In the latest of our series of interviews with key industry figures, The Intermediary spoke to Mike Mikunda, event director at MBE, about the longevity, success, and current importance of the Mortgage Business Expo
It’s been a tumultuous period in the last few weeks for the mortgage market. With interest rates spiking, the pound plummeting and lenders pulling deals left and right, many brokers would be forgiven for wanting to tear their hair out.
It seems that now, more than ever, brokers need expert guidance, (and legitimate leads?), to point them and their businesses in the right direction to navigate the oncoming economic storm.
This, according to Mike Mikunda, director at MBE, is where The Mortgage Business Expo (MBE) comes in.
Now in its 21st year, MBE has been through all the industry ups and downs. As the longest running and original mortgage exhibition in the UK, the event has been enjoying success after success at both its London and Northern based expos for over two decades.
Over the years, the exhibition has brought countless brokers and lenders together, providing brokers with access to the best names in lending along with expert advice and market insights through its successful seminar programme.
But in the face of the ongoing economic crisis and a mortgage market under immense strain, what is it about MBE that makes it so valuable to brokers today?
The only show in town
Mikunda, having worked at MBE since 2011, says that it’s the expo’s longstanding reputation that sets it apart. With a history over two decades long, it is seen by many as the original and perhaps most influential mortgage expo of its kind.
“When we first started, we were the only show in town,” says Mikunda.
“But I believe that because of its longstanding reputation, [the expo] still has a slightly different ambience to some of the other events.”
But what gives the expo its unique feel?
“I think it attracts, because of its standing in the industry, very good quality speakers for our seminar programmes, which along with the unmatched diversity of exhibitors enhances the reputation of the event,” added Mikunda.
“MBE is very much seen as slightly different to other events in terms of combining all aspects of residential and commercial lending be it prime or specialist in nature. We try to really bring everything together, and I think from a broker’s point of view that’s a big plus.”
Broker insights
By consistently partnering with a broad cross section of influential national institutions and industry providers, Mikunda believes that the event allows attendees to gain invaluable insight into areas of the market which they might not have previously had access to, saying:
“[This year] our keynote, for example, is from The Bank of England. Given the volatility of the economic situation at the moment that’s going to be very insightful.
“We also try to cover the key topics of the day that most affect the intermediary sector. We are covering Consumer Duty this time around, as well as traditional areas like buy-to-let.”
Alongside the keynote speech from Rob Elder, agent for Greater London at Bank of England, there will be a debate on the importance (and value?) of equity release from the Equity Release Council (ERC).
“We’ve tended to move more towards a panel debate type approach to the seminars, because we find that more interesting from a delegate’s point of view,” Mikunda adds.
“You have a cross section of views with a panel of four as opposed to when you have just one person presenting – it tends to broaden the subject more and it gives people greater insight into those areas. The ERC debate will be a superb example of what I am talking about.”
Partnerships
MBE has also continued its partnership with specialist property finance trade body, FIBA – a move that sees the FIBA host events at MBE and further increases broker awareness of the options available in the specialist market, says Mikunda.
“We established a relationship with FIBA at our last London Expo. It opened up our attending brokers to the opportunities around commercial and specialist property finance and what it has to offer. Another example of constantly evolving and improving our proposition to attending brokers.” he says.
“That’s made a big difference in terms of the breadth and range of exhibitors and also in terms of visitors as well.”
He adds: “From the brokers’ point of view the expo is their opportunity to meet lenders.
“Very often they’ve got quite difficult to place cases and whilst they know what the average high-street lender might be offering, some of the more specialist lenders will be in attendance and that’s their opportunity to talk with them as well.
“In essence it helps them in terms of the way they run their businesses and their ability to develop their services to clients.”
And the new partnerships don’t stop there. For the first time this year, MBE is working with Google and their Google Digital Garage programme. Mikunda shared his enthusiasm for this, adding:
“They have three special sessions which are exclusive to MBE, covering three different aspects of digital marketing.”
“It’s a big plus for us, we’re very pleased to get them on board.”
Full steam ahead
Despite the obvious recentsetbacks due to the Covid pandemic, Mikunda says MBE has remained undeterred, and is perhaps, even more successful than ever.
“Since we ran our first London event since the pandemic, it’s been full steam ahead, with our Manchester show earlier this year, our events have really taken off in terms of attendance and numbers of exhibitors,” he says.
“This one in London will be the best we’ve had since 2008 – so it really has quite exceeded our expectations. We’re sold out and equally we sold out for Manchester back in March.”
So, with attendance numbers exceeding all expectations, what can brokers expect from the London expo this year?
“More exhibitors than ever before and a greater range than before, both in terms of general lending as well as some of the more specialist areas,” Mikunda adds.
“[Brokers] can expect a real insight into the current economic situation through the seminar programme, as well as those areas where we are seeing development and change that delegates need to be up to speed about.”
On the importance of MBE
So, it’s clear that thanks to its longstanding pedigree, MBE remains the frontrunner among mortgage industry events, attracting big names and providing brokers in attendance with real-world advice and business leads.
But what is it about this year’s event that makes it more important than ever?
“The situation out there is volatile,” Mikunda concludes.
“I think that shows how important MBE will be this year just in terms of who we’ve got there and who we’ve got speaking.
“People are unsure about what’s happening in the short to medium term, they need some guidance and advice and I think MBE is going to provide that.”
The Mortgage Business Expo London 2022 takes place on October 13th at the Business Design Centre in Islington.
More details and registration for the event can be found here: https://www.mortgagebusinessexpo.com/london
