National surveying firm Gateway is urging intermediary firms to build stronger links with the building society sector.

Gateway says that smaller niche building societies have survived the credit crunch and that feedback reveals a growing confidence amongst these societies that the corner may have been turned.

Gateway acknowledges that smaller building societies have generally not sought increased distribution via intermediary networks, while intermediaries had a wide variety of specialist lenders to choose from. However, there is now a greater willingness to lend than at any time over the past couple of years and brokers can and should benefit.

Marcus Radcliffe, managing director at Gateway believes that now is the time for intermediary firms to look closely at this sector.

He added: “The smaller