What Connect Mortgages does

Connect Mortgages, trading as Connect IFA Ltd, is a UK-authorised mortgage brokerage founded in 1998 by Liz Syms and headquartered in Hornchurch, Essex. The firm operates a nationwide network of more than 300 verified mortgage advisers and an appointed-representative network under the Connect for Intermediaries brand. Connect serves six primary customer segments: residential borrowers (first-time buyers, movers, remortgagors, equity release), buy-to-let investors (including portfolio, HMO, limited company and expat landlords), commercial borrowers (commercial mortgages, bridging, development finance, business loans), self-employed individuals, borrowers with adverse credit, and adviser firms joining the network. The core product surface spans residential, BTL, commercial and bridging mortgages, plus a full suite of protection products (life cover, critical illness, mortgage protection, income protection, landlord, and buildings and contents insurance).

The underlying technology is minimal and not publicly disclosed; product delivery is relationship-led through human advisers supported by basic online calculators and an adviser-matching tool (Connect Experts). Revenue is generated transactionally: Connect receives commission from lenders (a fixed percentage of loan value, varying by lender and product) plus arrangement fees typically set at 0.5% of mortgage balance (e.g., £500 on a £100,000 mortgage), confirmed before the client proceeds. Connect is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference 441505 and is a member of multiple industry bodies including AMI, FIBA, the Society of Mortgage Professionals and the Equity Release Council. The business has won industry recognition including Mortgage Network of the Year and Mortgage Distributor of the Year at the 2024 Mortgage Introducer Awards.

Name

Connect Mortgages

Legal name

Connect IFA Ltd

Website

https://connectmortgages.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Connect Mortgages is a UK-authorised mortgage brokerage founded in 1998, operating a nationwide network of 300+ advisers and an appointed-representative network (Connect for Intermediaries), serving residential, buy-to-let, commercial and specialist borrowers with lender-commission and arrangement-fee revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mortgage Brokerage

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162)

akta.pro primary industry

Wholesale Mortgage Broker Networks / Master Brokers (FSALABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail Residential Mortgage Brokers (Purchase & Refinance) (FSALABAA), Commercial & Multifamily Mortgage Brokers (FSALABAB), Commercial Mortgage Brokerage (FSAEAEAB)

Keywords

• Mortgage brokerage services
• Residential mortgage advice
• Buy-to-let financing
• Protection insurance products
• Commercial property finance

Headquarters

HQ city

Hornchurch

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Commission from Lenders: Connect Mortgages receives commission from lenders after completion of mortgage transactions. The amount is typically a fixed percentage of the amount borrowed from the lender. Commission rates vary by lender and product.
2. Arrangement Fees: A fee is payable for arranging mortgages. The consultant confirms the amount before proceeding, typically 0.5% of the mortgage balance (e.g., £500 for a £100,000 mortgage).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Connect Mortgages is a UK mortgage and protection broker delivering tailored advice across residential, buy-to-let, and commercial property finance through a nationwide network of FCA-regulated mortgage advisers. The brokerage arranges mortgages from a panel of 200+ lenders and supplements mortgage placements with protection and general insurance products (life cover, critical illness, mortgage protection, income protection, buildings and contents, landlord). A separate network division, Connect for Intermediaries, provides compliance, training and lender access services to appointed representatives and broker firms.

