Q3
2026
HOPEFull Q 3 20 26 E dition 15 Y e a r s , Ne w Be ginnings and P l e n ty to Ce le brate
Relationships Beyond Lending
Editor’s Note So much for a quiet summer…
People often say that the summer months can be a little quieter in the specialist finance industry. Not here. The last quarter has been anything but quiet, and we’ve had plenty to celebrate. It’s been a fantastic period of recognition for us, having been named Financial Employer of the Year at the Employer’s Excellence Awards 2026 and securing Mortgage Introducer’s Top Mortgage Employer Award for the fifth consecutive year. Kate Cowan was also named COO of the Year at the Operational Excellence Awards UK 2026. Together, these achievements reflect the strength of our team, the culture we’ve built and the people driving Hope Capital forward. But the momentum hasn’t stopped there. We expanded our dual legal representation offering in Scotland, introduced our brand-new Pre-Application Team and increased our funding with Shawbrook Bank and Triple Point. Each milestone represents another step forward and gives us even more opportunities to support our brokers and their clients. And then came the icing on the cake… We opened the doors to our brand-new Liverpool HQ and celebrated a milestone of our own: 15 years of Hope Capital. So, while summer might traditionally be considered the quiet season, there’s been no slowing down at Hope Capital. Here’s to 15 years, and everything still to come.
Sarah 02
Sarah Butler Director of Brand, Communications and Engagement
What’s Inside Our journey and achievements
04–05
16-17
Our Next Chapter Investing in our people, our business and Liverpool
Employer’s Excellence Awards 2026 Taking home the win
06-07
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15 Years of Hope Capital Countless relationships, deals and milestones along the way
Welcome to Our New Starters Meet Emma and Carmen
08-09 Celebrating Five Consecutive Years at the Top Five years, five awards
10 Building Our Funding Capacity to £160m Three major funding milestones
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Celebrating 3 Years Congratulations Cheryl
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20 More Choice, More Speed in Scotland Good news for our Scottish brokers!
12-13
22-23
Strengthening Our Pre-Application Process A smoother journey from enquiry to underwriting
26-29
19
21
14-15
Love Is in the Air at Hope Capital Two of our team members have exciting news to celebrate!
Sharing Our Insight with the Industry A look at some of the opinions our team shared last quarter
Kate Cowan Named COO of the Year At the Operational Excellence Awards UK 2026
Making Residential Bridging Faster With Enhanced Dual+
25
Bon Voyage, Grace! We’ll miss you!
Building on Our Relationship with Futurity Finance Marking £13m in completions and sitting down with the team behind it
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Did You Spot Us? A look at where Hope Capital appeared in Q3
31 Max Net Gets Even Better in Q3 With further rate reductions
32 Investing in Our People Through CPD
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Meet Our Star of Hope Winner It’s time to celebrate!
34-35
We’ve Been Busy! A look back at our Q3 events
A Fantastic Day Thanks to Synergy Commercial Finance Meet the Funder event!
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OUR NEXT
Chapter Investing in our people, our business and Liverpool
From a 900 sq. ft. startup office to a 10,000 sq. ft. headquarters, we’re investing in our people, our ambition and the Liverpool community we’ve proudly called home since 2011. When our CEO, Jonathan Sealey, established Hope Capital in 2011, it began as a oneman operation from a modest 900 sq. ft. office. What started with a clear vision and plenty of ambition has grown into a 45-strong 04
business and the largest privately owned specialist finance company in the area. Our new 10,000 sq. ft. headquarters at Alaska House in Liverpool marks another significant milestone in our journey, representing a major investment in our future and the people behind our success. We first moved to Alaska House in 2018, occupying 3,000 sq. ft. with a team of just nine.
Our new headquarters reflects just how far we have come, while giving us the space and facilities to support the next stage of our growth.
We wanted to create more than simply a bigger office. The new space has been designed around how our people work, collaborate and connect, with an auditorium, extensive meeting areas, video-call booths and a dedicated media room. Social spaces, including a bar, also provide somewhere for our team to come together away from their desks. For us, this is an investment in our people as much as it is in our premises. We want to create an inspiring environment where talented people can do their best work, share ideas and grow alongside the business.
