Specialist mortgage distributor Brightstar Group has reported another year of strong growth, with turnover rising by 17.5% year on year as it approaches its fifteenth anniversary.

Turnover increased from £9,902,729 in 2024 to £11,633,133 in 2025, supported by higher activity levels, disciplined cost control and continued investment in people, data and technology. New applications were up 13.5% over the period, while completion volumes rose by 12.4%.

Rob Jupp, chief executive of Brightstar Group, said the performance reflected a business operating with strong liquidity, sustained demand and growing scale following nearly 15 years of continuous trading.

Headcount increased by 5% during the year, with productivity gains achieved through more effective use of data and early-stage AI adoption. Staff retention remained above 90%, with 40% of colleagues having more than five years’ service and 18% more than 10 years, underlining the group’s focus on operational efficiency, scalability and workplace culture.

The group confirmed that 2026 will see the appointment of an AI lead to work alongside its existing data lead, as investment in technology capability continues.

Alongside core growth, Brightstar Group said it is progressing work to broaden its strategic distribution footprint across major intermediary networks. The move is expected to extend market coverage and deepen its reach across the specialist lending landscape.

The group’s specialist finance subsidiary, Sirius Finance, also delivered a record year, strengthening Brightstar’s multi-brand proposition and its relevance across complex and non-standard borrowing scenarios.

Despite the pace of growth, customer experience remained consistent. Both Brightstar and Sirius retained five-star Trustpilot ratings, with almost 5,000 reviews recorded across the two businesses.

GROWTH TARGETS

Looking ahead, the management team has set out clear ambitions for the next phase of the business. Brightstar Group is targeting minimum annual growth of 20% in each of the calendar years 2026, 2027 and 2028, with the aim of reaching annual turnover of at least £20 million by the end of 2028.

Growth is expected to be driven by continued organic expansion across core specialist finance, increased authorised adviser capacity and further group investment, including The School Fees Company.

Jupp (pictured) said: “This has been an exceptional year for the group. We are growing, we are busy, and we still feel there is a huge amount more to achieve.

“Retaining a leading position in UK specialist finance is never a given, which is why we remain relentlessly focused on improving the business, driving efficiencies and innovating rather than simply replicating what has gone before.

“We continue to invest in areas that will shape where the market is heading such as data, AI and specialist expertise while maintaining the service standards our partners and clients expect.

“As we approach 15 years in business, the platform we have built is strong, the management team is experienced, and there remains significant headroom for growth.

“We are confident about the next phase and excited about what we can deliver over the coming years.”