Specialist lender Pepper Money has reaffirmed its commitment to broker wellbeing with a second instalment of its Retreat event series, offering a restorative agenda of mindfulness and self-care for professionals in the mortgage industry.
Part of the lender’s broader ‘Be More You’ initiative, the Retreat was hosted in London and follows a well-attended Manchester event earlier in the year.
The programme has seen a signifiant rise in demand, with attendance on course to more than triple compared with last year, reflecting an appetite among intermediaries for support beyond the professional sphere.
The day’s agenda combined practical self-care strategies with space for peer connection and reflection, addressing the mental health challenges faced by those working in an often high-pressure and fast-paced industry.
Jane Benjamin, director of mortgages, Connect for Intermediaries and a founding figure in the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC), addressed delegates during the event. “This Retreat was an amazing opportunity to network with peers,” she said.
“As a profession, we face so many pressures and challenges that it often feels like you are very alone, so it was fantastic to gather together with colleagues from the broker community.”
Benjamin described the event as a “welcoming space to share our personal stories, as well as practical, hands-on tips to combat stress and restore balance”, and praised Pepper Money for taking a proactive approach to broker mental health.
Also on the agenda was Emma Harris, chief executive of wellness consultancy Glow, whose keynote shared her journey from sales and marketing executive to founder of the Slow the F**k Down Movement. Harris’s story – shaped by a life-changing personal experience – was described by attendees as powerful and deeply resonant.
Martin Stewart, founder of London Money, was among those who welcomed the chance to participate. “Pepper Money’s Retreat was a breath of fresh air,” he said.
“It provided a welcome opportunity for property finance professionals to de-stress and put our own wellbeing first – all too rare in the fast-paced industry, where too many feel overstretched and burnt-out.”
The event also included a guided breathwork session from coach Jessie Laute, who introduced brokers to simple, effective techniques for managing stress and improving concentration.
Paul Adams, sales director at Pepper Money, said the Retreat series was designed to place brokers at the heart of the lender’s wellbeing efforts. “We established the Retreat events to champion brokers, showing them that we value them as individuals and understand the pressures they face,” he said.
“The Retreat South event centred on the wellbeing of brokers, with actionable self-care advice for professionals who face a hectic daily routine, encouraging them to step back, reflect and reconnect.”
He added that both Harris and Laute would be featured in upcoming episodes of Pepper Money’s newly relaunched podcast, hosted by Rob Barnard. The first episode in the new series launches on Thursday 31 July, with Harris as a guest.
Pepper Money is expected to expand the Retreat programme through further events at exhibitions later this year, with the aim of broadening access to the lender’s wellbeing initiatives and fostering a culture of care within the wider broker community.
