The Five Minute Interview with Alison Dalton, Case Manager, The Property Finance Collective

The Property Finance Collective are a team of professionals specialising in Bridging Loans, Commercial Finance and Development Finance based in Spalding, Lincolnshire.

The company have vastly grown within the past 18 months, doubling their workforce and driving a focus on apprenticeships and training schemes within their team.

The Property Finance Collective have a strong emphasis on innovation within the industry, and in the past two years have developed their own mobile app, Podcast hosted by Managing Director Michael Primrose, their property networking event in London – as well as their own training platform, The Property Finance Academy!

We speak to case manager Alison Dalton:

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

I love how no two deals are the same. Each one is unique its own way and can take various different paths before completing.

What keeps you focused?

My family definitely keep me focused. Especially my son. I want him to learn that if you want anything in life you need to work hard to get it.

I think the fact that I enjoy my job and actually don’t mind coming to work helps. I love having a list of things to do and working through them.

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

People who I can get along with and not take life too seriously. Yes we all need to get the job done but if you can have some fun along the way then that makes the day and job more enjoyable for everyone.

Having a diverse team, I think is essential. People have various strengths and weakness which means that everyone can bring something different to the team.

I think that everyone has the potential to learn its just that everyone does it differently and in order for everyone to meet their potential and strive within the company they need to be allowed the time to figure out how to do things in their own yet, but still get the job done.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I would say I am an optimist.

I like to try and stay positive and think that things will get done just sometimes there may be challenges along the way, but I always have faith that where there is a will there’s a way.

That being said in my early days I assumed that every deal that I landed on my desk would complete.

I have learned very quickly that is not always the case and I now don’t get stressed if it doesn’t complete for whatever reason.

What did you want to be as a child?

As a child I always wanted to be a teacher. I went to University and got a degree in Early Childhood Studies.

While studying I found I had a strong interest in working with children with Special Needs so I pursued that for a little while which I enjoyed and found incredibly rewarding.

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

I think the recovery from the current pandemic and the effects it has had on the economy will have a challenge but deals are still progressing just at a different pace and people and lenders are just a little more cautious.

Who or what makes you laugh?

I am definitely someone who is easily amused.

I can find the funny side to most things and enjoy watching reruns of ‘Friends’ and despite having watched it many times before I will still laugh.

I have been known to ruin jokes because I can’t keep a straight face.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

Weirdly no. Do I sometimes wish the weekend was longer or struggle to get up on a Monday morning, yes but I like coming to work.

I think that we have a great team and sometimes it doesn’t feel like work because we joke and laugh so much the time just flies by.

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

To be more confident in myself in knowing that what I am saying is correct and not second guess what I say.

I used to worry about what people think but I have learned that not everyone is going to like you and that is okay.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Oprah Winfrey, I think she has met so many people from all different walks of life so would have so many stories to tell.

FOLLOW ON GOOGLE NEWS