Just Mortgages strengthens self-employed recruitment team with key appointment

14 January 2025

The self-employed division of Just Mortgages, one of the UK’s largest mortgage brokerages, has strengthened its recruitment efforts with the appointment of Kara Jones as senior recruitment consultant.

With experience in financial services recruitment, Kara will be supporting the continued growth of the self-employed division, highlighting Just Mortgages’ proposition to ambitious brokers and managers across the country. This will include those in employed roles looking to take their first step into running their own business, as well as those already self-employed but looking to move on from more corporate structures and organisations.

As part of her remit, Kara will also be working with the many business principals found in the self-employed division, identifying talent to support their own recruitment efforts. This additional recruitment resource will be provided to business principals at no cost, underlining Just Mortgages’ commitment to supporting business principals and their growth plans.

Based in Cwmbran in South Wales, Kara joins Just Mortgages from Rayner Personnel, where she was a financial services head-hunter and recruitment specialist. In this role, Kara recruited for a wide variety of roles across financial services. A large focus though was on self-employed recruitment and particularly in the mortgage market.

Prior to this, Kara actually worked with Just Mortgages in the employed side of the business, recruiting for branch advisers and leadership roles. She spent 12 years in retail management, with the arrival of COVID encouraging Kara to reflect and act on her passion for people by moving into recruitment.

The move comes as Just Mortgages approaches the milestone of 500 self-employed advisers across the country, with the eventual aim of having more than 1,000 advisers in the division.

Kara Jones said: “I’ve really enjoyed self-employed recruitment so when this role came up, it felt like a good step and a great opportunity to return back to Just Mortgages. The team at the helm of Just Mortgages are just phenomenal people. They’ve built a fantastic and inclusive culture where they genuinely support your career. Coming back, it’s great to see that has only increased.

“I’ve been really impressed with how strong the proposition and level of support is. It means I can have conversations with those looking to make the leap but need that extra help, as well as those who have been self-employed for a long time, already have that entrepreneurial mindset and want to grow their business. The ability to offer both is very exciting and not something on offer from many other networks or brokerages. There’s no doubt going self-employed can be a longer consideration, but I’d encourage anyone who is interested or just wants to learn more to reach out.”

Ben Allkins, head of mortgages and protection at Just Mortgages, added: “Throughout 2024, we have continued to see high levels of interest and applications to join the self-employed division. This speaks volumes of the proposition we have built which enables ambitious brokers to not just launch, but scale a successful advice business. As we kick off 2025, it’s great to add Kara to the team to help respond to this growing demand and identify fantastic talent to join our division.

“2025 promises to be an exciting year for Just Mortgages and for the self-employed division and we look to reach and surpass the milestone of 500 advisers. We have real ambitions to grow the division and continue improving on our proposition and support structure to ensure we are the go-to destination and a true launching pad for ambitious advisers.”

Alongside day-to-day support with sales, marketing and compliance, self-employed advisers also access ongoing training and mentoring. Those looking to expand can take advantage of additional licence courses held by Just Mortgages, or enrol on the business principals programme. This provides the necessary leadership and management training to enable advisers to recruit, manage and support their own team.

Alongside nearly 500 self-employed advisers, the employed division of Just Mortgages has more than 150 advisers in estate agency branches across the country.

Those interested in joining the Just Mortgages team can get in touch by visiting: https://applyforselfemployed.paperform.co