Derby mortgage specialist opens Nottingham office

A Derby mortgage adviser has opened its first franchise – in Nottingham.

Derby-based Finance Advice Centre says its new venture, in Nuthall Road, Nottingham, will help it to reach new clients and recruit more staff after opening the doors to the office earlier this month.

Finance Advice Centre was founded in 2014 by former Derbyshire cricketer Matt Cassar and it employs around 50 people at its base in Raynesway. It recently entered into a broker partnership with the Secure Trust bank’s new mortgages division.

The new office will be run by franchisee Aidan Comerford, who has 25 years’ experience working in the mortgage industry.

Cassar said that while Finance Advice Centre deals with the majority of its customers online or over the phone, it is important that the company also has a bricks and mortar presence. He also said it would create jobs in Nottingham.

Cassar said: “We have been looking to start up a franchise for a while and having Aidan running the new Nottingham office is an exciting step, because it gives us a presence in another thriving city.

“Much of the work we do at Finance Advice Centre is online, but having an office will not only give customers the reassurance that they are dealing with an established company, it will also cater for those who prefer to deal with such delicate matters face-to-face.

“We could not have asked for a better person than Aidan to run our first franchise. He is from Nottingham, he has vast experience of the mortgage industry and is popular with customers and advisors alike, so we’re confident he will enjoy a lot of success.”

Comerford said: “I have known Matt for about 15 years and I am aware that Finance Advice Centre enjoys an excellent reputation as a family-friendly and responsible company.

“I’m delighted to be opening the new office in Nottingham and it’s a privilege to be the company’s first franchisee.”