Award Categories 2020

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, but are not intended to be exhaustive, and entrants are invited to mention any other points they feel strengthen their entry.

Entry Deadline: 08 November 2019

.

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

Business Bank of the Year

Open to all providers of commercial and business banking services in Yorkshire

    • Track record of aiding growth of businesses
    • Architects of innovative financial solutions
    • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in financial solutions
    • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers

Retail Bank of the Year

Open to all providers of retail banking services in Yorkshire

    • Track record of excellent customer service
    • Reputation for security and reliability
    • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in banking services
    • 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

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

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 standout due to competitive advantage, speed to market or inventiveness
    • Demonstrable results are essential
    • Evidence of strong teamwork and cooperation

Outsourced Partner of the Year

Open to financial services organisation partners in Yorkshire

    • Innovative approach to fulfilling role, achieving demonstrable success and integrating effectively with clients
    • Expert service delivery and stunning client feedback
    • Demonstrable benefit to clients

Corporate Finance Team of the Year

Open to all corporate finance teams in Yorkshire

    • Track record of aiding growth of corporates
    • Examples of work including M&As, fundraising and IPOs
    • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in complex corporate finance deals
    • Reputation for specialisms backed by testimonials
    • Outstanding fundraiser with excellent access to capital, debt and private equity

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

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

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

Banking Team of the Year

Open to all teams providing banking services in Yorkshire

    • Demonstrable knowledge of and expertise in complex banking products
    • Evidence of client growth and prosperity
    • Reputation for specialisms backed by testimonials
    • Innovative use of technology to deliver a better service to customers
    • Examples of effective teamwork leading to successful customer outcomes

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

Diversity & Inclusion Award

Open to all firms in Yorkshire that are prioritising under-represented groups, particularly women, BAME and LGBT, for careers and professional development within financial services. This award will be judged according to the following criteria:

    • A commitment to diversity and inclusion, with an emphasis on developing opportunities for professional advancement
    • A significant focus on identifying and removing the profession’s barriers to entry
    • Active promotion of equality, internally and externally
    • Strong passion for celebrating diversity in all of its forms