Positive Lending has become the newest member of Shawbrook Bank’s Strategic Partner programme.

Managing director Paul McGonigle has over 20 years’ experience in second charge lending, with stints at Lloyds Bowmarker, Cedar Holdings, Black Horse Finance and First National Bank.

The Strategic Partner programme, set up in September 2012, is intended to reward loyal brokers with exclusive marketing and processing benefits. Since inception, its roster has grown from 18 to 40, and it aims to measure the select group of Strategic Partners on the level of conversion rates achieved on initial submissions and ultimate conversion to successful loan completion.

McGonigle said: “We are delighted to be partnered with Shawbrook on their Strategic Partner programme. Our relationship with Stephen [Johnson] and his team has been built over many years and with their keen pricing model and excellent back end support, it makes perfect sense for our businesses to be aligned.

“As a regulated packager, we focus on key lender relationships that offer value to our clients and intermediaries alike, and Shawbrook firmly ticks the box.”

Karen Bennett, sales and marketing director for commercial mortgages, Shawbrook Bank, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Paul to our growing team of Strategic Partners. His in-depth knowledge and experience, particularly of short term loans, means he’s an ideal partner given our commitment to the continued growth of our STL range.

“His focus on providing the best possible advice for clients mirrors that of Shawbrook, where we place a high value on providing the best support possible to our clients – the brokers.”