Access Mortgages (Scotland) Ltd is joining Stonebridge Group as an appointed representative (AR).

The Glasgow-based firm was established in 1999 and is run by its two Principals, Peter Mulraney and Frank Kiernan. The business has three other advisers and it specialises in the provision of both mortgage and protection advice.

Access Mortgages (Scotland) Ltd had previously been an AR of Legal & General before switching to Stonebridge.

Stonebridge Group recently announced that Shepherd Direct, the national property services group with interests in surveying, valuations, lettings and estate agency, has acquired a minority stake in the business. The investment is being used to make further improvements to Stonebridge’s proposition as it continues to increase its UK footprint, builds on being the fastest-growing business of its kind and becomes one of the market’s leading players.

Richard Adams, managing director of Stonebridge Group, said: “Our organic recruitment process continues to be extremely successful and we are very pleased to be welcoming Peter, Frank and all the team at Access Mortgages (Scotland) to the Stonebridge fold. Access is a very well-established mortgage and protection advice business in Glasgow which is likely to be benefit greatly from our focus in these areas and the support and opportunities that we are able to offer firms.

“We are a specialist network and those firms who share our specialisms and want the peace of mind of working with experts in their field, are seeing the advantages of our proposition and approach. The network continues to grow month-on-month and now with the investment from Shepherd Direct we are in an extremely strong position to take the business on to the next level which will particularly benefit all our valued AR firms.”

Mulraney addd: “As a mortgage and protection advisory practice that has been successfully trading for 16 years our aim was to move to a network with a similar pedigree and one which is focused on our marketplace. We wanted a network which wasn’t overly ‘stuffy’ and we were particularly impressed with Stonebridge’s ‘non-corporate’ approach to business. This is not a network which is several steps removed from the needs of its AR firms and, along with its credentials and the fact all Stonebridge staff have been very friendly and approachable, this was in the end a very easy decision to make.

“We are now looking forward to playing our full part within the Stonebridge Group and working together in order to develop our own offering and access the range of opportunities that come with membership.”