Edinburgh based Carbon Financial Partners have struck gold.

For the fifth year in succession the business has been awarded the prestigious Gold Standard Award for independent financial advice.

Managing director Gordon Wilson received the award in a ceremony at the House of Commons from Sir David Amess MP.

Mr Wilson said: “I am immensely proud of this achievement. To win the Gold Standard we have to demonstrate strength in almost every area of our business; we have to show that we have robust systems and processes in place, impeccable professional and ethical standards, a full commitment to furthering trust and innovation in our industry, and that we invest in our staff.

“It’s a tremendous boost for the team. We now head towards 2018 knowing that we have once again been recognised as one of the very best financial planning businesses in the UK.”

The Manor Place business now employs more than 40 staff across Scotland and Carbon has recently opened an office in London.

Pictured: Carbon MD Gordon Wilson (right) receives the company’s latest award from Sir David Amess MP at the House of Commons.

Managing director Gordon Wilson has targeted the London market and has opened a new office in the capital’s Bloomsbury Way.

Former graduate trainee Darren Lees (30) will spearhead the London operation.

He returns to the Edinburgh company after several years as a wealth manager in the city with private bankers Coutts.

Gordon said: “Given that our clients in Scotland are typically business owners, senior executives and professionals, expanding into London with our fifth office was an easy decision. The hard part was finding the right person, living in London, to lead our expansion.

“Darren fits the bill perfectly. He has worked with us before in Edinburgh and is a qualified financial planner with experience of dealing with London’s high net worth individuals.”

Dundee University law graduate Darren gained a grounding in the industry at Carbon’s Manor Place offices.

He said: “After graduating, I was on the first year of the Carbon graduate trainee scheme.

“Despite leaving for London a few years ago we had kept in touch and this is a wonderful opportunity.

“It will be challenging because we are starting from scratch in a competitive sector in London.

“It is a blank canvas and the timing is good as many old-style financial advisors have been dropping out of the industry because of the ever increasing regulations.

“We are cautiously optimistic and this is a long-term strategy.

“There is a niche for Carbon’s investment philosophy and the company’s UK profile has certainly been enhanced by winning national financial planning awards in recent years.”

Businessman Gordon Wilson has been appointed as a director of the professional body governing financial planning in the UK.

The Personal Finance Society (PFS) is responsible for 37,000 members of the profession, including 5000 chartered financial planners.

Mr Wilson (49) is managing director of Edinburgh-based Carbon Financial Partners, which was formed six years ago and now employs 40 members of staff in Perth, Aberdeen, Glasgow and their Manor Place office.

In November, the independent financial specialists – now one of the biggest regionals in the country and the UK’s Chartered Financial Planner of the Year in 2015 – will be opening an office in London.

On his appointment to the 12-strong, London-based PFS board, family man Mr Wilson said: “This is one of the highlights of my professional career.

“I feel passionately about the importance of having high standards and about ensuring the right skills and knowledge to do the very best we can for our clients.
“The work of the PFS is closely aligned with how we run our business and this appointment reflects well on our staff at Carbon.

“There is, however, still some way to go before the financial advice profession as a whole is held in the same esteem as lawyers and accountants, and this role gives me an opportunity to contribute and be part of the journey.”

In November, Mr Wilson will be helping chair a two-day conference at the NEC in Birmingham, which attracts 2000 financial advisers from across Britain. Last year he chaired the 600-strong Scottish conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

He said: “Operating under a Royal Charter, the PFS seeks to lead the financial planning community towards the highest levels of professionalism, encouraging the highest ethical and behavioural standards, with continual professional development and qualifications to benefit members and clients alike.”