Paragon Bank has announced that it has reduced the price of its limited edition, five-year fixed rate, 5% fee, buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages for the second time in two weeks. The lender has taken a further 15 bps off the price, with rates now starting at 5.6% for the purchase or remortgage of ‘green’ properties with EPC ratings of A-C. Rates now sit at 5.65% for single self-contained properties and 5.85% for HMO and MUBs. The BTL mortgages are available at up to 75% loan-to-value and interest coverage ratios are calculated at the same rates as initial interest rates. Each of the three mortgages includes a free valuation.

Standard Life has appointed Callum Stewart as its new head of investment proposition distribution. Stewart joins from Hyman Robertson, where he most recently worked as head of DC investment, specialising in pension funding and investment. The appointment marks the strengthening of Standard Life’s investment solution team and the company’s focus on sustainable investment solution. Stewart and the team will provide investment solutions’ expertise for Standard Life’s workplace business and will be responsible for taking its investment proposition to market, whilst further developing relationships with clients and advisers across the workplace pension market.

Access Financial Services has announced the completion of its new academy proposition with the introduction of a comprehensive suite of CeMAP courses. The academy, which is led by Peter Phillips, aims to train and develop a new wave or advisers, bolstering the company’s growth strategy. Over the past year, Access FS has experienced remarkable growth, doubling its roster of advisers from 120 to 250. The continued expansion has been attributed to the success of its academy programme, which has attracted new talent to the mortgage and protection industry. The academy now conducts monthly training sessions, with up to 18 participants in each group. The curriculum includes CeMAP levels one, two and three, equipping advisers with essential knowledge and skills for success in the industry.

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