The Intermediary – October 2025 - Flipbook - Page 83
B RO K E R B U S I N E S S
Opinion
Diversity and
inclusion in focus
W
e have just
held our
latest annual
conference
at Wyboston
Lakes in
Bedfordshire. The conference was
held on the back of Access FS’s biggest
business year to date, and included
the largest number of aendees we
have hosted. 200 advisers aended,
with 50% more lenders exhibiting
compared to the 2024 event. The
energy in the room was palpable – a
testament to the ambition of our
mortgage and protection advisers.
But as critical as scale and the
celebration of commercial success is to
a mortgage and protection brokerage,
that was not the most important
thing to come out of the day. At the
conference, we launched our new
Equality Council.
Making a commitment
The council is a pioneering initiative
that positions Access FS as a leader in
diversity and inclusion (D&I) within
the financial services sector. The
council is more than a commiee. It
represents a commitment to fostering
a workplace – and a wider industry
– where every voice is heard, valued,
and empowered. The empowerment
piece should not get lost in the noise.
Following a successful six-month
trial in 2024, we launched a mentoring
programme for advisers with new
qualifications but limited experience
at the start of 2025. Since then,
Access FS has put 18 people through
the training programme, including
four advisers who were previously
employed on the protection side of
the business.
The mentoring programme is part
of a ‘skills ecosystem’ that we are
seeking to develop. The ethos that lies
behind the mentoring programme is
linked to the aims of the council.
The mission of the council is to
create an inclusive environment by
amplifying underrepresented voices
and dismantling systemic barriers that
have long persisted in our sector.
As a brokerage, we serve diverse
communities across the country, and
it is our responsibility to reflect that
diversity in our practices, policies, and
culture. The council will champion
fair representation for marginalised
groups, promote allyship, and ensure
equitable opportunities for all staff
and advisers. This is not a superficial
gesture, but a deliberate effort to
embed D&I into the very fabric of
Access FS.
Meaningful solutions
The council’s objectives are clear
and actionable. It will rigorously
review our company policies to
ensure they align with best practices
for inclusivity. It will advocate for
changes where gaps exist, holding us
accountable to our D&I commitments.
By engaging directly with
employees and advisers, the council
will identify challenges – whether
they stem from unconscious bias,
structural inequities, or cultural
oversights – and propose practical
solutions. This feedback loop,
grounded in transparency and regular
reporting, will ensure that D&I is not a
box-ticking exercise but a core pillar of
our operations.
Our ambition is to set a benchmark
for the mortgage and protection
industry, demonstrating that a
commitment to inclusion is not
only the right thing to do, but also a
driver of innovation, collaboration,
and success.
The council comprises six members:
three from the Access FS staff and
three drawn from our pool of advisers,
who have registered their interest,
with the adviser positions rotating
quarterly to bring fresh perspectives
and ideas.
The structure reflects our belief
that inclusion thrives on diverse
viewpoints and continuous renewal.
NICK JONES
is mortgage sales and
marketing director at Access FS
The composition of our adviser
base makes the council particularly
meaningful. An overwhelming 92%
of our advisers come from minority
backgrounds, representing 23 distinct
national communities. Meanwhile,
32% of our adviser team are women,
a figure we are proud of but are
commied to improving further.
These statistics are not just
numbers; they represent the rich
tapestry of experiences, cultures,
and perspectives that make Access FS
unique. The council will harness this
diversity to drive meaningful change,
ensuring that our brokerage mirrors
the communities we serve and creates
opportunities for all.
Top level buy-in
The initiative is being spearheaded by
Amrit Bahee, our head of operations,
Adrian Brewer, head of later life
at Access FS, and Megan Hind,
operations coordinator. While we
do not want this initiative to be a
top-down mandate, but rather a
collaborative effort, we do need senior
leadership involved in the push for
greater diversity and inclusion.
We believe diversity is not just about
representation, but about actively
championing the voices of those who
have historically been sidelined, and
we want contributions from every
level of our organisation – at the
conference, we opened applications
for the council, inviting anyone
passionate about inclusion to join us as
partners in this journey.
The response has been
overwhelming, with advisers and staff
expressing enthusiasm for shaping
a fairer, more equitable future for
Access FS. ●
October 2025 | The Intermediary
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