Pink’s gross lending figures have increased 18% more than figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

The trade body’s statistics reveal that gross UK mortgage lending rose 29% from July 2012 to July 2013. Over the same time period Pink’s gross lending rose by 47%.

Pink’s loan size over the same period also increased by 6%, as opposed to 4% in the CML figures, so Pink’s average loan size has also increased compared to the market as a whole reflecting Pink’s focus on the strong London market.

Mark Graves, director of Pink network, said: “Pink’s latest figures reveal that we are outstripping the market by a really significant amount as our growth in gross lending has increased by 18% more than the industry average.

“We have not increased the number of Pink members by a significant amount so this increase is purely down to improved performance by Pink ARs.

“In the past three years we have invested heavily in training and development of ARs around the country and this is now having a tangible effect both in mortgage and protection sales.”

Pink is currently holding seven business development conferences around the country over the coming three weeks.

It also announced this week that it is increasing the number of regional sales directors with the appointment of Santander’s national accounts manager, Jane Benjamin, who will start in November.