Allica Bank celebrates five years with new broker training programme

Allica Bank, the fast-growing challenger bank focused on the UK’s established SMEs, is marking five years of supporting the broker community with the launch of a new fully funded educational programme. The initiative, set to begin this September, is both a celebration of Allica’s journey since its 2020 launch and a commitment to the future of broker-led commercial finance.

The new programme is designed to thank brokers for their pivotal role in Allica’s growth, while also investing in their development as key partners in the financial ecosystem supporting Britain’s established businesses.

Since its market debut with a commercial mortgage proposition exclusively available through brokers, Allica has expanded rapidly, adding asset finance in 2021, launching a growth finance product in 2023, and acquiring bridging lender Tuscan in 2024. Earlier this year, the bank surpassed £3 billion in total lending, a milestone achieved in close collaboration with its broker network.

To mark this five-year milestone, Allica will fully fund 50 broker places on the Level 3 Certified Practitioner in Specialist Property Finance course, delivered by the Walbrook Institute of London. In addition to the qualification, the programme will feature a series of learning and development opportunities tailored to brokers, including:

• Gold sponsorship of the Specialist Finance Academy, offering exclusive educational content.
• A social media masterclass hosted by finance marketing expert Rosalia Lazzara of Manuka Media.
• A market update webinar led by renowned economist Trevor Williams.
• A series of asset finance training sessions focused on real-world financial analysis skills.

Nick Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Allica Bank, commented: “Building out Allica’s commercial finance proposition and becoming a multi-billion pound lender over the past five years has been a real privilege, and there’s still so much to come.

“Our broker community has been – and will always be – such an important part of the Allica story, so this is about showing our appreciation and giving back something meaningful.”

The bank’s broker-first approach has earned it high praise. A recent survey of 414 brokers from its panel revealed that 90% rated their experience with Allica as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’.

Rosalia Lazzara, who will deliver the social media masterclass, said: “Allica’s commitment to providing practical tools and dedicated support is a breath of fresh air. I’m excited to help equip brokers with strategies to raise the bar and level up their businesses.”

Dominic Williams of ASC Finance for Business reflected on the bank’s impact: “When Allica first opened its doors, it filled a real gap, not just with its lending, but in how it treated us as brokers. This initiative shows what’s possible when a bank listens and encourages brokers to grow alongside them.”

Michael Mann, Broker Business Development Director at Allica, added: “We built this programme not just for brokers, but with them. Whether they’re just starting out or already established, we want this to be something that helps brokers grow their business.”