The Five Minute Interview with John Waddicker, Director, Positive Commercial Finance

By Tony Sanchez 8th March 2016

Positive Commercial Finance is a specialist broker with expertise in matching clients with lenders for major development and commercial projects. They have access to exclusive funding lines, offer 50% commission splits and operate nationally to secure the best options for clients.

We speak to director, John Waddicker:

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

Every case is unique and offers different challenges and problems to solve.

I really enjoy being able to provide funding solutions to enable people to make money on development projects.

The market is really buoyant at the moment so we’re busy with lots of different business partners looking at a wide variety of new schemes.

What keeps you focussed?

The changing market and planning legislation has opened up a lot of opportunities for us, such as permitted development rights and the drive to use more brown field sites for development.

Working closely with clients gives us the insight and ammunition to help them achieve their goals.

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

Reliability, honesty and attention to detail. Being pro-active and thorough often means you can exceed expectations and that really cements relationships.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Optimist.

What did you want to be as a child?

First a policeman, then a footballer.

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

The challenge for developers will be finding land or property at the right price to make a scheme viable, and then negotiating their way through the planning process where consents are required.

As a business, service is becoming more of a differentiator in our sector and it is pleasing that Positive have recently achieved over 100 ‘Excellent’ review for our high commitment to client’s cases.

Who or what makes you laugh?

Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

No not at all. I like getting back in to the routine.

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

I’m perhaps a little impatient at times waiting for people to respond. So my patience could be sharpened up a little.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Fry & Laurie again!