Gemma Siddle CFP^CM is the winner of this year's Paraplanner of The Year Award which is sponsored by Parmenion and supported by Wizard Learning.

Ms Siddle is a Paraplanner at IFP Accredited Financial Planning Firm Eldon Financial Planning. The announcement was made at the IFP Conference on Tuesday 1 October where Patrick Ingram, head of corporate relationships at Parmenion, and IFP President Rebecca Taylor CFPCM FIFP, presented the award to Ms Siddle.

This is the first year that the IFP has taken responsibility for this prestigious award, which was originally created by TheParaplanners.com back in 2008. It has established itself as the ultimate award for UK Paraplanners, whatever their experience and knowledge. Based on testing a Paraplanner's core knowledge and skills, it provides a platform for Paraplanners to demonstrate their all round excellence.

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Entrants were initially required to complete a technical questionnaire provided by Wizard Learning, to test their depth of knowledge. They then had to provide a 1000 word essay on their choice of two topics to demonstrate the quality of their analysis via written work. These were also supported by a personal reference from either an employer or client. The winner was decided by the judging panel, made up as follows:

• Steve Gazzard CFP^CM, Chief Executive of the Institute of Financial Planning
• Patrick Ingram, Head of Corporate Relationships, Parmenion - the Award's lead sponsor
• Richard Allum CFP^CM from The Paraplannners
• Martin Vaughan CFP^CM Paragon Paraplanning

Joss Harwood CFP^CM, and director at Eldon Financial Planning, said: "We are so proud of Gemma and are delighted that her determination to develop her expertise to the highest level has led to her winning this very special award. To be recognised as a leader in her field by the Institute of Financial Planning is a wonderful accolade and gives her a platform to demonstrate that a Paraplanner is a highly skilled and invaluable member of a forward thinking Financial Planning firm. Gemma is indeed 'our gem' and is a first class role model for those considering Paraplanning as a career."

Steve Gazzard CFP^CM, chief executive of the IFP, said: "Our congratulations go to Gemma whose submission was outstanding across technical assessment, reference and essay, which was necessary to narrowly beat those of the other shortlisted candidates. The number and standard of entries was hugely impressive and strongly reaffirms the considerable talent, knowledge and skill that exist amongst the growing Paraplanner community which IFP is so proud to support."

Patrick Ingram, head of corporate relationships, Parmenion, said:"I was impressed with the quality and quantity of submissions from Paraplanners around the country for this award. The process of choosing a winner was not easy for us as judges and the result was very close. Overall, Gemma's decisive contribution to the Financial Planning process stood out. It exemplified how the specialist skills of a Paraplanner complement the insights of client facing advisers and demonstrated her vital contribution to achieving great client outcomes. Parmenion are delighted to support the Paraplanner of the Year Award."

Richard Allum CFP^CM, The Paraplanners, said: "The quality of entries gets better and better every year whilst the volume of high-quality nominations gets higher and higher. This award really does attract entries from the very best Paraplanners in the UK. It makes me feel glad I'm on the judging panel and don't have to enter myself."

The winner receives:

• Registration for the Institute of Financial Planning Annual Conference , 30 September - 2 October 2013
• A cash prize of £1,000.
• The Paraplanner of the Year Trophy.
• Access to Wizard Learning's structured CPD system for 12 months plus online exam support for 3 years
• Use of the Paraplanner of the Year Logo for marketing materials

There is also a Special Technical Award for the entrant with the highest score on the technical assessment, and this year's winner is Kim Bendall APP CFP^CM of The Paraplanners, who will receive £1,000 of online training credits from Wizard Learning to be used over the next 2 years.