Working here

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

I worked at HSBC as a personal banker, which involved opening accounts and processing loans and credit cards.

How long have you been here and why did you decide to join L&C?

I’ve been working here for six years in November. I was in the very first intake of Advisers for the Newcastle office when it first opened. I decided to join L&C because I wanted to move up in the world. It’s a similar industry but working as a Mortgage and Protection Adviser is more specialist. I was also drawn by the opportunity of CeMAP training and within a year I was a qualified Adviser.

What do you do at L&C?

As a Mortgage and Protection Adviser I spend my time managing relationships with customers, discussing their requirements, and finding them the best possible solution for mortgages and protection. I spend time fact finding, researching cases and calling customers back with a recommendation.

What’s it like working here?

Really good, it’s a fast paced working environment; always very positive, with great banter in the team.

What kind of training have you had?

Along with CeMAP 1, 2 and 3, which make you a fully qualified Mortgage Adviser, there’s constant on-going development to brush up on your knowledge and expertise.

Is there room for development in your role?

There are great opportunities to move into management. Only three of the original intake of Advisers in Newcastle are still at Adviser level. There’s a lot of opportunity for progression because the company has grown so much. I chose to stay as an Adviser because I enjoy it so much.

What is the best part of your job and being at L&C?

The best bit is the people as I get on really well with my colleagues. It’s a great place to work and the pay is fantastic.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

In 2014 I won the award for Young Achiever at the British Mortgage Awards. I was also shortlisted in 2016 for Best Overall Mortgage Broker. It felt great to be recognised.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

Yes, there is a lot of support on offer. As there are so many advisers there are lots of people you can ask for help, and the management are also really supportive.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

I previously worked in retail as a shop floor assistant.

How long have you been here and why did you decide to join L&C?

I have been at L&C for almost 9 years now. I wanted to try something different and be given the chance to do this, with no previous experience in the field. L&C offered these opportunities, to learn new skills and knowledge, and to develop your career further if you wanted to.

What do you do at L&C?

I work in the Conveyancing team as a Conveyancing Support Co-Ordinator and a Team Leader.

Is there room for development in your role?

I have gained legal knowledge about the Conveyancing process and the skills to manage relationships with partner firms and our clients and how to deal with sensitive issues. There is always room for development in my role if you wish to progress further.

What is the best part of your job and being at L&C?

The support you receive from other team members and managers really does make a difference.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

I used to work as a school teacher in a previous life (and no, those extra weeks of holiday aren’t all they are cut out to be!)

How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I joined when I was looking for a new challenge which allowed me to learn some new skills. I was keen to be in a job which still allowed me to talk to people frequently. I don’t know where time is going but I’ve been at L&C just shy of 5 years now.

What do you do at L&C?

I’m a Learning and Development Coach, which means I primarily assist with initial inductions and adviser training/support/coaching.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

L&C has offered me brilliant career progression. I started as a Mortgage and Protection Adviser and had the chance to work in different teams and sections across the business. Over time I found myself using my previous skill set more and more to support new starters and deliver training sessions which finally lead to me applying for the Learning and Development Coach position.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

This is a simple one; the people. You’ll find that there is always someone there to support you, cheer you on or challenge your thinking.

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What were you doing before you joined L&C?

I was mostly working in retail. I’d had an office job or two but didn’t really like the offices I’d worked in before.

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How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I’ve been here 16 years! I first decided to join because L&C felt like a lively workplace with lots of scope for progression. I’ve certainly not been disappointed by that, initially starting in the post room, I’ve worked my way up to my current role, even moving to completely new areas I’d never considered before like life insurance.

What do you do at L&C?

I’m a Marketing Assistant specialising in mortgage products. I help keep all the numbers ‘under the bonnet’ running, analyse market data and provide mortgage information for national news outlets. I love statistics and fast-paced environments so it’s a great fit for me!

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

I’ve learned so much in my current role about how the mortgage market as a whole works. My background in the company was mostly in customer services and I’ve learned so much now about the other side of the process. There’s always something new to find out and it’s one of the things I love about my current role.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

Definitely the people - my current team is a wonderful bunch and we’re all on the same page as each other. I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD within the last year and the support my team has provided has been amazing. I don’t know how I could have navigated such a stressful time professionally without all of the support my managers and colleagues have given me.

