Schroders
UK PLATFORM AWARDS 2025

Best direct to customer platform

Winner: Hargreaves Lansdown

Sponsored by GBST

This award is for a platform that is competitively priced, comprehensive and employs innovative use of technology, and, importantly, is one that the customer finds easy to use and does use. It is a sign of the times that we are seeing numerous new entrants. Some are immensely exciting and will certainly get traction in the post RDR marketplace.

Highly commended: Alliance Trust

However, the judges found it impossible to ignore the continued success and domination of the winning platform.

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Robert DeDominicis, Chief Executive, Wealth Management, GBST
• Tom McPhail, Head of Pensions Research, Hargreaves Lansdown
• Kate Silverton

Best institutional Platform

Winner: Cofunds

Sponsored by SWIFT

This award is for the wholesale platforms that offer a fund service to pensions funds, stockbrokers, banks and large distributors.

This is an increasingly important and fast growing market and maybe where most future growth will come. Whilst FundsNetwork pulled off a huge coup with Barclays and were extremely close, the winner just retains the edge.

In second place: FundsNetwork

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Malcolm Small, Director of Policy, TISA
• Martin Davies, CEO, Cofunds
• Kate Silverton

Leading innovation in workplace solutions

Winner: Staffcare

Sponsored by FundsNetwork

This award is for those platforms that enable the employee to purchase and track their benefits and manage their financial affairs in the workplace.

The battle is on between the corporate wraps and the flexible benefit platforms.

The Orbit benefits portal from Capita Employee Benefits has further improved their offering as has Benpal, who have impressive sales numbers, but there is one that the judges would buy shares in this year.

The winner, by a very short head, is good at both building and at installing the system. In third place : Orbit benefits portal from Capita Employee Benefits.

Highly commended: Benpal from JLT

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Paul Richards, Deputy Head, FundsNetwork
• Graham Jarvis, Managing Director, Staffcare
• Kate Silverton

Best Investment Management Platform

Winner: Seven Investment Management

Sponsored by Rayner Spencer Mills

This is for a platform-based investment management solution that enables advisers to outsource the provision of investment advice, whilst benefiting from platform functionality and reporting.

The judges particularly liked Præmium’s proposition, which offers a sophisticated product at a very attractive price.

The winner offers as broad a range of securities and wrappers as any provider in the market; they are a first rate strategic partner for the investment IFA. They also continued to improve their proposition in 2012, an example being the introduction of margin lending enabling advisers to compete with private banks.

Highly commended: Praemium

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Geoff Mills, Rayner Spencer Mills
• Pete Wyatt, Head of Platforms, Seven Investment Management
• Kate Silverton

Best New Platform

Winner: True Potential

Sponsored by Capita Financial Software

This award is for the new platform that offers something different; one that has broken new ground to benefit the adviser or customer or is simply ‘best of breed’. To qualify, the platform must have been fully launched to the market within the last 2 years.

The judges wanted to see something new and innovative, but they also wanted to have heard good reports about the entry that would receive the award. Two entries met these criteria.

The winner employs technology to benefit both adviser and client. The client can see all their financial data online on their own personalised website with no need for paper; they even offer an iPad app that allows advisers to write investment and pension business on to the platform.

Highly commended: A J Bell

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• William Watling, Product Director, Capita Financial Software
• Mark Henderson, Senior Partner, True Potential
• Kate Silverton

Leading innovation award

Winner: Money on Toast

Sponsored by Google

This is an award for the most creative new product available to platform users - advisers or customers. It could be a platform or a brilliant and unique app that fulfills an important need for the platform-based adviser business. These entries were exciting and demonstrate how technology is going to change retail investment. Money Vista and Moneyinfo both offer something totally distinct; Nutmeg, rplan and Investorbee are among the new D2C platforms that may challenge advisers post RDR.

Nutmeg offers a discretionary management service on a super, easy to use website and is highly commended.

The winner combines a great online experience with either web or phone advice at a cost to frighten many IFAs.

Highly commended: Nutmeg

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Ruairidh Roberts, Industry Manager, Google
• Charlie Nicholls and Catherine Dodd, Money on Toast
• Kate Silverton

Leading independent planning tool provider

Winner: FE

Sponsored by Professional Adviser

This award is for the best independent toolset available to advisers, the one they most value to support their proposition. It may be an end-to-end solution or a tool for one or more link in the advice chain. Typically, the winner will be a product purchased by adviser practices specialising in investment.

