Openwork has revealed that Just Mortgages was its number one mortgage firm in the network for both volume of mortgages and for GI cases written last year.

Paul Shearman, Openwork’s proposition director – mortgages, protection and general insurance, told the Just Mortgages annual conference last week that this was despite having been in the network for only eight months.

Shearman said: “Just Mortgages’ performance at Openwork is fantastic, it was hitting a trajectory of £1 billion of lending within three months of being part of the network.”

Openwork has more than 3000 advisers and he added that, “so far this year Just Mortgages is the number one mortgage firm in Openwork.”

Paul Smith, CEO of SpicerHaart concluded the conference by saying “Just Mortgages is the jewel in the SpicerHaart crown.

“Every year I set objectives and the Just Mortgages team beat them. Not only are we expanding but we are growing the business profitably.”

Despite Just Mortgages having increased its headcount from 115 brokers 18 months ago to just under 200 brokers now, Smith said the firm intends to keep growing and aims to double its broker sales force again in just two years.”

John Phillips, group operations director for Just Mortgages and SpicerHaart, added: “We seem to be getting the very favourable reputation as being a good employer and the place for mortgage brokers to further their career, whether they want to be employed, self-employed, work in new homes or corporate sales.

“We offer something for everyone. As a result, we received more than 1100 proactive job applications from people wanting to join us last month. This is a phenomenal achievement and my thanks go to all the support staff and everyone in the company that make Just Mortgages such a great place to work.”