Advertise on podcast: RomaTalks

🎙 Meet Fiona Kennedy-Williams — Roma borrower and property developer, Fiona joins Victoria Henry, Relationship Manager at Roma Finance, to explore career pivots, investing with confidence, industry community, and the strength of a great borrower–lender partnership. 🏡 From Nurse Practitioner to Property Investor — Fiona shares how a spontaneous auction purchase (made while on a ski trip) kickstarted her flipping journey. With help from family and friends, she renovated and sold her first project within eight months. 👷‍♀️ Hard Hats to Heels Chester — Fiona discusses launching the Chester chapter, creating an empowering and supportive space for women in property. 📈 Victoria’s Journey at Roma — Victoria shares her route from teaching to property flipping to joining Roma, culminating in her role as Relationship Manager, where she supports borrowers through their projects, especially Fiona. 🏠 Fiona’s Current Project — A three bed semi on the Wirral with renovation underway, supported by a smooth, straightforward funding experience through Roma.

🎙 Meet Tom Sumner — Property developer, investor and multi business owner, joining Michael Allison on RomaTalks to share his journey from military service into property and business ownership. 🪖 From the Military to Property — Tom reflects on his background as a paratrooper and bodyguard, and how he began investing in property alongside his military career, building resilience and commercial discipline along the way. 🏘 Building & Scaling a Property Business — Nearly two decades in property, Tom shares how smart refinancing, deal execution and long term strategy helped him grow a strong, diversified portfolio. 🏗 Projects, Serviced Accommodation & New Ventures — From commercial conversions and new builds to high end serviced accommodation, Tom also discusses launching a luxury bathroom showroom supplying developers and retail clients. 🚀 Mentorship, Branding & What’s Next — Tom talks about the importance of authenticity, social media, and his plans to mentor others through a new business and networking centre.

🎙 Meet Dave Symondson – Co founder of Rise Up Development, Dave joins Michael Allison, Commercial Director at Roma Finance, to explore how tradespeople can confidently transition into successful property developers. 🏗 Rise Up Development Explained – Dave breaks down how their workshops support trades and contractors through every step of the development journey — from finding sites and running feasibility to securing exits with confidence. 📉 A Tighter Market – Dave discusses how the market has shifted over the past 15 years, why flawless execution matters more than ever, and the realities of navigating today’s increased bureaucracy. 📣 The Power of Personal Branding – Dave shares how investing in social media has transformed his business, and why a strong online presence is non negotiable for modern developers. 💼 Consistency & Standards – Dave and Michael reflect on resilience, high standards, and the importance of strong relationships in delivering exceptional service in both finance and development. https://riseupdevelopment.co.uk/

🎙 Meet Jaz Dhaliwal – Conveyancing solicitor with a decade of experience and newly published author. Jaz joins Michael Allison to discuss conveyancing today, financial education, and life in property. 🏡 A Career Inspired Early – Jazz shares how childhood trips to auction houses with their father shaped a natural path into conveyancing, and a long standing passion for property. ⚖️ A Modern Approach to Conveyancing – Jaz explains their shift to a consultancy model, offering fewer files and more personalised service, plus their views on how AI can support (but not replace) human decision-making. 📚 Introducing My Home, Your Home – Jaz talks about their new children’s book, designed to help kids understand different types of homes and spark curiosity about property. 💸 Teaching Kids About Money – Jaz highlights why financial literacy should start young, and why schools need to cover investments, budgeting, and the real value of money. https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Home-Your-Jasbir-Dhaliwal/dp/1068444835

🎙 Meet James Rogers – Founder of Property and Poppadoms and broker at 978 Finance. James shares his journey from tradesman to property investor, network host, and finance professional. 🔄 From Trades to Finance – James opens up about his shift from painting, decorating, and plumbing into the world of finance after major life changes. 🍛 Inside Property and Poppadoms – Discover how a small, informal meet up grew into 50+ UK locations. James explains the relaxed format, big value, and the supportive community that inspired its creation. Find out what’s next, with the expansion plans to 70 locations, international opportunities, national events and masterclass training days. 💼 Finance Appetite Today – Explore how lenders are leaning into more creative, unconventional deals — offering new possibilities for investors. https://www.propertyandpoppadoms.co.uk

