Stonebridge, the national mortgage and insurance network, and Mortgage 1st, the Derbyshire-based mortgage advice firm, have announced a renewed partnership with a new long-term deal.
The new agreement sees Mortgage 1st remain part of the Stonebridge network as an appointed representative (AR) firm and extends a partnership that already spans over a decade.
Stonebridge attributes extending the partnership to a flexible network proposition, which provides development and support to their member firms.
Mortgage 1st, which will originate over £550m of mortgage lending this year, joined the network in July 2010 and has grown from a one-man firm to a business that currently has 27 advisers. It offers a number of employed and self-employment packages, offering both leads and non-lead options for mortgage and protection advisers, as well as opportunities for those looking to enter the profession and secure their professional qualifications.
Jon Stones, managing director of Mortgage 1st, said: “It was an easy decision to renew our partnership with Stonebridge. In our market, strong relationships count for a great deal, and the one we have built with Stonebridge has undoubtedly helped us get to where we are, and we envisage will help us on the next stage of our growth journey.
“The history we have with the Stonebridge team can’t be replicated elsewhere, and neither can the support they provide to the business, or the trust we have in their ability to do right by us and to ensure we have access to everything we need.
“For AR firms, finding the right network partner is not always easy, but when you do find the right one, it can elevate your business to new heights.”
Rob Clifford, chief executive of Stonebridge, added: “We are obviously very pleased to announce the continuation of our relationship with Mortgage 1st, and to our mind, this shows the strength of our proposition and our ability to work in partnership with our AR member firms to help them thrive.
“Mortgage 1st has effectively grown along with Stonebridge from those very early days into one of the top advisory firms in the country. What makes this partnership special is the ambitions of both businesses to continue growing in the years ahead.
“Stonebridge will be with Jon, Lisa, and the team every step of the way to help them realise their growth plans, with a full range of financial and non-financial measures. It has been an excellent partnership for many years and we’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”
