Carlisle-based financial planners, Stan Sherlock Associates, is celebrating two successes at the start of the New Year.
The team has just been shortlisted for the National Family Business of the Year award with Family Business United.
One of the firm’s financial advisers, Hannah Heslop, is also celebrating having added a new qualification to her advice portfolio.
Hannah, of Carlisle, used her free time in the first national COVID-19 lockdown to study for her mortgage adviser qualification.
Already a qualified financial adviser, advising on investments, pensions and protection, Hannah wanted to broaden the range of advice she could offer to clients and has successfully achieved her certificate in mortgage advice.
Many financial advisers begin their careers offering mortgage advice, but Hannah has taken the opposite route.
After joining Stan Sherlock Associates, the firm supported her through an academy training programme with the adviser network, Openwork.
A qualified teacher, Hannah’s degree and previous career was in business and IT and her skills and experience transferred well into the financial services sector and helped her gain her level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning with the Chartered Insurance Institute.
Hannah completed her latest mortgage qualification while continuing to work and advise clients remotely throughout the first national lockdown.
Bobby Sherlock, director and practice principal, said: “There was once a stereotypical view of a financial adviser and here at SSA we’ve worked hard to change that in recent years.
“We’re proud to have so many proactive, hard-working team members at Stan Sherlock Associates and encourage everyone to learn and develop their careers and ensure the best advice for our clients.”