In 2026, the specialist finance brokerage has seen three paraplanners move into mortgage adviser roles and another has progressed into underwriting. One of the firm’s long-standing employees, Nicki Agombar, has been promoted to head of new business.
An additional two employees are undertaking CeMAP training, funded by Loans Warehouse, and the firm has planned further development opportunities this year.
Loans Warehouse has attributed the progress across its team to the appointment of Lesley White as its first head of HR and recruitment last year.
White said the firm had “effectively built a new paraplanning team without losing the old one – we’ve developed it”.
She added: “Anyone involved in recruitment who is being honest with themselves will tell you that recruiting and retaining good people in 2026 is more difficult than ever.
Industry, not regulation, must lead later life lending change
Sponsored by Suffolk Building Society Intermediaries
“But we’ve made a conscious decision not to respond by lowering our standards. We expect attitude, effort, accountability and consistently high standards from our people, while our responsibility is to give them the training, support and opportunities to succeed.
“Not every appointment works out and businesses can spend too much time focusing on the people who failed to make the most of the opportunities they were given. We’ve chosen instead to reflect on those who have succeeded and I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved.
“Retention is important, but retention at any cost isn’t success. Developing and retaining great people while maintaining the standards of the business is.”
Matt Tristram, co-founder and director of Loans Warehouse, added: “For almost 20 years, we’d never had a dedicated head of HR and recruitment, so bringing Lesley into the business was a significant change.
“A year later, our headcount is up 20%, we’re developing people into advice, underwriting and management, and another generation is coming through behind them.”
He said: “Lesley deserves enormous credit. She’s helped us become better at recruitment, but more importantly, better at recognising potential and creating genuine career paths.
“You don’t build a great business simply by recruiting people. You build it by developing them.”
