"An increasing number of businesses are having frank conversations about gender inequality and how to tackle the problem."
The Awards, which aim to highlight the successes of women in our industry, recognise achievement in particular fields such as mortgages and specialist lending, alongside adviser-focused categories.
The WRAs also reward people and businesses in the industry who have made notable strides towards gender equality, either through raising awareness or by implementing specific changes within their workplace.
This year’s nominations saw a huge 158% increase on last year’s figure, as the sector increasingly recognises the women who are succeeding and creates a path for an industry where hard work merits success, regardless of gender.
Our panel of expert judges were faced with the difficult task of narrowing down the nominations to select three finalists in each category, before choosing the overall winner.
The winners in each category are:
Financial Adviser of the Year - Ann-Marie Atkins, Tilney Financial Planning
Retirement Adviser of the Year - Ellis Hansborough, Age Partnership
Protection Adviser of the Year - Kathryn Knowles, Cura Financial Services
Mortgage Adviser of the Year - Rachel Geddes, Mortgage Advice Bureau
Female BDM of the Year - Paula Mercer, Digital Mortgages by Atom Bank
Marketer of the Year - Sarah Wade, Kensington Mortgages
Rising Star - Katherine Hedges, SortRefer
Woman in the Mortgage Industry - Liz Syms, Connect for Intermediaries
Woman in Financial Technology - Nicola Firth, Knowledge Bank
Woman in Specialist Lending - Adele Turton, Sirius Property Finance
Woman in Later Life Lending - Marie Catch, Legal & General
Woman in Protection - Amanda Kerr, Scottish Widows
Woman in Management - Tracie Burton, RBS
Spokesperson of the Year - Clare Jupp, Brightstar
Equality Employer of the Year - Hope Capital
The Winners’ Party took place at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London, where hundreds of industry names joined forces to celebrate the winners and finalists.
This year’s awards were sponsored by Barclays, Brightstar, Digital Mortgages by Atom Bank, Insights, Investec, Landbay, Legal & General, Lloyds Banking Group, Mortgage Advice Bureau, MT Finance, OneSavings Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, Shawbrook Bank, Together, and United Trust Bank.
Amy Loddington, comms director at Barcadia Media, commented: “We were so delighted to see the very deserving winners of this year’s Women’s Recognition Awards take home their trophies last night, and very proud of what was yet another fantastic event.
“Awards programmes like the Women’s Recognition Awards have to be a stepping stone for real, measurable action, however - and we are confident that the huge number of nominations and applications we received this year are a sign that an increasing number of businesses are having frank conversations about gender inequality and how to tackle the problem.
“Thank you once again to everybody who made nominations or applied for the awards; to our sponsors, whose support makes the Women’s Recognition Awards possible; and our judges, who gave up their time and experience to help select this year’s winners. Congratulations again to our winners - and to everyone else, we’ll see you again in 2020!”
If you would like to be involved in next year’s Women’s Recognition Awards - either as a sponsor or judge - or have any further enquiries, please contact Amy Loddington at amy@barcadiamedia.co.uk or visit http://frwra.co.uk/.
