Hope Capital: From the

From the ground up

The rise of specialist lending

Jonathan Sealey Chief Executive Officer Hope Capital

Sometimes we can take our own perception for granted, and from time to time it doesn’t hurt to share just how we got to where we are now. So, please permit me to step through the story of Hope Capital.

Our story began as a one-man journey when I saw an opportunity in the specialist lending market. The team now consists of 23 experienced individuals, who all play a big part in making us a trusted and respected bridging lender with a reputation for service excellence.

I am particularly proud that Hope Capital is regularly recognised as one of the most gender diverse companies, not only in the bridging market but across the wider financial services arena, with 66% of the senior management roles being held by women.

Ten years on, the firm has worked with many brokers, clients, and stakeholders, who have helped the business go from strength to strength, but it is the team to which I give most credit.

Establishing a reputation

From day one we built our reputation on transparency, honesty, and flexibility. We prioritised service excellence and are constantly seeking to improve our operations to ensure the most streamlined and effective processes are in place. This was particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, where lenders had to think quickly to ensure they could react to numerous unprecedented changes.

By implementing a flexible and fast approach, introducing changes to work functions, and a can-do attitude to adapt and embrace new technologies, we evolved to ensure borrowers could continue their investment plans. This was partly achieved through adopting an Automated Valuation Model (AVM) and new ID verification and messaging technology, which improved customers’ experience and made it quicker and easier for our team to communicate with clients during the times where it was not possible to meet face-to-face.

However, while technological innovation was key in getting deals across the line, the service we are renowned for delivering, remained

“It is essential this momentum continues, which is why lenders and other parties need to educate brokers on why a bridging loan may be the best solution for borrowers

“Ultimately, bridging loans are no longer being viewed as a last resort. Instead, we have firmly positioned ourselves as a first port of call

the same, i.e. providing transparent and consistent communication throughout the entire loan process. Speed and efficiency are essential in bridging finance, which is why we ensure brokers have direct contact to an underwriter, so they have easy access to a decision maker.

Moving forward

Whilst the outlook for 2022 and beyond remains unclear and there will be new challenges, due to the ongoing influences of COVID-19 and Brexit, the need for bridging finance solutions from experienced specialist lenders is clearly in demand. Looking ahead, we have ambitious plans to extend the team to ensure the firm is in the best position to meet business volumes and able to create more innovative products which meet the market demand. This will also support our plans as we begin to enter new lending spaces, such as development exit finance, and finish and exit finance, as well as extending our lending proposition in Scotland.

These actions will be key, as more brokers recognise bridging finance as a first-class product solution for their clients. Previously bridging finance has been labelled as an expensive option, which was often overlooked. However, as awareness of what the value of bridging finance can offer to certain borrowers has grown, this in turn has ensured the specialist lending market has grown significantly in popularity. Moving forward, it is essential this momentum continues, which is why lenders and other parties need to educate brokers on why a bridging loan may be the best solution for borrowers due to the diverse range of options available and the benefit of packagers and distributors.

This will be particularly important in the SME lending sector, where these types of businesses are looking to bounce back from the pandemic. Short-term finance provides various benefits in this situation. For example, a small business may require a bridging loan to provide capital before it is able to obtain a longer-term loan. In addition, bridging finance can also be used to release equity to grow the company and invest in equipment needed for the business.

The main challenge as a broker is finding a lender who provides competitive LTVs, rates, and a diverse range of unique and innovative products. As time is usually of the essence for clients who are considering a bridging loan, it is important for a broker to be aware of the options available and to find a lender who has a significant amount of market experience.

Ultimately, bridging loans are no longer being viewed as a last resort. Instead, we have firmly positioned ourselves as a first port of call, renowned for the relationships the team has built and maintained with brokers over the past ten years, providing a superior service and support to brokers and their clients from initial enquiry stage through to completion.