Which locations and how many advisers and broker firms do you cover in your role at Together?
I’m currently supporting a network of around 45 broker firms, based across the South Coast and London. The number of advisers across these areas are constantly evolving, but it’s easily in the realm of 130. It’s a vibrant and dynamic patch; no two days are ever really the same.
What personal talent/skill is most valuable in doing your job?
I would say organisation, strong relationship-building and trust are the three key attributes to bring to the table for this job.
Staying organised helps me keep pace with a fast‑moving workload, while allowing me to always keep one step ahead. Similarly, the shared trust I build with my brokers means they know that if I say I’ll get something done, it gets done. That level of reliability means everything in this role.
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What personal talent/skill would you most like to improve on?
I firmly believe that you can never have too much knowledge, and after 15 years in this industry, I still find myself learning new skills and being challenged every day. Willingness to constantly adapt and acquire knowledge is a key attribute for success in this career, so I’m always striving to improve my knowledge.
What’s the hardest part of your job?
Despite also being one of my favourite aspects, the toughest part of my role is definitely staying on top of the workload while finding the perfect balance to truly succeed. Specialist lending never really sits still, especially when you’re working with such a vast range of products.
The volume of enquiries and conversations can spike quite quickly, and staying ahead of that curve means constantly prioritising, adapting, and keeping a watchful eye on what’s happening across the market and within the business. But honestly, that’s exactly what keeps me switched on and excited. I get a real buzz from the momentum.
Essentially, if the pace drops, it usually means the market isn’t pushing forward, and I’m someone who likes to be right in the middle of the action. That’s where the real value is created.
What do you love most about your job?
For me, it’s all about the people. I’m lucky enough to work with motivating brokers and colleagues every day, and those interactions are what make this job genuinely rewarding. You build relationships that go beyond individual deals – some of mine have lasted my entire working career, which is something that I value truly.
Personally, I also can’t pretend that the annual golf days aren’t a highlight too! Whether it’s the Together events or those hosted by our broker partners, they’re always a brilliant mix of networking, friendly competition and a lot of laughs. It’s genuinely one of my favourite parts of the job.
Are there any (popular) misconceptions about your job/role?
Definitely. One misconception I hear from time to time is that being a BDM is all long lunches, evening drinks and endless networking events. And while, of course, the social side is a great perk of the job, it’s only a fragment of what we actually do.
What people don’t always see is the serious hard work and graft that happens in between those LinkedIn posts. The job requires constant broker support, case updates, market conversations, problem‑solving, and travelling. It really is a lot, but it’s brilliant.
It’s very much a work hard, play hard role, and the ‘play’ only works because of all the effort that goes in behind the scenes.
What’s the best bit of career-related advice you’ve ever been given? Who gave it to you?
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is that you’re only in competition with yourself, not anyone else. I’ve heard it a few times over the years, from colleagues, to mentors and even the odd podcast, and it’s really stuck with me for a reason.
We all start from different places – different backgrounds, different educations, different levels of support. So, when you focus on your own progress instead of comparing yourself to someone else’s highlight reel, you free yourself up to actually grow.
Essentially, it really takes the pressure off trying to match someone else’s trajectory and keeps you grounded in doing the best you can do. For me, it’s been a game‑changer in staying motivated, balanced and confident in the pace of my own career.
What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is simple: always do what you say you’re going to do. In this industry, your word is everything. If you don’t follow through or you shy away from being open and honest when things change, trust dissipates, and once it’s gone, it’s incredibly hard to rebuild.
For me especially, integrity has been the foundation of every strong relationship I’ve built and, consequently, the most important lesson I’ve learned. Being reliable, transparent and consistent has served me well throughout my career, and it’s something I try to uphold in every interaction I have.
How do you keep up to date with developments in the market?
I like to take in information from a wide range of sources so I’m always getting a balanced view of what’s happening across the industry. I keep on top of the key industry websites, newsletter updates and email briefings, and I’m active on LinkedIn. It’s a great network for spotting sentiment shifts, product launches and people moves in real time.
I also keep an eye on the wider news agenda, because economic changes, policy updates and market trends all feed into how our brokers and their clients are thinking. Pulling it all together gives me a clear picture of the market and helps me stay one step ahead of what’s coming next.
What is the most quirky/unique property deal you’ve been involved in?
