The Five Minute Interview with Ian Broadbent, Director, Holme Finance Bridging Solutions

By Tony Sanchez 9th November 2016

Holme Finance Bridging Solutions is primarily a family run lender managing wholly private funds on behalf of a number of wealthy individuals.

They make no apology for their old fashioned methods preferring to discuss and agree a deal in a single phone call rather than relying on layers of documentation, individual underwriters and credit committees.

We speak to director, Ian Broadbent:

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

I love the variety in applications, no two are ever the same and it really keeps you on your toes.

What keeps you focused?

The team I work with are fantastic. It is not always easy to keep focused with so many differing calls on my time but I can always be confident there is the experience, the work ethic and the desire running through the whole team, we keep each other focused! And, of course, my partner and family, I do not want to let them down.

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

This one is easy. We have a fabulous team and every one of them has that key quality that they will ‘go the extra mile’ to make things happen for both the client and our introducers.

It is their work ethic and commitment to success that makes our success!

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I saw something recently I loved. It said “do not look at the glass as half full or half empty just be aware it is refillable”.

I see life like that, there will be times the glass appears half full so get off your backside and refill it!

What did you want to be as a child?

An adult they seemed to have all the fun (not sure I entirely understood adulthood the same then as now!)

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

I do not want to sound pessimistic as generally I am not however we do have to be realistic and anticipate ‘bumps’ in the road.

The industry has been through enormous growth in recent years both in terms of the market size and the number of providers.

Some of this has been fueled by the lack of appetite to lend shown by traditional lenders wounded in the recent crash and some by entrepreneurial individuals looking to leverage in a low interest environment for positive returns.

Times change and this growth will invariably slow at which point we will see some of the weaker players withdraw and consolidation amongst others bringing challenges to compete to those of us that remain independent.

Fortunately we are both big enough to compete and small enough to move quickly, bring it on.

Who or what makes you laugh?

The most I ever laughed in my life was a particular sketch by Rhod Gilbert about the most mundane of things, arriving at an Australian airport and collecting luggage.

If you have not seen it please please look it up on YouTube it has to be seen. Day to day however, and I know how corny this is, it is my partner; isn’t that the best foundation to a relationship?

Do you dread Monday mornings?

HAHA I am not a morning person at all ( as anyone who knows me will tell you ) however I don’t dread Monday mornings any more than any other.

Always at my best after 10am though, you have been warned.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I really don’t think there is anything. I have a million flaws, have made a million mistakes and I fall an awful long way of perfect however

I am a product of what has gone before and believe you have to accept yourself for what you are. Hopefully others will feel the same!

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Oh god now this is going to sound like a love in but, obviously, my partner Sarah would be top of the list.

If it is a dinner party and I can invite more (let’s assume from any period) it would be Margaret Thatcher, Kylie Minogue, Dave Allen, Bob Monkhouse, Steven Gerrard and a bottle of Black Sambuca. Now that would be a party!