‘I am very creative and always enjoyed building things from a young age’

By Tony Sanchez 16th May 2023

In our latest Five Minute Interview, Tony Sanchez speaks to Wesley Hawthorne, Business Development Manager at Fiduciam.

Fiduciam is an institutionally funded marketplace lender. It provides short-term loans secured over real estate in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Sweden, from £250k to £25m, for loan terms of six months to three years, both in pound sterling and in euro.

With its flexible, efficient and competitive approach to lending it helps small and medium sized businesses grow and prosper.

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

I have always had a very strong interest in property, property development and property finance.

Having started my career in residential agency, working for various property finance lenders along with owning and managing a portfolio of HMOs in Southwest London and building my own house, I have a strong understanding of the market, products, opportunities and have built up an excellent network of clients and colleagues that I very much enjoy working with.

What keeps you focused?

Onboarding clients and brokers and being a pivotal part of their portfolio growth by consistently delivering good service, utilising the team’s knowledge and finding solutions to problems that can arise throughout the process.

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

With so many lenders competing in a similar space, it is important to work for a lender that has the right appetite, internal systems, trained staff and multiple levels of funding that allow them to be flexible and structure their lending products in an attractive way that will appeal to and benefit my expanding network of brokers and clients.

I look for strong knowledge, reliability, resilience, good humour and honesty in my colleagues. I like to work with people that are approachable and know how to get the deals done but can have a good laugh whilst doing so.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I am an optimistic person as I always see the positive side of things. I expect things to turn out well and believe I have the skills and ability to make good things happen.

What did you want to be as a child?

A property developer – I am very creative and always enjoyed building things from a young age.

My family also have a development background and being involved in their business from a young age has shown me first-hand the pros and cons of being in that business.

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

The lending market is hugely competitive, but if clients are working with the right lenders that deliver on their terms and stand by their clients when problems arise, property professionals will continue to do very well and benefit from many opportunities over the next few years.

I feel Fiduciam’s competitively priced fixed rate bridging and development products provide clients with funding certainty and comfort for the duration of their projects.

Who or what makes you laugh?

A lot of things make me laugh but I tend to be at my happiest when stuck into a project, travelling, and being around good company especially my dear friends and family.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

I don’t dread any morning! Every day is an opportunity and I feel I get out of the day what I put in.

I generally start my morning with a nice fresh latte and short walk around the block listening to some music or one of my favourite podcasts.

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

I am a perfectionist. I’m never quite satisfied and am constantly pursuing opportunities, always thinking about how things can be improved and striving to do more.