Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

Loans Warehouse Progresses Paraplanners into Adviser, Underwriting and Management Roles

Specialist finance brokerage Loans Warehouse has progressed a number of paraplanners in 2026, with new roles created across the business. Three paraplanners have moved into mortgage adviser roles and another has progressed into underwriting during the year.

The firm has also promoted long-standing employee Nicki Agombar to head of new business. In addition, two employees are currently undertaking CeMAP training funded by Loans Warehouse, with further development opportunities planned this year.

HR appointment credited

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 that recruiting and retaining good people in 2026 was "more difficult than ever", but that the firm had made a conscious decision not to lower its standards. White said the business expected attitude, effort, accountability and consistently high standards, while its responsibility was to give people the training, support and opportunities to succeed. She also noted that "retention is important, but retention at any cost isn't success".

Headcount up 20%

Matt Tristram, co-founder and director of Loans Warehouse, said the firm had never had a dedicated head of HR and recruitment in almost 20 years, making Lesley's appointment a significant change. A year on, he said headcount is up 20%, with people being developed into advice, underwriting and management roles.

Tristram credited White with helping the firm become better at recruitment and, more importantly, at recognising potential and creating genuine career paths, adding: "You don't build a great business simply by recruiting people. You build it by developing them."

For letting agents and inventory clerks working alongside brokers and advisers, continued investment in adviser training and development across the specialist finance sector points to a deeper, better-qualified advice bench — a relevant consideration when referring clients for finance or working with firms at the property and lending interface.