Meet the team behind Your Next Step

Your Next Step is an independent mortgage and insurance brokerage based in East Kilbride. We help first-time buyers, home movers, homeowners and the self-employed across Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and the rest of Scotland.

We search the whole market rather than one lender's range, so our advice starts with your circumstances. No jargon and no pressure.

Our team

Alan MacKenzie, Founder

Alan has worked in financial services for over 20 years, across several major banks and, before setting up Your Next Step in 2022, spent a number of years with Scotland’s largest mortgage broker.

He’s incredibly proud of what Your Next Step has become, the team around him and, most importantly, the trust clients place in the business. For Alan, people have always been at the heart of it. There’s still nothing better than seeing a client get the keys to their new home and knowing the team played a part in getting them there.

Outside of work, Alan is very much a family man. His wife and two young children keep him more than occupied when he’s not talking mortgages!

Patrick Durkin, Mortgage and insurance broker

Patrick has a great all-round understanding of mortgages, having started out working behind the scenes progressing mortgage applications before moving into advice. He now looks after clients from their very first conversation right through to getting their mortgage in place and making sure they have the right protection too.

Patrick has fitted into Your Next Step brilliantly and has quickly become a big part of the team. He genuinely cares about the people he looks after, and the fantastic reviews from his clients probably say it better than we ever could.

Away from work, Patrick is a massive Charlton Athletic fan. Given half a chance, he’ll be travelling somewhere to watch them play, regardless of how far away it happens to be!

Chris Urquhart, Mortgage and insurance broker

Chris brings more than 20 years of financial services experience to Your Next Step, and his history with Alan goes right back to the beginning of both of their careers. They’ve worked together at different banks and mortgage brokers over the years, so getting Chris on board at Your Next Step felt a bit like getting the old team back together.

He brings a huge amount of knowledge and experience to the business and has a real knack for building long-term relationships with his clients. Many come back to him time and again as their circumstances change over the years.

Outside of work, Chris is another family man, and when he does manage to get some time off, his dog Rosie makes sure he’s never sitting around for too long.

Lynn Sweeney, Client relationship manager

Lynn brings decades of financial services experience to Your Next Step, including a long career with RBS and time working as a self-employed mortgage broker herself. She knows the mortgage world inside out and has built up some fantastic relationships across the industry over the years.

As our Client Relationship Manager, Lynn is often the first friendly voice you'll hear when you get in touch with Your Next Step. She looks after our new enquiries, keeps in touch with clients and works closely with lenders and underwriters to keep mortgage applications moving and get offers through as quickly as possible.

Warm, approachable and a real people person, Lynn has been a fantastic addition to the team and has very quickly become a big part of Your Next Step.

Facts about Your Next Step

  • Company: Your Next Step Ltd, trading as YNS Mortgage. Registered in Scotland, company number SC742722.
  • Founded: 2022, by Alan MacKenzie.
  • Office: Stewartfield Way, East Kilbride, Glasgow G74 5LA.
  • Areas covered: East Kilbride, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and the rest of Scotland.
  • Team: three qualified mortgage and protection advisers (Alan MacKenzie, Patrick Durkin and Chris Urquhart) and a Client Relationship Manager (Lynn Sweeney).
  • Advice: independent, whole-of-market mortgage and protection advice.
  • Services: first-time buyer, remortgage, moving home, self-employed, contractor, buy-to-let and specialist mortgages, plus protection insurance.
  • Track record: over 1,000 mortgages arranged and 130+ five-star Google reviews.
  • Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 9am to 7pm, Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 12pm. Closed Sunday.
  • Fees: no fee for initial advice. A broker fee may apply depending on your case, and is only payable once a full mortgage offer is issued.
  • Regulation: Your Next Step Ltd (FCA No. 1012430) is an Appointed Representative of The Lending Channel Ltd (FCA No. 626787), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
  • Data protection: registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), registration number ZB604819.
  • Contact: 01355 511068 or Hello@YNSmortgage.com.

Ready to take your next step? Call 01355 511068 or email Hello@YNSmortgage.com for a free, no-obligation chat.