On Tuesday night, I attended the glitzy 2014 Platform Awards at the Park Lane Hilton in London. Upon entering this prestigious hotel I entered a throng of literally hundreds of directors and managers of financial companies all in their best evening attire..
This years’ event (hosted by Aberdeen Asset management) welcomed no fewer than 536 attendees for an awards ceremony to celebrate the very best in the UK arena of investment management and financial planning.
The event has raised just under £85,000 for ‘Help the Hero’s’ from the table donations and sponsorships We also received a presentation on behalf of the Charity ‘Mind’ to raise awareness for mental illness.
There were many different award categories from ‘best newcomer investment platform’ to ‘leading innovation award’. However, the one that was perhaps most eagerly anticipated was ‘Leading Adviser Practice’ which came right at the end after a slightly tense wait on my part!
We didn’t win this year, although we were awarded second place and a ‘Highly Commended’ status by the judging panel. However, somewhat surreally, I was called out by name and asked to stand up in the middle of this huge crowded room. The hosts then read out a ‘special mention’ for Darren Lloyd Thomas that they were particularly ‘charmed and impressed’ by our ‘client proposition’. They didn’t do this for any other award category. They also said that I was a ‘lovely man’.
To a huge round of applause, I sat down, somewhat amazed that our little firm is becoming so well recognized many miles away. I am now constantly telling Lisa that I won the ‘lovely man’ award!
The hard work that we put into the submission for this award was only part of the story. For us, we run our business as if every day is a chance to win recognition for being the very best at what we do. We do this because we hugely value our clients and we take great pride in our little firm. I feel that Katy couldn’t have joined Thomas and Thomas at a more exciting time, and I am very certain that Byron would have been immensely proud.
Thank you to all of our clients for their wonderful support, encouragement and well wishes. With warm regards.
