My first job was at a foreign exchange company. We worked with people moving abroad or working overseas, helping them manage their money and exchange currency. It was the kind of job that I just found after university. Lots of cold calling.
Probably more exciting, at university I volunteered with the Psychology department, which took me all the way to Borneo. I worked with young children and orangutans, studying non-verbal cues and how people react in different situations. It was fascinating. That’s really where my interest in understanding behaviour came from – why people make the decisions they do, and how they communicate without even realising it.
I wanted the full university experience but wasnt sure what to choose. I ended up picking Psychology because I’ve always been curious about what makes people tick.
Not at all. Underwriting was never part of some big master plan.
Like most graduates, I was just trying to find my feet after university. I started looking at roles in property because houses are always going to be around, and I thought it might be an interesting industry to get into.
I landed in bridging at a small company and honestly, I just really liked the people. That made a huge difference. I’ve always been a bit nosy too, so getting to look at different properties and deals every day definitely appealed to me. The more I got into it, the more I realised how varied and interesting it actually was.
In bridging, underwriters look at all the cases that come in from brokers and decide whether it’s a deal we can support.
Personally, I approve deals and work with brokers from start to finish. That means reviewing credit papers, assessing the property, speaking with brokers and clients, working through reports and legals, presenting deals to credit committees, and ultimately getting money out to solicitors.
Bridging is fast-paced, so you’re usually juggling two or three things at once. One minute you’re deep in a credit paper, the next you’re on a call problem-solving with a broker, and then you’re preparing a case for committee. It keeps you on your toes, but that’s what makes it interesting.
It’s hard to pick just one because we see so much variety.
I’ve underwritten some incredible residential properties in central London, which were always exciting. But since moving further into commercial, we’ve seen everything from hotels and spas to hostels and large warehouse or office refurbishments.
That shift into more complex commercial assets has definitely been the most unexpected – and the most interesting.
A clear business plan and strong background on the borrower.
When we understand who the borrower is, what they’re trying to achieve and how the deal will exit, it makes everything smoother. Context is everything – it helps us assess the deal properly and move quickly.
The team, without a doubt.
We’re really close-knit and it just makes the day-to-day so much easier. Even though we’re not in the office five days a week, when we are in, there’s proper office banter. It doesn’t feel corporate or stiff.
There’s always something going on – whether that’s debating how many mini eggs are in a 3kg bag (Ed is still claiming he can guess it exactly) or just helping each other get a deal over the line. It’s supportive, but we also challenge each other in a good way.
It’s been a really positive move.
We’ve met loads of new people across the wider bank, which has been great, and moving further into commercial has opened up a lot more learning opportunities for us as a team. It feels like we’ve broadened our horizons.
We genuinely talk through everything.
Because bridging is so fast-paced and can be pretty stressful at times, being able to sit together in the office and work through deals makes a big difference. Working from home all the time wouldn’t have the same impact.
There’s something about being able to turn around and say, “Can you sense check this?” or “What do you think about this deal?” that just makes the whole process smoother. It’s collaborative, and that makes the pressure easier to manage.
Build relationships.
Build strong relationships with your colleagues and with brokers. It will completely change your day-to-day experience and the quality of the deals you work on.
Underwriting isn’t just about numbers and policies. It’s about conversations, trust and judgement. The better your relationships, the smoother everything runs.
Book a holiday. Always. I went to Vietnam over Christmas and I’m hoping to tick off the Philippines next. Getting away somewhere completely different is the best reset.
If I’m not travelling, I’m usually decorating or doing something around the house. I like having a project on the go – it keeps me busy in a different way to work.
Work-wise, I’m excited about expanding the team. There’s a real opportunity to grow what we’re doing and bring in new talent. That’s always energising.