Brightstar Group is piloting a new initiative aimed at bringing Service Leavers and Veterans into the mortgage intermediary market, in partnership with Working in Mortgages.
The programme, titled Mortgage Jobs for Heroes, has been developed to encourage Armed Forces personnel leaving service to consider careers across the UK mortgage sector, with a focus on highlighting transferable skills and creating structured entry routes into intermediary roles.
Working in Mortgages is a joint initiative between the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) and the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA). Its stated objective is to make the mortgage industry a fairer and more accessible place to work and to do business with.
Under the pilot, Brightstar Group and Working in Mortgages will attend the National Transition Event at Silverstone on 2 March 2026. The event, which includes the Troops’ Track Day, is expected to attract more than 1,000 Service Leavers, Veterans and their families, and is positioned as a major careers and networking forum for those moving into civilian employment.
Brightstar national account manager Lee Payne will represent the firm at the event. Payne (pictured left), formerly a regimental sergeant major in the Royal Engineers, moved into the mortgage industry following an introduction to Brightstar chief executive Rob Jupp and is now part of the group’s national accounts team.
At Silverstone, Brightstar and Working in Mortgages plan to begin building a database of Service Leavers and Veterans interested in exploring roles in the sector. This will be followed by an information webinar outlining routes into the industry, with candidates then invited to apply for placements and roles across participating firms, including Brightstar.
Payne said: “We often talk in this industry about resilience, discipline, leadership and teamwork – but those qualities are embedded into Service Leavers.
“The Armed Forces develops people who can perform under pressure, build trust quickly and to take responsibility, all of which translate exceptionally well into the mortgage sector.
“My own journey into financial services happened by chance, but it does not have to be that way. There are so many talented Service Leavers that transition out of the Armed Forces who would thrive in this industry if they knew it was an option.
“Mortgage Jobs for Heroes is about changing that – creating visibility, opening doors and providing a clear pathway into the mortgage industry.”
Clare Jupp (pictured, right), chief people officer at Brightstar Group, said the firm believed talent did not always emerge through traditional recruitment channels.
She said: “We feel incredibly strongly that talent doesn’t always come through traditional channels. Some of the most capable, values-driven and determined individuals you will ever meet are those who have served in the Armed Forces.
“As an industry, we talk about doing the right thing for clients, acting with integrity and supporting people through major life decisions.
“Those principles are second nature to Service Leavers. Mortgage Jobs for Heroes is about recognising that alignment and giving exceptional people the platform they deserve.
“If we are serious about strengthening our workforce for the future, we must be bold about where we look for talent.”
The initiative forms part of Brightstar’s broader strategy to attract new entrants into the intermediary market, alongside existing engagement with schools and colleges. The group said the mortgage industry must take a proactive approach to succession planning and workforce renewal.
Further details of the planned webinar and participating firms are expected to be announced following the 2 March event.
