Content Writer
Director
According to the findings of Mortgage Introducer, UK mortgage industry employers are struggling to recruit and retain skilled advisers. We’ve studied their 7th annual Global 100 mortgage employers report in detail (so that you don’t have to), to find out exactly what it is that makes employers ‘the best’ option for modern mortgage brokers.
What brokers want from an employer
What makes an employer desirable to work for can certainly vary from one person to the next. While some value flexibility and benefits the most, culture, investment in people and overall reputation are continuously highlighted as the most important factors to consider when choosing a future employer, or staying with your existing one.
Mortgage Introducer’s report showed these to be the most important factors across the board when it comes to attracting and retaining strong talent:
- Culture - A positive culture with honest, clear leadership and support now holds considerable weight with the retention of employees, ranking as the most important determining factor for many brokers
- Reputation - Many agree that as the UK mortgage industry is a fairly tight knit community, a poor reputation is hard to shake, and can play an important role in attracting new staff
- Compensation & Benefits - Pay expectations in the industry are rising, alongside the average regular earning increase of 5.2% in the year to April 2025, the quickest salary growth across all private sector industries, according to the Office for National Statistics
- Technology - Many brokers cited progression in terms of technology to be an important factor when considering new roles, and said that they would be put off by clunky archaic CRM systems
- Flexibility - This is a standard expectation in the industry, and those with reater flexibility towards working patterns continue to attract the most interest, with 66% of brokers working in a hybrid pattern as of 2025, and many showing a preference for entirely remote employment
- Opportunity - A clear path to progression, with proven outcomes is important to both attracting and retaining the most ambitious brokers, especially those in their early to mid career
- Sustainable programs and Diversity Equality &Inclusion - These are rated lower than other factors, but still considered an important element by both prospective and currently employed staff
Key takeaways - how to find the ideal employer
If you’re looking for the perfect mortgage employer, you’re likely to be keen on many or all of the above conditions. A good employer, in 2026, is offering an attractive experience to its employees in all of the above areas. Those attracting the best employees are working hard to ensure they fulfill such expectations.
When looking for a new mortgage brokerage or network, it’s important to:
Do your research - look at the press about prospective employers and ask colleagues in the industry what they’ve heard.
Ask questions - If you get to the interview stages, be sure to have prepared questions about the issues that are most important to you, whether that’s culture, opportunity or reputation
Speak to current employees - Linkedin provides great networking opportunities, and staying active within the mortgage industry helps get an idea of how employers operate. However, there’s no harm in reaching out to people in a similar role that already work there to ask any questions you feel uncomfortable raising at interview
Sell yourself - While employees are expecting more than ever from their employers, the same goes for employers. Highlight strong digital and compliance skills to stay ahead of the pack with the most desirable employers
Scope out their website - A strong employer sells themselves to prospective employees online. We have a specific page detailing ‘life at Echo’, for example, which can give you great insight into our culture and the benefits we offer
How we stack up
If you’re looking for a new employer, here’s a short list of why you should consider Echo Finace:
Fully remote working
Nurturing culture with plenty of opportunity for advancement
Free leads provided, if you need them
The best CRM in the industry. Built by brokers for brokers
Market leading remittance package - Up to 80% commission split and no fees
Want to know how we stack up against other mortgage employers in a head-to-head comparison? Visit our Echo Finance Vs. The World page for a detailed breakdown.