‘I am a great believer that everything happens for a reason’

By Tony Sanchez 2nd June 2021

With its extensive market knowledge and close relationships with specialist lenders, First 4 Bridging (F4B) has become one of the UK’s leading packagers.

F4B’s success has been founded on its reputation for speed, flexibility and service excellence. Over the past 20 years, it has built strong relationships with intermediaries such as mortgage brokers and independent financial advisers.

As a result, many now consider F4B to be an important extension of their business.

Tony Sanchez speaks to Erica Pearce, Head of Intermediary Relations at First 4 Bridging (F4B).

Based in F4B’s Manchester-based intermediary support centre, Erica’s main role involves building and maintaining relationships with intermediaries and delivering F4B’s reputation for speed, flexibility and service excellence.

What is the best thing about being in the bridging finance business?

Bridging can sometimes be the only way that a client can get their dream property. With both bridging and development its great to be able to look at different ways to help clients to achieve their dream properties.

What keeps you focused?

Knowing that I am helping people, driving the business in the right direction and being part of a great team.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

Good team players with a positive attitude, who are happy to help each other out. They need a good work ethic, be customer focussed and driven to achieve both personal and business goals.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Optimist, I am a great believer that everything happens for a reason.

What did you want to be as a child?

From being 6 I always wanted to be a shoe shop lady, then later in life an Air Hostess – I have worked in both these roles.

What will be the greatest challenge facing the bridging finance industry in the coming months?

Now that we are on the road map out of lockdown, I think that business levels will increase and, due to this increased workload, lender SLAs could be impacted.

As a business our success comes from our ability to work quickly and we could see some knock-on effects from this.