Our growth has also enabled us to attract experienced professionals from major banking organisations including Barclays, Santander and Royal Bank of Scotland, bringing additional expertise to our team and strengthening Liverpool’s specialist finance sector.
While we have continued to expand, our roots have remained firmly in Liverpool. We have deliberately stayed in the city throughout our growth, creating jobs, attracting talent and investing in the local community. Liverpool is at the heart of who we are, and we are proud to continue building our future here.
The result is much more than an increase in square footage. It is a statement of confidence in our people, our business and the city we call home. This is our next chapter. And we’re only just getting started. 05
15 Years of H
Countless relationships, deals This year, we’re celebrating a very special birthday: 15 years of Hope Capital. Since 2011, we’ve grown from a small start-up into an established specialist lender, but our ambition has remained the same - to make property finance more straightforward, flexible and accessible.
2011 •
•
Hope Capital Bridging Finance was established by Jonathan Sealey on the 23rd September 2011 Initially operating from a 900 sq. ft. office at Switch House
2012 •
•
Steve Sealey • joined the Hope Capital Board as Chairman Completed our first • residential property deal
2013 Completed • our largest loan to date (£750k), swiftly • followed by a £1.1m loan Expanded our team by 40% in just one year
2016
2018
Celebrated • five amazing years! • Completed a £4.5m loan in just five working days and in the middle of • Brexit
•
•
06
Rebranded as • Hope Capital Relocated to the ground floor of Alaska House, moving • into a 3,000 sq. ft. office space Secured a brand-new institutional • funding facility with Triple Point Signed the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter Expanded our offering into Scotland
2020 Introduced AVMs, completing our first AVM deal Welcomed our first electronic ID verification system Introduced full title insurance across all property types
Hope Capital
and milestones along the way There’s so much to celebrate, from our very first loan to the growth of our team, the evolution of our proposition and the fantastic relationships we’ve built across the industry. So, rather than looking back at every milestone, here are a few of the moments that have helped shape our story.
2021 • •
Celebrated a • decade with the team! Migrated core systems to Office 365 • and SharePoint
2022 Introduced • dual legal representation on auction residential property types Launched • myHOPE, our well-being and benefits portal
2023 Added a new • institutional funding line through Shawbrook • Bank Launched our first ESG Report •
2024 Dual legal • representation expanded to all property types Launched HOPE • Academy, our digital hub for learning and development Increased our long-service milestones to recognise 15 and 20 years
2025 Rebranded as Hope Capital Property Finance Achieved multiple industry accreditations and charters
2026 • •
•
15 years. What a journey! Secured a third institutional funding line through Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) Relocated to the 3rd floor of Alaska House, moving into a 10,000 sq. ft. office space
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Celebrat Consecut at the
Five years, fi
Top Mortgag
for the Fifth Con A S V OT E D BY THE H
2022
There’s something pretty special about being recognised as a Top Mortgage Employer once. Doing it five years in a row feels even better. We’re delighted to have been named a Top Mortgage Employer by Mortgage Introducer for the fifth consecutive year, continuing our unbroken run of recognition since the programme launched in 2022. For us, though, this isn’t just about collecting another award. What makes it meaningful is knowing that our people have helped shape the result. The Top Mortgage Employers programme gives employees the opportunity to share honest, anonymous feedback about what it’s really like to work at their company. That covers everything from career
08
2023
20
progression, pay and benefit inclusion, innovation and sus
So, when we say we’re proud really talking about the peop Property Finance what it is.
We’ve always believed that a happen by accident. It takes change and, most important matters to the people who co
That’s why we continue to loo the employee experience, wh myHOPE benefits and compe develop, or simply creating a supported and valued.
ting Five tive Years e Top
five awards
ge Employer
nsecutive Year H OP E CAPI T A L T EA M
024
2025 2026
ts to culture, diversity and stainability.
d to be recognised, we’re ple who make Hope Capital
a great workplace doesn’t listening, being open to tly, understanding what ome to work here every day.
ok at how we can improve hether that’s through our ensation, opportunities to a culture where people feel
And we don’t think that work ever really finishes. The business has changed considerably since we first received the award in 2022, and we’ll continue to grow and evolve. But one thing that hasn’t changed is how important our people are to everything we do. Five consecutive years of recognition gives us a great opportunity to celebrate, but it also reminds us why we keep investing in our culture. Because ultimately, this award belongs to the whole team. And we couldn’t be prouder of what we’re building together.
