Award categories

The award categories are open to everyone involved in financial services within Yorkshire, whether that be as an outstanding trainee or as a regional director. Our purpose is to celebrate the successes of those organisations, teams and individuals who have excelled within Yorkshire. The following criteria should be treated as a guide by entrants when reviewing award categories. They are not intended to be exhaustive, and entrants are invited to mention any other points they feel strengthen their entry.

Entry Deadline: 5 November 2021

Best Insurer

Open to all issuers of insurance policies in Yorkshire

  • Innovative and market-leading policies 
  • Diverse broker network 
  • Competitive premium levels 
  • Excellence in claims processing and management
  • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers

Broker of the Year

Open to all brokers of any insurance line in Yorkshire

  • Diverse and competitive pool of insurer partners
  • Innovative and market-leading policies
  • Demonstrable knowledge of complex insurance products
  • Excellence in claims processing and management
  • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers

Wealth Manager of the Year

Open to all wealth management companies in Yorkshire

  • Risk-aware management strategy that champions efficiency
  • Evidence of client’s return on investment
  • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in complex financial products and services
  • Excellence in relationship management
  • Innovative use of technology to manage assets

Lender of the Year

Open to all financial lenders in Yorkshire

  • Voluminous and diverse book of business
  • Innovative loan design
  • Evidence of assistance contributing to financial security and business and community growth
  • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to borrowers

Savings Provider of the Year

Open to all providers of savings accounts and products in Yorkshire

  • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in complex savings accounts and products
  • Evidence of quality and competitiveness
  • Reputation for providing benefits to customers
  • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers

Mortgage Provider of the Year

Open to all providers of mortgages in Yorkshire

  • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in complex mortgage products
  • Evidence of quality and competitiveness
  • Reputation for providing benefits to customers
  • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers

Mortgage Broker of the Year

Open to all mortgage brokers and intermediaries in Yorkshire

  • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in complex mortgage products
  • Evidence of quality and competitiveness
  • Reputation for providing benefits to customers
  • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers

Independent Financial Adviser of the Year

Open to all providers of independent financial advice in Yorkshire

  • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in complex financial products
  • Evidence of client’s return on investment
  • Diverse network of financial product providers
  • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers

Customer Service Award

Open to all financial services organisations in Yorkshire

  • Examples of excellent customer service executed within the past 12 months
  • Evidence of going above and beyond expectations of customer
  • Enhanced reputation of brand
  • Boosted confidence in particular area of financial services

Innovative Product of the Year

Open to all financial services organisations delivering financial services and products in Yorkshire

  • Release of a new innovative product or service in the past 12 months, or an innovative reworking of an existing product or service
  • Evidence of competitive advantage, speed to market or inventiveness
  • Demonstrable results are essential
  • Evidence of strong teamwork and cooperation

FinTech Initiative of the Year

Open to in-house fintech teams and fintech companies in Yorkshire

  • Technology-based tool, IOT initiative, technique, or system released in the past 12 months may stand out due to competitive advantage, speed to market or inventiveness
  • Demonstrable results are essential
  • Evidence of strong teamwork and cooperation

Best Employer

Open to all providers of financial services in Yorkshire

  • Training initiatives and accreditations received or being worked towards
  • Dedication to development and welfare of staff
  • Jobs created within the region
  • Recognition received from staff/training providers

Accelerator of the Year

Open to all business accelerator and incubator programmes in Yorkshire

  • Demonstrable dedication to encouraging local entrepreneurs and startups
  • High-spec physical and digital facilities
  • Best-in-class mentoring and partner services
  • Evidence of portfolio/client businesses’ success and accelerator/incubator’s contribution

Investment Team of the Year

Open to all investment management teams in Yorkshire

  • Bold but risk-aware investment strategy
  • Evidence of high returns
  • Demonstrable knowledge of complex asset classes and multiple jurisdictions
  • Excellence in relationship management
  • Innovative use of technology to boost returns and/or reduce risk

Financial Adviser Team of the Year

Open to all organisations and teams providing financial advice in Yorkshire

  • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in complex financial products
  • Evidence of client’s return on investment
  • Diverse network of financial product providers
  • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers

Customer Service Team of the Year

Open to all teams that deal directly with consumers and business customers in Yorkshire

  • Examples of excellent customer service executed within the past 12 months
  • Examples of effective teamwork leading to successful customer outcomes
  • Reputation for excellent customer service backed by testimonials and/or reviews
  • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers

Trainee of the Year

Open to all individuals on graduate, apprenticeship and training contracts at financial services providers in Yorkshire

  • Demonstrable dedication to clients
  • Work to a high standard throughout training
  • Non-fee earning, but work-related activities, such as marketing, establishing new initiatives and broader contribution to the profession
  • Contribution to the community

Rising Star Award

Open to all individuals working within financial services in Yorkshire

  • Eligible candidates must be no older than 35 at the time of the ceremony
  • Demonstrable dedication to your clients
  • Significant impact on employer’s business
  • Non-fee earning, but work-related activities, such as marketing, establishing new initiatives and broader contribution to the profession
  • Contribution to the community

Director of the Year

Open to all individuals working within financial services in Yorkshire

  • Open to heads of departments and regional directors
  • Demonstrable dedication to your clients and staff
  • Significant impact on employer’s business
  • Non-fee earning, but work-related activities, such as marketing, establishing new initiatives and broader contribution to the profession
  • Contribution to the community

Outstanding Achievement Award

Open to all individuals, teams and companies working within financial services in Yorkshire

  • The entrant must have made a major positive contribution to the sector in Yorkshire within the last 12 months
  • The contribution can be anything that affects financial services. From establishing a new product to setting new standards of excellence
  • Entrants into other categories are encouraged to put themselves forward if they feel they have a strong case