Leeds firm to create 40 jobs with new service backed by Carol Vorderman

Retirement specialist Age Partnership is creating 40 jobs on the back of a tie-up with financial services giant SunLife.

The Leeds-based company is joining forces with SunLife to launch its new equity release service for over-55s.

Due to be promoted by TV star Carol Vorderman, the service will aim to educate over-55s about the potential for, and benefits of, equity release.

Age Partnership is anticipating a strong uptake and plans to fill dozens of new positions, most of which will be in Leeds.

Jobs available will include mortgage advisors, financial planners and customer-focused phone-based roles.

The company is also looking to recruit field-based equity release advisors throughout the UK.

Age Partnership executive chairman Andrew Thirkill said: “With the rise in house prices over the last 20-years, a significant number of over 55s are now sitting on a large amount of property equity which they can release to enjoy in their retirement years.”

“The potential for the new service, and the equity release market as a whole, is absolutely enormous.”

He continued: “This is reflected in the steps we have taken in recent months to ready ourselves for this projected market growth, which have included the doubling of our flagship office to 38,000 sq ft, and the plan to create 200 new jobs in 2018 alone.”

SunLife CEO Dean Lamble commented: “We’ve conducted the biggest-ever research into life after 50, with 50,000 people, and we’ve found that today, life after 50 means taking up new hobbies, trying new experiences, starting up new businesses and really enjoying what are fast becoming seen as the best years of our lives.

“Equity release can provide the necessary funds to turn these dreams and aspirations into reality, and SunLife’s Over 55 Equity Release Service is the perfect vehicle to use; boasting as it does our over 50s market expertise and Age’s standing as the UK’s largest single equity release broker.”

He added: “We really are proud of the service and to be joining forces with Age Partnership.”

Discussing the decision to recruit the help of Carol Vorderman, Age Partnership’s Andrew Thirkill explained: “Carol Vorderman was chosen to be the face of SunLife’s Over 55s Equity Release Service campaign, as she was seen as the epitome of someone in their fifties who’s making the most of life, and who can show customers how the benefits of equity release, ‘can really add up’.”