With the nomination deadline fast approaching, we sat down with some of last year’s winners to talk about how they found the nomination process, what impact winning has had on them and what advice they would give to someone thinking of entering.
To find out more about the award process, follow this link: https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/events/the-specialist-lending-event/?tsle2026source=testimonials
The deadline for nominations is Friday 20 February.
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Winner of Broker: Adverse Credit
Steph Seddon, Right Choice Mortgages
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I have been in the industry for over 20 years, starting with a high street bank before taking redundancy and seeing this as an opportunity to become a self-employed broker, and almost immediately working with clients with complex circumstances.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
The nomination process is straightforward, and there is plenty of support from everyone in AE3 Media.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
Winning the award has helped with raising my profile both within the industry, but also with clients; giving them confidence in my ability to help them. It’s also great for your own confidence – knowing your efforts are being recognised.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Definitely enter. The whole experience, from nomination through to the judging panel and the awards ceremony itself, is a fantastic experience.
Winner of Broker: Bridging & Short-Term Finance
Narinder Gill, Coreco
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I entered the industry with a legal background in commercial property. I quickly found myself wanting to advise in structured finance and have not looked back since.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Really straightforward and transparent.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
Personally, a great sense of achievement to all the long hours, late nights, early mornings and hard work put over the years. Professionally, it has opened and widened doors with lenders, clients and stakeholders involved in the complex lending cycle.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
I would wholly recommend entering and learning from the best in the industry – the same way I have!
Winner of Broker: Second Charge
Rachael Peach, Dynamo
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I started on a youth training scheme (YTS) in 1983, working for a building society with no computers and no internet, just a microfiche and a shorthand notebook. The mortgage industry was very different in those days, when clients were interviewed by the bank manager to get a mortgage at 14% interest rates. I was one of the first people to be employed on the YTS scheme, earning £25 per week. How things have changed.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
I was fortunate that this was my fifth time being nominated for these awards, so instead of being nervous, I enjoyed the whole process. Everything was very clear and achievable, and I appreciated the opportunity to expand upon my written testimonial during the short interview.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
Winning the Second Charge Broker Award twice – once in 2021 and again last year – has meant a great deal to me. On a personal level, it’s been a real confidence boost and a reminder that the effort I put into supporting clients truly makes a difference.
Professionally, it’s become an invaluable tool for building trust. Clients often feel hesitant at the start of their second charge journey and being able to say I’ve been recognised twice for my work helps put them at ease and shows them they’re in safe hands. As far as I’m aware, I’m still the only broker in the second charge market to have achieved this twice, and that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Go into it with confidence and really enjoy the process. Reaching the final stages means something – you’re there because you’re genuinely good at what you do. Believe in your achievements, be yourself and let your passion for your role shine through.
Winner of Broker: Complex Buy-To-Let
David Horn, Dynamo
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I entered the mortgage industry in 2018 after working in a different area of financial services. Following redundancy, I was ready for a completely new direction and saw an opportunity within the mortgage market that really appealed to me.
Starting my induction at 39 meant I was considerably older than many of my peers, most of whom were around half my age. Instead of seeing that as a disadvantage, I embraced it. I threw myself into learning the industry and quickly realised that this was exactly the path I wanted to pursue.
Eight years later, I’m an established senior broker specialising in complex cases, buy-to-let (BTL), commercial and bridging structured lending. I thrive on tackling challenging scenarios and helping clients secure solutions they didn’t think possible.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
It was always going to feel a bit daunting, given the calibre of previous finalists and winners I knew of, as well as the prestige of the award within the specialist market. However, the steps were clearly laid out, the structure worked well and the judges were friendly and engaging – all of which made the overall experience much easier than I expected.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
It’s been a fantastic experience and genuinely adds value and recognition. I still receive regular congratulations, and the award sits proudly on my desk as a daily reminder of what I’ve achieved. The level of engagement and praise on platforms like LinkedIn was incredible, too.
It has also become a strong USP for me with both existing and future clients. I include a subtle banner on my email template highlighting the achievement, which helps build confidence and reassures customers that I have the expertise and capability to support their lending needs.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Go for it! The entire experience is incredibly rewarding – from the start of the nomination journey through to meeting and networking with peers at the awards ceremony. Winning has genuinely boosted my confidence in the work I do, elevated my profile within the industry, and strengthened the trust that both new and existing clients place in me when their cases are passed.
Winner of Head of National Accounts
Sally Wright, head of distribution at Paragon Bank
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
Working for Nationwide on the enquiries desk was one of my first jobs that exposed me to mortgages and passing leads to our financial consultants. I have an inquiring mind and a love for figures and very quickly aspired to become a financial consultant myself. Since then, I have held many mortgage roles, from underwriting to lender business development and, for the past 10 years, mortgage distribution, which I love.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Really straightforward, and when I was given the news that I had become a finalist, I was absolutely thrilled. Writing my testimonial for the judging and thinking about the past year made me realise just how much I achieved and how much winning the award would mean to me.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
I am incredibly passionate about the work I do and the relationships I have forged with my network and club partners. Winning this category feels like a massive achievement personally and makes me happy to know I am doing a good job for both my employer and my partners on a day-to-day basis.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
Just go for it. This industry is full of outstanding hardworking individuals who deserve recognition but always remember you are also one of them, so back yourself and the firm you work for, who will be equally as thrilled if you are shortlisted or win.
Winner of Business Leader: Specialist Distribution
Michael Craig, managing director of Brilliant Group
Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get into the mortgage industry?
I kind of fell into the industry back in 2006. I applied for an apprenticeship in administration – school wasn’t really my thing – so I knew I needed to find a route into an industry, and it just happened to be in specialist mortgages with Exclusive Connections in Peterborough.
That’s where I learned my craft in what I still believe is one of the most important parts of our industry: administration, the heartbeat of the mortgage process. I left the industry around 2009 and then came back and joined Brilliant Solutions in 2014, working my way up from specialist mortgage underwriter to business development manager (BDM), head of sales, sales director, and ultimately, managing director and shareholder.
How did you find the nomination process for the British Specialist Lending Awards?
The process was easy and straightforward, with a clear structure and questions that were straight to the point. It covered all the relevant areas needed, which helped ensure the nomination process was smooth, efficient and well-thought-through. Overall, it was a really positive experience and well organised from start to finish.
What impact has winning this award had on you personally and professionally?
Winning this award has been incredibly rewarding both personally and professionally. On a personal level, it’s a real validation of the journey I’ve taken in the industry from starting in administration to leading the business today and the hard work that’s gone into building both my career and the team around me.
Professionally, it’s strengthened our credibility in the market, raised our profile with brokers and lenders, and given me even more motivation to keep pushing for innovation, growth and better outcomes for our clients and partners.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about entering the British Specialist Lending Awards?
My advice? Go for it, full stop. Don’t hold back, don’t second-guess yourself, shoot for the stars. Back yourself, back your team, put yourself forward, and give it everything. The process will push you, it will make you reflect on everything you’ve achieved (this is a good thing), and it’s a chance to showcase your hard work and dedication. Even if you don’t win, just taking part is a huge achievement in itself. So go for it – you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
To find out more information about the awards, follow this link: https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/events/the-specialist-lending-event/?tsle2026source=testimonials
