The South Asian Mortgage Professionals & Allies Network will hold its second industry event at Paragon’s Solihull office on 7 May, as it looks to widen South Asian representation in the mortgage sector and support those already building careers in the industry.
The group was founded by Gurpreet Chahal, regional sales manager at Accord Mortgages, Paul Purewal of Dudley Building Society and Dina Bhudia of P2M Group.
Its latest event follows SAMPAN’s first gathering in London in October last year, with the organisation this time choosing the Midlands in a move intended to make attendance easier for professionals from across the UK.
SAMPAN said the Birmingham area was chosen because of its long-established South Asian community and the region’s wider influence on business, culture and society.
The organisation said staging the event in the Midlands was both practical and significant, allowing it to engage with professionals closer to home while recognising the communities the sector serves.
SAMPAN was set up to improve visibility and increase the presence of diverse role models within the mortgage industry, which it believes is important in encouraging the next generation to view the sector as a viable career path.
It also argues the industry has an important role in helping South Asian customers onto the property ladder, supported by professionals who reflect the communities they serve and understand their needs.
The event is open to mortgage and property professionals who support SAMPAN’s aims and want to improve their understanding of underrepresented groups in the sector.
Attendees will be able to network, discuss shared challenges and consider how the industry can make further progress on inclusion.
AGENDA
The event will begin with arrival and welcome refreshments from 5.30pm to 6pm, followed by opening remarks from 6pm to 6.10pm.
A keynote speaker session will run from 6.10pm to 6.30pm, followed by a personal development session from 6.30pm to 6.50pm.
A discussion on bringing new South Asian talent into the industry will take place from 6.50pm to 7.10pm, before a panel session from 7.10pm to 7.20pm on the experiences of South Asian colleagues.
The formal programme will close with final remarks from 7.20pm to 7.30pm, followed by networking until 8pm.
Chahal said: “As someone who has worked in the mortgage intermediary sector for many years, I know how powerful it is to feel supported and represented.
“SAMPAN was born from personal experience and a genuine desire to help others feel they belong in this industry. This event is about bringing people together, sharing stories, and reminding each other that we all have a role to play in building a profession that reflects the communities we serve.
“If we want the mortgage industry to thrive, we need people from all backgrounds to see it as a place where they can succeed. Events like this help us move the conversation forward and take real, meaningful steps towards a more inclusive future.”
Registration for the event is available via SAMPAN’s online sign-up form.
