Team Oportfolio at the PRIMIS mortgage awards in Telford
In March 2023 team Oportfolio attended the PRIMIS Mortgage Network’s annual conference and recognising excellence awards ceremony in Telford. Every year, PRIMIS hosts a day-time conference where mortgage and protection brokers from the network are invited to come down, meet each other, and have the opportunity to speak directly with representatives from banks, building societies, and insurance providers. In the evening after the conference, a select number of attendees are invited to a three course dinner, show, and awards ceremony to recognise high achievers in the industry. Here is a breakdown of the day/night and the lead up to Oportfolio winning two mortgage awards!
The Conference – Exhibition Hall
On the 9th of March, Oliver, Jade, Louis, Molly, and Kristen from Oportfolio travelled north to the Telford International Centre from our offices in Putney South West London. Telford was a lovely change of scenery for the London based team, and as Molly humorously quipped, it was ‘the furthest north’ she had ever been! The team arrived at 10:30am and were greeted by a ginormous exhibition hall branded in the PRIMIS mortgage network colour scheme and iconic lion imagery. Located around the hall were lots of individual booths where the lenders and providers had set up, ready to start chatting to the brokers. There was also a central stage for presentations and coaching sessions and refreshment spots full of copious amounts of team, coffee and pastries.
The team then spent the next few hours visiting all of the booths, meeting the faces behind the lenders and brushing up on our knowledge and understanding of criteria. Attending an event like this and engaging with the different providers, learning new things and asking questions was a great exercise for our team and helps us to offer the best possible service for our clients. As well as static booths, the lenders and providers also offered breakout sessions and talks that brokers were able to drop into and gain even more insights.
Molly and Kristen from Oportfolio with the Virgin Money/Clydesdale representatives
The Conference – Group Presentation
After the exhibition hall section of the day, everyone was invited into the next room where a huge stage was set up with hundreds of seats. The show kicked off with a live performance of ‘The Circle Of Life’ from the Lion King by the cast of the show which was incredible and very moving. After the first performance, Sales Director Claire Madge, Ground Director Jon Round, and COO Toni Smith all welcomed us all to the convention. The next couple of hours were then a fantastic and engaging series of interviews and talks from inspirational public figures like Peloton pioneers and instructors Leanne Hainsby and Ben Alldis and the body coach Joe Wicks.
The official day conference came to an end with Claire, Jon, Toni and Joe Wicks himself initiating members of the PRIMIS network into the PRIMIS hall of fame. A select group of dedicated PRIMIS brokers who have reached milestones in their business. After the conference, we all retired to our hotels to glam ourselves up ready for the evening part of the conference.
The cast of the Lion King performing at the PRIMIS conference
The PRIMIS Recognising Excellence Mortgage Awards
As if by magic, the convention centre was transformed into an incredible dining room for the evening events of the Telford convention. Beautifully set circular tables stretched as far as the eye could see and a chequered dance floor was at centre stage, ready for the night full of dancing that awaited us. Everyone looked amazing in their evening dresses and tuxedos as we all took our seats to welcome the first part of our entertainment for the evening, winners of Britain’s Got Talent 2009 Diversity who did a special dance performance.
We then all enjoyed a wonderful three course meal before the main event took place, the PRIMIS mortgage awards. Presented by Claire Madge, Jon Round, and Toni Smith, the awards recognises high achievers in the network over the last 12 months and winning one is a very prestigious thing. Out of 10 awards given during the ceremony, we are extremely happy and proud to announce that Oportfolio won 2 of them! Our first award was for the top overall firm with 2 – 5 advisors. The second award went specifically to our managing director and advisor Oliver Whitehead who won the award for the top overall advisor in the entire network out of over 2,000 members.
Winning these two awards was a real honour for our team and really shows how committed we are and how good we are at what we do, the service we offer, and the focus we have on development and learning. Congratulations to all the other award winners for the night, ever one was very well deserved. After the ceremony, TV personality Rylan Clark did a special DJ set and team Oportfolio danced the night away.
Oliver Whitehead and Louis Mason from Oportfolio with the awards