09
Building Our Funding Capacity to £160m Three major funding milestones
Following our £35m funding line with Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) announced in June, we’re pleased to have continued our momentum with two further funding milestones, taking our total committed funding to £160m. We’ve renewed and increased our senior funding line facilitated by Triple Point to £75m, building on a relationship that began in 2018 with an initial £10m facility. The latest £30m increase provides further capacity to support our growth and expand the flexible, bespoke solutions we offer to brokers and property investors.
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We’ve also strengthened our longstanding relationship with Shawbrook Bank, increasing our committed facility to £50m. Having started with a £15m facility in 2023, this latest increase reflects the continued growth of our business and the confidence of our funding partners. Together with our new HTB facility, these milestones significantly strengthen and diversify our funding platform, giving us greater capacity and resilience as demand continues to grow.
From left to right: Steve Sealey, Kate Cowan and Jonathan Sealey
Kate Cowan Named COO of the Year At the Operational Excellence Awards UK 2026
It was great to see another welldeserved moment of recognition for Kate Cowan, our Chief Financial and Operating Officer, who has added another accolade to her name after being named COO of the Year at the Operational Excellence Awards UK. Kate’s leadership spans every
part of Hope Capital Property Finance, bringing together financial performance, operational excellence
and a strong people-focused culture. Her continued recognition reflects the impact she makes across the business and her contribution to our ongoing growth. We’re delighted to see Kate’s hard work and leadership recognised once again, with more achievements to celebrate. Congratulations, Kate!
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Making Residentia
With Enhan
At Hope Capital Property Finance, we know that speed and certainty are two of the biggest priorities for brokers working on residential bridging cases. Completion deadlines can be demanding, and delays at key stages of a transaction can quickly create additional pressure for brokers and their clients. That is why we have strengthened our Dual+ proposition, making it easier to progress eligible cases quickly and with greater certainty from the outset. One of the key enhancements is the increase in our dual legal representation threshold from £500k to £1m. This now applies across England, Wales and Scotland, giving more eligible transactions access to a streamlined and potentially more cost-effective legal process. We have also increased our instant valuation capability to £1m. Where a case qualifies, we can instruct and complete the valuation at enquiry stage, bringing an important part of the underwriting process forward. For brokers, this means key information can be available sooner, helping us make lending decisions more quickly and reducing the potential for delays later in the transaction. It also gives brokers greater clarity earlier in the process, which can be particularly valuable when working towards a tight completion deadline. 12
Our dedicated packaging team plays an important role in this process. Cases are reviewed and packaged on the same day they are received before progressing through underwriting and legal completion. By focusing on getting cases packaged correctly and efficiently from the outset, we can keep transactions moving and provide brokers with experienced support throughout the journey. The enhanced Dual+ proposition also provides loans of up to £1m, with 75% LTV available from 0.82%. There is no upfront legal undertaking up to £1m where the relevant criteria are met, alongside instant valuations and dual legal representation up to the same level. Dual+ is available for residential purchases, refinances, capital raises and cosmetic light refurbishment projects, with terms from 3 to 12 months, flexible repayment options and full title insurance.
Packaged to Perfection
al Bridging Faster
nced Dual+
Expanding the proposition across Scotland is another important development for us. Dual+ is now available across England, Wales and Scotland, giving brokers in each of these markets access to the enhanced proposition. For us, these changes are about more than simply increasing limits. They reflect our focus on removing unnecessary friction from the bridging process and responding to what brokers need when transactions are timesensitive. By combining earlier valuations, increased access to dual legal
representation, enhanced upfront packaging and experienced teams, we are creating a more streamlined route from enquiry through to completion. We want brokers to have confidence that when they bring an eligible case to us, we can move quickly, communicate clearly and provide the certainty they need to keep their client’s transaction on track. That is the purpose of Dual+: a simpler, faster and more efficient approach to residential bridging, built around helping brokers complete more cases and helping their clients meet their completion deadlines.
