JEREMY DUNCOMBE’S GROUNDBREAKING PODCAST SERIES REACHES ONE-YEAR MILESTONE

29 January 2026

Anniversary podcast features interview with Jeremy himself

Jeremy Duncombe’s innovative podcast series aimed at inspiring brokers through the experiences of some of the industry’s leading lights, has reached its one-year anniversary.

The series was designed to show the many varied journeys that senior leaders in the industry have taken, and to dispel myths that all business leaders need to come from the same backgrounds or educational paths, by interviewing key figures from major intermediary networks, lenders, media outlets and trade bodies.

The series has so far featured industry leaders Ben Thompson, Esther Dijkstra, Danielle Moore, Stephanie Charman, Martin Reynolds, Louisa Sedgwick, James Tucker, Nicola Alvarez, Sidney Wager, Dev Malle, Clare Beardmore and Richard Merrett, with the promise of further high-profile guests to come.

In the latest podcast, launched today (Thursday, 29 January), Ben Thompson, director of home moving strategy at the mortgage advice bureau - who was interviewed by Jeremy in the very first Mortgage Mentors podcast – turns the tables by interviewing Jeremy himself.

The pair discuss Jeremy’s career – which has stretched almost 40 years and began at The Halifax aged 18, later leading to brokering and lending roles, all of which contributed to him becoming the highly-respected figure he is today, as managing director of Accord Mortgages.

Jeremy has been instrumental in building the Accord brand and the launch of its popular Growth Series, which provides free resources, information and inspiration for intermediaries via the lender’s website. He has also played key roles at industry bodies the intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) and the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI).

Ben explores with Jeremy what drives him: having a people-first mindset, taking the time to develop talent, and understanding the importance of building a support network.

Jeremy talks through the turning point of his career which led him into financial services, having started out as a cashier, and also describes a ‘sliding doors moment’ leading to a role that was to set the direction of his future career.

A passionate advocate for the broker sector, Jeremy explains that the different roles he’s held over the years – working as a broker, lender and distributor – have all provided him with the holistic view of the industry which has helped him carve out the niche that Accord inhabits, as one of the most respected intermediary lenders.

Jeremy commented: “The Mortgage Mentors series came about from discussions I had with colleagues about social mobility – lots of people have taken unconventional routes to forge a path into senior roles – and many of those I’ve interviewed in this series have got to where they are via unusual routes.

“The series was designed to show that you can come from any background and succeed in the industry with the right drive and support.”

Jeremy also goes on to discuss the importance of striking a work-life balance – which he understands particularly well as his daughter was ill as a teenager and this provided him with a clear understanding of what’s important. Indeed, Jeremy himself is now practicing what he preaches by working a three-day working week –providing his perfect work-life balance, and the privilege of more time to see his grandson grow up.

Finally, Ben asks Jeremy a question from the previous guest – as is tradition on the podcast series. This time the question was ‘what would you change in the mortgage market to benefit the sector?’ which elicits both a serious - and more frivolous - response.

You can listen to this anniversary edition here.

Other highlights from the Mortgage Mentors series over the past year include insight from industry experts in February on the unexpected resilience of the UK mortgage market, with forecasts for 2025. In September, Jeremy was joined by Sidney Wager, managing director at L&C, to explore leadership, inclusion, and the importance of cultivating talent in financial services. And for the final podcast of 2025, Jeremy was joined by Richard Merrett, managing director at Alexander Hall, who tells his story of avoiding both sales and financial services, yet somehow building an award-winning career in each.

To find out more about what the Growth Series and the Mortgage Mentors Series have to offer, and gain access to its library of free resources, please visit: https://info.accordmortgages.com/growth-series-sign-up