West Country accountants and financial planners Old Mill has become one of only 19 firms in the UK to meet an internationally recognised standard for providing financial advice.
The firm, which has offices in Melksham and Wells, has completed the certification programme for BS 8577 – a framework for financial advice and planning services set out by the British Standards Institute (BSI) to increase client confidence by specifying established best practice and processes.
The achievement is part of Old Mill’s commitment to offering an exceptional client experience in the way it provides financial planning services.
BS 8577 is the only professional quality standard in the UK’s financial services industry to focus solely on the key areas of operational management, objectives and policies, management responsibility, customer relationship management, recruitment, training, development and ongoing competence and control of documents and records. 
It was developed in conjunction with industry and professional experts and consumer representatives including Which?
Old Mill head of financial planning Paula Hodge, pictured, said the whole team had worked hard to gain the accreditation.
“BS 8577 gives us the peace of mind that comes with having put together and implemented robust business systems and processes, while it gives clients the confidence that a firm operating to the standard will be a cut above the rest,” she said.
Old Mill also has offices in Exeter, Yeovil and Dorchester.