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Strengthening Our Pre-Application Process A smoother journey from enquiry to underwriting
Efficiency is becoming increasingly important in a competitive specialist lending market, and getting an application right from the outset can make a significant difference to the overall lending journey. That’s why a dedicated Pre-Application Team has been introduced at Hope Capital Property Finance, designed to strengthen the process before cases reach underwriting and provide greater support to brokers and borrowers. The new team follows a restructure of the sales department earlier this year, led by Kim Parker, Director of Lending Operations and Commercial Strategy. Leading the team is James McDonough, who has rejoined Hope Capital after a threeyear absence. James brings more than 12 years’ experience across regulated and unregulated lending, with extensive expertise in underwriting operations. He is supported by Michael Trafford, Joe Jacques and Dyl Roscoe. Michael joined Hope Capital in 2022 and has moved into the new team from his previous role as Sales Specialist. Joe and Dyl are both new additions to the business, bringing several years of financial services experience. Joe joins from Santander, where he specialised in fraud detection and financial crime prevention, while Dyl joins from Metro Bank, where she worked as a Lending Specialist.
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James McDonough Pre-Application Lead
Dyl Roscoe Pre-Application Specialist
Joe Jacques Pre-Application Specialist
Michael Trafford Pre-Application Specialist
Getting applications ready for underwriting: The Pre-Application Team will focus on ensuring applications handed over by the Sales Specialists are expertly packaged and fully prepared before reaching the underwriting team. The new function is designed to create a more consistent, efficient and timely process, helping cases progress smoothly while keeping brokers updated at every key stage.
The team will:
• Acknowledge enquiries within one business hour and provide updates at every key milestone. • Complete initial due diligence within a five-hour SLA, taking enquiries through to application across all deal types. • Arrange valuation and legal quotes prior to underwriting for time-sensitive applications. • Package and submit fully completed cases within 24 business hours of receiving all required documentation. • Provide on-site support to Sales and Underwriting Teams, ensuring a seamless handover. • Operate a dedicated broker support line for postsubmission queries.
The introduction of the team reflects our continued focus on streamlining our lending process, with a particular emphasis on speed, communication and application quality. By providing dedicated support before a case reaches underwriting, the new structure aims to reduce delays, improve the handover between teams and help brokers and borrowers progress their transactions more efficiently.
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Employer’s Excelle
Taking hom
Laura Carr and Tony Lister
From left to right: Carmen Mackenzie, Jemma Wood, Kate We’re delighted to share that we were named the winner of the Financial Employer category at the Employer’s Excellence Awards 2026, in association with Metro.co.uk. It was a wonderful evening and a very proud moment for everyone involved. To be recognised alongside some of the UK’s leading businesses is a fantastic achievement and a real reflection of the work we continue to do to create an outstanding workplace 16
culture, invest in our people across the business.
The evening was made even some of our valued stakeho incredibly grateful for the re collaboration we share with have the opportunity to cele together.
ence Awards 2026
me the win
Kathryn O’Rourke and Laura Carr
Cowan, Owain Thomas, Laura Carr and Vernon Kay
e and deliver excellence
n more special by having olders there with us. We’re elationships, support and h them, and it was lovely to ebrate this achievement
While awards are always exciting, what makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it reflects the people behind it. Our people, their commitment and the culture we’ve created together are at the heart of this achievement. A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to this journey, and congratulations to all of the other organisations recognised on the night.
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Welcome to Our New Starters
Meet Emma and Carmen
We’re delighted to welcome two new members to the Hope Capital Property Finance team, Carmen Mackenzie and Emma Coley, who have recently joined us in key roles across the business.
Welcome Emma Coley Emma Coley has joined the Underwriting team as Completions Co-Ordinator, working within the team managed by Laura Carr, Director of Underwriting, Compliance and Stakeholder Relations. Emma will play an important role in supporting the completions process and helping ensure deals progress smoothly through to completion.
