An alcohol-free event organised by the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC) has secured support from some of the mortgage market’s largest organisations, demonstrating how firmly wellbeing has moved into the industry mainstream.
The MIMHC alcohol-free lunch takes place on Friday 9 October 2026 at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Some 220 people have already confirmed their attendance, with only ten tables remaining and around 320 guests expected.
Support spans lenders, brokers, distributors and suppliers, including MT Finance, L&C, Virgin Money, Nationwide, Pepper Money, Legal & General, HSBC, Barclays, TSB, Santander, Together, Mortgage Advice Bureau, Paragon, Shawbrook, Skipton Building Society, Nottingham Building Society, Landbay and Metro Bank.
MIMHC said the response demonstrated growing demand for events offering opportunities to network, celebrate and build relationships without making alcohol the focal point.
WELLBEING MOVES INTO THE MAINSTREAM
Jason Berry, MIMHC co-founder and group sales director at Crystal Specialist Finance, said: “The fact that we already have 220 people confirmed for an alcohol-free industry event feels significant.
“We want the day to be enjoyable, energetic and a brilliant opportunity for people to connect, but there is also a bigger purpose behind it.
“For a long time, our industry has tended to associate networking and celebration with alcohol. We are not suggesting there is anything wrong with that; we simply want to demonstrate that there can be another way.
“Creating an environment in which everyone feels comfortable, included and able to enjoy themselves is completely aligned with what MIMHC stands for.”
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBING
MIMHC was established to promote better mental health and wellbeing across the mortgage sector. It believes the breadth of backing for the lunch reflects a wider shift in attitudes, with employee wellbeing increasingly recognised as a fundamental business issue.
Berry added: “What excites me most is the breadth of support. We have lenders, brokers, distributors and third-party suppliers coming together, which tells me that wellbeing is increasingly being viewed not as something sitting on the side of our industry, but as something that genuinely matters to its people and its businesses.
“With 220 people already joining us and only ten tables remaining, the challenge now is to make 9 October a day that people leave feeling better than when they arrived – more connected, more energised and perhaps with a slightly different view of what a great industry event can look like.”
INDUSTRY BACKING
MT Finance, Virgin Money, Nationwide and Pepper Money have signed up as Platinum supporters, while Legal & General and L&C are event sponsors.
A headline sponsorship opportunity remains available for an organisation wishing to support the event and demonstrate its commitment to inclusion and wellbeing.
Berry said: “The support we have received has been fantastic. We would now love to partner with one organisation that truly understands what we are trying to achieve and wants to help us show that successful industry events can be inclusive, uplifting and every bit as valuable without revolving around alcohol.”
Further information about the remaining tables and headline sponsorship opportunity is available from MIMHC.
