"It’s a great feeling to be recognised by the industry and there is still a lot to do before we achieve equality – not just gender – but as a truly inclusive and diverse industry."
FR: What does winning a Women’s Recognition Award mean to you and why are awards like this so important for the industry?
I’m extremely passionate about what I do, and I spend a lot of time talking to other women in the industry, so awards and events like these really help to raise awareness and also to inspire women who are carving careers in the mortgage world and show that there is a real desire for inclusion and diversity in an environment which has been historically male dominated.
It’s a great feeling to be recognised by the industry and there is still a lot to do before we achieve equality – not just gender – but as a truly inclusive and diverse industry.
I have a son and a daughter so I would like them to have an equal chance of achieving their aspirations whatever they go in life.
FR: Tell us more about your role in financial services.
I’m responsible for the strategic relationships we have with our mortgage intermediary distribution network for Halifax, BM Solutions and Scottish Widows Bank. It also includes our specialist Lloyds Banking Group housing development team, dedicated to supporting customers and brokers transacting in the new build and affordable housing sectors. One of the key parts of my role is to help build and continually improve relationships at all levels between us and our national accounts.
I also lead our team that designs, organises and delivers events including our roadshows and broker workshops across the country – the most recent ones involving working with more than 4,000 brokers through changes to regulation and what it means for their business.
FR: What are you most proud of in your career so far?
People are such an important part of my role, and having supported colleagues – including some who felt that due to family commitments they couldn’t progress their career, but did have the ambition to do so. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great teams and take some big steps forward within Lloyds Banking Group in terms of our offering to customers and making it easier for brokers to do business with us.
FR: What one change would you like to see in financial services in the near future?
It would be a dream headline that everyone or every part of the housing and mortgage market reflected its customers – so not just gender, ethnicity etc, but a true reflection of our end customers including different skill sets.
FR: If you had one piece of advice for someone starting out in financial services, what would it be?
The mortgage industry is vibrant, energetic and innovative – which sometimes can draw some funny looks around the dinner table, but it really is on an exciting journey. It’s an industry all about relationships. – with your customers, peers, introducers. Never underestimate the value of investing the time in people.
