Four of Wales’ lenders joined forces for a three-hour panel event at Principality Stadium last week to discuss the changing landscape of specialist lending in Wales.

Specialist residential, commercial and holiday let lender Hodge joined Principality Building Society, Monmouthshire Building Society, Swansea Building Society, and around 150 delegates at the first ever Welsh Lending Event.

Hosted by Cost of Living Correspondent for ITV Wales, Carole Green, the Cardiff event brought brokers, intermediaries and key lenders together in person.

Hodge CEO David Landen and Principality CEO Julie-Ann Haines, Swansea Building Society’s finance director, Nathan Griffiths, and William Carroll, CEO at Monmouthshire Building Society, were invited to share their thoughts and predictions on Welsh house prices, the holiday let market, the future for landlords in Wales, and more.

Landen said: “The financial services industry in Wales and across the UK is working harder than ever to support customers who continue to experience a multitude of challenges economically.

“The ability to flex and adapt to the changing needs of our broker partners and their customers is as important as it has ever been, and the best way we can do this as lenders, intermediaries and finance professionals generally is by the sharing of our expertise and knowledge collectively.

“I am delighted to have been able to join such an esteemed panel of key lenders in Wales for this special event, therefore, and to be taking away from the discussions involved for the benefit of the highly valued customers we are all here to help in the process.”

Ongoing support for brokers and customers dealing with continual rises in the cost of living was a key point of concern for all four panel members, as was the equalisation of wealth across the generations, for the greater benefit of all.

Finance professionals attending from across Wales also heard from net zero enabler, Sero Technologies, about the work it is doing to support the transition to net-zero across the residential housing sector at the event too.

Haines added: “It was a pleasure to collaborate with other lenders in Wales, as we all have the common purpose of putting our customers and members first. With increases in the Bank of England base rate likely for the rest of this year, it is crucial that lenders continue to find innovative ways to support customers to help them through the cost of living crisis.”