Our People
Our People are our most valuable asset and we employ approximately 120 staff covering a wide variety of roles, skills and abilities, all of whom have extensive knowledge and experience within estate agency and the new homes industry. As a successful business, we seek only the most outstanding people and we reward your efforts with an excellent salary plus generous benefits package. So if you’re a team player, committed, enthusiastic, you’re the kind of person we’re seeking.
Click here for a list of our current vacancies.
Meet The Team
Nic Spaull - Chief Executive - The New Homes Group
Nic Spaull is Chief Executive of the The New Homes Group.
Nic began his career in 1984 at a local estate agent in his home town of Colchester, where he opened a new mortgage brokering arm at the age of 21. This forward-thinking strategy marked the beginning of the estate agency industry's move into financial services.
In 1990, at the age of 28, Nic spotted the market niche he had been waiting for and launched the New Homes Mortgage Helpline, a specialist mortgage broker aimed at the new homes market. He has invested much time and effort in developing strong relationships with the UK's leading housebuilders, which has enabled healthy organic growth of the business, now employing over 100 people. New Homes Mortgage Helpline is currently the leading UK new homes mortgage specialist
Nic Spaull has since expanded his foray into financial services for the new homes sector with the launch of sister company New Homes Part Exchange in 2000, which provides a complete part exchange service to housebuilders. In 2008, Nic took over as Managing Director of Independent Mortgage Helpline (formally ONN Financial Partnership), a mortgage broker specialising in the affordable housing and shared ownership sectors.
Gaynor Hookings - Group Marketing Director, The New Homes Group
Gaynor Hookings is the Group Marketing Director of The New Homes Group. She joined the company in 2008, bringing with her over twenty years' experience within the new homes sector.
Gaynor began her career in 1986 at Alfred McAlpine Homes, where she found her niche in the marketing department. She undertook a number of marketing roles over the following years at Countryside Properties, Prowting Homes and Linden Homes, where she held various positions including Sales Director and Group Marketing Director.
Following the acquisition of Linden Homes by Galliford Try Plc, Gaynor took on the Divisional Marketing role before moving on to become Group Marketing Director at The New Homes Group.
Gaynor possesses a substantial knowledge of the new homes industry and vast experience of brand building in the sector. She is responsible for developing the various brands which form part of The New Homes Group.
Nick Rhodes - Managing Director, New Homes Mortgage Helpline & Independent Mortgage Helpline
Nick Rhodes is the Managing Director for both the Independent Mortgage Helpline and the New Homes Mortgage Helpline. He joined the New Homes Mortgage Helpline in 1996, bringing with him nearly twenty years' experience within the financial services sector.
Nick began his career in 1970 at Yorkshire General Life Assurance, where he completed the company’s Management Trainee Programme. In 1977, Nick joined the National and Provincial Building Society, where he started out as a Branch Assistant before spending some time in Head Office, where he was Project Manager for the company’s retail operations. Nick then moved into marketing, taking on the role as Marketing Manager before being appointed Manager for the East Midlands.
After leaving the company in 1995 and taking some time out to renovate his home, Nick joined the New Homes Mortgage Helpline in May 1996, where he has worked closely with the company’s other directors to shape the business and drive it towards its current success.
In 2008, Nick also took another of the Skipton brands into his remit, the Independent Mortgage Helpline and he is now providing strategic direction and sales support across the two companies’ wider market base.
Mark Platt - Managing Director, New Homes Part Exchange
Mark is the Managing Director for New Homes Part Exchange. Mark joined Nic Spaull in 1991 to establish a specialist division to assist and advise housebuilders with their various needs including marketing, sales and land acquisition.
Mark’s career within the property industry extends for over 30 years. Since leaving school, Mark has been involved in the sales and marketing of land, new homes and re sale properties of all kinds. At the age of 21 he was appointed as a sales manager for a firm of chartered surveyors and estate agents, and later a divisional director for Halifax New Homes Services.
His flair for driving sales has been recognised over the years by many clients, including both national and local housebuilders who have called upon his considerable experience to help them achieve results in all kinds of market conditions.
Mark has a clear understanding of the demands of the new homes industry, and the need for New Homes Part Exchange to deliver results whilst ensuring customer service levels are maintained to the highest standards.
Terry Higgins - New Build Sales Director, The New Homes Group
Terry Higgins is New Build Sales Director at The New Homes Group looking after our housebuilder clients in the North of England.
