Just Mortgages has reported a significant surge in sign-ups for its licence qualification courses, as self-employed advisers look to broaden their services.

The firm saw heightened interest during its annual Lender Fayre, held this year at the Forest of Arden Golf and Country Club near Birmingham. The two-day event brought together advisers from across the country with lenders and providers, offering networking opportunities, professional development sessions, and access to the firm’s latest internal training programmes.

Among the standout features of the event was the uptake in registrations for Just Mortgages’ suite of licence qualification courses. These programmes offer advisers the chance to gain authorisation in specialist areas such as equity release, commercial lending, and business protection, providing them with the tools and permissions to expand the scope of advice they offer clients.

Ashley Edwards, financial services director at Just Mortgages, said the response reflected the strong appetite among brokers for professional development. “It was fantastic to see so many of our self-employed advisers come together at our Lender Fayre to meet with lenders, to network and to expand their knowledge,” he said.

“With our dedicated stand right in the middle of the Lender Village, we saw an overwhelming response from advisers to our licence qualification courses. It speaks volumes about their ambition and drive, as well as their commitment to meet all the needs of their clients.”

He added that expanding their knowledge base would not only support the growth of individual businesses, but also enhance the quality of advice available to consumers.

FLEXIBILITY

This year’s Lender Fayre attracted record numbers, particularly among self-employed advisers. Just Mortgages’ self-employed division has seen steady growth in recent years, as more brokers seek the flexibility of running their own business within the safety net of a larger network. The addition of new qualifications is increasingly viewed as a key differentiator, enabling brokers to diversify their income and deliver more holistic advice.

Ben Allkins, head of mortgages and protection at Just Mortgages, said: “The surge in course sign-ups reflects how committed our brokers are to growth and professional development. Our licence qualifications allow them to specialise in key areas – generating new income streams and providing a genuine edge in a competitive marketplace. All the while, clients benefit from more tailored and diverse advice.”

He added that the training is not delivered in isolation but forms part of a wider framework of support for self-employed advisers, including mentoring, compliance, marketing and recruitment support.

“Rather than just a platform to go self-employed, we want to create a true launching pad that enables ambitious advisers to launch and scale a successful and diverse advice business,” said Allkins. “We look forward to welcoming these advisers on our next round of courses.”