🎯 Meet Richard & Josh – Richard, Senior Business Development Manager, and Josh, Senior Relationship Manager at Roma Finance, share their journeys and insights into the world of specialist lending and development finance. 💼 From Broker to Roma – Richard reflects on his 17-year journey in the specialist lending market, while Josh shares his experience as a broker for five years before joining Roma, and what drew them both to the business. 📈 Changes in the Market – Richard discusses the evolution he’s seen in lending, finance, and development finance over the years, providing a unique perspective on how the market has shifted. 🏦 What Makes a Lender Stand Out – Josh explains the importance of service in the lending industry, highlighting how brokers often return to lenders who consistently provide excellent support and guidance. 🚀 Bringing Value to Roma – They discuss the fresh perspective and energy they bring to their roles, and the positive impact they’ve already had on the business.

🎯 Meet Tammy Hart – Roma borrower and Managing Director of Brick and Beam, Tammy joins Katie Devine, Senior Underwriter at Roma Finance, to dive into a recent project and the journey behind getting the deal across the line. 🏗 Challenges & Solutions – Tammy discusses the issues faced throughout the deal, the hurdles that arose, and how Roma stepped in to support and find a way forward. 📄 From the Underwriting Desk – Katie shares her perspective from Roma’s side, explaining how the underwriting process unfolded and the key decisions that helped move the case forward. 🛠 How Roma Saved the Deal – They explore the steps taken to unlock progress, showcasing the creative thinking and expertise that led to a successful outcome. 🤝 Communication is Key – Tammy reflects on the power of clear, direct communication, and how being able to work closely with Katie as the underwriter made the difference when it mattered most.

🎯 Meet Vicky McCulloch – Editor of Blue Bricks Magazine, Vicky joins Sam Cooke, owner of Blue Bricks Magazine, to share insights into her role and journey within the company. 📰 From Introduction to Leadership – Vicky discusses how she first met Sam and quickly became an integral part of the Blue Bricks team, shaping content and driving the magazine’s growth. 🏡 Property & Experience – Coming into the world of property in early 2024 with her husband, Vicky shares her experience managing serviced accommodation properties while balancing her editorial responsibilities. 🚀 Looking Ahead – Sam outlines Blue Bricks’ exciting plans for the next year, including highlights of the 2026 Blue Bricks Awards and other growth initiatives. 🤝 A Strong Partnership – Together, Sam and Vicky reflect on their collaborative approach and how their partnership has contributed to the magazine’s success since Vicky joined. 📈 Growth in Action – Vicky shares her perspective on the magazine’s development and how her contributions have helped expand Blue Bricks’ reach and influence.

🎯 Meet Paul Rawson – Founder of Express Mortgages, Paul joins Daniel Hill, Senior Key Accounts Manager at Roma Finance, to share insights from his journey in the world of property finance. 📈 From Accountancy to Mortgages – With a background in accountancy, Paul transitioned into property finance, bringing analytical thinking and financial precision into the brokerage space. 🏦 What Brokers Look For – Paul explains what brokers like Express Mortgages seek in a lender, highlighting speed, communication, flexibility, and a true understanding of customer needs. 🤝 The Power of Relationships – Paul and Dan dive into why strong partnerships between brokers and lenders matter, and how trust, transparency, and collaboration drive better outcomes for customers. 📂 Real Cases, Real Results – Paul reflects on deals brought to Roma Finance and how the team helped progress them efficiently, showcasing the value of teamwork and aligned goals.

🎯 Meet Tony Walker – Founder of Help Build and returning RomaTalks guest, Tony is a seasoned expert in project management, cost estimation, and property development. 🔧 From Project Management to Innovation – After years of hands-on work budgeting, estimating, and managing build costs, Tony transformed his on-site expertise into something bigger: the Refurb Calculator. 🚀 Introducing the Refurb Calculator – What started as a simple Excel spreadsheet has evolved into a powerful tool designed to help people accurately estimate their refurbishment and build costs with confidence. 💡 Built for Accuracy – Tony shares the journey behind bringing the calculator to life, explaining how it empowers users to understand their numbers and plan projects more effectively. 🤝 Powered by Partnership – Roma is proud to be the lender partner for the Refurb Calculator, supporting Tony’s mission to make property projects clearer, smarter, and more accessible. You can use the Refurb Calculator here - www.refurbcalculator.co.uk