Following a successful career in the Royal Navy concluding with a posting working for NATO in Italy for 4 years he moved into the financial sector. After a brief spell with Pearl Insurance he joined William H Brown Estate Agents, part of the Sequence Group. It was not long before he was promoted to Financial Services Manager covering offices in and around the Leeds area.
Terry joined New Homes Mortgage Helpline in 2005, initially joining as a Mortgage Consultant, Terry was soon promoted to Regional Sales Manager for the North, covering the North of England and Scotland. As New Build Sales Director, Terry works closely with many of our Housebuilder clients across England, Scotland and Wales.
Terry possesses a substantial knowledge in the affordable homes sector, especially the government led HomeBuy Assist Schemes. He has recently taken on the role of Director of HomeBuy Direct for The New Homes Group whilst continuing to support his clients of New Homes Mortgage Helpline.
Adam Champion - New Build Sales Director, The New Homes Group
Adam Champion, is New Build Sales Director at The New Homes Group looking after our housebuilder clients in the Southern area of the country.
Adam began his career in 1989 working for National Westminster Bank as they were then, as a management trainee on their fast track programme but also trained as a Mortgage Adviser during this time.
In 1992, Adam left Natwest and started his own business in retail and continued to give mortgage advice mainly in the re-mortgage market.
In 1998, using his previous management experience Adam moved to a well known independent estate agents in the Southampton area heading up their financial services division.
Adam remained there until joining New Homes Mortgage Helpline in Janurary 2003 as a Mortgage Consultant, and quickly moved into a Sales Managers role.
Since that time New Homes Mortgage Helpline has grown to the size it is today and Adam has always enjoyed the challenge of the ever changing business but always keeps our housebuilder clients’ needs firmly in his sights.
Kerry Whittingham - New Build Sales Director, The New Homes Group
Kerry Whittingham, is New Build Sales Director at The New Homes Group looking after our housebuilder clients in the Midlands and South Wales.
In 1980, Kerry began her career with Commercial Union, as they were then known, dealing with corporate pension and life assurance arrangements.
Kerry left in 1984 to work with two regional brokers for a number of years and it was during this time she began her training in mortgage and financial advice.
From 1991, Kerry spent 6 years with Lloyds Bank Insurance Services as a senior adviser, continuing to advise individual and corporate clients whilst becoming more involved in business development and relationship management.
Following a short career break, Kerry joined Bradford & Bingley in 1998 as a Mortgage Adviser, giving purchase and re-mortgage advice in various locations across the Midlands.
June 2004 saw Kerry move to New Homes Mortgage Helpline as a Mortgage Consultant but the same year, moved into the role of Sales Manager. Since then Kerry has enjoyed being part of the growth experienced by the company, adapting to an ever changing market whilst recognising the relationship with our clients is crucial to our success.
Mark Giddings – National Sales Development Manager, Independent Mortgage Helpline
Mark has over 15 years management experience in banking and financial services having begun his career with Leeds Building Society in 1991 on their graduate programme. He was appointed his first management post in 1992 and developed his management career in various disciplines at branch, area & regional level. He left the then HBOS Group to complete his MBA and joined ONN Financial which later became one of the Skipton brands.
As National Sales Development Manager for Independent Mortgage Helpline, Mark takes responsibility for the areas of specialist lending – such as mortgages for the Government funded affordable housing schemes. He is also responsible for the many products and services offered to The New Homes Group’s existing mortgage customer base.
Helen Aubrey – Account Director, New Homes CRM
Helen Aubrey is the Account Director for New Homes CRM. She has ten years’ experience in the New Homes sector.
Helen began her career in the Retail Sector working for Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, in Customer Service and Facilities Management playing a big part in developing and implementing their in-house Customer Relationship Management systems.
Helen moved into the New Homes Sector in 2000, when she took the position of Customer Service Manager for Prowting Homes Central. In 2002 she joined Linden Homes firstly in the role of Customer Service Manager before joining the Group IT Team in 2004. Helen had the responsibility of managing, developing and training in all in-house databases and their Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
Following the acquisition of Linden Homes by Galliford Try Plc, Helen took on the Group IT Training role. This involved the implementation of the Linden CRM system into both Stamford and Midas Homes. Helen also took on a number of Group Marketing responsibilities before moving on to become Account Director for Pulse CRM Ltd, recently acquired by The New Homes Group.
Helen has an extensive knowledge and experience of CRM solutions. She is responsible for the day to day running of New Homes CRM, but at the same time continuing to grow the business with new clients.
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