Anthony Thomson, founder of Metro Bank, chairman of the Financial Services Forum and chairman of the National Skills Academy for Financial Services is to speak at the ASTL’s inaugural annual conference.
The event, which has the theme ‘Bridging Today and Tomorrow’, will take place on Thursday 10 October and is open to lenders, brokers and all other professionals involved in bridging or short term lending.
Thomson will take a look at the importance of customer centric businesses and how companies within the bridging market can adapt to become more customer focussed and prosper in the future.
Benson Hersch, chief executive of the ASTL, said: “The success of the bridging industry over the past five years has been partly attributable to the unwillingness of mainstream banks to lend – especially to smaller businesses and to people who need slightly more personal and innovative solutions.
“Anthony Thomson was a part of that High Street Banking world, but broke the mould of the more traditional banks by focusing on the customer and offering unparalleled levels of customer service and convenience in a way that many bridging lenders aspire to do.
“Anthony’s insight into just how effective you can be if you truly put the customer first, is likely to be highly valuable to everyone in the bridging industry. The ASTL conference will be a unique opportunity to meet with Anthony, hear his views and his potential insights into how best to adapt and capitalise on the slow pace of change in the big banks by offering something that they are just not geared up to provide.”
Thomson added: “The financial services sector is facing more challenges than at almost any time in its history. It is also facing more opportunities.
Bridging lending is an emerging sector that is in prime position to capitalise on these opportunities – if it approaches it in the right way. With the regulatory changes coming round the corner only the most professional companies and individuals are likely to survive the long term and those who truly put the customer’s best interests at the heart of what they do.
“Events such as the ASTL’s conference provide an ideal opportunity for all those who are serious about being successful in bridging to get together, hear a different perspective and really think about how they will market their businesses.”