Platform celebrates milestone 10th anniversary

Platform, the intermediary lender of Britannia, is celebrating ten years of continuous operation in the UK mortgage industry. Launching into the non-conforming marketplace in 1997 as The Money Store, the company has grown from a humble three-person set-up to an organisation boasting 350 staff, originating 152,000 mortgages worth over £14.5bn across all specialist intermediary products.

To mark the occasion, Platform will be hosting an exclusive party on 12th September for 150 guests comprising packagers, brokers and members of the press at London’s Cannon Bridge Roof Garden.

Platform reflects on the past ten years and the significant milestones on its journey:

September 1997 – Money Store launches into both direct and intermediary markets
June 1998 – Money Store bought by First Union in US
September 1999 - Money Store UK sold to Cabot Square, direct arm closed and renamed to Platform Home Loans
February 2001 – Platform Home Loans acquired by Britannia Building Society
February 2003 – Platform Home Loans and Verso merge to create Platform
July 2005 – clickdecision launched
October 2005 – Platform launched E-ID facility
July 2006 – clickapplication launched
February 2007 – Platform issues first sameday offer

David Tweedy, Managing Director, Platform said: “We are extremely proud to be celebrating ten years of continuous operations within the UK mortgage industry. Our journey has taken us from humble beginnings to one of the country’s leading specialist intermediary lenders and I want to thank everyone who has played a part in getting us to where we are today, colleagues and customers both past and present. We have seen huge changes in the industry over this period. An influx of new lenders vying for a greater market share, the introduction of mortgage regulation and the advent and application of new technologies and processes, to name but a few, have all radically changed the way business is conducted today.

“Although we currently find ourselves in challenging times, Platform, together with its parent Britannia is ready to embrace the opportunities that future change will undoubtedly bring and I for one am relishing the prospect of leading Platform successfully through another ten years of growth, evolution and innovation.”

Roger Morris, Managing Director of em-financial said: “I am proud to say we have worked with Platform ever since it launched into the market and it has supported our business through thick and thin. It is no mean feat to have survived and prospered so well over the last ten years and our heartfelt congratulations go to the business for what it has achieved.”

Stephen Smith, Director, Housing, Legal & General said: “We have been doing business with Platform for many years and have always received a professional and efficient service when dealing with them. Platform should be extremely proud of its achievements and we look forward to working with them over the next ten years – congratulations.”