Specialist finance distributor Brightstar has reported that its turnover totalled £5.3m for the year ending December 2015, an increase of 44%.

Meanwhile, profits rise by 40% as it broker the £1 billion completion barrier in November.

Last year Brightstar launched a development finance division and a regulated mortgage arm, Bright Mortgage Services. It also became fully regulated with its second charge FCA mortgage permissions in October.

Over the period it recorded a 39% increase in headcount from 31 to 43 and was awarded its gold standard Investors in People award.

Rob Jupp (pictured), CEO at Brightstar said: “2015 was an incredible year. Who would have known when we launched five years ago that in such a short time we would have achieved over £1 billion of lending and would receive such a tremendous vote of confidence as the investment by a globally renowned company such as Omni Partners. It makes me feel very humble and incredibly proud of all Brightstar staff that this success is down to.

“We are not slowing down our growth plans however, this year we will be expanding our offices, entering new locations and slightly different markets and we aim to grow by at least 50%.

“We will also have the launch of our long awaited new sourcing and technology system in which we have invested heavily but which will have a very positive impact on the brokers who work with Brightstar.”