Why I Love #FRAwards - Mark Lofthouse, Mortgage Brain

In last year's Financial Reporter Industry Awards, Mortgage Brain won Best Sourcing System.

Related topics:  In The Spotlight
Rozi Jones
11th March 2015
Mark Lofthouse Mortgage Brain

We speak to Mark Lofthouse, CEO of Mortgage Brain, about the impact it's had on his business, why he’s a fan of the FR Awards, and the cost of employing skilled tradesmen.

FR: What impact has winning a Financial Reporter award had on your business?

ML: It's been a mixed blessing. On the one hand, winning this award is a great boost for Mortgage Brain and suitable reward for a team who consistently delight me with their ability to come up with new and innovative ways to improve our systems.

To be the name behind the best sourcing system proves to brokers and their customers that we're at the top of our game and on the whole that has done us a lot of good - albeit a little hard to measure!

Additionally, we've acquired about 15 awards over the years (not all of them stolen) and have had to employ a full time carpenter/engraver and you've no idea how hard it is to find skilled craftsmen these days.

FR: What advice would you give to this year's potential winners?

ML: The obvious really - winning is a good thing and you should shout about it at every opportunity.

FR: Why is it so important to recognise good practice within the industry?

ML: When you tell people that you work in mortgages or to be more precise software for mortgages, they tend to look for someone else to talk to. I sometimes say that we make games software to try and hold their attention for a bit longer!

There's no doubt that the mortgage industry has had a ‘reputation’ in the past, much of it un-deserved. However, thanks to a lot of hard work from a lot of talented people in every sector, its reputation is much better and it really is a terrific business to be in.

I'm very proud to be in this line of work. We need to tell everybody wherever we can.

FR: Why should you win an award again this year?

ML: If we don't, we're going to have to make the carpenter/engraver redundant. His name is Dave. Dave's a good bloke; he has three children under the age of six and is a single parent. Is that something you really want on your conscience?

And because we’ve not only delivered MortgageBrain Anywhere, the industry’s truly online whole-of-market sourcing system that has been designed to be device independent, but have continued to provide the best software and service to the mortgage industry.

We absolutely believe MortgageBrain Anywhere will transform mortgage sourcing and this together with our other solutions enables brokers to provide an even better level of service to their clients. It’s definitely an award winning contender!

FR: Any advice for Winners’ Party attendees?

ML:  If you win, be sure to look humble as you walk up to receive your award. And no tears, please.

If you don’t win, be gracious as you can’t win every award every year.  

Remember that being an award winner doesn't suddenly make you a great dancer, or the speaker of great truths.

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