Systems & Strategy for a Growing Mortgage Brokerage
Sector: Mortgage & Protection
Role: Strategic Advisor
Service Areas: Systems · Business Planning · Growth Enablement · Leadership Support
The Challenge
A small mortgage brokerage operating as an appointed representative of a network had reached a point where the business was becoming difficult to manage day to day. Systems were fragmented, information was spread across multiple tools, and there was no clear structure for managing workload or priorities.
Alongside the operational challenges, the owner was struggling to step back and think strategically. Without a clear plan for growth or confidence in how the business could scale, the pressure was beginning to outweigh the enjoyment of running the firm. The alternative being seriously considered was to abandon growth altogether and return to employment.
What was needed was not simply better organisation, but clarity, confidence, and a realistic plan for the future as a business owner.
Our Approach
Bonner-Murray Consulting worked closely with the owner through an initial strategy engagement, followed by six months of ongoing monthly support to translate plans into practical, embedded change.
The engagement began with a focused strategy session designed to step away from day-to-day delivery and properly assess the business.
This included:
Clarifying the firm’s proposition, service offering, and priorities
Reviewing how work was being managed, tracked, and delivered
Identifying where a lack of structure was creating unnecessary stress and inefficiency
Translating ambitions for growth into a realistic and achievable business plan
This phase created a clear sense of direction and a shared understanding of what the business needed to become in order to grow sustainably.
With direction established, focus shifted to building simple, proportionate structure around the business.
This involved:
Implementing fit-for-purpose systems to organise client work and administration
Introducing basic planning and tracking tools to provide visibility over workload and priorities
Establishing a clearer business and financial plan to support confident decision-making
Throughout this phase, the emphasis was on keeping systems light and practical, ensuring they supported growth without overengineering a small business.
Following the initial strategy work, Bonner-Murray Consulting provided ongoing monthly support over a six-month period to embed change and maintain momentum.
This included:
Regular strategic check-ins to review progress and refine plans
Support with prioritisation, time management, and boundary-setting
Acting as an external sounding board for decisions that had previously felt difficult or risky
This consistent support helped move the owner out of reactive mode and into a more confident leadership position.
The Outcome
By the end of the engagement, the business was operating with significantly greater clarity and confidence.
The outcome included:
Clearer systems and structure, reducing day-to-day stress and disorganisation
A credible, realistic plan for growth and future expansion
Increased confidence in the business model and role as a business owner
Improved decision-making and reduced pressure
The reassurance and certainty needed to continue building the business rather than stepping away from it
“From our very first interaction, it was evident that Greg approached our engagement with exceptional thoroughness and a commitment to understanding my specific needs. The initial fact-finding process was not just comprehensive but clearly well-researched, demonstrating that he had taken the time to truly grasp my business and aspirations before we even had our first full day together.
What shone through most of all during our sessions was Greg's undeniable experience in managing growth and building strong foundations to my business… He has an uncanny ability to delve into the "nitty-gritty" details, and while the process was deeply personal at times, the outcomes have far exceeded my initial hopes.”
Conor Davis - The Brighton Broker
