Paradigm Norton Financial Planning is the first ever winner of "Recognising Excellence", the brand new IFP award to recognise the Accredited Firm of the year. The firm is based in Ham Green near Bristol.

The award was announced at the IFP's annual conference taking place at The Celtic Manor Resort, South Wales, this week.

During her address to more than 600 people attending the conference, IFP President Rebecca Taylor FIFP, CFP^CM presented the trophy to the firm.

All firms who have been Accredited by the IFP were eligible to enter, and the final shortlist included Bloomsbury Financial Planning, Penguin, and Fiscal Engineers. Accredited Firms have already been assessed by IFP as achieving the highest standards of client service while following a Financial Planning process.

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This award looks to recognise the impact that the firm has made on the Financial Planning Profession over the previous 12 months, as well as assessing business performance, with both factors being equally weighted. Impact is judged by looking at one or more of contribution to the Financial Planning profession, innovation, and service excellence.

Firms were required to submit their written application of up to 2500 words setting out what the firm has done within the previous 12 months and summarising the case for why they should win. Applications were reviewed by the judging panel and shortlisted firms were interviewed by the panel in September. The judges are:

• Rebecca Taylor FIFP, CFPCM Dunham Financial Planning and President of IFP
• Steve Gazzard CFPCM, CEO of IFP
• Janet Walford OBE, Former editor of Money Management and IFP Board Director
• Brett Davidson, CEO of FP Advance

Steve Gazzard CFPCM, IFP chief executive, said: "Accredited Firms are, by definition, already the finished article and so in developing this award we sought to recognise the firm that had made a significant impact in the previous year as well as the firms business performance. I have never had to judge entrants of such consistently high quality. Whilst it was very close, Paradigm Norton edged it thanks to their innovation, outstanding customer service and contribution by the whole team to consumer education. The level of innovation and ongoing development shown by all of the finalists indicates the future is healthy for Financial Planning and should make next year's decision just as difficult. "

Brett Davidson, said:"It was a real privilege to be on the judging panel for this award. We got to review some of the best Financial Planning businesses in the country judging them on their contribution to the profession, their business performance and their levels of innovation. All of the finalists brought their best to the table and made it incredibly tough to decide, which is exactly what you want in a contest of this nature. We have a worthy winner, worthy finalists and a fantastic standard of entry overall."