Now in their 11th year, registration for this year's Gold Standard Awards has now begun.
The Awards are aimed at companies in the UK's financial services sector are designed to identify companies that not only have strong structures and procedures in place, but are going above and beyond standard business practices to promote consumer trust in the sector.
They not only take into account standards of service but financial strength, capability to conduct business as well as fair value. This year will also see an increased focus on areas of governance and social responsibility.
With the landscape of financial services in the UK and overseas changing rapidly, an assessment of a wide range of factors can give a true picture of whether a company is working towards meeting the requirements of this evolution in financial services.
"One of the advantages of the Gold Standard Awards is that such a comprehensive assessment can act as a self audit of a wide range of processes and procedures adopted by financial services companies to see whether all the dots are indeed joined up.
"What's more entry is confidential. Those who do not make the standard are not publicly revealed and are briefed on areas they can improve on," explains Deborah Benn, chair of the judging panel.
Categories for this year's awards are:
1. Fund Management
2. Group Pensions
3. Insurance
4. Individual Pensions
5. Independent Financial Advice
6. Protection
7. Discretionary Portfolio Management
8. Wealth Management
For full information on the awards plus how to enter go to www.goldstandardawards.com