Welcome Carmen Mackenzie Carmen Mackenzie joins us as Senior Resolutions and Recoveries Specialist, becoming part of the wider Portfolio Management Team. With a key role focused on resolutions and recoveries, Carmen will be a valuable addition to the team as we continue to support our borrowers and brokers throughout their journey with Hope Capital Property Finance.
We’re thrilled to have both Carmen and Emma on board and look forward to seeing the impact they’ll make. Welcome to Hope Capital! 18
Celebrating 3 Years
Congratulations Cheryl!
We’re delighted to celebrate a fantastic milestone for one of our Underwriters, Cheryl Smyth, who marked three years with Hope Capital Property Finance! Over the past three years, Cheryl has consistently demonstrated her commitment to delivering excellent service and achieving the best possible outcomes for our brokers and borrowers. Anyone who has had the pleasure of working with Cheryl will know just how hard she works to go the extra mile. Her dedication and customer-focused approach have also been recognised time and again through the fantastic 5-star reviews she has received. Cheryl, congratulations on three amazing years with Hope Capital! We’re incredibly proud to have you as part of the team and look forward to seeing all that the future holds for you. Here’s to the next chapter! 19
More Choice, More Speed in Scotland Good news for our Scottish brokers!
We’re delighted to welcome Aberdein Considine and Carters to our panel of solicitor firms, expanding our dual legal representation offering and helping make completions faster and more cost-effective. We’ve been lending in Scotland since 2018, and these new partnerships further strengthen our commitment to providing brokers and borrowers with a fast, flexible and streamlined funding journey. Our Dual+ residential bridging product now offers a £1m dual legal representation threshold and instant valuations at enquiry stage, helping us get ahead of the process from the outset. Combined with our no upfront legal 20
undertaking offering in Scotland, it’s another step towards making specialist finance simpler and more efficient. We’re excited to be working with Aberdein Considine and Carters and supporting even more brokers and borrowers across Scotland. More choice. Less friction. Faster completions.
Bon Voyage, Grace!
We’ll miss you! It’s always lovely when someone who has been part of the Hope Capital Property Finance team comes back through our doors, and this summer, we were delighted to welcome Grace Richards back to the team. Grace first joined our Post Completions Team in 2023, spending six months with us after finishing college and before heading off to begin her degree at Salford University. Three years later, Grace returned to Hope Capital for the summer, this time as a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Aeronautical Engineering graduate! We’re incredibly proud to have watched Grace’s journey unfold, from her first few months with us to successfully completing her degree. Her hard work, dedication and positive attitude have always made her a valued member of the team, and it was
fantastic to have her back with us, even if only for a short while. But now it’s time for Grace to spread her wings once again! Grace is heading off to Australia, where she’ll be travelling for the foreseeable future and starting her next big adventure. Grace, thank you for everything you’ve contributed during your time at Hope Capital Property Finance. It has been a pleasure having you as part of the team, and we’re so glad you came back to spend the summer with us. We’ll certainly miss having you around, but we’re excited to see where life takes you next. Have an amazing time in Australia, make plenty of memories, and most importantly, enjoy every minute! You’ll always have a place at Hope Capital Property Finance.
Good luck, Grace, and safe travels!
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Building on Our Relationship with Futurity Finance Marking £13m in completions and sitting down with the team behind it This quarter, we shared the news of our growing relationship with Futurity Finance, a Scotlandbased brokerage led by Director, Stephen Gallagher. The relationship began when National Account Manager David Weir and Stephen met to discuss a complex deal in London, quickly finding a shared specialist knowledge of the UK property market and a commitment to achieving the best outcome for borrowers, the foundation of the relationship since 2025. Together, we have already delivered more than £13m in completions across the UK over the last 12 months, with a 100% redemption record. To mark the milestone, David, Andrew and Stephen sat down together for a video interview to talk through how the relationship came together and how our excellent relationship benefits Futurity Finance’s borrowers.
