Specialist finance firm founded as a one-man operation in 2011 now lends across England, Wales and Scotland from a new headquarters
Liverpool-based bridging lender Hope Capital Property Finance has reached 15 years in the specialist finance market, with the milestone coinciding with its move into a new headquarters three times the size of its previous office.
The business began in 2011 as a one-man operation run from a borrowed desk and chair. It now lends across England, Wales and Scotland, and has increased its maximum loan size from £1.5m to £5m over that period.
Jonathan Sealey, founder and chief executive of Hope Capital, said the business had gone further than he expected.
"When I founded Hope Capital 15 years ago, I had ambitious plans for what the business could become, but I could never have imagined the journey we would go on."
How has Hope Capital's funding capacity grown?
Institutional partnerships have supported much of that expansion. The lender holds a £75m funding line with Triple Point, a £50m facility with Shawbrook Bank and £35m of committed wholesale funding from Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB), giving it £160m of combined institutional backing.
Alongside that funding, the firm has broadened its residential, refurbishment and commercial lending, expanded into Scotland and invested in technology and processes aimed at making bridging finance quicker and simpler to access. Its Scottish presence has been strengthened through relationships such as its strategic partnership with Scotland-based brokerage Futurity Finance, and it recently cut its minimum loan size from £100,000 to £50,000.
Kate Cowan, CFOO of Hope Capital, said the lender's growth rested on more than capital.
"Hope Capital's growth has been underpinned by our continued investment in our people, our proposition and the way we operate. Alongside the strength of our institutional funding partnerships, these foundations have enabled us to evolve with the market while continuing to deliver the personal, flexible service for which we are known."
Bridging market cools as lender reaches milestone
The anniversary arrives as activity across the wider sector slows. Figures published this week by the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) showed completions among its lender members fell 15.2% quarter-on-quarter to £1.6bn in Q2, while applications dropped 26.3% to £7.3bn.
Hope Capital has meanwhile recorded its lowest-ever loan default rate this year, with redemptions managed by the firm up 50% on a year earlier.
Investors and staff at the centre of the business
Private backing has also played a part. Steve Sealey, chairman of Hope Capital, said the firm's investor relationships had been built on openness.
"The confidence and continued support of our investors have played an important role in Hope Capital's journey. We have built long-standing relationships with many high-net-worth investors by taking a transparent, responsible and personal approach, and by ensuring they remain closely connected to the business and its progress."
The lender has been named a Top Mortgage Employer for the fifth consecutive year, recognition it links to investment in staff progression and a culture centred on collaboration, service and long-term development.
Its new Liverpool headquarters, delivered following a significant financial investment, was purpose-designed to accommodate that growing team.
"Our new headquarters reflects both how far the business has come and our confidence in what lies ahead," Cowan said.
Jonathan Sealey said the move marked a turning point for the lender.
"Reaching 15 years and moving into our new headquarters feels like a defining moment for Hope Capital. The business has evolved significantly, but the principles it was founded on remain just as important today.
"We have come a long way since that first borrowed desk and chair, and I am incredibly excited about what the next chapter holds."
Want to be regularly updated with mortgage news and features? Get exclusive interviews, breaking news, and industry events in your inbox – subscribe to our FREE daily newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
