PIMFA, the trade association of the investment and financial advice sectors, has announced the winners of its first-ever awards that recognise diversity and inclusion in the industry.

The PIMFA Diversity & Inclusion Awards 2021 included seven award categories, was streamed live online and showcased the best diversity and inclusion initiatives from the UK’s financial services industry.

Launched earlier in May, PIMFA’s industry awards received close to 100 entries and come at a time when the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has made it clear that diversity and inclusion within financial services is now a key focus which could become a regulatory matter in the future.

The winners were chosen by industry figures and diversity and inclusion experts from PIMFA’s charity partners. The judges included Richard Wilson, Chief Executive of Interactive Investor; Peter Moores, Chief Executive of Raymond James Investment Services; Andrew Croft, Chief Executive of St. James’s Place Wealth Management; Jennifer Mathias, Chief Finance Officer at Rathbones; Theresa Heaton, Head of Change at Brown Shipley; Matt Cameron, Global Managing Director at LGBT Great and Bev Shah, Chief Executive & Founder at City Hive and others.

The awards were sponsored by Royal London, Fidelity International, Worksmart, Morningstar, Raymond James Investment Services, Interactive Investor, Mapped Marketing, Sesame Bankhall Group, Howden Insurance Brokers, IFA Magazine, and Citywire and held at Fidelity International’s central London headquarters.

The seven category winners are below:

1. Inclusive Talent Management Award – Small Firm (Sponsored by Morningstar)

Highly Commended: Coriolis Technologies

Winner: ammonite

2. Inclusive Talent Management Award – Medium Firm (Sponsored by: Mapped Marketing)

Winner: Financial Services Compensation Scheme

3. Inclusive Talent Management Award – Large Firm (Sponsored by: Sesame Bankhall Group)

Winner: HSBC UK

4. Best D&I Initiative Award (Sponsored by: Worksmart)

Highly Commended: Coutts

Winner: LGT Vestra

5. Best Approach to Wellbeing Award (Sponsored by: Royal London)

Highly Commended: Redmayne Bentley LLP

Winner: The Openwork Partnership

6. Rising Talent Award (Sponsored by: Raymond James Investment Services)

Highly Commended: Hamish Dudgeon – 7IM

Winner: Amy Kirby – Rathbones

7. Overall D&I Champion Awards (Sponsored by: interactive investor)

Highly Commended: Richard Charnock – abrdn

Winner: Fabio Peyer – Morningstar

Liz Field, Chief Executive of PIMFA, said: “Diversity and Inclusion is a strategic priority for PIMFA because it is a strategic priority for our members. I’m absolutely delighted for the winners of our first Diversity & Inclusion awards and want to wish them all my congratulations. Some truly great D&I initiatives were shortlisted for the awards, so it was not easy for our judges to select those organisations and people who eventually won.

“The number and quality of the entries have shown that as an industry, we are making inroads into becoming more diverse and inclusive and that we are focused on promoting talent wherever it comes from. That so many firms and individuals have taken the time to demonstrate the work they are doing to improve Diversity & Inclusion across our industry is proof that this is an issue that is being taken seriously by all of us, large and small.

“But as I have said before, this is just the start of the journey, and there is much that we can learn from each other through these awards. There is no single ‘right’ approach, as our award entries illustrate, but as an industry, we are making great strides to equip ourselves for a diverse and inclusive future. PIMFA’s Diversity & Inclusion Awards will aim to continue to celebrate those people, and those organisations, that are working hard to ensure our industry better represent the wider society it aims to serve.”