The Five Minute Interview with Jonathan Sealey, Director, Hope Capital

By Tony Sanchez 13th December 2011

Hope Capital is a 100% privately funded specialist provider of bridging loans of up to £500k for a term of up to 6 months.

This short term financing is secured as a first or second charge (not stand alone) against a property or a number of properties depending on the circumstances.

It is usually required when standard lending criteria cannot be met or the time constraints of the deal mean that high street lenders are unable to perform.

We speak to Director, Jonathan Sealey:

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

Coming from a property background, I thrive on looking at new and exciting deals on a daily basis. We have a very strong pipeline of deals at the moment, every one of them is different, so it certainly keeps me on my toes.

What keeps you focussed?

The determination to make a success of Hope Capital in the long term is certainly enough to keep me focussed, however nothing focusses the mind more than knowing that you live and die by the decisions you make in life, especially business wise.

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

I think any employees or colleagues that I bring into Hope Capital would have to share my passion for the company.

Nobody wants to employ someone who just sees their job as a 9 to 5. You have to give them something to work towards to get the most out of them.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I think you need to be a bit of both in certain situations.

You have to be optimistic that you will succeed at everything you do, but I also feel that there is nothing wrong with coming up with a plan B if all doesn’t work out quite as you may have hoped!

That said, I am definitely a ‘glass half full’ kind of guy!

What did you want to be as a child?

I think like most boys, I wanted to be a footballer … not the most original answer I’m sure you have received for this question.

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

Well it certainly isn’t the lack of deal flow … I think the economic climate and the refusal from banks to lend is only helping the bridging/development finance industry to thrive at the current time.

However, regulation within the short term lending market is something I am currently keeping a very close eye on.

Who or what makes you laugh?

Frankie Boyle or Jim Jefferies … controversial but brilliant. Not for the easily offended though!

Do you dread Monday mornings?

Without a double espresso I would dread every morning, but once I am up I can’t wait to get into the office and make the most of the day ahead. Weekends … slightly different.

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

Delegate more instead of trying to do everything myself.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

John Lennon – genius.

Although may also invite Charlie Sheen to help get the proceedings going!