What Is The PRIMIS Mortgage Network?

Who Are Oportfolio Mortgage Brokers?

We are Oportfolio, a specialist broker providing professional advice and guidance on all types of mortgage and personal protection insurance products. We offer you tailored advice to support you wherever you are in your life journey.

Founded in 2009 and based in Putney in Southwest London, we have been offering bespoke, personable, and quality mortgage and protection advice nationwide to people from all walks of life for over 13 years.

At Oportfolio we’re firm believers in getting the small things right to make a big difference. It’s why you’ll always find a warm welcome, a highly personalised service that absolutely meets your individual needs, and an experience that has trust and respect at its core.

Whether you’re employed or self-employed, a first-time buyer, remortgager, mover, developer or a landlord looking for the right residential or buy-to-let mortgage product or an estate agent looking for a trusted mortgage partner, we’re here to help.

Nothing we do here is off-the-peg. We’re Oportfolio, offering financial services that are as unique as you are. No matter how big or small your needs are, we are here to help.

Although we are an independent mortgage broker, we are proudly part of a larger supportive mortgage network of brokers who come together to form a group called PRIMIS.

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What Is A Mortgage Network?

First and foremost, a mortgage network is a support network. Above anything else a network is there to help mortgage and protection advisory firms with things like compliance, access to lenders and products, and any other struggles that may appear during the mortgage and insurance application process.

The dictionary definition of a mortgage network would essentially say that a mortgage network is an organisation authorised by the financial conduct authority (FCA ) to accept full responsibility for providing a compliance umbrella for mortgage brokers to engage the public and offer advice on mortgages and associated insurances, such as life and general insurance cover.

Another similar term you might have heard is a ‘mortgage club’. What is the difference between a mortgage club and network? The biggest difference is that a mortgage club offers brokers a broad range of services, the commercial and compliance risks lie with the directly authorised adviser, where a network takes on the regulatory risk for those who are authorised representatives. Essentially, a mortgage network is there to help the advisor and clients in any way they can to make sure the whole process goes through smoothly and will resolve any hiccups that could occur.

PRIMIS Mortgage Network Business Leader Profiles

Spearheading the mighty PRIMIS mortgage network are a team of experienced and passionate finance professionals, each with a lifetime of knowledge. The senior management consists of a group financial services director, a chief operating officer, a chief risk and compliance officer, a business development director, an IT director, operational compliance director, supervision director, proposition director, an operations director, and a strong team of twelve sales directors. Here is a little bit about each of the senior management team:

Jon Round – Group Financial Services Director

Jon was appointed as Group Financial Services Director in 2010. He joined the business in 2004 from Aviva and has over 30 years experience in the financial services sector having started his career with Eagle Star where he qualified as an accountant in 1990. Prior to working with PRIMIS, he worked for Lloyds PLC, Welcome Financial Service, First Response Finance, and Credit care limited in various managerial and director positions.

Toni Smith – Chief Distribution Officer

Toni has been in the financial services intermediary market for over 33 years. In her role, she oversees product propositions, IT, marketing and communications, events, broker services, commissions and payments and, training and customer outcomes review team. She has been part of the network since May 2010. Previously she worked with Home of Choice, Openwork, Allied Dunbar, and Zurich.

Dominic Beever – Chief Finance Officer

Dominic joined PRIMIS in 2022 as Director of Group Finance before making his way up the ranks in just over a year to become CFO. Prior to working at PRIMIS he spent most of his career in telecommunications, working for companies such as O2 and TalkTalk.

Claire Madge – Sales Director

Claire joined PRIMIS in 2005 after working as a mortgage advisor since 1998 and an area manager for RBS since 2001. Claire spent the next 18 years as an area sales manager before being promoted to sales director in 2023.

Simon Breakspear – IT Director

Simon has working in the financial services sector for over 30 years and has been part of PRIMIS since 2019. Simon has an in-depth knowledge of sales, quality & performance management, compliance, and competency frameworks. Before joining PRIMIS he worked for Zurich advice network, managing financial advisors over 8 offices and then he moved on to be head of financial services for Nationwide Independent financial services limited.

