My Journey with Hope Capital – From Underwriting Assistant to Head of Underwriting

Before Hope Capital

If I rewind to the early years of my career, life looked very different. I began my professional journey at the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, where I spent fourteen years learning the ins and outs of the finance industry. It was a fantastic opportunity to grow and learn in a structured, fast-paced environment. I developed a strong foundation in underwriting, credit assessment, and client relations, and I learnt the value of precision, teamwork, and doing things the right way.

After more than a decade in a large corporate environment, I reached a crossroad. I had built a solid career; however, I felt it was time to prioritise my personal and family life.  

Joining Hope Capital

 For my next chapter, my main goal was to find an environment that valued people alongside performance, and a company where I could use my skills and knowledge to make a real impact.That opportunity arrived in 2014 when I joined Hope Capital as an Assistant Underwriter to provide maternity cover. I remember my first few days vividly. The friendly faces, the energy in the office, and the genuine passion everyone had for what they were building made a great impression on me. It felt completely different from the large institution I had known before. Even though my role began as cover, I immediately knew that Hope Capital was right for me as I was treated like a person and not just a number.

By 2015, I was a fully-fledged member of the team, and it felt like the most natural decision I could make. I was surrounded by people who were ambitious and determined to do their best for our clients.

How Things Have Changed

Fast forward to today, and I am proud to lead Hope Capital’s largest division as Head of Underwriting. I stepped into this role in 2018, shortly after being shortlisted for Underwriter of the Year at the Bridging and Commercial Awards, which was a huge honour.

Underwriting at Hope Capital has of course always been about assessing risk but now, compared to the early days, there is a lot more emphasis on understanding the needs of brokers and borrowers. Communication and problem solving go hand in hand with this. Both are vital skills that can’t always be taught but picked up by having the freedom to make a decision and communicate what made you make it.

As Hope Capital was a lean company in the early days, every decision had a direct and visible impact, making accountability and ownership second nature. Now, as I lead the underwriting department, I’m focused on developing my team and empowering them to uphold that same level of care and accountability as we grow.

Alongside developing the team and our processes, it is also my responsibility to support stakeholder growth and strengthen the fantastic partnerships that have supported us throughout our journey. Collaboration has always been essential to our growth, as our success has been built not only on the hard work of our team but also on the trust and shared goals we have with our partners.

What has made all the difference is the fantastic culture we’ve built, where every team member is empowered to make decisions with confidence. That culture of trust and accountability comes from the very top, starting with our CEO, Jonathan Sealey.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of mentoring talented colleagues, improving processes, and helping to shape our underwriting strategy as the business has grown. One of my proudest moments was being featured in the Bridging and Commercial Power List in 2023, which recognised professionals making a significant impact in the industry. It felt like a reflection not only of my own journey but also of what we have achieved together as a team.

The people-focused culture that drew me to Hope Capital has only gotten stronger over the years. We genuinely look out for one another. There is a real openness here, where ideas are encouraged and achievements are celebrated. The company has supported me at every stage, from professional development to leadership growth, and I have learnt to approach challenges as opportunities to improve.

Looking back, it is incredible to see how far both I and the business have come. We have grown from a small, ambitious team into one of the most respected names in bridging finance, while maintaining our personal and supportive culture.