On the 25th April 2023, Sarah & Andrew Elson attended the Professional Adviser Awards in London, dressed up in our finest, as it was a black tie event, where we were finalists for 3 awards, Adviser Firm of the Year (North East), Best client Engagement (Advisers) and Champion of Advice Award (Sarah Elson)
More than 250 advisers, firms and product providers come under consideration each year at the Professional Adviser Awards, which seek to reward excellence within both the financial advice community and among the broader financial services sectors that help serve advisers and their clients, so we were delighted to be finalists in 3 categories amongst an impressive list of firms and individuals from across the UK.
On the night we were delighted to walk away with 2 awards, Best client Engagement (Advisers) and Champion of Advice Award (Sarah Elson). The awards were presented by comedian, professional quizzer, doctor and broadcaster Paul Sinha (also features on the Chase).
The following week the Berry & Oak team dressed up for the Yorkshire Financial Awards 2023 black tie event that took place at the prestigious Royal Armouries on Thursday the 4th of May 2023. We were highly excited, as we were shortlisted as finalists in three categories. The Yorkshire Financial Awards celebrates the regions outstanding financial services sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, Holly Copsey from the Insurance Institute of Leeds and chair of the independent judging panel that bestowed the awards, said: “The standard of the entries this year has been incredibly high, with submissions demonstrating innovation, inclusivity, staff wellbeing, your commitment to diversity and, crucially, the passion and desire you have to support your customers and clients during the challenging cost-of-living crisis”
We are delighted to be able to tell you that on the night we were successful in winning all 3 awards, with 2 of these being for the 2nd year running.
It’s fantastic to be recognised as the best at what we do in our region, especially as in all 3 categories we were in the final with some very big firms with offices nationwide.
The Yorkshire Financial Awards organisers said, “The big winner of the night was Berry & Oak, the financial planning practice based in Boston Spa, West Yorkshire.”
Berry & Oak won Financial Adviser Team of the Year, sponsored by Investec, for focusing “heavily on clients and community”, going “above and beyond” for both “at every opportunity”.
Capping off a fantastic night for the firm, its co-founders also won individual awards, with Sarah Elson been awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award and Andrew Elson the Financial Adviser of the Year, sponsored by Morningstar.
The judge’s comments were:
- Financial Adviser of the Year: Andrew Elson (This is for the 2nd year running as Andrew also won this award in 2022)
The winner is highly qualified and truly independent, an undisputed expert who garners high levels of client feedback. Rather impressively, they also use their platform to promote sound financial advice, with technology playing an important role, while supporting the wider community. This is a financial adviser who other financial advisers turn to.
- Financial Adviser Team of the Year: Berry & Oak (This is for the 2nd year running as the team also won this award in 2022)
The winner focuses heavily on clients and community, going so far as to invite in children to educate them about their finances of their families. The winner has built and maintains a massive library of resources for clients, going above and beyond for them at every opportunity. The winner has also embraced technology as a means of meeting and supporting them throughout.
- Outstanding Achievement Award: Sarah Elson
The winner has succeeded in bringing personal finance skills to the fore in a popular and important programme among young people on their path to adulthood. Their contribution was highly impressive, as is their ongoing commitment to educating young people about money and personal finance.
These are great achievements, made possible by our fantastic Berry & Oak team and the hard work and dedication they show, in looking after our clients.
