Openwork has agreed a long-term agreement for specialist packaging with Solent Mortgage Services (SMS).

SMS was selected as a result of its investment committed to improve the proposition and grow its business. This includes a refreshed website, 1app@SMS – a new single application form across all panel lenders, a new sourcing capability to help advisers with complex specialist cases as well as increased resources in both sales development and operations.

In addition, Openwork is the inaugural corporate partner for SMS’s new lender proposition, launched under the banner of The Mortgage Village.

Paul Shearman, Openwork’s mortgage and protection proposition director, said: “Openwork and SMS have worked together for a number of years but its appointment was by no means a foregone conclusion. The team at SMS has really stepped up to the mark and, along with the support of its parent company Hoyl Group, has committed to significant investment in the business to ensure that its proposition is market leading for Openwork and the broader intermediary market.”

Ian Balfour, SMS’s chief executive, added: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Openwork as its partner for specialist mortgage packaging. We already deal with a large number of Openwork firms and are looking forward to welcoming more firms to The Mortgage Village.

“The investment we have made in our systems and support will see a growing range of new initiatives and services coming online in the coming months, which we believe will make our proposition the best in the market.”