South West accountancy firm Old Mill has been praised for its “strong client-centric culture and positive ethos” as it gained a top industry standard for the third year in a row.
The firm, with offices in Melksham, Wells, Exeter and Yeovil, has completed the certification programme for BS 8577 – the only best-practice standard for financial advice and planning firms. 
Old Mill is one of only 25 UK firms and the largest of just three practices in the South West to have gained the accreditation.
The programme was developed by Standards International, an organisation that supports the development of financial adviser businesses along with industry experts and consumer representatives including the British Standards Institute and Which? and is supported by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Old Mill operations manager Matthew Clark, pictured, said: “It is a very exclusive standard, and adhering to it really differentiates us from our professional peers. 
“There are thousands of financial planning firms in the UK, but only 25 have achieved this award and only three of those are in the South West, so we are incredibly proud to be part of such a select group.”
Standards International certification scheme assessor Darren Weeks was responsible for assessing Old Mill and praised the firm for its achievement.
He said: “Old Mill are a great firm achieving some really amazing things, with coherence, consistency and a strong client-centric culture. From their solid foundation of best practice and positive ethos of continual improvement, we look forward to seeing where their future leads.”
