Skipton Intermediaries has been seeking to keep brokers up-to-date with latest industry developments.

Its BDM Webinar programme began as a pilot scheme when Skipton’s BDMs started thinking of new ways in which they could keep in touch with brokers while they couldn’t see them face to face. Now it has grown in popularity with up to 50 brokers regular joining the webinars on a daily basis.

The virtual workshops for brokers were trialled, with BDMs asking brokers what they thought. This grew with some BDMs developing a following on social media and through the webinars.

Initially it was covering topics around Skipton’s criteria changes but then branched out into other areas of interest and getting others in the Skipton organisation involved to join and talk about more specific areas.

The Skipton BDM team is also looking at starting some ‘drop in’ sessions for brokers where they can go for a catch up like they would do in an office space which would be a bit less formal but still valuable for the brokers.

Paul Fenn, Skipton’s head of business development, said: “It’s been great to see the BDMs taking a lead on supporting brokers through these strange times. Brokers have been helping us shape our service for a number of years so we’re proud to have developed our new webinar programme to offer them help and support in these times.

“Brokers play a vital part in Skipton Building Society’s lending, with over 90% of the Society’s lending through the intermediary channel and that’s why we take the time to listen to what brokers need from a mortgage lender.

“Skipton has worked extremely hard to help brokers in the unprecedented situation they have found themselves in, and their response to what we’ve done has been overwhelming. There’s been some real interest in sharing market data, understanding our approach to self-employed and furloughed clients, and how our current lending policy and processes have changed due to Covid-19.

“Our marketing team is now working alongside the BDMs to create a strategy going forward the see how the webinars can develop and look more into how we can promote them to allow more brokers to get involved.”