120 exhibitors had taken stands at Manchester’s G-MEX exhibition centre and organizers Clarion Events also staged a two-day programme of seminars, as well as a separate Principal Seminar Theatre, for companies to outline their network offerings to intermediaries post-regulation.
There was a strong regulatory theme at the Expo, with the FSA giving presentations and running question and answer sessions in the seminar programmes, as well as taking a stand on the exhibition floor, where seven staff offered one-to-one discussions to intermediaries, to discuss the implications of the new regulatory structure, being introduced on October 31st.
Show director Andy White said: “We have been very pleased with the response to the show, both from exhibitors and visitors. The exhibitors had senior people on their stands, who could offer valuable views and information to the visitors. Similarly, many of the exhibitors said they had generated good quality leads from the visitors.”
The seminar programme was chaired by Chris Cummings, director of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries. As well as the FSA sessions, there were presentations on buy-to-let investments, the housing market, non-conforming loans and issues relating to networks. Chris Cummings said: “This was the last Expo until after the start of regulation and in many ways it has provided a last chance saloon for decisions on regulation. The FSA’s attendance has ensured that no-one could say that they hadn’t had the opportunity to learn about the issues at first hand.”
Susan de Mont, the FSA mortgage policy manager who spoke at four sessions during the show, said: “We are very pleased that this year’s ‘Meet the FSA’ sessions have been as popular as last. 200 firms have visited our stand asking us questions about our rules and the authorization process. We’re very encouraged by the industry’s response to regulation and their increasing level of understanding about the regime.“
The LIA and CII had a stand to promote their joint venture Mortgage ASSESS product, which offers structured continuing professional development post-October. LIA development manager Steve Simpson said: “There is a broad recognition amongst advisers that they need to do something post-regulation, but the detail is not always clear. We have had some very useful conversations over the past two days.”
Richard Sexton, a director at national surveyors e.surv, said: “We have been extremely pleased with the event. In fact we have generated more business opportunities here than we did at the London Expo last November.”
Clarion staged the first northern Mortgage Business Expo to build on the success of the Mortgage Business Expo London 2003, which attracted more than 5000 visitors and was the largest mortgage business event in the UK. The 2004 London event will be held in Earls Court Two on 17 and 18 November.
