Hope Capital Property Finance has been accredited as a Living Wage Employer and has also achieved Great Place To Work Certification within the financial services and insurance sector.

The lender is one of a small number of bridging finance firms to hold both distinctions.

The Liverpool based business said the recognition reflects its long term approach to staff wellbeing. The North West continues to have one of the highest concentrations of low paid roles, with 16.8% of all jobs earning less than the real Living Wage.

Despite this, Hope Capital pays above the benchmark, which is independently calculated each year according to living costs.

Katherine Chapman, director at the Living Wage Foundation, said: “We’re delighted that Hope Capital Property Finance has joined the movement of nearly 16,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.”

She added: “They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more.”

The lender has also secured Great Place To Work status, an accreditation awarded solely on employee feedback. This year, 94% of staff said Hope Capital is a great place to work, compared with 54% at a typical UK company.

Sarah Lewis Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place To Work, said: “Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience.”

She said: “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Hope Capital Property Finance stands out as one of the top companies to work for.”

Jonathan Sealey (pictured), chief executive of Hope Capital Property Finance, said the dual accreditation comes at a significant moment for the business. “This is an important moment for the business, and the timing couldn’t be better as we continue to build on our recent rebrand.

“Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and these accreditations reflect our dedication to creating a workplace where every team member feels valued, supported, and proud to be a part of Hope Capital Property Finance.”

He added: “We’ve already won multiple awards recognising us as a top employer, so achieving both Living Wage Employer status and Great Place To Work Certification really is the cherry on the cake.”