The Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter’s (MIMHC) third annual 144-mile Walk & Talk challenge finally came to an end on Friday last week as leaders Jason Berry and Charlie Morley crossed the finish line at HSBC’s Birmingham head office at 15:45.

Some 64 participants from across the mortgage sector, joining for different stages of the route, took part in the week long challenge that spanned the length of the Grand Union Canal.

The event was led by Jason Berry, group sales director at Crystal Specialist Finance and co-founder of the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter, who completed the full route alongside Charlie Morley, director of mortgage distribution, operations and servicing at Metro Bank.

Between them they averaged almost 24 miles per day throughout the week, completing a total of 309,817 steps during the challenge.

Over the last four weeks Mortgage Soup has been firing the questions at both sponsors and those taking part.

Today, Rob Stanton (main picture, inset), sales and distribution director at Landbay, is under the spotlight.

MS: What made you want to support and be part of the Walk and Talk initiative / event?

As co‑founders of MIMHC, Walk and Talk reflects exactly why the Charter exists in the first place. Our industry is fast‑paced, performance‑driven and often unforgiving, but those pressures are rarely talked about openly.

Walk and Talk creates something simple but powerful, time and space away from desks, targets and inboxes, where people can have honest conversations and realise they’re not alone.

It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about starting conversations that genuinely matter and reminding people that their wellbeing comes first.

MS: From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges brokers and clients are facing right now with their mental health and wellbeing?

Uncertainty is one of the biggest challenges. Brokers are navigating market volatility, regulatory change, long hours and increasing emotional pressure from clients who are understandably anxious about their finances.

For clients, affordability concerns and ongoing financial stress can feel overwhelming, and brokers often absorb that pressure while trying to deliver the best outcome.

Over time, that constant strain can lead to burnout, anxiety and people simply pushing on without taking a breath. The danger is that this becomes normalised, when it really shouldn’t be

MS: What is your organisation doing to better support staff and the wider market?

At Landbay, we know that supporting mental health starts with how people are treated day‑to‑day.

Internally, that means creating an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up, asking for help, and taking time when they need it – without stigma or judgement.

Externally, we’re conscious that brokers are under huge pressure, so we focus on removing unnecessary friction wherever we can.

Whether that’s clearer communication, better access to decision‑makers, or technology that reduces admin and stress, our aim is to make the mortgage process feel simpler and more supportive.

Initiatives like Walk and Talk are a natural extension of that mindset. They help bring the industry together away from targets and transactions, encouraging meaningful conversations that can genuinely change how people show up for themselves and for each other.

MS: Looking ahead, what trends or changes would you like to see in the next 12–24 months?

We’d like to see mental health become truly embedded into the way firms operate, from leadership behaviour and management training, through to workload expectations and support structures.

There’s a real opportunity for the industry to move away from a culture of silent resilience towards one that values openness, flexibility and sustainability.

If people feel supported, trusted and understood, the whole market benefits – not just individuals, but teams, clients and businesses too.

MS: What does success from this initiative/event look like for you?

Success isn’t just measured in miles walked or money raised, although both are hugely important!

For us, success looks like people leaving the event feeling lighter, more connected, and more confident about talking openly in the future.

If Walk and Talk helps even one person realise they don’t have to carry everything on their own, or prompts an honest conversation back in an office or brokerage, then it’s doing exactly what it was designed to do.