Just Mortgages has expanded its self-employed management team with the appointment of James Hoskins as area director.

Based in Bristol, Hoskins (pictured) is tasked with supporting and mentoring self-employed brokers in the region and up into the Midlands.

As part of his remit, Hoskins will work closely with advisers to support their day-to-day duties, all while helping firms to develop their business plans and explore growth opportunities, whether that is through broader services or through their own recruitment.

He brings with him two decades of experience in the mortgage market and wider financial services. Hoskins joins the team from Countrywide, where he was most recently regional sales manager. He started his career with RBS Group, before moving into retail banking and later into mortgages with NatWest. Hoskins served as a mortgage adviser with NatWest and then as area mortgage manager, a role he would hold for more than five years. After leaving the group, he returned to mortgage advice with new build brokerage Evolve.

With advisers across the UK, the Just Mortgages management team supports nearly 500 self-employed advisers.

Hoskins said: “The way Just Mortgages has grown in a relatively short space of time is really impressive, so the opportunity to join the team is very exciting. It’s clear already that Just Mortgages has a really good system and a positive culture which is far different to the corporate structures that many brokers are used to. There are great people here and a real excitement to support brokers in doing what they do and in helping them to grow their businesses and realise their goals.

“My aim is to add my skills into this team and continue the great work, all while helping to grow the division with more ambitious brokers. It certainly feels to me that self-employed provides the best environment for brokers to reach their full potential and with Just Mortgages, they can step out of that corporate structure and build something really successful.”

Ben Allkins, head of mortgages and protection at Just Mortgages, added: “We continue to see tremendous interest from brokers looking to join our self-employed division and a big driver behind that is the value of our proposition. Adding James to the team and bringing his expertise and experience on board is great for our advisers and only strengthens the infrastructure we place around each business.

“With the help of James and the rest of our management team, plus day-to-day support and access to our learning and development team, we can create a true launching pad for both new and existing self-employed brokers. Rather than a place just to put your name above the door, it’s all the tools, knowledge, support and guidance to launch, scale and succeed.”