Connect for Intermediaries is to host a series of masterclasses for its Appointed Representatives (ARs).

The masterclasses will be held at Connect’s offices in Hornchurch and will be attended by a range of lenders, including Precise, Shawbrook, Castle Trust, Kent Reliance, Hampshire Trust, Landbay and Norwich & Peterborough.

Connect hosted the first masterclass earlier this week and is set to host two additional masterclasses this month, two in November and one a month from December through to March. The sessions will cover a range of topics and areas from development finance, complex residential buy-to-let and bridging finance, to later life lending, HMOs and commercial trading and investment.

The next masterclass on 10 October will look at commercial trading and investing, including interrogating accounts, presenting commercial applications and using marketing ideas to increase enquiries.

Kevin Thomson, sales director at Connect for Intermediaries, said: “The masterclasses have been introduced to provide our ARs with valuable help and support to provide an in depth understanding of the specialist market not often available to brokers.

“These masterclasses will give Connect ARs extra knowledge to turn potential challenges into opportunities while ensuring they have the right tools in place to provide clients with the best advice. The classes also aim to help them keep up to date in terms of compliance, as well as lenders’ new criteria.”

The masterclasses will take place at the following times and dates at Connect’s offices in Hornchurch:

Date                               Topic                                                                           Lenders

10^th October                Commercial trading & investment                        ATOM & Norwich & Peterborough

31^st October                Residential investment deals                                  Kent Reliance and State Bank of India

14^th November           Commercial trading & investment                         NatWest and Shawbrook

29th November          HMO’s Multi Units Ltd Co Student Lets                 Landbay and Hampshire Trust

5^th December              Complex residential buy-to-let                              Vida and Kensington

2018:

Date                               Topic                                                                 Lenders

16^th January                 Development finance                                      TBC

8^th February                 Over 55 – later life lending                            TBC

8^th March                     Bridging and short term finance                    TBC