Just Mortgages has created a new regional performance management team to strengthen its support for area directors and advisers within its growing self-employed division.

The brokerage has promoted three internal candidates to the new posts. Jonathan Phillips will cover the north, while Ben Peart and Richard Mills will take responsibility for the south.

The trio will work alongside area directors to review business plans, address challenges and identify training and development opportunities to help advisers grow their businesses.

Drawing on their experience within the company and the wider mortgage industry, the regional performance managers will act as an additional layer of support for Just Mortgages’ self-employed network, which now numbers close to 500 advisers.

Phillips has been with Just Mortgages for more than six years, previously serving as an area director and in an interim regional management role. His earlier career includes senior positions at Tesco Bank, Reeds Rains and HSBC.

Mills is promoted from his role as financial services director and has served as both regional and area director during his five years with the firm, following nearly two decades with Countrywide. Peart joins the new team from his role as regional director, having also worked as an area director and held positions at both Countrywide and Connells.

Phillips said: “I’m thrilled to be taking on this new strategic role, working closely with the area directors across the region to influence and support them in helping our advisers grow their businesses.

“The area directors have been really receptive and the response across the division has been very positive.

“We all have the same goal of helping our advisers succeed, so my role now is all about influencing our directors, helping them to nurture strong relationships and understand what is required to help brokers meet their goals as an individual adviser and as a business owner.”

Ben Allkins, head of mortgages and protection at Just Mortgages, added: “The introduction of regional performance managers is an exciting next step in our strategy, designed to make sure we really are giving our advisers all the support they need to launch, scale and succeed in a self-employed environment.

“Establishing a second line of influence ensures our brilliant area directors are alive to every opportunity and are able to meet the individual needs of the broad range of businesses that make up our self-employed division.

“Jonathan, Richard and Ben bring a wealth of experience from within the division and the wider market, and have the respect of our directors and advisers.

“As the division continues to grow and interest to join only increases, strengthening the support structure we place around every adviser business becomes absolutely critical.

“We are fast approaching 500 advisers and have clear ambitions to double that number in the coming years.”