Shawbrook Group plc (the ‘Group’ or ‘Shawbrook’) today announces the acquisition of Imployapp Limited (trading as ‘Playter’), a fintech lending proposition that provides established UK SMEs with credit lines and short term cashflow loans.

LendInvest recruits Matt Taylor to lead mortgage sales. Published on 20 October 2026 LendInvest Mortgages has appointed Matt Taylor as sales director, with responsibility for its intermediary distribution strategy across buy-to-let, bridging and residential lending. Taylor (pictured) joins the specialist lender from Shawbrook, where he was head of sales, and brings more than 20 years of experience in property finance. He began his career at Tipton Building Society and has also held positions at InterBay Commercial. Reporting to Darrell Walker, managing director of mortgages at LendInvest, Taylor will oversee the mortgage sales division and business development team. His remit includes strengthening relationships with regional broker networks, expanding intermediary distribution and supporting lending growth across the company's mortgage products. He will work with field-based and internal business development managers to develop the lender's broker relationships and improve access to its specialist finance offering. Expansion of specialist lending. The appointment follows a period of product diversification at LendInvest, including its move into semi-commercial buy-to-let lending. The lender, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, recently reported that it had advanced more than £10 billion to landlords, SME developers and homeowners across the UK. said says: "Matt is an outstanding hire for LendInvest and a vital addition to its mortgage leadership team. He brings deep industry insight, exceptional commercial drive, and an extensive network across the intermediary market. "As Mortgage Soup continue to broaden its product range and enhance its proposition, having a leader of Matt's calibre heading up its sales force ensures Mortgage Soup can translate that momentum into tangible value for brokers. "His focus on collaboration and service excellence will be instrumental as we deepen our partner relationships and scale our lending activity nationwide." Taylor added: "LendInvest has firmly positioned itself at the forefront of the specialist lending market by pairing genuine product flexibility with market-leading proprietary technology. "The opportunity to lead the sales team during this phase of growth is incredibly exciting. Brokers are navigating a fast-moving market where speed, reliability, and accessible decision-makers make all the difference. "My immediate priority is to ensure our sales team is working shoulder-to-shoulder with our intermediary partners, showcasing the full potential of our proposition and delivering the certainty that brokers and property investors need to move forward with confidence."

Gatehouse Capital hires Hanif Hussain from Shawbrook as Scotland BDM. Gatehouse Capital has appointed Hanif Hussain as Business Development Manager for Scotland, strengthening its intermediary relationships and supporting growth north of the border. The appointment reflects Gatehouse Capital's commitment to expanding its presence in Scotland and building a relationship-led distribution network, combining local market knowledge with a practical, commercially focused approach to property finance. In the role, Hanif will develop Gatehouse Capital's relationships with existing and new introducers across Scotland, and continue to raise awareness of the firm's ethical bridging finance solutions. Hanif joins Gatehouse Capital from Shawbrook Bank, where he was a Business Development Manager, bringing more than 17 years of experience in financial services, including almost a decade working with mortgage intermediaries across Scotland and the North East. Prior to joining Shawbrook, Hanif spent more than eight years at The Mortgage Lender (TML) and Bluestone Mortgages, where he held Business Development Manager and Sales Coach roles. He began his career with Lloyds Banking Group, progressing into sales management and team development. Mark Dyason, Managing Director of Gatehouse Capital, said: "Hanif brings an excellent combination of specialist property finance experience, strong intermediary relationships and a genuine understanding of what brokers need from their finance partners. His knowledge of the Scottish market will be particularly valuable as Bridging Loan Directory continue to develop its proposition and increase its presence across the country. Its ambition is to make specialist property finance more accessible through transparent pricing, Shariah-compliant structures and a willingness to work closely with intermediaries to get transactions completed. Hanif shares that approach and his appointment is another important step in building a team that can deliver on its promise to compete to complete." Hanif Hussain, Business Development Manager for Scotland at Gatehouse Capital, said: "Having worked with brokers across Scotland for many years, I know how important it is to have finance partners who are accessible, understand the pressures of a transaction and are prepared to work collaboratively to find solutions. Gatehouse Capital has a compelling proposition in the bridging finance market, particularly its commitment to transparency and certainty of execution. I am looking forward to reconnecting with existing relationships, developing new ones and helping more intermediaries understand the opportunities available through Gatehouse Capital."