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What were you doing before you joined L&C?

I worked in a number of roles with Yorkshire Building Society for 14 years. I started with them as a management trainee. This was a 2 year fast-tracked programme, which successfully led to me securing a Branch Manager Role. It involved working in all the areas of banking, from customer consultant to a Mortgage Adviser then to a Branch Manager position. Before my YBS days, I worked in Recruitment and as a Travel Agent.

How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I joined in March 2020. To be honest, I had opened up a profile on LinkedIn and was open to offers. I was contacted by a recruitment consultant who told me about L&C and the money seemed good.I had done similar work before so decided to go through the interview process. I had been offered multiple other jobs, but decided on this one as money was much more attractive than other roles I had applied for.

What do you do at L&C?

I’m a Protection Expert. This involves being passed through warm leads from the Mortgage Adviser so I can discuss their protection needs. I build relationships with my customers, discussing their individual needs and requirements and coming up with a solution to eradicate any risks or concerns they have in relation to protecting their families, mortgages and lifestyles.

What kind of training have you had?

I did 6 weeks intensive training with L&C which was followed by sitting my Certpro exam. Once in the office, I continue to have on-going development and training with my team manager and other colleagues. This includes call listening and feedback which I find really helpful.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

Yes I believe no matter who you are, or how good or experienced you are there is always room for development and improvements. There are opportunities to move into other areas if you wish, such as mortgage advisory roles and management. However I personally am quite happy staying in the role I am in.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

The money! Plus being able now to drop a day so I can get my work and life balance more equal.
I also love being able to work from home, as again this helps with my family commitments.
Also; job satisfaction – I enjoy educating my customers and getting them to see the importance of protection, with the end result knowing that my customers and their families are now well protected if anything unfortunate should happen to them.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

I have had an uplift on my bonus for 3 consecutive quarters now, this is due to hitting my targets in all areas. This shows I’m consistent, thorough and look after my customers from start to finish.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

Yes, I always know if I need help or support, that my team and team manager will be there for me.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

Before working at L&C I was working in retail as a Sales Assistant.

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How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I have been working for L&C for 5 and half years now. I heard great things from a friend who was employed at L&C at the time. The company seemed to be a great working environment with lots of career opportunities.

What do you do at L&C?

I am currently a Senior Case Manager in the Protection department. This entails overseeing customer’s protection applications from start to finish to provide them with a smooth and professional journey. I also liaise with various parties such as solicitors, GP surgeries and insurers to ensure the customers application is accepted and ready to commence at the appropriate time. Additionally, training and supporting team members as well as the department managers is also a key factor in my role and one I take pride in doing.

What kind of training have you had?

I have had lots of training since beginning at L&C. This has been from one-to-one training with senior members on a daily basis to vertical training modules via Trailhead to keep my working knowledge to up to date within the industry.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

Since starting at L&C I have progressed from a Case Manager to a Senior Case Manager. I have been given different responsibilities throughout my time here and with new challenges frequently, this has given me the chance to gain new skills and develop on many levels within my role.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

The best part of my role is that I get to help other team members on a day-to-day basis. From training new employees to helping long-term team mates, this gives me a sense of fulfilment and job satisfaction. Being at L&C allows me to share my opinions and be part of a team who always wants to improve for their employees and customers experience.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

Receiving a promotion and hearing that my manager believes in my abilities to help lead a team to achieve a great working environment.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

I feel very much supported by my colleagues at L&C. I feel I can always rely on my team mates and my managers always have their door open for my concerns, questions and any opinions I might have, personal or professional.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

Before I started working at L&C I was working at a care home as a receptionist/activities coordinator.

‍How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I have been working at L&C for around 3 and a half years, I decided to join L&C as I was looking to start a job that I could progress in, and this has proven to be a really good place for me. I have been able to progress by hitting my monthly and yearly targets. When I researched the company prior to my interview I appreciated the values that they stand for.

What do you do at L&C?

I am currently a Senior Case Manager in the Product Transfer team which we created at the start of the year, this is progressing very well.

What kind of training have you had?

