Complex doesn’t have to mean complicated in the fast-growing commercial bridging market

Complex lending, including commercial bridging, is on the rise. But complex doesn’t have to mean complicated.

“Despite some turbulence, specialist lending almost always stands the test of time, and it really is a buoyant market,” says Maeve Ward, adding that while opportunities in the commercial bridging space are near unprecedented, lenders who truly grasp its nuances are few and far between.

“What people need is flexibility, certainty and speed — and that’s where Together comes into its own.”

Resilient demand, tighter criteria: why commercial bridging is in the spotlight

Specialist lending has proven resilient even as broader market conditions remain choppy. With many high street lenders choosing caution and tightening criteria, a growing number of property investors are turning to alternative solutions to meet their needs. In that context, bridging has become a critical tool for those who need to move quickly while still securing funding that makes sense for more complex scenarios.

Underneath the headline volatility, Ward points to solid, structural drivers of demand. Planning reforms prompted a shift from purely commercial assets into commercial-to-residential conversions that require fast finance. At the same time, refinancing maturities are pushing borrowers to look to bridging to restructure existing loans where incumbent lenders have tightened criteria. Auctions — which have always required speed — are seeing heightened activity, while portfolio restructuring is prompting investors to use bridging to reposition or acquire commercial stock quickly.

“One of the biggest takeaways for me is that demand is robust and rising,” Ward sums up, adding that the lender recognized an emerging gap it could organically fill, offering the support brokers were crying out for.

Together launched Premier for Intermediaries — a dedicated concierge-style service targeting big-ticket, intricate funding requirements that “allows brokers to tell the customer’s story,” Ward says.

Aimed at high-net-worth clients and sophisticated investors who need to structure complex transactions in relatively short timeframes, Together’s team offers hands-on guidance, faster decisions and direct access to a dedicated underwriter from the very first enquiry.

“Our doors have been open for more than 50 years and bridging, big and small, is our bread and butter,” she notes. “With Premier for Intermediaries, we’ve just defined a slightly different process and proposition to define ourselves in the larger loan space.”

High stakes, high speed: a £13m case that shows the model in action

A recent £13m commercial term transaction for a Turkish supermarket group illustrates how complex commercial bridging works in practice – and how the Premier for Intermediaries service fits in. Introduced via specialist broker Crystal, the client operated a chain of Turkish wholesalers backed by a substantial property portfolio of around £36 million. Their existing facility was reaching the end of its term and, with the incumbent lender’s appetite having changed, they had just two weeks to refinance and raise additional capital.

The brief went beyond a like for like refinance. The client wanted to clear the existing facility and raise further funds to invest in equipment upgrades that would support future growth. The security was a multi use warehouse occupied by several businesses, sitting within a layered corporate structure and inter company relationships that many lenders would view as too complex or too risky.

“When you’re presented with that kind of time constraint, it’s so important to get it right first time,” Ward says. “If you’re comfortable with the client and the asset from the get-go, it’s then a case of building on those relationships, getting the right people in the room, and making sure the valuation and solicitors are instructed on time so everything comes together.”

That’s exactly how it worked in this case: Crystal knew the client well and had direct access to an underwriter to talk through the nuances of the layered structure, timescales and exit, understand appetite and get early steers on pricing and requirements. That upfront engagement paid dividends when their client was up against the clock and ultimately Together delivered a commercial term facility that refinanced the existing lender and funded the planned upgrades.

It’s an example of why relationships are so key in specialist lending — between broker and client, and broker and lender.

“They know where appetite sits; they know we can deliver,” Ward says. “And price is only one part. Other lenders may have been cheaper in this transaction, but would they have been able to deliver within the two-week timeframe? That was what the customer needed. We were able to do that.”

Brokers, not bystanders: making the most of Premier for Intermediaries

For Ward, the lesson for brokers is clear: in specialist lending especially, they aren’t passive observers of lender appetite, but active architects of complex deals. Those who lean into their role as structuring partners by really interrogating a client’s goals, timelines, wider portfolio and exit strategy are best placed to use services like Premier for Intermediaries to full potential.

“These cases rarely fit into a simple grid or tick box, and brokers are the quality gatekeeper,” she says. “The broker's narrative with the lender determines whether there's actually going to be a solution on the table.”

Brokers don’t have to go it alone, however. Ward encourages those new to the specialist space to tap into the “human sourcing systems” of colleagues who practise exclusively or mainly in this niche. They’ll know quickly which lenders are genuine contenders — or provide a quick no if the fit isn’t right.

At a juncture where time is money for every broker, it’s also OK to refer clients to someone with more expertise — like Crystal, who executed a £13 million loan in ten business days. Whatever works best currently, brokers should concentrate on building their knowledge in this burgeoning space, Ward urges. She adds that getting familiar with experienced lenders is critical too: Together is here to help and, as always, is committed to relationship-led lending.

“Premier for Intermediaries brings that blend of expertise, speed and flexibility to the larger and more complex end of the commercial bridging market, designed to empower brokers to succeed with cases that need tailored structuring and close collaboration,” she says. “And that doesn’t have to start when you have a multi-million-pound deal on the table. Our doors are always open and we welcome the opportunity to discuss enquiries with new and existing partners.”

Talk to our dedicated Premier for Intermediaries team here.

This article was produced in partnership with Together