As another Bridging & Commercial Awards comes to an end and the team and I begin to catch our breath for what feels like the first time in months, here we are unwinding – laptops in tow - in Monte Carlo for a well-deserved break.

Writing from an extremely sunny hotel balcony (jealously indeed intended), now seems the perfect time to reflect upon some of the recent developments in our industry, as well as the exceptional hospitality the team and I have received in the past few months.

Firstly, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who attended the B&C Awards on Monday and highlight our appreciation for the flood of thank-you’s we have received since.

Congratulations to all of those winners who continue to make this sector what it is today.

For me, the day reaffirmed that we all work within one of the most positive, close-knit and hardworking industries out there, with each nominee gracefully congratulating their winning counterpart. Well done everyone.

As it was my first awards ceremony, I was both apprehensive and excited as - despite editing this publication for nearly a year - I was about to make my very own industry debut in front of some 450 esteemed lenders, brokers and packagers. Thank you for making my day a great one to remember!

A winner I’d particularly like to mention is Only Bridging, a company that has really made its mark in the bridging industry. Speaking with Andrea and Simon - the duo behind the award winning company - pre and post ceremony, it really struck me how well received their innovation in broker education has been across our sector.

Knowledge, it seems, really is king when it comes to bridging and this accolade goes to show that the time and effort they have re-invested in our sector has been recognised by brokers and widely appreciated.  

These past few weeks have also brought Jason, Miranda and myself the opportunity to spend some valuable time with the lenders we work closely with.

Our evening spent with the MT Finance team was certainly a night to remember, where our business hats were placed firmly at the door of a London bowling alley. Needless to say, my rusty ten-pin skills landed me in last place, but a great night was had by all.

MT has been lending for a few years now, with a strong proposition and level of service which has got brokers talking; it is lenders like MT who really are instrumental in bringing bridging into its new positive era.

We also spent the evening with Omni Capital at a great little eatery – I say little, I mean stunning – in West London. In a relaxed atmosphere, we got the chance to catch up with Bob, Colin and Martin (who really do know how to host an evening).

A fairly new lender in the market, Omni’s new team has taken the company from strength to strength in such a short period of time – keep up the hard work!

On a more business related note, we found out this week that Dragonfly Property Finance has become regulated by the FSA. Lenders appear to be recognising that the FSA is taking interest in our industry, with many pre-empting the day that regulation becomes a must.

As one of the biggest bridging lenders in the market today becomes regulated, we are likely to see others follow suit. High standards are not only being adopted but actively pursued by the industry.

Whilst some may have their reservations about the consumer focused protection on a largely commercially based industry, in my opinion the choice by some in the industry to take on the FSA’s guidelines can only mean that bridging will ultimately become more transparent as a result.

And finally, as the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) Expo fast approaches, I’m looking forward to seeing what the event has in store and catching up with some familiar and new faces. I’m especially excited about the event this year as the Association has some very important upcoming announcements this year... watch this space!

See you all in Birmingham!

Alexandra Jones,

Deputy Editor