Three senior mortgage leaders have urged colleagues across the sector to take part in Working in Mortgages’ 2026 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Viewpoint research, warning that progress risks stalling if people assume the conversation ‘isn’t about them’.
The AMI ED&I Viewpoint research is designed to build an updated picture of lived experiences across the mortgage industry and track progress since the landmark 2021 report.
Ben Thompson, director of home moving strategy at Mortgage Advice Bureau, said that one of the clearest lessons from nearly four decades he has spent in the industry was that talent and leadership potential “are never confined to one background, gender or ethnicity”.
“I think the mortgage industry understands far better today that ED&I is not just a cultural initiative, it’s a business imperative. There’s much greater appreciation that diverse teams lead to better decision-making, stronger customer understanding and ultimately better outcomes for both clients and businesses.”
Thompson also urged those who may feel disengaged from ED&I discussions not to dismiss the issues. “I’d say diversity and inclusion is about all of us, because every one of us benefits from working in an environment where people feel respected, valued and able to contribute fully,” he said.
Kevin Roberts, managing director, mortgage services at Legal & General, said the original 2021 ED&I Viewpoint research had fundamentally changed his own understanding of the problems.
“Before I saw the results of the last survey, I simply wasn’t aware of some of the experiences many people in our industry were dealing with because they weren’t happening to me,” he said.
“The research opened my eyes to behaviours many colleagues had faced that I had simply never seen or understood.”
He added that he particularly wanted people who may feel ED&I conversations were irrelevant to them to engage with the new research.
“I’d encourage everyone across the sector to take part, even if you don’t immediately think these conversations apply to you,” he added. “The more people who take part, the more meaningful and useful the findings will be.”
Andrew Montlake, CEO of Coreco Mortgage Brokers and chair of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, warned that without continued focus the industry could risk sliding backwards.
“Without the 2021 ED&I Survey we would have been disconnected and blind to some of the key problems in our profession,” he commented. “The findings were a real wake-up call.”
Montlake said the research had acted as a catalyst for positive change, helping to support the development of initiatives including Working in Mortgages and the Diversity and Inclusivity Finance Forum.
“We’re in a far better position than we were,” he said. “But progress is never guaranteed. I worry about EDI fatigue creeping in, or people assuming the work is somehow finished. That’s exactly why this survey matters. It gives people the chance to speak honestly about their experiences and helps ensure these conversations continue moving forward rather than backwards.”
The survey is now open to all those working across the mortgage and protection sector. Take part in the survey here: https://data.bayesprice.com/s3/25215-Working-In-Mortgages.
