Specialist Lending Study Live: A Night of Insight and Industry Perspective

From the moment the doors opened, the room buzzed with networking and anticipation. Attendees were eager to explore the latest findings from the ninth Specialist Lending Study and what they mean for the market. This was the first opportunity for the industry to see these insights, and the conversations that followed will leave a lasting impact.

Key highlights from the evening

• Paul Adams, our Sales Director, set the tone with a warm welcome and a compelling overview of the study’s key findings. He highlighted emerging trends and, importantly, the opportunities for brokers in the current market.
• Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times, delivered a thought-provoking keynote that challenged conventional thinking and offered a fresh perspective on consumer behaviour and market dynamics. Her session covered everything from the upcoming budget and challenges in the buying and selling process to why mortgage brokers remain essential, even in an era of AI.
• Robert Barnard then led a dynamic panel discussion featuring respected industry voices: Dale Jannels, Phil Leivesley, and Stephanie Charman. Together, they shared candid insights, real-world experiences, and their take on what the findings mean for brokers and the market moving forward.

Insights that sparked conversation

The panel tackled some of the most pressing issues facing the lending market today, using fresh data from the study to frame the discussion. Topics included the rise of just-off-high-street borrowers, financial confidence and stress, and the critical role of mortgage brokers.

• 16.6 million people in the UK are now affected by adverse credit. The panel explored whether consumers—and even brokers—are fully aware of specialist lenders as viable alternatives to the high street. A knowledge gap remains between consumers intending to use a broker and the current intermediary share of mortgage transactions, so continued education and reassurance are key.
• 76% of self-employed individuals believe it’s harder to get a mortgage than if they were employed, a figure that has risen since last year. The panel unpacked misconceptions and discussed how brokers can shift this narrative, highlighting that placing a self-employed application is easier than ever with the range of options available.
• 70% of adults say they understand which debts to prioritise, but this drops to just 52% among 18–24-year-olds. With mortgages set to be embedded in the national curriculum, the panel debated whether this will close the gap—or if more targeted financial literacy efforts are needed.
• Awareness that some lenders are only accessible through brokers is highest among younger generations (53% of Gen Z, 54% of Millennials) but significantly lower among Boomers (29%) and older Gen Zs (39%).

To everyone who joined us, thank you for making the night so memorable. Your engagement, questions, and perspectives enriched the conversation and brought the study to life.

We’ll be sharing more from the Specialist Lending Study 2025/26 over the coming weeks.

Read the full study here.