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“We have full confidence in every deal that comes to us from Futurity Finance, because of the work they put in and the level of detail we receive. It means we can move quickly and make decisions with certainty.” Andrew Bate, Senior Underwriter, Hope Capital Property Finance “We always start with the exit in mind. Having a strong exit and a well thought out plan allows me to work with David to put together a deal with full confidence.” Stephen Gallagher, Director, Futurity Finance
From left to right: Andrew Bate, David Weir and Stephen Gallagher We also took a look at a couple of the key completions so far. From the first case to the latest, here is a look at two of the transactions that show what the relationship with Futurity Finance can deliver for borrowers with complex requirements. First completion: a semi-commercial purchase in London. Structured by David Weir, this was the first case David and Stephen worked on together, and the deal that laid the foundation for the wider relationship. Hope Capital Property Finance lent against the property’s projected value, enhanced by a title split completed at the point of completion, to provide 100% of the £3.8m purchase price. This gave the borrower time to secure refinancing without the risk of an impending second charge on another property. Latest completion: a below-market-value purchase in Scotland. The latest case saw Hope Capital Property Finance fund the belowmarket-value purchase of a commercial asset comprising three office buildings. The facility was structured at 70% LTV against the property’s vacant possession value, providing a gross loan of £2m over a 12-month term with a refinance exit, with the borrower expecting to exit within three months.
“These two cases show the range of what we can structure for Futurity Finance’s borrowers, from a below-market-value purchase in Scotland to a complex semicommercial deal in London. Working closely with Stephen on over 14 deals in the last 12 months has given us confidence to stretch our criteria to support his borrowers.” David Weir, National Account Manager, Hope Capital Property Finance “Hope Capital Property Finance’s ability to structure these deals gave the borrower immediate equity gain from day one and substantial taxation savings, exactly the kind of result that leads to repeat business.” Stephen Gallagher, Futurity Finance
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A Fantastic Day Thanks to Synergy Commercial Finance Meet the Funder event!
David Weir and Chris Grierson At the start of Q3, our Relationship Manager, Chris Grierson, and National Account Manager, David Weir, headed to York for Synergy Commercial Finance’s annual Meet the Funder event, held at the Malmaison. The event brought together an impressive network of finance brokers and funders from across the UK, creating a brilliant opportunity to catch up with existing contacts, make new connections and strengthen relationships within the industry. The daytime expo was packed with opportunities to meet a wide range of 24
brokers, share ideas and discuss the ever-changing needs of UK businesses. This was followed by a fantastic lunch in the main restaurant, which had been reserved exclusively for the event. And the fun didn’t stop there! The evening moved to Sora, where attendees enjoyed an evening of entertainment, laughter and great company, with special guest Denise Van Outen adding to the celebrations. A brilliant event, great conversations and plenty of opportunities to connect - thank you to Synergy Commercial Finance for hosting such a fantastic day!
Love Is in the Air at Hope Capital
Two of our team members have exciting news to celebrate! We’re delighted to share that our Senior got Underwriter, Andrew Bate, has recently engaged to his girlfriend, Georgie! the Everyone at Hope Capital is thrilled for happy couple as they begin this exciting new chapter together. our There’s more exciting news to share, as underwriter, Luke Renshaw, recently got trip engaged to his girlfriend, Ellie, during a to the Big Apple!
Andrew Bate and fiancée, Georgie!
With Andrew and Luke both part of our Underwriting team, there’s plenty of excitement in the office as two colleagues prepare for their big days. We’re looking forward to hearing all about the plans – and, of course, keeping our fingers crossed for an invite! We wish Andrew, Georgie, Luke and Ellie every happiness as they look forward to this exciting next chapter together.
