Regional mortgage firm creates new jobs with 2019 expansion

First Mortgage NE is celebrating its most successful year to date and has doubled the size of its Gateshead headquarters creating local jobs.

Since starting the North East franchise in 2013, business partners Philip McGuire and Ben Riley have opened four branches, created over 20 jobs in the North East and more than quadrupled turnover figures.

The company has branches in Gateshead, Newcastle, Sunderland and Chester le Street, and recently launched four additional offices in Northumberland, Middlesbrough, Darlington and York.

Philip said: “Almost six years ago, Ben and I were working from one office with a shared ambition of being the company of choice in the North East mortgage arena.

“Now, we have a region-wide presence and the business has just had a record year completing over 2,000 mortgages in 2018.

“We’ve grown a strong workforce of people too and will be adding to our branch teams into the New Year, starting with our Gateshead HQ.

“As we move into 2019, new build is an area of the business we will expand as part of our strategic development plans.

“This includes the first time buyer audience which made up over 50 percent of the UK market during the first half of 2018, so there is clear demand for our service which is completely fee-free to consumers.”

In time for the New Year, the Gateshead branch and company’s headquarters has doubled in size as it has acquired the neighbouring unit on Kensington Terrace in Dunston, making way for four new recruits.

Throughout 2018, nine new faces joined the team and the headcount will pass the 30 marker during 2019. Focus areas for the business this year will be the new build sector and first time buyer market, seeing director Philip transition his role to new build director to develop relationships with the region’s housebuilders.