National Lending Group (NLG) has officially launched its New Broker Fast Start Program, a university-style learning and mentoring model designed to improve retention rates for new-to-industry brokers.
The initiative follows a 12-month proof-of-concept pilot campaign and is being delivered in strategic partnership with Mr Mentor.
“Our vision is to remove a core barrier to entry by providing a clear pathway that builds broker confidence, competence, and compliance,” said Steve Lake (pictured left), director of partnerships at NLG.
“What makes this model unique is its dual structure, which equips brokers with both technical skills and practical business knowledge from the outset. Mr Mentor delivers the formal training, while our in-house mentoring team provides the day-to-day operational and compliance support. Together, we’re creating an environment where brokers can succeed sustainably.”
High attrition rates have long challenged the industry, with many brokers leaving within their first year. The program aims to change that, offering structured training backed by operational support.
“Too many brokers are left to ‘sink or swim’ in their first year,” Brett Mansfield (pictured right), CEO of Mr Mentor, said.
“Our goal is to equip brokers with practical skills early, to enable them to engage clients confidently, secure business quickly, and ultimately improve a broker’s early career trajectory.
“With the right support in those first 12–18 months we can turn early risk, into long-term value. Similarly, if we upskill brokers early, they’ll be able to adapt and perform effectively for decades, which is critical to the industry's longevity.”
Mansfield added the program is also vital for succession planning: “If we don’t bring capable new brokers into the industry, we risk a talent gap that could directly affect client service and market share.”
Led by Vanessa Lewis, director of education at NLG, the 15-week intensive program covers far more than product training. Brokers learn about credit reporting, compliance strategies, and business growth tactics, delivered through weekly live tutorials, downloadable resources, recorded sessions, and assessments.
Crucially, participants also receive hands-on mentoring from NLG’s internal team, supporting them through their first 12 loans to ensure compliance and service standards.
“By combining structured education with real-world mentoring, we’re not just filling a knowledge gap. We’re raising the professional standard for the entire industry,” Lewis said.
“And the results speak volumes. We’re proud to say that in the past 12 months, the first cohort of 80 new brokers has completed the program, and only two have ceased operations – a retention rate well above industry norms,”
The NLG New Broker Fast Start Program is positioned as a scalable solution to help lift professional standards while ensuring the industry is equipped to meet client demand as senior brokers transition towards retirement.
With housing demand remaining high and loan volumes growing, industry groups have warned that without structured pathways like this, the broker sector could face a talent shortage in the coming years.
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