I have had amazing training at L&C, when I first started I was trained by a very experienced Case Manager and I was training in a team straight away. We often have refresher training where needed and there is always extra training if requested.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

There is a lot of room for development in L&C. When I first started I was on Band 1 and did not have much knowledge of mortgages. I have since worked my way up and will possibly look for future development myself in L&C. A very good thing at L&C is there are many different departments which you can always look at moving to also if you are interested.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

The best part of my job at L&C must be the friends I have made here; everyone is very friendly and welcoming. L&C are also actively working to become more diverse and inclusive.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

My proudest achievement will be working my way up to Senior Case Manager. I also feel like I achieve a lot on a day-to-day basis dealing with customers in many different situations. It is always a very good feeling reaching the final stages of the mortgage applications and getting the customers a mortgage offer.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

Yes, I love the team I am in at L&C, we also have a lot of support from Managers and Senior Managers who are always happy to help when needed.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

I was a Mortgage Adviser at Santander.

‍How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

5 months; they had a good reputation in the mortgage market and good relationships with large homebuilders.

What do you do at L&C?

I fact-find, research and recommend the best deals on the market for all types of mortgage applications.

What kind of training have you had?

When first joined we had 5 weeks of group training via Zoom, with practice sessions, roleplays and thorough coaching. The training was very good.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

Yes definitely! There are infinite amounts of things to learn within this role and lots of job opportunities within the company as well as external coaching sessions from Business Development Managers.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

The large range of possibilities we are able to offer customers from all different types of affordability situations which means it is very rare that we can’t offer a solution to a customer.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

Hitting allocated target in the first 2 months of advising having coming from a non-broking role prior to this.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

Very much so, my manager is always around to pass on his vast range of experience and offer sound guidance and best practice, making the job much more enjoyable and worthwhile. The other managers and team members within my section are also very helpful.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

I was a Supervisor in a restaurant in Bristol city centre, worked in hospitality as soon as I left college and then worked up from there.

How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I’ve been here for 8 months now. I always wanted a career that is people-based and in my role I help create a good experience and am a part of that journey for them. The recruitment agent said that L&C is a really respected business and has all the aspects that I would enjoy. After the interview I felt really good about the company and the role and here I am 8 months later.

What do you do at L&C?

I am a Call Handler at L&C. I am the first point of contact to get people set up with their enquiry and through to Advice. I make inbound and outbound calls to all sorts of customers and talk through the process and get their journey started to find the best mortgage for them!

What kind of training have you had?

There is a 4 week training programme. We learn about mortgages, setting customers up with enquiries and general admin. You will be teamed up and practicing on the phone where you will start to make a set calls to customers, then when you feel confident enough, that’s when you start doing inbound. Not to worry; your team manager is always there to help if you get a bit nervous! You’re always prepared beforehand, never just thrown in.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

Yes, there are a lot of opportunities in L&C and they are all very different roles within the company you for to explore. Don’t worry if you aren’t successful the first time, will be advised on how to be successful next time.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

Being the first point of the journey for the customer is one of the reasons I enjoy this job, especially when they are first time buyers and you can tell they are very excited (as they should be)! Our role is very much team-based and if there are any issues there is always someone to go to. With it being so team-based you definitely make new friends.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

I am proud of how quickly I adapted to the role and I look forward to expanding and going into different roles.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

Yes. Even though you are primarily on the phone there is always someone to help you if you have a bad day or get stuck, someone will always jump in to help; it could be a Team Manager or a colleague, you will never be on your own.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

I worked as a chef in a hotel in Bath.

How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I’ve been working at L&C for 8 months. I really wanted a change of pace from my previous job role and wanted more opportunities to grow. This job has offered more of a work/life balance and has given me a lot of chances to progress within the company.

What do you do at L&C?

I’m a Call Handler. We receive inbound calls and set up cases for people who are looking for any mortgage advice. We also do outbound calls to people who have filled out our online Mortgage Finder or if they have asked for a call back to discuss their enquiry.

What kind of training have you had?

