10 Years of SortRefer with Andy Sadler
Find out how the business has grown during the past ten years from one of our longest serving employees, Andrew Sadler.
What is your role at SortRefer?
I'm the Business Manager. I handle our relationships with suppliers, their capacities and look into new business opportunities to help improve efficiency and business growth.
What was your previous role before joining SortRefer?
I was a Mortgage Adviser for 6 years with Kev before we started SortRefer.
Has your role changed much since starting back in 2009?
My role has changed a lot since starting in 2009. At the start we all did a bit of everything; Me, Richard and Kev would be answering the phones, replying to all emails, generally working as a team to move the business forward.
I always did the accounts for SortRefer until relatively recently. It was very different back then as most payments were made by sending cheques in the post, which made it a much longer process. We now have an accounts team and finance director to manage all payments.
I still get involved in helping with any account queries and I get asked a lot of questions about our system and how it works.
What was the first couple of years at SortRefer like?
It was very exciting and interesting, setting up a business with only four of us and having to manually get quotes for introducers. I can always remember our first Christmas party where the four of us went to our local pub and played the Wii (very different from the large parties we have now).
How has the business grown since then?
The business has grown in so many ways from the development of the system, increase in staff and introducers. We have a great customer service team who are paired with sales guys out on the road, which has enabled us to cope with demands of our introducers.
Why do you think the business has been so successful?
We have always ensured we put most of our effort into our core product (conveyancing being our core product). With us being ex-mortgage advisers we understand our target audience well and are used to dealing with IFA's and mortgage brokers. We are able to explain the conveyancing process in a language that is easily understood by brokers. Our system is so quick and easy to quote, which I think has really contributed to the success of the business.
What makes SortRefer so unique?
Our willingness to go that extra mile for our introducers and suppliers. We are not people who are going to ignore a problem and we do everything we possibly can to sort the issue. Introducers really appreciate what we do to support them. We also have a fantastic quoting system that sets us apart.
What's your most memorable experience from the past ten years?
When I think back the first thing that springs to mind are the early days. We used to have a whiteboard on the wall and every day we would guess how many instructions we would get for the day. From that small number to the number of instructions we get today; amplifies how much the company has developed.
What would you say is SortRefer's most significant achievement to date?
I think the most significant achievements are the awards we have won that brokers have voted for. Knowing that brokers have taken the time to vote for us shows how much we are appreciated by the people that use us.
What are you looking forward to in the years to come?
To continue developing the proposition and to expand into the estate agency industry. However, we can't forget our existing SortRefer brand and system. We must always support what we have but grow in other areas. We have some exciting products in the pipeline with just having launched Equity Release.
Sum up the past ten years in three words?
Exhilarating, challenging and rewarding.