About Islay Robinson.

Islay Robinson is the CEO and Founder of Enness Global, the high-value finance brokerage he founded in 2007. He leads the business and remains personally involved in large and complex transactions for entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals and international families. In 2026, Enness marks 19 years in business.

Why I founded Enness

I started Enness in 2007, as the financial crisis was unfolding. It was a difficult time to launch a mortgage business, but the reason for doing it was clear.

Many of the people I wanted to work with had substantial wealth and complicated financial lives. Their income might come from a business, their assets might sit across several countries, or their property might be held through a company or trust. A standard application form could miss the circumstances that mattered.

I wanted to build a firm that took the time to understand those circumstances and could explain them clearly to a lender. That remains central to Enness today.

Leading the business and advising clients

Nineteen years on, I lead Enness and still work directly with clients. Building the firm has given me experience of hiring and developing teams, maintaining lender relationships and making decisions through changing markets.

My personal client work tends to involve large, international or non-standard transactions. These include prime London property purchases, borrowing against European property and cases where an entrepreneur’s wealth and reported income tell different stories.

I work with the Enness team and clients’ existing advisers on the structure, lender selection and process. The aim is to understand what can realistically be achieved and what needs to happen for the transaction to complete.

Read selected case studies

Experience on both sides of lending

Alongside Enness, I co-founded a European bridging lender in 2021 and subsequently exited the business.

That experience added a lender’s perspective to my work as a broker. It deepened my understanding of short-term lending, cross-border transactions and the operational work behind a credit decision.

The principles behind my work

Compare the whole proposal

A banking relationship is a useful starting point. I believe a borrowing proposal should also be assessed on its own merits, including the structure, conditions, costs and fit with the client’s plans.

Give execution proper weight

The headline rate is one part of a decision. Timing, flexibility and the practical ability to complete also matter, especially when a purchase or wider transaction depends on the finance.

Know the lender’s current appetite

Relationships matter most when they are supported by a detailed understanding of the cases a lender is prepared to consider. That understanding needs to stay current as markets and credit policies change.

Prepare the case carefully

A clear account of the borrower’s income, assets, ownership structure and objectives gives everyone a better starting point. It also helps identify the questions that need to be resolved early.

Background and recognition

I hold a law degree from the University of London, and my work has been recognised in the Spear’s 500 guide to private client advisers. Both are recorded in my Enness leadership profile.

I also contribute commentary on high-value property and finance. My press page brings together published coverage and interviews, while my articles explore the decisions and practical questions I encounter in my work.