Luke Renshaw and fiancée, Ellie! 25
Sharing Our Insigh
Five articles, four publications: th team shared
Our senior leadership team has continued to share their insights, expertise and perspec challenges shaping property finance, their contributions reflect Hope Capital’s commitm industry. Explore their latest insights below and discove
Bridging & Commercial (B&C) Magazine Reading the market beyond the headline By Kate Cowan, Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Kate Cowan examines the market implications of Keir Starmer’s resignation, the renewed debate around land value tax and the opportunities short-term finance could offer borrowers. “I remain sceptical that Britain is on the verge of a fundamental restructuring of property taxation. History shows that uncertainty often creates opportunity, and those willing to look beyond the immediate noise and identify value before confidence returns may be best placed when it does.” Read the full feature here: Bridging & Commercial Magazine— The Super Specialist Issue by Bridging & Commercial Magazine - Issuu 26
ht with the Industry
he opinions our senior leadership d last quarter
ctives on the latest industry developments. From market trends to the opportunities and ment to supporting brokers and borrowers while helping drive conversations across the er their perspectives on the issues shaping our sector.
NACFB Commercial Broker Magazine Keeping projects and exits on track By Jemma Wood, Director of Portfolio, Asset and Risk
In the Q4 edition of NACFB’s Commercial Broker Magazine, Jemma explores how Hope Capital’s dedicated Loan Support function helps borrowers navigate market changes, from renters’ rights reform to the incoming Trusted Trader Scheme. “Rogue tradespeople remain rare, but I’ve seen the real damage they can do, to a project and a borrower’s portfolio.” If you haven’t picked up a printed copy of the magazine, you can read it here: issuu.com/nacfb/docs/nacfb_-_ commercial_broker_magazine_-_ q4_2026/76
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Bridging & Commercial (B&C)
Bridging Loan D
Investing in HMOs: understanding demand and demographics
What underwr when a bridging straight
By Jemma Wood, Director of Portfolio, Asset and Risk In her latest article for B&C, Jemma explores how HMOs are too often treated as one broad strategy, when the tenant, the planning route and the finance structure can all look completely different depending on the circumstances. “The HMO niche is no longer simply about creating more rooms.” “Restricting HMO supply may help a council manage its local housing balance, but it may also limit housing options for the very workforce that supports the local labour market.” Read the full article here: Investing in HMOs: understanding demand and demographics | Bridging & Commercial
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By Laura Carr, Direc Compliance and Sta
Laura brings three c life in her latest arti the stories behind that nearly deraile collaboration with b solicitors helped g the l
“Case studies are th of eve
“Deals rarely fall aw headline terms. Th detail, and they are
Discover the fu What underwr when a bridging straightfor
Directory (BLD)
Property Reporter
riting looks like deal stops being tforward
Why part-time property investors are always behind the curve
ctor of Underwriting, akeholder Relations
completed deals to icle for BLD, sharing d the challenges ed them and how borrowers and their get each one over line.
he polished version ents.”
way because of the hey fall away in the e saved there too.”
ull article here: riting looks like deal stops being rward | BLD
By Kate Cowan, Chief Financial and Operating Officer What gives full-time property investors the edge? Kate explores the growing divide between full-time and part-time investors and why being ahead of the market can matter more than the capital available. “The reports will tell you where the market is heading. But conversations with a surveyor, broker, lender or fellow investor will tell you whether the deal in front of you stacks up.” “If a handful of casual conversations can surface that much, consider the position of an investor having dozens of those discussions every week.” Interested to learn more? Click here: Why part-time property investors are always behind the curve | Property Reporter
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Did You Spot Us?
A look at where Hope Capital appeared in Q3 Bridging & Commercial
Fiducia Commercial Network
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Bridging Loan Directory
The Brightstar Group
Max Net Gets Even Better in Q3 With further rate reductions
Following its successful launch at the NACFB Commercial Finance Expo in Q2, Max Net has been further enhanced in Q3, with reduced rates across all three property types, with semi-commercial seeing the biggest reduction of 10bps. These enhancements build on Max Net’s strong market performance, with enquiries up 30% since launch. Backed by Hope Capital’s strengthened institutional funding lines, the improvements reflect our commitment to responding to broker demand and delivering competitive, flexible funding solutions. Max Net continues to offer maximum upfront liquidity from day one, with forward-funded refurbishment tranches typically released on the same day, helping borrowers get projects underway without delay. With loans from £50k to £5m, terms of 3–15 months and up to 100% of build costs covered, the product supports a wide range of residential, semi-commercial and commercial projects.
