BFS is made up of 70% female professionals

BFS head of operations, head of underwriting and the firm’s financial controller are all positions held by females.

BFS is made up of 70% female professionals

Female professionals at Bridging Finance Solutions (BFS) now account for almost 70% of the lender’s workforce.

In stark contrast to the vast majority of financial businesses, the growing bridging firm continues to appoint women in a diverse range of roles, from junior positions to senior board level. BFS head of operations, head of underwriting and the firm’s financial controller are all positions held by females.

Steve Barber, managing director of Bridging Finance Solutions, said: “Cultivating a female led workforce wasn’t necessarily an intentional move but is a trend that has evolved organically.

“Our business continues to grow at an average rate of 25% year-on-year. We are undoubtedly perceived as a modern and innovative business in what is often considered a very traditional industry and our female led work force is obviously one of the key differentiators.

“Female influence has without doubt helped shape BFS, from our personal approach to the systems, flexible working and the processes we follow.

“Whilst all of our appointments have been made on an equal opportunity basis, the successful - and best - candidates have largely been women.

“Any specific efforts to recruit women to leadership roles in corporate settings is useless unless there is an encouraging culture for anyone to succeed - at BFS we feel everyone has a voice to be heard and respected and gender therefore is irrelevant.”

Earlier this year BFS formed part of the latest group of businesses to sign up to the government’s official gender led equality initiative, ‘The Women in Finance Charter’. The charter was set up as part of the government’s plan to tackle gender inequality in financial services.