interactions. Providing mentorship and allyship support to those in need and highlighting successful women more regularly to inspire others. 

 

Cherim Nicholls, head of compliance at StreamBank 

Ensure a top-down culture of support for women. This looks like policies around childcare, leave, maternity, menopause, flexible working written by or in consultation with women. Education and training for boards and managers around the healthcare issues particular to women, so that there is a greater level of understanding about what might be going on with women at certain times in their lives and enable managers to get the best from them. 

  

Amandeep Battu, head of mortgages at Landmark Private Finance (broker) 

More visible female champions and role models. 

  

Ellie Gibbs, senior manager for second line credit risk at StreamBank  

The industry should continue to promote fairness, equal opportunity, access to mentors and career support networks. The industry could also champion the benefits of flexible working to support everyone, not just women, who may have additional responsibilities outside of the workplace. 

  

Q4: What difference does it make to see women leaders in financial services? 

Sarah Irons, senior commercial finance mortgage and insurance adviser at Abacus Financial Options 

It’s fantastic. It gives others confidence that it’s achievable and inspires others to strive. I am seeing a shift in the female side of the finance industry now, which is a great start. We have the likes of The Mortgage Mum running her own business and creating employment and even appearing on TV and, more recently, at Downing Street. Anything is possible. 

  

Alison Jones, service delivery manager at StreamBank  

Seeing women in leadership roles, like Roz Cawood, is incredibly important because it provides inspiration and proof that women can succeed in male-dominated industries and roles. It also challenges outdated stereotypes and creates a more inclusive environment where women feel empowered to aim for senior positions. 

  

Roz Cawood, managing director for property finance at StreamBank 

Having role models or successful visible women leaders starts to normalise them. This helps other people believe that it’s either ‘normal’ to aspire to these roles or they too can succeed.  

 

Cherim Nicholls, head of compliance at StreamBank 

Having women in senior positions certainly helps younger women in the industry believe there is space for them to grow and develop in their own careers. Having a senior woman to talk to about the challenges that (still) exist is important and knowing that those women are there to advocate for others creates a culture that encourages women to stay in roles, rather than seeking a different culture elsewhere. 

 

Amandeep Battu, head of mortgages at Landmark Private Finance (broker) 

Seeing leaders like Roz Cawood inspires and empowers women to pursue excellence in their careers. 

  

Ellie Gibbs, senior manager for second line credit risk at StreamBank  

Having empowered female role models supports us all with our own aspirations of progression. Having a diverse leadership team shows that businesses have a desire to encourage growth and progression for all. Women leaders can bring unique strengths to the table, including enhanced creativity, empathy, and collaborative skills. 

  

Q5: Can you share an example of a time when StreamBank supported you in your career or your business as a broker? 

Sarah Irons, senior commercial finance mortgage and insurance adviser at Abacus Financial Options 

I have many of these. In general, it was great to work with StreamBank from the start and be able to offer a new regulated bridging lender to my clients, a lender that was both flexible and well-priced. StreamBank worked with me on a case that needed some real flexibility applied; the loan to values (LTVs) were stretched, and the terms and conditions of the offer were reduced to get the case completed while working within a very tight timescale. More recently, they went above and beyond providing me with their own legal team’s updates on a case when our communication was limited with the client’s solicitors. This offered peace of mind to us and the client in a very frustrating situation. They are a pleasure to work with. 

Alison Jones, service delivery manager at StreamBank  

StreamBank has been incredible in enabling me to have a career in a leadership role while still ensuring that I can work flexibly in order to fulfil my role as a mother. StreamBank has given me the flexibility to grow and develop in my role while still being a dedicated mother. Their support has allowed me to balance my career with school runs, working both from home and in the office, and being there for my children, especially one that needs additional support. This balance is something I deeply value, as it enables me to thrive professionally without compromising my responsibilities as a parent and takes away the worry or guilt of not being there for my children. This enables me to be more productive and successful at work. 

Roz Cawood, managing director for property finance at StreamBank 

StreamBank literally gave me a seat at the table – the executive board one. When we made the decision to go into regulated bridging, while I was driving the production in terms of new business, they were fully behind me in supporting the product, underwriting and governance that allowed it to actually become a very successful reality. 

Cherim Nicholls, head of compliance at StreamBank 

As the senior woman in the risk team, I have been given the opportunity to deputise for the chief risk officer (CRO), while he stepped up as interim CEO. This gave me the chance to speak more often to the board of directors and the confidence to know that I can provide them with the information they need, answer their questions and generally appreciate that it’s not as scary as I had built it up to be.  

Amandeep Battu, head of mortgages at Landmark Private Finance (broker) 

StreamBank MD, property finance Roz Cawood and Aiman Maklad, BDM, London and South assisted both our advice firms Landmark Specialist Finance and Landmark Private Finance in securing four new cases from our event, targeted to help our property developer and landlord clients. 

Ellie Gibbs, senior manager for second line credit risk at StreamBank  

When an opportunity for career progression arose, senior leaders encouraged me to go for it. It has been so refreshing to work for a business that is keen to promote talent from within instead of constantly relying on bringing in outside resources.