Product overview

Connect Mortgages is a UK mortgage and protection brokerage network offering a comprehensive suite of mortgage products and financial services. The core offering includes residential mortgages, commercial mortgages, and buy-to-let mortgages, supported by specialist products such as bridging loans, development finance, and business loans. The company also provides a full range of protection products including life cover, critical illness cover, mortgage protection insurance, income protection, and general insurance (buildings, contents, and landlord insurance). Additional tools include mortgage calculators for affordability and stamp duty assessment. The business operates as part of Connect Group, with the Connect for Intermediaries network division supporting advisers and appointed representatives across the UK. Access to over 200 lenders and providers enables the company to serve clients from first-time buyers to complex specialist lending cases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Mortgages Mortgage brokering service for homebuyers and homeowners covering first-time buyer mortgages, home mover mortgages, remortgages, self-employed income, second-charge borrowing, equity release, expat/overseas and adverse credit scenarios. Delivered through FCA-regulated advisers to UK individuals and property owners.
• Buy-to-Let Mortgages Specialist buy-to-let mortgage products for property investors including portfolio landlord mortgages, HMO property finance, limited company buy-to-let, and expat buy-to-let arrangements. Targeted at individual and corporate property investors in the UK.
• Commercial Mortgages and Commercial Finance Commercial property finance, development finance, business loans and bridging loans arranged for businesses and commercial borrowers seeking property finance, development funding or growth capital. Note: FCA does not regulate some forms of Business Buy-to-Let Mortgages and Commercial Mortgages to Limited Companies.
• Bridging Loans Short-term property finance for time-sensitive transactions where speed of completion is critical; arranged via the firm's bridging lender panel.
• Protection and General Insurance Suite of protection and insurance products sold alongside mortgage arrangements, including life cover, critical illness cover, mortgage protection insurance, income protection insurance, buildings and contents insurance and landlord insurance.
• Connect for Intermediaries Network UK mortgage and protection network service for advisers, appointed representatives and broker firms, providing compliance, training, and access to the firm's lender panel for mainstream and specialist advice.
• Connect Experts Adviser Finder Online adviser-matching tool that lets clients filter Connect network mortgage advisers by language, location and gender to find a suitable mortgage adviser.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25 years of industry experience
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Society of Mortgage ProfessionalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnect is an associate firm with the Society of Mortgage Professionals, indicating commitment to high professional standards in serving clients and professional business practices including staff welfare.
• Diversity and Inclusivity Finance ForumminorOthersAssociation with diversity and inclusivity initiatives in the finance sector
• Women in Finance CharterminorOthersCommitment to women in finance initiatives through HM Treasury charter
• FIBA (Finance & Leasing Association)minorOthersTrade association membership for bridging and commercial finance
• AMI (Association of Mortgage Intermediaries)minorOthersTrade association membership for mortgage intermediaries
• SMP (Society of Mortgage Professionals)minorOthersProfessional body membership for mortgage professionals
• Equity Release Council (ERC)minorOthersTrade association for equity release products and providers
• MIMHC (More In Mortgage Help Campaign)minorOthersCampaign supporting mortgage advice and access
• Mortgage SolutionsminorOthersIndustry media partnership for changemakers events
• Pride in Finance AllianceminorOthersAlliance promoting inclusivity in finance sector

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• London & Country Mortgages: One of the UK's largest independent mortgage brokers with a whole-of-market lender panel and national adviser coverage. Directly comparable to Connect Mortgages in residential, BTL, and specialist mortgage intermediation.
• Private Finance: UK mortgage and wealth broker serving professionals, high earners and complex cases. Comparable on specialist residential and BTL intermediation, with overlap on protection and insurance cross-sell.
• First Mortgage (Network): UK mortgage network supporting advisers and appointed representatives with lender access and compliance support. Comparable to Connect for Intermediaries on the network/AR proposition.
• John Charcol: Long-established specialist UK mortgage broker focused on complex and non-standard lending cases. Comparable to Connect's specialist/adverse credit and self-employed proposition.
• SPF Private Clients: UK mortgage broker offering high-net-worth, professional, and complex lending solutions. Comparable on specialist mortgage intermediation for residential, BTL, and commercial borrowers.
• Alexander Hall: UK fee-based mortgage broker with a strong London base and a focus on adviser-led service. Comparable to Connect on residential purchase, remortgage, and buy-to-let intermediation.
• Mortgage Advice Bureau (MAB): UK AIM-listed mortgage broker network with hundreds of advisers and a similar appointed-representative model. Comparable in network scale, lender panel breadth, and protection cross-sell strategy.

Emerging players

• Habito: Digital-first UK mortgage broker and lender using an online platform to streamline the broker process. Comparable to Connect in residential mortgage intermediation but competes via a digital/self-serve model.
• Trussle: Online mortgage broker using technology to match borrowers with lender products. Comparable on the residential intermediation layer, with a contrasting tech-led distribution model versus Connect's adviser-led network.

Broad incumbents

• Openwork Limited: Large UK mortgage and protection network with thousands of advisers across multiple advice firms. Comparable in network/AR structure and protection cross-sell, with broader financial services scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/connectmtgs
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100091372328231
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connect-mortgages

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connect Mortgages