Last Friday night saw the winners of the inaugural Finance Awards Wales – sponsored by Recruit 121- revealed at a lavish ceremony held at City Hall and hosted by BBC presenter Sian Lloyd.
The Awards are the first of their kind to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Wales’s burgeoning Finance sector – the fastest growing in the UK and home to some of the most exciting and innovative players in the industry.
With over 400 people in attendance on the night, 11 awards were handed out with Hodge Bank winning the Financial Services Team of the Year award.
Admiral Group scooped the award for Medium/Large Finance Team of the Year, while Caerphilly-based Aerfin, the fastest growing aerospace company in Europe, won the Small Finance Team of the Year award.
Matthew Hyde, Managing Director of Finance Awards Wales, said:
“The Finance sector in Wales is simply huge, and it’s getting bigger.
“Yet despite growing by almost 11% since 2014 and supporting some 54,000 jobs, it rarely receives the recognition it deserves. That’s what these awards are all about.
“The standard and number of entries received defied expectations and those who walked away with their awards are deserved winners.”
Che Hooking, Managing Director of headline sponsors Recruit 121, said:
“We are delighted to have been involved in these awards, and to have the opportunity to play a part in celebrating the very best Finance businesses and individuals in Wales.
“By shining the spotlight on the many achievements within the sector over the last 12 months, our hope is that more and more people will recognise the outstanding contribution the Finance sector which in turn will spur its continued growth over the next 12 months and beyond.”
The awards recognised those companies and individuals who have enjoyed significant success over the last 12 months and made a significant contribution both to the Finance sector but to the wider Welsh economy itself.
The judging panel, Chaired by Ken Poole, Head of Economic Development, City of Cardiff Council, included Mike Fowler– Group Finance Director Leekes Retail and Leisure Group; Mark Tweed– Deputy European CFO and Interim Head of Legal at Opel Vauxhall Finance; and, Emma Peterson– Director, Recruit 121 Finance & Accounting Solutions.
The Winners of the Finance Awards Wales 2018
[accordions title=”The Winners of the Finance Awards Wales 2018″]
[accordion title=”Accountant of the Year” load=”show”]Lauren Palmer, Principality Building Society
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[accordion title=”Accounts Assistant of the Year” load=”hide”]Olivia Evans, Tiger Cardiff (Flying Tiger Copenhagen)
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[accordion title=”Chief Financial Officer/Finance Director of the Year” load=”hide”]Hannah Heath, JoJo Maman Bébé
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[accordion title=”Credit Team of the Year” load=”hide”]Sonovate
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[accordion title=”Finance Controller of the Year” load=”hide”]Flexicare Medical, Vicky Williams
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[accordion title=”Financial Services Finance Team of the Year” load=”hide”]Hodge Bank
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[accordion title=”Medium/Large Finance Team of the Year” load=”hide”]Admiral Group
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[accordion title=”Rising Star of the Year” load=”hide”]Gwenno George, Acuity Legal
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[accordion title=”Small Finance Team of the Year” load=”hide”]Aerfin
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[accordion title=”Young Finance Director of the Year” load=”hide”]David Landen, Hodge Bank
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[accordion title=”Highly Commended” load=”hide”]Financial Services Finance Team of the Year – NatWest
Medium/Large Finance Team of the Year – JoJo Maman Bébé
Rising Star of the Year – Sally Avery, Retail Merchandising Services
Small Finance Team of the Year – Guardian Global Technologies
Young Finance Director of the Year – Bridgend College, Sarah Foster
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[accordion title=”Outstanding Contribution to Finance” load=”hide”]Andrew Probert
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