Working at Together, you come across your fair share of unusual properties. It’s part of what makes the job so interesting, and to be honest, the company as a whole. One deal that really stands out for me involved a row of Grade II-listed, five‑storey mid‑terrace buildings. They’d started life as individual period townhouses, but over the years had been everything from a hotel to a house in multiple occupation (HMO).
By the time the client came to us, the buildings had been reconfigured into 22 residential flats; 21 fully self‑contained and one with a rather quirky layout where the bathroom was accessed via the communal landing. We supported the customer with a £1m facility to refurbish and modernise the properties further.
It was a brilliant example of how we are able to help bring back to life assets that are complex but full of character, and that’s exactly why I love working in specialist lending.
Tell us about your trickiest case – what happened and how did you resolve the problem(s)?
One of the trickiest cases I’ve dealt with recently was an auction purchase that dropped onto my desk at the very last minute. The client had been let down by another lender and was facing a hard completion deadline that same week, so naturally the pressure was on from the moment it landed.
From there, it became a real exercise in balancing coordination, client relationship management and ultimately remaining calm under pressure. I had to stay on top of every party involved – brokers, solicitors, surveyors and internal teams, making sure documentation was completed, legals progressed and nothing slipped through the cracks. Every hour counted with this one.
In the end, we got everything packaged, signed off, submitted and funded with literally one minute to spare before the auction deadline expired. As you can imagine, it was quite intense, but it’s exactly the kind of scenario where specialist lending firms like Together shine: fast, flexible and laser‑focused on delivering when it matters most.
What was your motivation for choosing this career?
I’ve always been interested in how finance works at a deeper level. Money makes the world go round, and I’ve long believed that if you understand how to use it smartly, it can open doors throughout your life and career.
Similarly, I originally fell into mortgages through the banking sector, almost by accident actually. However, once I moved into the specialist side of the market, everything clicked.
Specialist lending gives me the challenge, variety and problem‑solving I was looking for. No two cases are the same, and that constant learning curve is what keeps me motivated and excited about the path I’ve chosen.
If you could do any other job in the property sector, what would it be and why?
If I could choose any other role in the property world, I’d probably aim high and say owning my own lender. It’s the one role that would give me the ultimate challenge, shaping the strategy, driving the culture, and building a business that reflects everything I’ve learned in specialist finance.
It’s a big ambition, of course, but the idea of creating a lender that genuinely understands the market, moves quickly and supports brokers the way they need… that’s something that really appeals to me.
What did you want to be growing up?
Like most lads my age, I definitely had high hopes of becoming a professional footballer. But once I hit 18 and naturally realised it probably wasn’t going to happen, I had to rethink things – and that’s when I started looking at what else I wanted to do with my career.
Where do you see yourself in five years or How do you think your job will change in five years?
In five years, I see myself stepping into a senior management role, continuing to build on the relationships, experience and market understanding I’ve gained so far.
I think in the next five years the role itself will evolve quite a bit. Artificial intelligence (AI) will almost certainly automate some of the more routine elements of what we do, which is a positive thing if it means brokers get faster answers and smoother processes. But the heart of this job is relationships – the trust, the conversations, the judgement calls – and that’s something AI can’t replicate.
In essence, I definitely see the BDM role becoming even more relationship‑driven, with technology taking care of the admin while we focus on the human side that really makes the difference.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
I’d choose the ability to pause time. It’s the one thing none of us ever seem to have enough of, and being able to slow everything down, that would not only be incredible, but it would also be very helpful. More time to think, more time to get things done, and more time to enjoy the good moments. I can’t think of a better superpower!
What do you do to unwind or What are your desert island discs?
For me, unwinding means heading out for a round of golf on a Sunday. It gives me a chance to switch off, enjoy the fresh air and take in some great scenery. It’s one of those love‑hate hobbies, though; some weeks it’s the most relaxing part of my routine, and other weeks it’s the most frustrating.
But that’s all part of the charm, and it keeps me coming back.
What is your greatest skill(s), either work- or non-work-related?
Work‑wise, my biggest strengths are my speed, organisation and, as I’ve said, relationship‑building. I like to move quickly, stay on top of detail and keep things progressing, especially when brokers need fast answers. And building strong, long‑lasting relationships is something I take a lot of pride in.
Outside of work, it’s harder to pin down a ‘greatest skill’. although I’d probably say my random general knowledge is up there. My wife would definitely argue otherwise, but I back myself for at least a solid pub quiz performance!
And finally, what’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?
“Would you rather fight a duck-sized lion or a lion-sized duck?” It’s one that definitely stands out!
