Marvin OnumonuBrightstar Group has launched Mortgage Jobs for Heroes, a pilot scheme aimed at bringing armed forces service leavers and veterans into the UK mortgage sector.
The project is being supported by Working in Mortgages, a joint initiative between the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) and the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA).
Mortgage Jobs for Heroes looks to promote mortgage careers to service leavers and veterans, highlighting their transferable skills and offering clear pathways into roles across the intermediary market.
As part of the initiative, Lee Payne, national account manager at Brightstar Group, and Working in Mortgages will attend the national transition event at Silverstone on 2nd March 2026, a careers forum for more than 1,000 service leavers, veterans and their families.
At Silverstone, Brightstar Group and Working in Mortgages will start building a database of service leavers and veterans interested in careers in the mortgage sector.
This will be followed by an information webinar, with candidates then invited to apply for placements and roles at participating firms including Brightstar Group.
Payne said: “We often talk in this industry about resilience, discipline, leadership and teamwork – but those qualities are embedded into Service Leavers.
“The Armed Forces develops people who can perform under pressure, build trust quickly and to take responsibility, all of which translate exceptionally well into the mortgage sector.
“My own journey into financial services happened by chance, but it does not have to be that way.”
Payne added: “There are so many talented Service Leavers that transition out of the Armed Forces who would thrive in this industry if they knew it was an option.
“Mortgage Jobs for Heroes is about changing that – creating visibility, opening doors and providing a clear pathway into the mortgage industry.”
Clare Jupp, chief people officer at Brightstar Group, said: “We feel incredibly strongly that talent doesn’t always come through traditional channels. Some of the most capable, values-driven and determined individuals you will ever meet are those who have served in the Armed Forces.
“As an industry, we talk about doing the right thing for clients, acting with integrity and supporting people through major life decisions.
“Those principles are second nature to Service Leavers. Mortgage Jobs for Heroes is about recognising that alignment and giving exceptional people the platform they deserve.”
Jupp added: “If we are serious about strengthening our workforce for the future, we must be bold about where we look for talent.”
