The Dragon Network

What The Dragon Network does

The Dragon Network is a UK mortgage and protection adviser network, operated by Dragon Brokers Ltd, an FCA-authorised firm (FCA Reference: 599430) headquartered in Sale, Greater Manchester. Founded in 2013, the network provides a regulatory umbrella, compliance support, and operational infrastructure to over 100 self-employed mortgage advisers across the United Kingdom. Its product surface spans the Dragon Academy online training platform, a CAS (Competent Adviser Status) mentorship pathway, a SmartMoneyTeam sub-brand offering a fast-track Registered Individual entry route for newly qualified advisers, and a whole-of-market mortgage lender panel distributed through a mortgage club.

The platform is built around proprietary digital onboarding portals, compliance management systems, training delivery infrastructure, and integrated adviser software designed to streamline case management. The network recruits advisers through direct sales outreach, discovery calls, referral partnerships (notably The Mortgage Village), and a CeMAP training provider partnership that supplies pre-qualified candidates. Onboarding is structured: approximately 10-12 weeks for new advisers from discovery call to trading, around 2 weeks for Registered Individuals via SmartMoneyTeam, and a minimum 6-month mentorship path to CAS.

The business model combines two revenue streams: (1) a single all-inclusive monthly subscription fee per adviser covering FCA compliance, Professional Indemnity insurance, systems access, training, and marketing support; and (2) a commission share on procuration fees, with experienced advisers retaining up to 90% of commissions and paid weekly. The network serves a horizontal segmentation of adviser personas - newly qualified, experienced, transitioning, and Registered Individual - rather than vertical end-customer segments. End consumers (mortgage borrowers) are reached only indirectly through the distributed adviser base.

Name

The Dragon Network

Legal name

Dragon Brokers Ltd

Website

https://thedragonnetwork.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Dragon Network is a UK FCA-authorised mortgage network providing regulatory umbrella, compliance, training, and whole-of-market lender panel access to over 100 self-employed mortgage advisers across the United Kingdom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sale

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Monthly Network Fees: Dragon Network charges advisers a single, all-inclusive monthly fee that covers FCA and Professional Indemnity insurance costs, compliance support, access to systems, training, and other services. This provides predictable recurring revenue.
2. Commission Sharing: For experienced advisers, Dragon Network retains a portion of procuration and commission fees while advisers earn up to 90% of commissions. The network provides regulatory umbrella services in exchange for this revenue share.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Dragon Network is a UK mortgage and protection adviser network that provides an FCA-authorised regulatory umbrella, compliance support, training (Dragon Academy), a whole-of-market lender panel, and business development services to self-employed mortgage advisers operating as Appointed Representatives. The network serves newly qualified and experienced advisers, with a separate SmartMoneyTeam Registered Individual route for rapid market entry.

Product overview

The Dragon Network operates as a unified mortgage adviser network platform comprising several integrated components: the core Dragon Network platform provides FCA regulatory umbrella and Appointed Representative status for self-employed mortgage advisers; Dragon Academy delivers online training and onboarding; SmartMoneyTeam offers an accelerated Registered Individual entry route for rapid market entry; the Whole of Market Lender Panel provides access to mortgage products; and Business Development Services support brand building. The network serves advisers from newly qualified through to experienced CAS holders, offering tiered commission structures (up to 90% for experienced advisers) with weekly payment options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dragon Network (Appointed Representative Membership) Core UK mortgage and protection adviser network providing FCA regulatory umbrella, compliance support, business development tools, and market access for self-employed mortgage advisers operating as Appointed Representatives.
• SmartMoneyTeam Registered Individual Route A fast-track entry route allowing newly qualified advisers to operate as self-employed advisers under SmartMoneyTeam's FCA authorisation, with reduced complexity and faster onboarding of approximately two weeks before progressing to full Appointed Representative status.
• Business Development and Marketing Services In-house design and development team providing branding, websites, promotional materials, and social media marketing support to advisers building their own client-facing brands within the Dragon Network.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120,000+ financial products advised upon in the last decade
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Mortgage VillagecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Mortgage Village is a network that recommends and endorses Dragon Network to mortgage advisers. Multiple instances of The Mortgage Village logo display on Dragon Network's website indicate an ongoing partnership where The Mortgage Village directs advisers to join Dragon Network. The relationship appears reciprocal with Dragon Network featured prominently in The Mortgage Village ecosystem.
• SmartMoneyTeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmartMoneyTeam is an established FCA-authorised firm (regulated since 2013) that operates as part of the Dragon Network ecosystem. It provides the Registered Individual route for advisers wanting fastest market entry before progressing to full Appointed Representative status. SmartMoneyTeam has over 120,000 financial service products sold and a network of professional advisers. Dragon Network and SmartMoneyTeam share infrastructure including training, systems, and lender panel access.
• CeMAP Training Provider PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDragon Network is partnered with one of the leading CeMAP training providers in the country, with over 15 years of experience delivering CeMAP training. Dragon Network can recommend this provider to prospective advisers and provides discounts on training costs. This partnership supports the network's mission to encourage and nurture new entrants into the profession.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Personal Touch Financial Services: UK advice network providing regulatory and business support services to mortgage and protection advisers operating as ARs. Direct competitor with similar scale and target adviser segments as Dragon.
• PRIMIS Mortgage Network: UK mortgage and protection adviser network providing regulatory infrastructure, lender panel access, and business support to ARs. A direct competitor to Dragon in the appointed-representative space, serving both newly qualified and experienced advisers with similar whole-of-market panels.
• Mortgage Support Network (msn): UK mortgage network supporting appointed representatives with regulatory umbrella, training, and lender panel access. Directly comparable niche player to Dragon in the AR network space.
• Stonebridge (Brightstar): UK mortgage and protection adviser network operating an appointed representative model with whole-of-market lender access. Directly comparable to Dragon in the AR network space, serving self-employed advisers with similar compliance and training support.
• Paradigm Mortgage Services: Mortgage club and AR network providing lender panel access, compliance support, and business development tools to UK advisers. Direct competitor in the mortgage network/intermediary support category with overlapping value proposition.

Broad incumbents

• SimplyBiz: UK intermediary services group providing compliance, regulation, and business support to mortgage advisers and networks. Comparable as an infrastructure provider serving adviser networks and directly competing for adviser relationships.
• Tenet Group: UK financial services support group offering mortgage network, compliance, and distribution services to advisers and intermediaries. Comparable infrastructure provider competing for adviser relationships in the AR network space.
• Openwork: One of the UK's largest mortgage and financial advice networks, offering appointed representative services across mortgage, protection, and investment advice. Directly comparable to Dragon Network in the AR/regulatory umbrella model but at substantially greater scale, with a much broader product set and adviser base.
• Quilter: UK wealth management and advice group with a mortgage and protection adviser network under its umbrella. Larger incumbent offering broader financial planning capabilities alongside comparable mortgage adviser support services.
• Sesame Bankhall Group (SBG): Major UK advice network group (part of Aviva) supporting mortgage, protection, and investment advisers under regulatory umbrella. Competes with Dragon for adviser recruitment and provides comparable AR support services, though at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The Dragon Network