Specialist second charge lender Step One Finance has surpassed £500 million in total lending, having supported more than 11,000 customers since its launch in 2011.

The Woking-based lender said the milestone reflects 15 years of growth in the second charge mortgage market, during which it has provided finance for a range of purposes including debt consolidation, home improvements, major life events and property investment.

Since its launch, Step One Finance has focused on distributing its products through the intermediary market while also providing ongoing support to borrowers through its loan servicing operation.

The lender said it has now helped more than 11,000 customers and attributed its growth to a combination of underwriting discipline and long-standing relationships with brokers and professional intermediaries.

Agnieszka Jouille, director of operations and strategy at Step One Finance, said: “Over the past 15 years we are proud to have helped thousands of customers with a second mortgage loan while staying true to our guiding principles of responsibility, transparency, fairness and simplicity.

“We look forward to continuing to build our customer base over the coming years.”

Neil Molyneux, director of sales at Step One Finance, added: “This would not have been possible without the deep relationships that we have built with professional intermediaries and brokers and their commitment to finding the best mortgage solution for their clients.”

The company is also preparing to launch a new originations platform as part of a wider investment in technology and broker services.

According to Step One Finance, the platform has been designed to streamline application and underwriting processes, while improving visibility and efficiency for intermediaries and their clients.

The lender said it remains focused on supporting brokers, investing in technology and expanding its specialist lending proposition as it enters its next phase of growth.