National broker firm Just Mortgages has announced the launch of a new business development initiative for its employed and self-employed brokers.

John Philips (pictured), head of mortgages at Just Mortgages, said: “Sadly mortgage brokers need to accept the strong likelihood that their business volumes will be reduced next year with completions taking longer, rising rates and lenders clamping down on affordability.

“This will effectively mean a salary cut for a vast number of brokers and we want to provide the tools for them to get out ahead of this situation and have plans in place to boost their earnings.”

Just Mortgages’ new business development package is free to all self-employed and employed brokers and will help them look at the changing business landscape in relation to political, economic, social and technological changes and offer practical solutions that can be implemented to mitigate the negative effects.

The delivery of the business development support will take the form of a free ‘Zoom’ or ‘Teams’ review where a brokers’ business will be analysed and evaluated so suggestions can be made about potential new product areas.

Brokers will also be shown strategies to look for additional income opportunities from existing customers through the effective use of CRM systems and targeting product gaps that can be filled such as missing protection policies.

Advisers will also be able to access a range of marketing material and collateral designed to help them target dedicated product areas and attract new business enquiries.

Philips added: “We can all be guilty of working flat out and getting caught up in the ‘day to day’ and missing the opportunity to plan ahead. By offering this initiative to brokers we want to ensure that they put aside some time for this essential forward planning with as much or as little support as they need.

“With a vibrant mortgage market over recent years there has been little need for residential brokers to expand their business into other product areas such as commercial and secured loans but opportunities exist in these areas. Brokers are wonderful at adapting to change and we want to provide support and a framework for them to thrive whatever the lending landscape is next year.”