We had our first stage of training which is outbound calling customers and call back requests then once you have become more comfortable with the processes they then train you on taking inbound calls. I never felt like they threw me into the deep end, only when they feel like you are ready to progress.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

Yes definitely. You could move up within the team, maybe to a team leader or senior role. Also, there are lots of other departments that you could always explore as well,s and they always support the people that do want to look into any other roles and try to support where they can to help.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

I really like the feeling of knowing that you are helping people, whether it’s their first property or maybe they have used us before, it just feels great knowing you can help. The team I am in is really great, all like-minded people who just want to do a good job, have some laughs on the way and enjoy the job they are doing. I feel like I can come into work and know it’s going to be a good with the people that are there.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

Learning everything so quickly and becoming more confident in general within my role.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

100%. If I ever need any support I know I can speak to anyone and know they will help with the problem. When doing the new training any questions I had everyone would come back so quick to help and it made the beginning days a lot easier when you have that support.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

Before L&C I worked in a wide variety of retail roles and had been with my previous company for 10 years.

How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I have been at L&C nearly 6 years and when I came in for my interview it looked like a busy exciting place to work and a completely new start based on my previous experience.

What do you do at L&C?

I am a team manager looking after a team of 9 advisers but I also work within the wider section to help develop the new build teams.

What kind of training have you had?

I have had a variety of training since joining L&C from my initial Adviser training to Manager training courses and a refresher course that ran alongside the CPD expected within my role. During this time there has always been ad-hoc support from my direct managers.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

There are always opportunities to take on extra responsibility and development.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

I enjoy the variety of the work and there are lots of different aspects to the role to stay on top of. When I was advising there was such a broad range of customers and cases that it kept me on my toes.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

Finishing top of submitted business during my first year in the New Build team, and now returning there as a Manager.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

There has always been a strong team environment within L&C and there are always lots of avenues should I need support in my role.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

I was working for a bank as branch staff helping customers with their general enquiries and opening bank accounts.

How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I’ve been working at L&C for just over a year. I decided to join because I felt like it would be a good step up in my career.

What do you do at L&C?

I’m a Mortgage Adviser, helping customers find the best deals on the market. It involves completing fact-finds, researching the case to find the most suitable product, recommending it to the customer and helping them secure the rate.

What kind of training have you had?

I had a 6 week training course before starting the role which sets you up for when you start advising. I’ve also completed CeMap 1,2 and 3 as part of the role to become a fully qualified Mortgage Expert.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

Yes there is always room for development. You start as a Mortgage Adviser with CeMap 1 and once you have passed CeMap 2 and 3 you become a Mortgage Expert and you can always be progressing in this role.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

The best part about the job is being able to help my customers secure the best deals in a volatile market. I also love working in an office environment but also having the flexibility to work at home. Everyone I’ve met at L&C is really nice and the social events are always good fun!

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

My proudest achievement so far was passing the CeMap exams and becoming a Mortgage Expert.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

All of my colleagues are very supportive and everyone is always happy to help.

What were you doing before you joined L&C?

Before starting at L&C I was completing a degree for Education training to become a teacher.

How long have you been at L&C and why did you decide to join?

I’ve been at L&C for two years now and I was draw to the role after getting an insight into their company ethos from their website, reviews and the interview where I was really able to appreciate the values that they stand for.

What do you do at L&C?

My current role is focused around helping educate customers around the importance of having relevant cover in place to protect them for their mortgage as well as their lifestyle. I ensure that should the worst happen, they have a plan in place to relieve financial pressure and support their family through a difficult time. Furthermore, I help customers review their current cover and ensure that policies they’re paying for protect them in the right way.

What kind of training have you had?

From on onset, L&C provided extensive training ranging from how to utilise their systems to how to engage with customers to best project their values. L&C were also able to pay for all my training for the role as well as pay my wage whilst I was still in training.

What development have you had in your role/is there room for development in your role?

Being an Adviser means there is always room for development, whether that be from market updates and trends to learning to ways to effectively deal with each customer with advice.

What is the best thing about working at L&C?

The best part about the role as a Protection Adviser is knowing that customers leave your conversation being in the educated position to make decisions for their future financial needs and that they’ve got the best possible cover available to them.

What has been your proudest achievement so far?

To know that you’re doing a job that can make such a massive impact to your customer’s life and potentially save them from losing their home or being in financial distress is a constant achievement and the proudest moment of the role.

Do you feel supported by your colleagues?

Whilst coming into a new role within a new industry can seem daunting, the team have been so supportive throughout my journey at L&C. Any of the team is more than happy to answer any questions, support you with cases or generally give you a boost to the day.