In December 2023, we completed our very first bridging loan. On the surface, it was a straightforward deal. But for us, it marked something bigger. The start of Inspired Lending. We launched the business with a clear aim: to deliver bridging finance that’s grounded in common sense, driven by experience, and delivered with speed, clarity and honesty.

From that deal onwards, we’ve steadily built our presence in what remains one of the fastest moving and most competitive parts of the property lending market. We’ve not tried to be the biggest or the flashiest. Instead, we’ve focused on doing what we said we would, working closely with brokers, assessing each deal on its merits, and staying true to the basics that matter.

Eighteen months on, the market has moved forward, and we’ve had to respond in kind. We’ve watched as bridging has become more mainstream, with a growing number of developers, landlords, investors and business owners all recognising how they can use short-term property finance to help them achieve their objectives. At the same time, service expectations have increased. Brokers want to work with lenders who communicate clearly and get things over the line quickly. We’ve grown by listening to those needs and delivering against them.

Our pipeline today is almost unrecognisable from where we began. We’re seeing repeat business from brokers who trust how we work, and regular enquiries from introducers we haven’t even spoken to before. Some brokers now come to us first, because they know they’ll get a straight answer and a fair view of the deal. That sort of trust takes time to earn, and we’re proud to have it.

There have been some important milestones along the way. Our decision to expand into Scotland in mid 2024 was a key moment. It wasn’t about chasing market share, but about responding to real demand from brokers who were struggling to find lenders willing to look beyond postcode boundaries. The Scottish market is often constrained by blanket policies, but our approach has always been to judge each deal on its own terms. Since that launch, we’ve seen consistent enquiries from regions that rarely feature on most lenders’ priority lists and we’re proud to be making a difference there.

We’ve also supported a number of complex, high value and time sensitive deals that have helped shape our reputation. That includes a £5.7 million refurbishment loan in Surrey, our largest to date, and a £4 million facility supporting the redevelopment of a Grade II listed site in the Cotswolds. These weren’t straightforward transactions. They required collaboration between lender, broker, solicitor and surveyor. They required flexibility. And they required a willingness to solve problems. That’s where we’ve found our rhythm.

Internally, we’ve grown in a way that reflects how we work. Carefully, and with purpose. In April, we brought Nathan Wilson on board as our Lending Manager, strengthening the team at just the right time. We’ve invested time in building relationships, rather than simply chasing volume. And we joined the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) in February this year, not for the logo, but because we believe in what it stands for. A shared commitment to high standards and doing things the right way. As more brokers and borrowers turn to bridging, we think those values matter more than ever.

That shift in demand is clear in the data. According to figures published by the BDLA in February, bridging completions reached £2.30 billion in Q4 2024, marking a 28.6 percent rise on the previous quarter¹. Overall loan books grew to £10.30 billion, crossing the £10 billion mark for the first time¹. Applications were up too, totalling £11.30 billion by the end of the year¹. These aren’t just numbers, they’re a sign of how far the sector has come. Bridging is no longer sitting on the sidelines. It’s front and centre.

The outlook for 2025 is also encouraging. An excellent panel discussion at the BDLA Annual Conference back in November 2024 made it clear that the capital landscape for specialist mortgages is expected to keep growing², with growing interest from institutional funders. There are opportunities for growth for those lenders that maintain a strong focus on underwriting, data, and collections. The takeaway was clear. The lenders who will succeed are those who stay close to the customer and continue to deliver what they promise².

But even with that momentum, service still matters. On the ground, we’ve seen expectations change. Brokers don’t just want indicative terms. They want real support. That means clear answers, fast communication, and the confidence that if we say we’ll do something, we will. And if we can’t, we’ll say so, quickly, clearly and respectfully, so brokers can move on without wasting time.

We’ve always said that we’re not here to offer a product set. We’re here to find solutions. It could be an overdraft style facility or stepped rate options, designed to support deals that don’t fit neatly into conventional categories.

We plan to add a new funding line, which would sit alongside our existing support from the Pears family, giving us even more flexibility on pricing of larger or more bespoke loans. We’re not trying to scale up for the sake of it. We just want to keep doing good work, in the right way, with the right backing behind us. We’re also planning to grow our team again, making sure we keep pace with demand while continuing to deliver the kind of service we’re known for.

Looking back, it’s tempting to say we’ve come a long way. But in many ways, we’ve stayed true to where we began. Focused on the fundamentals. Focused on relationships. Focused on doing the job well. We’ve been fortunate to work with some brilliant brokers since day one, and their feedback has shaped how we operate. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, but more than that, we’re optimistic about what lies ahead.

Bridging is faster, more competitive and more visible than ever. But it’s also more demanding, and rightly so. Our job as a lender is not just to keep pace, but to stay anchored in what matters: clarity, speed and service.

References:
¹ https://thebdla.org/index.php/2025/02/26/bridging-loan-books-break-through-10bn/
² https://thebdla.org/index.php/2025/02/13/bridging-into-the-future-a-bright-outlook-for-2025/