UK Enterprise Awards 2021

204 | UK Enterprise Awards 2021 Most Client-Focused Mortgage & Protection Advisory Firm – South West England Based in the South West, but able to operate and act for anyone in the UK, Strong Mortgage Solutions is a relatively young company having only been established 12 months ago. However, as Founder Martin Strong tells us, business is booming and there are already exciting growth plans in place. Applying for a mortgage can seem like a minefield. With so many lenders and different types of mortgages available, picking the right one can be difficult. Who do you listen to? Friends? Family? The internet? Just because someone you know has had a good mortgage deal, does not mean the same lender and option is suitable for you. Based in Bristol, Strong Mortgage Solutions is able to provide tailored mortgage advice to ensure you get the right deal for you. Set up in 2020 by Martin Strong, the company has helped many people secure their first home, move to a new property, or invest in a buy-to-let. “I set up Strong Mortgage Solutions as I worked for a number of companies and I felt the clients were treated in a clinical way as just a transaction,” explains Martin. “I wanted clients to have a port of call where they can ask questions and not feel stupid during the application process but importantly, even once the case has completed, they can call up and ask anything. These values have been the same since the beginning as are now.” Having been in the industry for several years, Martin prides himself on his service, knowledge and expertise, believing that there is a mortgage option for each and every client. During the process, Martin explains all the available options to his clients to ensure that they not only like the sound of their deal, but fully understand what it is they are getting. It is only when Martin is satisfied that the customer is on-board that he will organise the mortgage application on their behalf. “I get the information from the client in one meeting so I can then go to the lenders and sort out the rest,” he elaborates. “I get recommendations from clients who are happy with my service and knowledge and I have managed to get mortgages for people who have been told they cannot get one by big mortgage companies. As my view is that there is a solution for every client, I spend time with lenders understanding their criteria so I can help more clients get to own their own property.” Regarding internal culture at Strong Mortgage Solutions, Martin looks for staff members who are aware of the need for great service and, in his first year alone, he has recruited two members of staff. “One mortgage adviser was made redundant from a previous company due to Covid, and my administrator was made redundant from my previous mortgage company and, as I was getting busy, I took her on. As we have worked together previously, she knows what I am like and also what I am looking for.” Martin set up his business in July 2020 and, in that time, he experienced how Covid stopped all lenders lending for a number of months. Once the lenders started to lend again, people were buying and with a vengeance which, followed by the stamp duty changes, has ignited the mortgage market, not only with people buying their first home but also with people moving to a new house. “The UK property market is moving fast since Covid restrictions eased and this means it’s a great industry to be helping clients get their new home,” he says. “Bristol is a large city and with the clients I have helped in the past, this helps with recommendations I receive now.” Martin created different ways for clients to communicate with him during the lockdown period, including over the phone and via video call. In the near future, when lockdown is over, he hopes to go back to more face-to-face appointments but will still offer other communication options as this has really helped a lot of his clients to feel relaxed and more confident. Looking to the future, and in the wake of winning the award of Most Client-Focused Mortgage & Protection Advisory Firm for South West England, Martin is hoping to grow the business as well as looking to expand its proposition in order to offer more services to clients. “We are looking to grow in a number of areas so we can create more trust in the finance industry, as this is the main reason why I created Strong Mortgage Solutions.” Contact: Martin Strong Company: Strong Mortgage Solutions Web: www.strongmortgagesolutions.co.uk May21471 Strong Mortgage Solutions