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Investing in Our
People
Through CPD
We believe learning is an ongoing journey, and we’re always looking for new ways to help our people grow, develop and stay ahead.
internal training sessions designed to share ideas, exchange knowledge and learn from the expertise within our business.
Our teams have regular opportunities to build their knowledge, sharpen their skills and keep up with the latest industry requirements.
Held in our purposebuilt auditorium, these 30-minute sessions are hosted by a director or senior member of the team and cover a range of relevant topics. It’s a chance to hear different perspectives, share real-world experience and take away practical knowledge that can make a difference.
Alongside essential compliance and IT training provided by our IT partner, colleagues can access dedicated learning modules through NACFB’s Skillcast Learning Management System. But learning with us goes beyond online courses. Every week, we bring our teams together for engaging
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By making CPD part of our everyday working culture, we’re creating an environment where people are encouraged to keep learning, keep developing and keep moving forward.
Alicia Alty Sales Specialist
Meet Our Star of Hope Winner It’s time to celebrate!
We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that Sophie O’Neill is our Q3 2026 Star of Hope! Our quarterly values recognition scheme is all about shining a spotlight on the incredible people who go above and beyond to bring our values to life, and this quarter, Sophie has truly stood out. Chosen by colleagues from across the business, this award recognises Sophie’s outstanding contribution, unwavering commitment and the positive impact she has on those around her. And, of course, no Star of Hope celebration would be complete without a little something to mark the occasion! As a huge thank you for everything she does, Sophie has received a well-earned Star of Hope trophy along with a monetary gift to treat herself to something special. Because being a star deserves a proper celebration!
Jonathan Sealey
and Sophie O’Nei
ll
But don’t just take our word for it… Here’s what Sophie’s colleagues had to say: “Sophie has also been amazing at training me alongside managing her casework. She has given me the confidence and support to take ownership of my learning and develop my skills.”
“Sophie has always been helpful and supportive ever since I started despite not being in the same exact role, a lot of the knowledge coincides and it has really helped with my understanding of bridging.”
“Sophie is always looking for ways to provide the best possible service to our borrowers and brokers. She is willing to think outside the box to support the wider team.”
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The official opening of our new headquarters! We surprised the team with a grand opening celebration, complete with a delicious buffet lunch, marking an exciting new chapter for us all
David Weir and Chris Grierson July got our exhibition season off to a great start, with Relationship Manager Chris Grierson and National Account Manager David Weir joining Synergy Commercial Finance at their annual Meet the Funder event, held at the Malmaison in York
From left to right: Andrew Bate, David Weir and Stephen Gallagher Great to welcome Stephen Gallagher from Futurity Finance, who travelled from Glasgow to record some video content with us. Another great example of working with Hope Capital Property Finance on dual marketing initiatives 34
Sophie O’Toole an We also welcomed brokers to a webin Sales Specialists, S and Leanne Staffo another great opp knowledge, offer u strengthen our rela brokers
We’ve Bee A look back at
From left to right: Carmen Mackenzie, Jemma Wood, Kate Cowan, Owain Thomas, Laura Carr, and Vernon Kay We were delighted to take home Financial Employer of the Year at the Employer’s Excellence Awards 2026, in association with Metro.co.uk, in Manchester
A big thank you to JMW for inviting us to celebrate the launch of their new Manchester office. Lovely to see their new space.
nd Leanne Stafford d Brickflow nar hosted by our Sophie O’Toole ord, providing portunity to share updates and ationships with
From left to right: Ben Murphy, Chris Grierson, Sam Lea, David Weir, and Rory Boyd Some of our sales team enjoyed 18 holes at The Belfry Hotel & Resort with six brokers before heading to the Mortgage Strategy Specialist Lending Awards 2026 later that day
en Busy! t our Q3 events
Andrew Bate and David Weir A special thanks to Stephen Gallagher for inviting Andrew Bate and David Weir to the NACFB Commercial Broker Awards 2026 at Lancashire Cricket Club
Another successful webinar, hosted by our Relationship Manager Chris Grierson, for Mortgage Force brokers, sharing insights, updates and expertise with our broker network
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