Accord Mortgages has signed the Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter (MIMHC), as part of a commitment to prioritising workplace mental wellbeing.

The charter was established to raise awareness around mental health challenges faced by professionals in the sector, creating a culture of openness and compassion. It consists of seven co-founding firms and a growing number of signatories.

Accord has become the latest signatory, agreeing to be bound by six governing rules that encapsulate best-practice health and wellbeing guidelines.

Senior manager of proposition development at Accord, Nicola Alvarez, said: "Given the demanding nature of the mortgage profession – with tight deadlines, customer-facing roles and dealing with sensitive financial situations – it’s crucial for us all to consider the wellbeing of our colleagues, both internally and in the wider industry.

"This is at the heart of our own organisation with a number of mental wellbeing initiatives and support programmes for colleagues already in place, our inclusion and diversity charter and the Accord growth series providing mental health resources for brokers, becoming one of MIMHC’s signatories is a natural next step for us, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to supporting our colleagues’ mental health."

She added that she has been “delighted” to see MIMHC’s determination to promote mental health and wellbeing awareness across the sector since it was founded in 2021.

When organisations sign up to the charter, they agree, among other things, to develop mental health awareness among employees and provide colleagues with good working conditions that encourage a healthy work-life balance and opportunities for development.

Co-founder at MIMHC and group sales director at Crystal Specialist Finance, Jason Berry, added: "By signing the MIMHC, Accord is sending a clear sign to colleagues and the wider mortgage industry that it intends to prioritise the best possible mental health for all.

"MIMHC was established specifically to create a culture of openness and compassion within the mortgage industry by spreading a message of support and understanding.

"Following the findings of our fifth annual survey earlier this year, we’re now calling for systemic change across our sector to ensure that far greater commitment and collaboration is available for those in need when this becomes necessary."

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