Enness Global: Leaping Forward into 2024
Renowned inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Edison once said, "Good fortune is what happens when opportunity meets planning." This sentiment feels particularly apt as we step into another new year for Enness Global. Our planning is done, and there is something about a leap year that makes it feel even fuller of opportunity.
Making the Most of a Bonus Day
The leap year is, of course, functional in nature, designed to keep us in sync with the passage of time. However, as well as giving us an extra 24 hours, it also carries with it many unique cultural traditions. Somewhat archaically, for example, it supposedly grants women the chance to break with custom and propose to their partner on 29 February.
But my personal favourite is credited to legendary Savoy Hotel bartender Harry Craddock. In 1928, while working at the hotel, he created a special 'Leap Year Cocktail' to toast the extra day.
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This special cocktail – a fusion of gin, Grand Marnier, vermouth and lemon juice – is believed to have sparked more proposals than any other mixed drink in history. Cheers!
17 Years Young and Counting
2024 also marks the 17th anniversary of Enness Global's formation. I remember it well, given it was 2007 and the infamous financial crisis was bearing down on us all. Those were challenging times for the global economy. But together with Hugh Wade-Jones, we also saw opportunity and founded Enness with a single-minded mission: to help clients turn their high-value finance ambitions into reality.
I am extremely proud that this commitment still endures today. It is evidenced through the hundreds of new potential clients we attract each month – all high-net-worth and entrepreneurial, typically with an international perspective, unique and complex requirements, and a shared belief in integrity, discreet service and the possibility of making things happen even when others are doubtful.
Enness Global's speciality continues to be overcoming complexity, rising to become a trusted mortgage broker for prominent, high-profile and wealthy individuals. But we have evolved too, carefully and, may I say, successfully complementing our core expertise with impressive new capabilities spanning related areas such as corporate finance and securities-backed finance, fuelled by the growing needs of our expanding client base.
5-Star Service as Standard
Testament to these endeavours is our evolving revenue mix, with mortgages now representing less than 50%, compared to 90% just three years ago. At the same time, our commitment to customer care remains high. A recent example was receiving our 190th Trustpilot review, helping us maintain a stellar score of 4.9 out of 5 stars. I love reading these testimonials. Each one underscores the care, precision and expertise we strive to bring to every interaction. Every moment counts for us.
But maintaining quality, as every leader knows, is not easy as a business grows and expands, with international growth – represented by our presence in Dubai, Monaco, Switzerland and Jersey – only adding to that challenge.
Team Growth and Expertise
Even though we have fully embraced the latest technology, at our heart, we remain a people-led business. As such, I am delighted to see the Enness Global team going from strength to strength, positioning us brilliantly for the year ahead. We welcomed 11 new individuals to the fold in the last few months and promoted a similar number into more senior positions.
With a newly established senior leadership team now in place, we are drawing on vast experience to guide the day-to-day running of the business and develop exciting new ventures. We have an entrepreneurial culture where our team is encouraged and supported to build and develop their business lines within Enness. Collaboration between brokers and teams is at an all-time high. A great recent example was our attendance at the Luxury Properties Showcase event in Shanghai. Without the whole team pulling together, we simply could not have participated.
This is why I believe we are so well acquainted with the specific needs of business founders and entrepreneurs, many of whom continue to see Enness as a trusted partner. This trust also extends to many of them sharing their unique wisdom and insights with us and our clients.
Take our recent interview with a successful entrepreneur. The advice shared for those looking to build new habits and achieve their goals in 2024 is just one example of the insights we are capturing and making available for the benefit of others. Priceless.
Prime Property for Prime Clients
Of course, monitoring the property market, especially the prime £1 million-plus segment, remains a key focus for us. Robust demand in prime locations such as London persists, with discerning buyers and quality assets at the forefront of demand. Through our unrivalled network, we continue to see lenders readily financing high-value transactions for suitable borrowers.
These buyers include professionals with substantial savings, promising employment outlooks and significant equity in existing properties. Independently wealthy individuals may also have multiple income sources and international portfolios, adding further complexity and diversity to the transactions we arrange. This continued activity is positive for the wider UK economy.
Shifting Dynamics in London's Prime Real Estate
The dynamics of London's prime real estate are ever-shifting, as highlighted in one of our recent thought leadership articles. As we grow, we will continue to stay close to these developments. For example, we have noted how prestige projects could reshape the landscape around iconic addresses such as Bishop's Avenue.
In this instance, it is entirely possible that other prestigious addresses, including Kensington Palace Gardens and Avenue Road in St John's Wood, could increasingly compete for the title of London's Billionaire Row as average property values shift. Either way, I am confident we have the skills and expertise to help our clients not only navigate but capitalise on the opportunities ahead.
A Beautiful 50: ELF Reaches a Milestone
One of our other unique offerings at Enness Global is Enness Lifestyle First, or ELF. This bespoke weekly newsletter is uniquely curated for our clients, bringing to life a rich and diverse collection of culture, lifestyle trends and events. In February, it will reach its 50th edition, and I want to extend my personal thanks to the award-winning Mary Gostelow for her captivating contributions.
ELF continues to demonstrate our understanding of the world our clients inhabit and our commitment to helping them enjoy and celebrate it.
Have a Fantastic 2024
It is important to finish by noting that we remain independently owned, meaning we do not have to balance short-term pressure for profits with long-term sustainable growth. This allows us to keep non-essential costs low and focus on sustainable profitability rather than revenue alone, creating the means to continue investing in and growing the business while providing excellent value to our clients.
I am genuinely excited about the leaps forward Enness Global is poised to take in 2024. But more than that, I want to personally wish you, your loved ones, and all our clients and partners a fantastic year ahead.
Plan with confidence, embrace opportunity and together let's make it another year – and indeed another leap year – of good fortune.
Best regards,
Islay Robinson
CEO, Enness Global
Islay Robinson, founder of Enness, is a specialist in high-value and complex mortgage transactions. He has played a key role in structuring and delivering bespoke financing solutions across a wide range of UK and international cases.
