Hope Capital office expansion at Alaska House gives the bridging lender five times its previous footprint and follows a busy year of funding moves
Hope Capital Property Finance has taken over a 10,000 sq. ft. floor at Alaska House in Liverpool. The move expands its footprint from the 3,000 sq ft space it occupied on the same site since 2018.
The bridging lender, founded in 2011 with a nine-strong team in a 900 sq. ft. office, now employs 45 people. It describes itself as the largest privately owned specialist finance company in the Liverpool area.
The new space includes an auditorium, dedicated meeting rooms, video call booths, a media room, and social areas including a bar. The layout was designed around the firm’s working practices rather than adapted from an existing fit-out.
“We are incredibly proud of how far the business has come,” said Jonathan Sealey, chief executive at Hope Capital (pictured above, centre). “From a small start-up operation to a 45-strong team and a 10,000 sq ft headquarters, this investment reflects our ambition for the future.”
Why is Hope Capital staying in Liverpool?
The decision to expand in Liverpool rather than relocate is notable in an industry where growing firms often drift towards larger financial centres. Hope Capital has operated from the city throughout its 15 years. Its team includes ex-staffers from Barclays, Santander, and Royal Bank of Scotland.
“Our journey has always been closely connected to this community,” said Steve Sealey, chairman (pictured above, left). “We have grown here, recruited here and invested here, and we are proud of the contribution we continue to make to the local area.
“This new headquarters represents a significant vote of confidence – from our investors, our people, and in Liverpool itself.”
Kate Cowan, chief financial and operating officer (pictured above, right), said the premises were built around how the team operates day to day. “We wanted to create a headquarters that matched the ambition of the business and, most importantly, gave our people the environment they need to succeed,” she said.
“Every aspect of the new workplace has been considered around how our team works, collaborates and grows. This is an investment in our people as much as it is in our premises.”
What Hope Capital’s office expansion means for brokers
The headquarters move sits alongside a run of operational developments at the firm. Hope Capital secured a £35 million wholesale facility with Hampshire Trust Bank earlier this year, covering residential, semi-commercial, and commercial lending across England, Wales, and Scotland.
The firm also expanded its dual legal representation panel into Scotland, cutting completion times and reducing costs for brokers on cross-border deals.
A larger, purpose-built office does not directly affect a lender’s rates or product range. But it does say something about operational capacity. A firm that has grown from nine to 45 staff in seven years while staying in one city is building infrastructure beyond just headcount.
Sealey said the firm’s roots in Liverpool were deliberate, not incidental. “Liverpool is at the heart of who we are, and we are incredibly proud to have grown our business here, creating jobs, attracting talented people and investing in the local community. Our new headquarters is another significant investment in both our people and the area we have called home since 2011.”
For brokers placing short-term finance, the Hope Capital office expansion, alongside new funding lines and an expanded solicitor panel, points to a lender building for the long term.
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