The pipeline for the Linear group, which comprises Linear Mortgage Network and Linear Financial Services, increased from £250,000 to over £1.2 million in a year. The current projected figures show further expansion from 160 to over 200 estate agency offices by the end of the year.
The figure was announced at Linear’s annual conference, which pulled together all the mortgage advisers involved with the group and 20 of the key lenders used by Linear.
Speaking at the conference and toasting Linear’s success was Stephen Leaman, the chief executive of Openwork. He announced that Linear’s growth and percentage of success is unprecedented within the Network. He said: “Openwork is twice the size it was in 2005 and Linear is the fastest growing business within our network.”
Mark Graves, managing director of Linear, used the conference to recognise the top achievers and the most improved advisers, with a special award for treating customers fairly. Charity support also featured highly with recognition for staff that had run the marathon.
Mark also presented lenders awards as voted for by the Field Force of Linear mortgage advisers. The best performing lenders were:
Best Support in Centre – Abbey
Best Support in Field – Northern Rock
Overall Lender of the Year – Alliance and Leicester.
Graves said, in conclusion of the day: “It has been an incredible year, we are a people business our strength and growth is based on the high calibre of consultants who work with us not for us.
“In many cases our advisers add over 20% to an estate agency branch’s bottom line; that is a significant amount of value. The National Association of Estate Agents is forecasting a drop in housing transactions next year. If that proves to be the case then estate agents will need the added income provided by financial services advisers more than ever.”