Martin Sykes – Operational Compliance Director

Martin has had a career in compliance spanning over 20 years in various networks, wealth managers, and private banks. He has held senior compliance positions with DBS Financial managements, Sesame, Deutsche Bank, and Insynergi among other businesses before joining the PRIMIS in 2019. He has a bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Newcastle and a Masters degree in behavioural science from the London School of Economics.

Joanne Badger – Customer Outcomes Director

Joanne has worked in financial services for over 25 years and is a specialist in the regulatory supervision of advisors. Joanne’s role includes responsibility, oversight, and accountability of advisor risk, and regulation including training and supervision. Joanne has experience working in a mortgage network previously as she worked for another network Mortgage Advice Bureau as head of advisor risk. Prior to this she worked for Santander and Post Office Financial Service. She has worked with PRIMIS since June 2021.

Vikki Jefferies – Proposition Director

Vikki joined PRIMIS in 2013 and has over 20 years experience in the financial services sector. Some of her expert areas are sales, marketing, business development, project management, and product development. She currently presides over responsibility for all product proposition across the PRIMIS mortgage network and any events that they host such as awards ceremonies. Prior to working at PRIMIS, she worked for Endsleigh Insurance and House of Fraser in various senior managerial roles.

Jo Blackburn – Operations Director

Jo has worked with PRIMIS since 2017. Initially brought onboard as head of broker services, Jo was promoted to operations director within a year. She has worked in the financial services sector for over 30 years in various different roles. Prior to working at PRIMIS she has worked for Zurich and Allied Dunbar. Her main skills are business transformation, customer service, project delivery, and stakeholder management.

The regional sales directors are:

• Brian Shannon – Regional Sales Director Northern Ireland
• Victoria Jenson – Regional Sales Director Midlands
• Michele MacGregor – Regional Sales Director Scotland
• Chris Astle – Regional Sales Director
• Scott McAllister – Regional Sales Director
• Donald Fraser – Regional Sales Director (Group AR)
• Jim Holleran – Field Support Director
• David Woodbridge – Regional Sales Director
• James McNee – Head of Recruitment
• Oliver Couchman – Regional Sales Director

Why We Are Part Of The PRIMIS Mortgage Network

Being part of the PRIMIS mortgage network is something that we are incredibly proud of. PRIMIS use the slogan “Proud to be PRIMIS” and it is extremely fitting. PRIMIS isn’t just a mortgage network, its a family, and a support network. Being part of PRIMIS allows us to reach our full potential as a mortgage brokerage and helps us offer our clients the best service possible.

With access to over 90 different mortgage lenders through PRIMIS, access to countless insurance providers, unbeatable training courses, great events, incredible technology, and the best regional and national support teams around, PRIMIS has turned Oportfolio from a small 1 man band mortgage brokerage into a committed, dedicated, strong, passionate team who want to make a difference in people’s lives.

The PRIMIS Mortgage Network Jobs/Vacancies/Careers

As well as being part of the PRIMIS mortgage network through separate businesses, PRIMIS currently have a number of employed positions within the organisation itself. If you are looking for a dynamic career change and are interested in what opportunities PRIMIS has to offer, take a look at the below list of jobs currently on offer:

You can keep up to date with PRIMIS mortgage network vacancies on their career page here.

Contacting The PRIMIS Mortgage Network Address/Telephone/Email/Social Media

Getting in touch with the PRIMIS mortgage network has never been easier as they have a presence on all social media platforms as well as the usual Postal address, email address, website address, and phone number. There are currently two main offices, one based in the South West and one based in the West Midlands. Here are their contact details:

• Postal address: 2 Methuen Park, Corsham, Chippenham, SN14 0GB / Ground Floor 3700 Parkside, Birmingham Business Park, Solihull, B37 7YT
• Email address: [email protected]
• Telephone: 01249 467 500 / 0121 767 1002
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Linkedin

So, as you can see, being part of such a great and supportive network really has its benefits and without the support, we wouldn’t be able to continue to provide the great quality of advice to our clients that we do.

If you or someone else you know is looking for some mortgage or insurance advice and you like the sound of the benefits of working with a PRIMIS Mortgage network advisor, please feel free to give us a call today to see how we can help you through PRIMIS.