SIX FINALISTS FOR SCOTTISH FINANCIAL SERVICES AWARDS

Six contenders are in the running to be the winners of this year's Scottish Financial Services Awards. The award, won by Standard Life Investments last year, is designed to recognise the very best in the industry.

Now in its second year, the awards scheme, led by Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE), in association with Ernst & Young, judges entrants on their contribution to Scotland's standing as a financial centre, long term perspective, benefits for customers, innovation and imagination.

The overall winner will be announced at SFE's annual dinner on 1st December 2011 in Edinburgh.

 

The finalists are:

Aberdeen Asset Management: for energy and commitment in developing their business in Asia and for innovation in meeting client demand for products based on Chinese government bonds.

Johnston Carmichael: for growing from its origins in the North East to being the largest independent accountancy firm in Scotland.

The Insurance Institute of Perth and Dundee, Chartered Insurance Institute, Perth College (UHI), and local businesses (Aviva, George Stubbs Insurance and Clark Thomson Insurance Brokers): for their joint initiative to promote Perth and Kinross as a centre of excellence for general insurance. Through working with schools, colleges and local businesses to make insurance an important career option for students in the area.

Nucleus Financial: for creating a strong online end-to-end business platform that meets the needs of IFAs and their clients, and for attracting some £3bn in assets to the platform from scratch.

Scottish Financial Risk Academy: for creating a successful collaboration between industry and academe that enhances Scotland's international appeal as a financial centre where serious thinking takes place.

State Street: for establishing Edinburgh as their European Centre of Excellence for Cash and expanding their operation to encompass some 840 jobs.

 

Owen Kelly, Chief Executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise said:

"We are delighted to announce six, top calibre finalists for our awards this year which truly reflect the breadth of services on offer from our industry in Scotland."

"Choosing just six from the wealth of talent we have is always a challenge, but we feel these finalists have excelled this year in what continue to be very challenging times for our industry."

Peter Wallace, Head of Financial Services at Ernst & Young in Scotland, said:

"The awards recognise those companies that have demonstrated unparalleled vision as they continue to uphold Scotland's long history of financial services success while enhancing its reputation across the globe."

"Each of the finalists deserves congratulations for the manner in which they have navigated the uncertain and constantly evolving economic and regulatory landscape as they promote the growth of their industry and Scotland as a whole."

 

Details of last year's awards, won by Standard Life Investments, can be found here.