Name: Owen Bentley
Age: 46
Location: Nationwide
Firm: Inspired Lending
Education: University
Specialty: Lending!
Interests: Anything sport related. I play golf often and also follow football, rugby and F1. I am a Man United fan and a regular at Old Trafford, now seeing it through my boys’ eyes. I also coach my sons’ football team.
Career and motivation
- You have been at Inspired Lending since its early days. How did you first get involved with the business?
It came down to the people. I had previously worked with our CEO, Gavin Diamond, and our lending manager, Nathan Wilson, and we all worked really well together. I had been a broker, then moved into lending at a much larger scale. The chance to help build a new lender from day one was rare.
Private funding through the Pears family gave us space to think for ourselves, set our own path and build something in a way that felt natural. Doing that with people you trust makes a big difference.
- What was it about the specialist lending market that appealed to you?
I was asked the same question when I moved from broking to lending almost a decade ago and my answer has not changed. It is the mix of change and problem solving. I still wanted to work on deals, but I wanted to help shape the solution too, rather than watch things stop because a system blocked the case. This space lets you do that.
At Inspired Lending we keep things simple. We listen, we think and we shape funding that fits the case. No long lists of rules and no heavy process. It is how things used to be done and it still works.
- Inspired Lending has grown quickly since launch. What has it been like to be part of that?
It has been a great experience. Even with confidence in our own background, there is always that early doubt. You ask yourself if the idea will land and if your funders will move at the right pace. Once the first deal completed, any fear went away.
Since then things have built at a steady rate. Not rushed. Not forced. Working with people like Pears has helped. Their depth of property experience and their way of thinking give real support.
The last two years have gone by very fast. Being part of a small team where everyone shares the same focus and care for brokers and clients makes the work easier and the results stronger.
- You have worked with brokers for years. What defines a strong broker and lender relationship?
You have to bring something useful. Brokers have a tough job and the number of lenders out there is huge. A good rate on its own is not enough. If cases get stuck or nobody calls back, the rate does not matter.
Trust comes from doing what you said you would do. Keep the deal moving. Be clear. Be there when the broker needs you. That is why we say we offer old school bridging. Brokers want straight answers, not long product lists or unclear rules.
For us it comes down to three things. Is the client sound? Is the security strong enough? Can we get our funds back? If those points check out and we like the deal, we stick with it. Everything after that is about working together and using experience to shape the right plan.
Skills and development
- What personal strength helps you most in your role?
A few things. Experience has taught me not to rush. It is easy to get drawn in by the numbers, but looking at a deal properly at the start saves so much time later on.
You need to stay positive but also keep a steady head. Getting an early view on the weak spots is something we try to do well. We would rather say no at the right time than issue terms and change our mind later.
And communication matters. Ask questions. Flag concerns. Stay available. It builds trust and stops problems growing.
- Is there a skill you have developed at Inspired Lending that took you by surprise?
Not a surprise, but I have enjoyed taking ownership of what we do. People often say that small lenders lose their edge when they grow. We hear that a lot. For us, the challenge is real, but we welcome it.
With only three main decision makers, you are always thinking ahead across different parts of the business. It makes you reflect more and think beyond the next month. That has been a helpful shift.
- What is one piece of advice you give brokers on complex cases?
Good information makes all the difference. A fast summary can be fine for simple cases, but when things are more involved, you need solid detail. If there is something awkward in the case, bring it out early. We will likely spot it anyway, and early sight gives us more room to shape the plan.
And pick up the phone. There is never a time when we would not want that call, even if the answer is no.
Lessons and experiences
- What is the most memorable case you have worked on?
It is hard to pick one. We have had many stand out cases in the last two years where not many lenders would have stepped in.
We see a lot of refurb and conversion cases where our simple criteria and open calculator help us shape something that suits the borrower. We have taken views on valuations, charges, client backgrounds, asset types, repayment plans and business aims.
We have been in the market long enough to see most things, so not much puts us off. It is more about making the deal as strong as it can be.
- Every lender has its own culture. What makes Inspired different behind the scenes?
It comes back to the people. The fact that brokers return to us again and again without a product guide says a lot.
Knowing that Gavin and Nathan will look at a case the same way I do, and deal with brokers and clients in the same steady way, gives real comfort. It keeps the team sharp and gives you a sense that you are in the right place.
Our funders add to that. Their property background is deep and they enjoy the work. It brings natural drive to each day.
- What has been the biggest challenge of your career so far, and what did you learn from it?
Nothing quite matches starting a lender from scratch. Just two of you with a plan, a name, a website and some funding. You have no idea where it will lead. Two years on, things have gone well, but the challenge is still active.
- Is there a mentor or colleague who has shaped how you work?
I have been lucky. I have worked with some well-known people both as a broker and in this space. Each one taught me something and I have tried to take those lessons forward. The grey hairs are part of that process.
Looking ahead
- The specialist market changes often. What should brokers watch in 2026?
Probably their stress levels. Nobody knows what the future will bring or how the year will play out.
What we do know is that this part of the market tends to adapt. Strong relationships matter even more when things shift. Having a lender you can call, who will talk things through and help shape a plan, will be vital.
- And finally, when you are not talking about bridging and development finance, how do you switch off?
It has changed over time. Closing the laptop used to be enough. Now, when you are tied to the business, you keep an eye on things because you want to, not because you have to. And I enjoy that. People who work with us know we will speak on weekends or in the evening if needed.
Outside work, life is busy. Three kids under nine, rugby, football and trying to fit in a bit of golf or a trip to the pub. The golf trip this year is Morocco, so I will let you know how that goes.
