A Day in the Life with Chris Proudfoot, Business Development Manager at Gatehouse Bank
This editorial was featured in Mortgage Strategy
My alarm goes off at…
The time that my daughter wakes up! I haven’t needed to use an alarm clock for a while now, as she usually wakes me up anytime between 6am and 7am.
I wanted to work in the mortgage industry because…
It’s an integral part of our economy and involves one of people’s most significant financial decisions.
The home finance sector is an ever-changing industry, and it has been interesting to see the growing emphasis on sustainable products in the market. At Gatehouse Bank, our Green Home Purchase Plans – a Shariah-compliant alternative to a conventional mortgage – are designed to support customers acquiring or refinancing a property with an EPC rating of A or B. Under this scheme, customers qualify for a 0.10% rate reduction, with Gatehouse offsetting the carbon emissions generated by the average UK property for.
As well as this, working in the home finance industry can lead to a lot of exciting career opportunities, I am currently reaping the benefits in the world of specialist finance at Gatehouse Bank, where I continue to explore the field.
Something that surprised me about my job was…
The diversity that my role holds. As a Business Development Manager, I expected to spend most of my time on the phone handling similar cases however, I quickly learned that cases can vary significantly due to the wide range of customers that we can help at Gatehouse Bank.
A misconception about my role is…
That Business Development Managers are never available! On the contrary, I’d say the most important traits to have are responsiveness and accountability.
While I may be occupied during meetings and unable to take calls, I ensure to follow up with our intermediary partners as soon I can. This is fundamental to both building, and sustaining, strong partnerships and relationships.
My typical day entails…
I wouldn’t say I have a typical day, which is one of the things I enjoy the most about the job.
There are some days where my car is my mobile office in between meetings with brokers, whereas another day could be spent encouraging our pipeline business through to completion. I also spend a lot of time collaborating with key stakeholders at Gatehouse Bank, helping to enhance our proposition and service to our intermediary partners.
However, one thing that is a daily staple is my phone ringing – whether it’s a new enquiry or a catch up, I spend a lot of time on the phone.
A perk of the job is…
Travelling to different places and meeting people from all different backgrounds. Given that our product proposition caters to UK expats and international residents, as well as to UK residents, I naturally engage with a variety of people, which I always find really interesting.
Ultimately, I find purpose and fulfilment in working closely with our intermediary partners to help our customers achieve their goals – there is a real satisfaction in getting a deal over the line, especially in circumstances where the customer and broker initially didn’t think there was an outlet for their requirements.
My favourite work memory is…
I have lots to be honest! I’ve helped with many different interesting cases, and I work alongside a fantastic team, so I really value when we work together.
This year, I’m looking forward to making more memories with my team by doing some fundraising for our 2024 Charity of the Year, Bone Cancer Research Trust.
To unwind after work, I…
Enjoy playing football and golf, when the weather lets me. A more regular occurrence is spending time with my fiancée and with my daughter, although this very rarely includes winding down!