Loans Warehouse builds an entirely new Paraplanning team (without losing the old one)

14 September 2026

Loans Warehouse is celebrating the success of its internal development programme, a year after appointing Lesley White as the specialist broker’s first Head of HR & Recruitment.

The appointment created a dedicated senior role focused on recruitment, retention and developing internal talent. Twelve months on, Loans Warehouse says the results are reflected in both career progression and continued expansion, with staff numbers now 20% higher than this time last year.

One of the clearest examples is its Paraplanning team, which today looks almost entirely different from the team that began 2026 – predominantly because people have progressed rather than left.

During 2026, three Paraplanners have completed company-funded CeMAP training and progressed to become Mortgage Advisers. Another has moved into Underwriting, while long-serving employee Nicki Agombar has been promoted to Head of New Business.

Two further employees are currently undertaking company-funded CeMAP training, with additional development opportunities planned before the end of the year.

Lesley White, Head of HR & Recruitment at Loans Warehouse, said:

“We've effectively built a new Paraplanning team without losing the old one – we've developed it.

“Anyone involved in recruitment who is being honest with themselves will tell you that recruiting and retaining good people in 2026 is more difficult than ever.

“But we've made a conscious decision not to respond by lowering our standards. We expect attitude, effort, accountability and consistently high standards from our people, while our responsibility is to give them the training, support and opportunities to succeed.

“Not every appointment works out and businesses can spend too much time focusing on the people who failed to make the most of the opportunities they were given. We've chosen instead to reflect on those who have succeeded and I'm incredibly proud of what they've achieved.

“Retention is important, but retention at any cost isn't success. Developing and retaining great people while maintaining the standards of the business is.”

Matt Tristram, Co-Founder and Director of Loans Warehouse, added:

“For almost 20 years, we'd never had a dedicated Head of HR & Recruitment, so bringing Lesley into the business was a significant change.

“A year later, our headcount is up 20%, we're developing people into Advice, Underwriting and management, and another generation is coming through behind them.

“Lesley deserves enormous credit. She's helped us become better at recruitment, but more importantly, better at recognising potential and creating genuine career paths.

“You don't build a great business simply by recruiting people. You build it by developing them.”