10 Questions with...Yasin Patel of Mayfair Bridging

10 Questions with...Yasin Patel of Mayfair Bridging




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He has been working for Mayfair Bridging since its launch, setting up the company when he was just 25, loves Eva Mendes and hates sales people.

 

Shelley DeBere speaks to Yasin Patel...

 

1.   How long have you been working at Mayfair Bridging and what did you do before?

 

I’ve been working here since we started in February 2008. We used to be mortgage brokers but quickly realised that we understood the market a lot better than several others and decided we would make better lenders.

 

2. Confident, I like it. So... who do you fancy off the telly?

 

Hmmm...Eva Mendes

 

B&C: Do we need to ask why you like her?!

 

I really don’t think you need to ask that, it must be because of her films!

 

3. What trends have you noticed within the bridging industry over the last 12 months? What do you predict for the future?

 

In the last 12 months I’d have to say that more bridgers have emerged. I think this is surprising considering the current market – nonetheless more bridgers have appeared from somewhere.

 

It seems to be me that the market is really growing, which is promising for the future and really great for us – it looks like a lot of people are starting to lend again.

 

Overall there are a mix of predictions for the future – some people believe the next six months could be good and some seem to think they could be bad.

 

Hopefully things will get stronger within the sector – at Mayfair Bridging we think we will be lending a lot more in the next six months.

 

4. What would you put in room 101 if you had the chance?

 

If I had the chance I would put annoying sales people into room 101. (Laughs)

 

B&C: Any reason why?

 

We get loads of sales people calling up – mainly advertisers, and they don’t really know what we do or anything. It is really annoying!

 

5. What is the best thing and worst thing about your job?

 

The best thing for me, as a director, is being able to dictate when we wake up, when we leave and the days off you can take. It’s not like that all the time but

for the most part I get to control my own timetable – which I wouldn’t be able to do if I was working for someone else.

 

Not just that, another good thing is the satisfaction you get when a deal goes through and completes. It’s great to know you have been able to help someone out.

 

B&C: ...and the worst thing?

 

Never been able to switch off – I’m constantly on my Blackberry and thinking about new deals.

 

6.  Tell me one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

 

Well, people might be surprised to know that the other directors and I were only 25 years-old when we set up and launched Mayfair Bridging. We actually set

up another company before that when we were just 24 years-old – which is really young to start up a company.

 

It has been an uphill battle to get where we are today. I remember when we were trying to borrow money to start the company from a High Street
Bank and when the bank manager met us he said he wouldn’t have even bothered turning up if he knew how old we were! So it’s been tricky.

 

7. What made you decide to work in the finance industry?

 

I sort of stumbled into finance after finishing my degree – it wasn’t really a decision I made.

 

Before I started at university I thought I wanted to be an architect but I changed my mind and did a degree in computing. After I had finished four years of studying I decided I didn’t want to do anything that involved computers and ended up in finance!

 

8. What would you be doing if you weren’t working in bridging?

 

Well, I think because I wanted to become an architect, I would be doing something in property, although I’m not entirely sure what.

 

But I suppose if I was really dreaming, I’d say a professional sportsman!

 

B&C: Really? What sport?

 

Erm... probably football or boxing.

 

9. More importantly... if you could have a super power for one day what would it be?

 

Hmm this is a difficult one... I think if I could have a super power for the day I’d have one that could help me achieve world peace. Especially between the

Israelis and Palestinians and between Pakistan and India where they are fighting over Kashmir.

 

B&C: Impressive, no one has ever said that before!

 

10. What is your favourite film and book?

 

I really like comedy and action films.

 

B&C: What are your favourites?

 

Well I loved the Hangover, the Godfather Trilogy and Too Fast Too Furious.

 

B&C: What about books?

 

I don’t really have any favourite books. To be honest I’m not a huge fan of reading – I never read! The way I see it, if the book is good enough then they will make it into a film and I’ll be able to watch it then! (Laughs)

 

 

 

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