The Connect Academy

March 10, 2025

The Connect Academy: Launch Your Career as a UK Mortgage Adviser

Start Your Adviser Journey With Support That Helps You Succeed

If you want to start a career as a mortgage adviser or grow your expertise, The Connect Academy is here to help. Whether you are new to the sector, changing direction, or expanding into areas like buy-to-let or bridging finance, the academy is built to support your success.

It can be challenging to know where to start in the mortgage industry. Many people are unsure how to gain practical experience, where to find the right training, or how to meet the supervision requirements. The Connect Academy addresses this by providing structured training, expert guidance, and the opportunity to join a well-established UK mortgage network.

You will be supported through every step of your journey. From your first fact find to achieving Competent Adviser Status (CAS), the process is clear and well-supported. You will gain direct experience with real cases and have the chance to build the knowledge advisers need to thrive.

The academy includes practical learning sessions, one-to-one guidance, and expert-led workshops. This hands-on approach helps build confidence and improve your skills, so you are fully prepared for real client work. The training covers areas such as residential, buy-to-let, commercial, and bridging finance.

Once training is complete, you can become part of the Connect Network, with ongoing support to help you grow your business. You will also gain access to a wide range of lenders, compliance support, and tools to help with client work.

If you are committed to starting or growing your career in financial advice, The Connect Academy offers the guidance and structure you need to move forward with confidence.

Connect Academy Training Curriculum

Module	What You Will Learn
Fact-Finding and Client Discovery	How to conduct a full fact find that uncovers client needs, goals and challenges. Training includes income assessment, credit history review, affordability checks and risk analysis to form the basis of suitable recommendations.
Product Research and Mortgage Sourcing	How to research mortgage products using industry-standard sourcing systems, compare rates and criteria, and select the most appropriate options for each client.
Lender Criteria and Underwriting	Insight into how high street and specialist lenders assess applications. Covers income types, acceptable security, portfolio lending, credit challenges and how to package cases for faster approvals.
Residential Mortgage Training	Understanding of first-time buyer mortgages, remortgages, home movers, shared ownership, new builds, and more. Learn what influences lender decisions and how to present cases effectively.
Buy to Let Mortgage Training	How to assess rental calculations, portfolio landlord requirements, limited company structures and specialist lender expectations in the buy-to-let market.
Commercial and Semi-Commercial Mortgages	How to assess business performance, property types, investment structures and lender expectations in commercial lending.
Bridging Finance and Short-Term Lending	Understanding bridging loans, refurbishment finance, auction purchases and development exit funding. Learn where bridging fits, how to assess cases and how to protect the client.
Protection and Insurance Advice	How life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection and business protection work. Learn to complete a protection needs review and recommend suitable cover.
Compliance and Regulation	Training on FCA rules, ethics, documentation requirements and suitability reports. Learn how to work safely under supervision and progress toward Competent Adviser Status.
Ongoing Market and Criteria Updates	Continuous updates on lender criteria, market changes and regulatory developments to help maintain strong, compliant advice.

Your Career Path: What Happens After You Complete The Connect Academy

The academy is designed to take you from a newly qualified adviser to a confident, competent, and ready-to-advise client within a regulated structure. Here is what your typical pathway looks like.

Step 1: Complete Your Training Modules

You will work through the structured curriculum and receive guidance from experienced specialists. Training is practical, interactive and designed to prepare you for live cases.

Step 2: Join the Connect Network (AR or DA Support)

Once your training is complete, you can apply to join the Connect Network. As a member, you will benefit from:

Access to more than 200 lenders and product providers
Experienced mentors and supervisors
Full compliance support
Technology, CRM and sourcing tools
Ongoing CPD and specialist training
Opportunities in residential, buy-to-let, commercial and bridging finance

Step 3: Begin Supervised Advice and Build Experience | Become a Mortgage Adviser

New advisers are supported as they handle their first cases. You will receive feedback on fact finds, recommendations and suitability reports so you develop the right skills from day one.

Step 4: Achieve Competent Adviser Status (CAS)

With consistent support, advisers typically achieve CAS within several months, depending on case volume and supervision needs. CAS confirms that you can confidently and compliantly advise clients without full supervision.

Step 5: Grow Your Adviser Career and Income

Once established, many advisers choose to specialise in:

Buy-to-let and portfolio landlords
Limited company lending
Bridging and development finance
Semi-commercial and commercial mortgages
Protection and general insurance

This flexibility enables you to build a rewarding and future-proof business.

Who Should Attend?

Connect Academy is suitable for:

Brokers returning to the industry
Landlords or accountants adding mortgage advice
Estate and letting agents expanding their service
Ambitious individuals starting a new business

Ready to Start Your Career?

Getting started in mortgages can seem complicated at first. However, Connect Academy makes it achievable with structured training, expert guidance, and practical support.

To help explore the network more fully, you may find these internal links helpful:

Apply now or contact us for more information. Your new career begins by speaking with Tracy. #TalktoTracy

Book A Call Tracy

Thank you for reading our publication “The Connect Academy: Become a Qualified UK Mortgage Adviser | Connect Network” Stay “Connect“-ed for more updates soon!

The Connect Academy – FAQ

Question	Answer
When does the Connect Academy training start?	Training dates run throughout the year, allowing advisers to join the next available intake. Once registration is complete, the onboarding manager will confirm the start date, timetable, and session format.
Do I need to hold a CeMAP qualification to join the Connect Academy?	You can join with or without CeMAP, depending on your training route. If you already hold a CeMAP or an equivalent qualification, you can proceed directly to adviser training. Beginners can receive full support from the start of their learning journey.
How long does the live training take?	The core modules span several weeks, depending on the chosen route. Modules help advisers build confidence in real scenarios, including fact-finding, sourcing, compliance, and presenting recommendations. The onboarding manager will provide the most up-to-date timetable.
Is the training available remotely?	Yes. The Connect Academy offers live online training accessible from anywhere in the UK. Optional in-person events and workshops may also be available for advisers who prefer face-to-face learning.
Can I join the Connect Academy if I am already qualified?	Yes. Qualified advisers often join to enhance their specialist knowledge, develop new skills, or work towards achieving Competent Adviser Status. Many use the Academy as a route into the Connect Network with ongoing support and lender access.
What topics are covered in the training?	Training includes residential mortgages, buy-to-let, specialist lending, bridging finance, commercial mortgages, protection, compliance, fact-finding, suitability letters, criteria research and client communication. Modules prepare advisers for real-world advice scenarios.
What costs are involved?	Costs depend on the training pathway. Fees may include training sessions, learning materials, and ongoing network support if you join the Connect Network. A full breakdown is provided during the discovery call.
What support will I receive after completing the training?	Successful learners can progress into the Connect Network, where they receive case support, compliance guidance, lender access, business development support, mentoring, and technology tools. Newly qualified advisers receive structured supervision to help achieve Competent Adviser Status.
How do I enrol	Enrolment is completed through the short registration form on the Connect Academy page. A team member then confirms your details, explains the training pathway and helps you choose the best route for your goals.