Aqib Iqbal becomes Head of Credit, with Sinead McMurray stepping into his vacated role of Credit Manager. Both joined through the Graduate Recruitment Scheme (GRS) in 2021 and 2022 respectively and have played important roles in helping to manage and improve the lender’s credit function.

Richard Tweddell is promoted to Underwriting Manager having been a Senior Underwriter. He started at the lender in 2021 through the GRS and now handles some of the Aspen’s most complex cases.

And Richard Coombs moves to a broader remit as Operations Manager from Credit Analyst. With a proven track record in property development, he started at Aspen in 2022 and in turn became the fourth generation of the Coombs family to join the wider S&U PLC group.

The promotions follow the lender’s recent announcement of four appointments onto its GRS, its largest single intake of students to date, as well as their soon to be named Midlands BDM.

Jack Coombs, Managing Director at Aspen Bridging, said: “We enjoyed a record year in 2024, and to ensure we are in the right place to take that next step and achieve £250m in total lending in 2025 we need the right people in the right places. That goes for existing employees and new starters.

“Aspen has a track-record of rewarding, where appropriate, those who step-up and prove themselves in being a more important contributor to our success. It is only right that we in-turn reward staff who constantly display that aptitude and commitment in order to retain the very best talent.

“Every single person in this business has the chance to progress and make their mark in one of the fastest growing bridging lenders in the UK.”