After less than four years as a mortgage adviser, one star in the industry has recently been recognised with a national award.

Jack Gear, from Bude, started his career as a mortgage adviser less than four years ago after he decided to leave his role as the Cornwall and Devon area manager of the Post Office.

Jack, who formally has had successes in the world of mountain biking, took his mortgage exams in January 2017 and began his training with Mortgage Advice Bureau South West.

After he set up a small office in the Strand Shopping Centre Arcade, where he has latterly expanded into a larger premises, employing three members of staff.

Fast-forward almost four years and the father of two has been labelled as the ‘Rising Star Distributor’ at the British Mortgage Awards 2020, which is a nation-wide competition sponsored by NatWest Intermediary Solutions.

Jack, who has lived in the Bude area since the age of three, was nominated by the managing director of the Mortgage Advice Bureau South West, Matthew Johns and was shortlisted for the award. Once Jack found out he was in the running, he asked friends, family and clients past and present to vote for him.

He explained: “I ended up getting a lot of votes which put me into the final three of the competition. The final was meant to be in London in September but it got pushed back to see if it could take place. But unfortunately it had to go ahead virtually.”

For the final, on Tuesday, December 15 Jack had to put together a testimonial and have a 20 minute interview over the phone. Later that evening he was announced as the winner.

Jack continued: “I think I won the award because it was a little different this year. We made sure we were active during the lockdown and helped people as it was a difficult time for everyone. We gave people advice on where they could get help and what the government were doing as it was quite confusing.”

Jack, 30, was meant to get married in the summer but had to delay the wedding due to the pandemic, but explained how this award gave some positivity to a difficult year.

He said: “I am so pleased with the award, it gave us something positive after such a difficult year.

“I never expected to win and it was completely surreal.

“To win the award you can only be in the industry for three years and I am very happy to have been gifted this title.

“The other two finalists and people in other categories were from London, Manchester and just places with a lot more numbers. But I am very grateful to have won.”

Jack Gear Mortgage Advice, Bude is open for people to go with their enquires or to get in touch remotely if that suites them. For more information visit the Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/jackgearmortgages/