‘I’m eager to keep pushing my limits and see how far I can climb’

By Tony Sanchez 10th July 2024

In our latest Five Minute Interview, Tony Sanchez speaks to Ed Thackray, Specialist Finance Consultant at FinSpace.

Ed specialises in structured finance for bridging loans and has been in the industry for four years now.

FinSpace Group is a fintech-driven specialist finance brokerage based in Central London, providing fast and flexible loans to property developers and investors.

What keeps you focused?

Success! I’m grateful to have entered this industry at a young age and gained so much experience in a short time.

I’m eager to keep pushing my limits and see how far I can climb. Being organised, straightforward, and goal-oriented helps me stay focused.

I enjoy taking a proactive approach to every client project.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Absolutely an optimist! I think there’s no point in doing what we do if you’re anything but, you must be able to take some knocks and keep smiling.

It comes back to the adage, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry!

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

I look for a spark, a passion to learn and a sharp sense of humour!

I like to think I’m generally easy to get along with (or so I’m told).

If we can have a good chat about nothing, it makes me quite happy.

FinSpace’s great diversity and the balance of professionalism and banter among colleagues is something I genuinely love!

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

It’s the people, 100% – The relationships we build are second to none, with colleagues, clients and lenders, everything is done on a personal level and it’s a joy to build and develop these relationships.

The industry is filled with skilled and knowledgeable professionals, making it a genuine pleasure to work alongside them.

Additionally, we are thrilled that FinSpace has won three Bridging awards in the past year, including Best Bridging Broker and Regulated Bridging Broker to name a few.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

Not particularly. However, I think everyone gets the ‘Sunday Scaries’ now and then.

With that in mind, I moved down to London from East Yorkshire, a place which is still dear to my heart, to deepen my role and knowledge within this industry and I’m eager to capitalize on this opportunity, even on Mondays.

Who or what makes you laugh?

There are always a few things that make me laugh.

But a sly joke, nestled into an otherwise normal conversation will never not tickle me.

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

I can, have done and more than likely shall keep doing, is to make mountains out of molehills – I tend to be quite charged when a deal gets complicated, if I can work on looking at the bigger picture now and then, I’d be quite content.

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

I think a mixture of uncertainty and anticipation is going to be the greatest challenge going forward.

With the election wrapped up, and the ever-present ruminations that the base rate will start coming down, I think we’re seeing and will continue to see clients holding off charging ahead with a deal on the prospects of uncertainty and that rates will be cheaper in a few months.

What did you want to be as a child?

I was never quite sure!

Growing up, I’ve lurched from an Astronaut to a Doctor, to a Solicitor and the Military and then back again.

In all honesty, I’ve never found something that quite ticked all the boxes.

Having said this, the bridging industry keeps my hands full and I’m quite happy with that.

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

If we’re allowed to resurrect people, being just a little bit into my history to put it nicely, there are a few people I would kill to sit down with and chat their heads off.

Chiefly, Alfred the Great, a man who defeated the Vikings and paved the way for the unification of England must be worth talking to!