🎯 Meet Sam – A driven and dynamic leader in bridging finance, Sam’s career spans law, banking, and property investment, bringing depth, experience, and passion to her role at Roma Finance. ⚖️ From Law to Lending – After earning a Law and Accountancy degree, Sam initially set her sights on a legal career before moving into banking, where she became the first female Regional Manager. 🚀 Evolving with Roma – Since joining Roma Finance as a Senior Underwriter, Sam has progressed through roles as Relationship Manager and now focuses on mentoring and training, helping develop talent and strengthen internal expertise. 💡 Championing Education – Passionate about professional growth, Sam stresses the importance of continuous learning and staying up to date with industry developments, applying this mindset across Roma’s teams. 🏡 Property & Empowerment – A landlord and property investor herself, Sam buys, renovates, and manages buy-to-lets, and shares empowering advice for women aspiring to build careers in finance and property.

🎯 Meet Tom & George – Tom, Director at Beat Finance, and George, Senior BDM at Roma Finance, share their story of friendship, partnership, and success in specialist finance. 🤝 From Schoolmates to Colleagues – Friends since they were 11, Tom and George have grown up together, worked side by side in previous roles, and now collaborate as broker and lender—built on trust, respect, and shared values. 🏦 The Beat Finance Journey – Tom explains why he launched his own brokerage, navigating the challenges of starting up before Covid and building a strong reputation in the specialist market. 🔍 Working with Roma – As a whole-of-market broker, Tom reveals what he looks for in a lender and why Roma consistently delivers through its service, flexibility, and relationship-driven approach. 📈 Market Insights – They discuss recent shifts in borrower habits and lender appetite, and what these trends mean for brokers in the evolving finance landscape. 🚀 Looking Ahead – Tom shares his vision for Beat Finance’s future, continuing to grow with integrity, expertise, and long-standing partnerships like the one he and George have built.

🎯 Meet Tim Loughman & Claudine Reynolds – Tim, a seasoned developer and Roma’s borrower, joins Claudine Reynolds, Relationship Manager, to walk through one of his latest development projects. 🏗️ From Joiner to Developer – With over 30 years in the trade, Tim started as a site joiner and apprentice back in 1997. He’s since built an impressive career in property development and manages a buy-to-let portfolio. 🏡 The Project – Tim shares details of his current scheme, converting an old bungalow with plans to build additional properties on the site — including exciting plans for plots 2 and 3. 🤝 Partnering with Roma – Tim explains how he discovered Roma Finance and how Claudine’s support helped to make the process seamless from start to finish. 💡 Insights & Advice – Reflecting on the industry, Tim notes the growing depth of talent in property and offers valuable tips for contractors and developers looking to start their own journey.

🎯 Meet Samm Piper – Lender Account Executive at Legal & General Mortgage Club, bringing creativity, connection, and deep industry knowledge to the mortgage space. 🏡 About Legal & General – One of the UK’s leading financial services companies, supporting advisers, lenders, and borrowers through innovation and collaboration. 💃 From Disney to Data – Samm began her career at Disneyland Paris as the first-ever Evil Queen in Snow White before moving into the valuations team 14 years ago and finding her passion in mortgages. 💬 People & Progress – Samm loves the relationship side of her role and shares how it’s evolved post-Covid, with more lenders expanding into the bridging space. 📈 Looking Ahead – With the November mini-budget on the horizon and the Specialist Lending Academy launching in 2026, Samm discusses how Legal & General is shaping the future of mortgage advice.

🎯 Meet Glenn Franklin-Jones – Director of Lender Relations at Brickflow, Glenn brings 10 years of experience across banking and broking, helping shape the future of property finance. 💡 Brokers, Lenders & Borrowers – Glenn explains how Brickflow assists brokers in sourcing and placing deals while providing data insights, and how the platform saves lenders time on enquiries and applications by connecting all parties seamlessly. 📊 Transparent & Efficient – Brickflow gives a clear look at the finance industry, helping brokers build better deals and enabling lenders to work more efficiently, from bridging and commercial finance to development finance. 🤖 Tech-Driven & Forward-Thinking – Starting as a comparison site, Brickflow has evolved into a tech platform used by over 400 brokerages and 100 lenders. Glenn also shares how the company continuously adapts to new technology, including exploring AI for the future. 🏆 Connecting the Market – From simplifying deal placement to providing actionable insights, Brickflow is reshaping how brokers, lenders, and borrowers interact in the finance space.