Less than a week to go till Mortgage Business Expo Manchester

Will you become directly regulated or an appointed representative? Which network will you join? Whose technology will you rely on to ensure your transactions are compliant? Who will you turn to for legal advice?

Answers to all of these questions can be found at Mortgage Business Expo Manchester. With over 120 exhibiting companies to compete with, you should find exhibitors are keen to explain the benefits of their propositions to anyone visiting their stand as succinctly as possible.

Andy White, Show Director said: “There will be a vast amount of information to get your hands on. Take the opportunity to speak to industry experts and get answers to your questions.”

A seminar programme has been organised to reflect the issues that research has shown are important to advisers. The CML has organised speakers from the industry’s leading organizations to discuss regulation, housing market trends, mortgage products, networks, loans and customer retention.

Michael Coogan, Director General of CML, said: “There is an urgent need for information on regulation and training. Visitors to the Mortgage Business Expo should gain from the insight of the expert speakers in the seminar programme.”

The FSA’s Sarah Wilson, Director High Street Firms Division, said: “We are urging intermediaries to focus on the decisions that need to be made. An event like this gives access to a great deal of useful information that will be essential for firms and intermediaries still undecided about what is best for them. The FSA is involved in the Seminar programme and we will also have advisers at the event answering questions.”

One of the big questions in the industry is whether to join a network and the potential disadvantages of joining the wrong one, if they elect to become appointed representatives. The Principal Theatre has been introduced to provide a comprehensive overview of what some of the major IFA networks are offering, incorporating an in depth Q&A session.

As well as the opportunity to speak to representatives from the regulator and industry associations, visitors will benefit from the range of companies exhibiting at the event. Lenders, surveyors, networks and IT companies will all be present.

Allied Surveyors is just one of the companies exhibiting at the Manchester event following a successful exhibition at Mortgage Business Expo London last year. Gill Hall, Senior Business Development Manager at Allied Surveyors plc, said: "We’ll be using every minute over the two day event to answer visitors’ questions and demonstrate our skills in panel management. It is the perfect opportunity to network with lenders and catch up with our customers.”

A large number of you will already have registered to attend the event in May. For those thinking beyond M-Day and of the obligations of compliance and CPD, the LIA will be exhibiting their mortgage ASSESS self assessment package, developed with the CII (Chartered Insurance Institute), on their stand.

Mortgage Business Expo Manchester is free to attend and takes place at the GMEX exhibition theatre on the 19 and 20 May. Register to attend in advance online at www.mortgagebusinessexpo.co.uk or telephone the hotline on 01727 738 863.