Hope Capital has marked its 14th anniversary with its strongest quarter since the lender’s launch in 2011, reporting growth across its loan book, completions and refurbishment lending.
The Liverpool-based short-term lender, founded by chief executive Jonathan Sealey, has recorded a 36% increase in its loan book compared with last year.
By mid-September, funding levels had already matched the whole of 2024, with the business now on track to end 2025 up 32% on the previous year.
Refurbishment loans rose 71% year on year in the third quarter, while loan completions averaged 40% higher per quarter than in 2024. The lender also reported a 61% reduction in defaults since December.
Sealey (main picture), who began the business with his own savings and a borrowed desk and chair, said: “Looking back to when I launched Hope Capital in 2011, where I used my own savings to rent a small office, borrowing a desk and chair from a friend, and picking up a basic Nokia phone to get started, I could never have imagined how far we’d come.
“14 years on, to be celebrating the results we’ve achieved in Q3 is something I’m incredibly proud of.
“The industry has become significantly more competitive since then, and I’m often asked how we differentiate ourselves from our competitors. It’s very simple, it’s our team, who all work incredibly hard to deliver on the service we promise. Not forgetting all the stakeholders we’ve worked with over the years, who have undoubtedly become part of Hope Capital’s success.”
Kate Cowan, chief financial officer, said the results were particularly notable given wider market conditions. “According to the latest BDLA figures, bridging activity in the wider market eased slightly in the last quarter, despite completions being 32.9% higher year-on-year. Whereas our performance speaks volumes, with funding in Q3 being 84% higher than Q3 2024.
“Our continued growth has been driven by the strength of our funding relationships, the dedication of our exceptional team, and the ongoing support from our trusted broker partners.
“We’re in a strong position to build on this momentum, as we’re on the verge of announcing a major development that will mark an exciting next chapter and without a doubt, will have a significant impact on the market.”
