Financial experts Old Mill awarded top industry standard for fifth year running

18 July 2019

Financial experts, Old Mill, have met Standard International’s stringent financial planning standards for the fifth year in a row.

Old Mill has successfully completed the certification programme for BS 8577 – the only best practice standard for financial advice and planning firms.

The firm, which has offices in Yeovil, Melksham, Exeter and Wells, first achieved the standard in 2015, and at the time was one of a handful of firms in the UK to have gained the accreditation.

Last year, Standards International praised Old Mill’s investment in technology, highlighting the positive impact of a state-of-the-art back office system, fact-find technology, risk profiling technology and the work done to meet the new GDPR requirements.

This year, Standards International was pleased to see further investment in technology including an upgraded back-office system, new CRM and innovations in digital reporting.

Colin Selway, Certification Scheme Assessor at Standards International, was responsible for assessing Old Mill. He said: ‘Through another period of ambitious change, Old Mill’s path of continual improvement blazes a trail of best practice and client-centric high standards. Congratulations on another strong assessment to BS 8577.

He added: ‘You have done very well in achieving and maintaining such a high standard within your business and you and your team should be very proud.’

Old Mill Compliance Director, Duncan Parkes, says he is thrilled Old Mill’s work to maintain its high standards has been recognised once again, especially considering what a busy year Old Mill has had.

‘Since the last assessment, we have launched a new back office and CRM system, restructured the teams, undertaken a re-brand and are in the throes of changing the service proposition.

‘This has been a huge undertaking, but our clients remain central to everything we do, so we have worked really hard to ensure standards did not slip during this time of change.’

‘In order to benchmark our service and internal processes against the British Standard of best practice, we once again entered into Standards International’s rigorous process of assessment.

‘To be officially awarded our BS 8577 certification again - making us one of a small but growing group of financial planning firms in the UK to have the award – is testament to our continuing drive and determination to deliver the best service we can.’