Fluent Money has appointed 12 new members of staff.

The UK’s leading secured loan broker has taken on Catherine Morris, Samantha Brabbs and Tim Astley as case managers, while Michelle Jones and Barry Collins will join as underwriters.

Clay Currenti has also been appointed as a developer, with Stefan Higginson, Matthew Lamb, Ross Keats, Craig Houghton, Holly Carpenter and Daniel Johnson starting in the contact centre.

The new recruits join the company’s current team of 58.

Tim Wheeldon, joint managing director at Fluent Money, said: “We’re pleased to be welcoming these bright and talented individuals to the team, as we anticipate an exciting year ahead for the business.

“2014 has already got off to a busy start, with loan enquiries increasing significantly in January and a continuing increase in aspirational borrowing.”

Fluent Money recorded more loan enquiries in the first week of January than in any previous year.

The figures outstrip those from 2013 by almost 50%, as it packaged nearly £8m worth of loans during October 2013.