The winner was found by asking those who use these applications, the advisers, to vote.

In second place: Morningstar

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Scott Sinclair, Editor, Professional Adviser
• Michael Holland, Managing Director, FE
• Kate Silverton

Leading platform-based planning tool provider

Winner: Distribution Technology

Sponsored by Tenet

This award is for the best factory-fitted, end-to-end toolset, one that supports the full advice process from risk profiling through to asset allocation and fund selection.

The judges looked for providers who do as much as they can to provide advisers with assistance at multiple points in the advice process, from risk modeling through to investment selection and reporting.

They are also looking for providers who work closely with platforms to integrate their offers as closely as possible. And if this wasn't enough, they are looking for tools advisers enjoy using.

In a hard-fought category, the winner is a company who has continually developed multiple elements of its proposition and taken adviser feedback on board to make improvements. It has a comprehensive suite of tools and multiple integrations with lots of different providers.

Highly commended: U-Skan from Skandia

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Keith Richards, Group Distribution & Development Director, Tenet
• Paul Chedzey, Director of Intermediary Clients, Distribution Technology
• Kate Silverton

Leading platform-enabled retirement proposition

Winner: Novia

Sponsored by Equifax, Touchstone Financial Analytics

Since most investors are looking at a range of investments to create their retirement portfolio, the judges felt that the ability to create and manage an investment strategy across wrappers is fundamental, as is the ability to analyse and report across wrappers.

The winner understands this and offers retirement planning via a broad range of product wrappers. A group Sipp is also available. The fact that Aegon have signed up to this is a huge plus.

Highly commended: A J Bell

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Neil Cunningham, Director and General Manager, Equifax, Touchstone Financial Analytics
• Paul Boston, Sales & Marketing Director, Novia
• Kate Silverton

Best platform software provider

Winner: GBST

Sponsored by Platform People

The judges looked for a balance between state of the art technology and reliability. Advisers value robustness and reliability first, but will also require their platform to change and adapt as the market dictates in timely fashion, especially at a time when the RDR is driving so much change which platforms will need to support.

In addition, the judges looked at recent sales success, either in a niche or across the platform market.

The winner has happy clients as they get them to market quickly and without trauma and they keep them happy.

In second place: Bravura

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Kevin Russell, Managing Partner, Platform People
• Robert DeDominicis, Chief Executive, Wealth Management, GBST
• Kate Silverton

Best platform administration provider

Winner: IFDS

Sponsored by The Platforum

Based on voting by platform managers.

This is for the best provider of those administration services that enable platforms to offer a robust, reliable service to their intermediary and end customer platform users. The award is made on the basis of votes by those who use the services, the platform managers.

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Holly Mackay, MD, The Platforum
• Richard Barrett, Operations Director, IFDS
• Kate Silverton

Leading adviser business

Winner: Price Bailey

Sponsored by L & G

The judges were looking for a business that had migrated to a platform model and seen benefits in terms of client proposition, service, profitability and business value. The three best entrants were invited to be interviewed by the judges. They were: BestInvest, Price Bailey, R S M Tenon.

The winner has three clearly defined client segments run on three platforms, Præmium, Ascentric and Elevate. The proposition is supported by best of breed toolsets, pulled together on Avelo. This business employs technology superbly to offer a top class, competitively priced proposition to the client.

Highly commended: RSM Tenon

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Geoff Towers, Managing Director, Platforms & Distribution, Legal & General
• James King, Head of Private Client, Partner, Price Bailey
• Kate Silverton

Leading adviser practice

Winner: Investment Quorum

Sponsored by FNZ

This is for the smaller adviser practice, typically owner managed, that has migrated the business to a platform model. The process was the same as for the leading adviser business.

The three excellent finalists were: Capital Asset Management, Investment Quorum, Petrus Financial Services Limited

The outstanding winners continue to improve their client proposition. Running on 7IM and Transact, plus an extensive range of market leading systems, they place close to 100% of new business on platforms, actively discouraging non-platform business. Never content, they are hugely excited by forthcoming client communication possibilities including client access to portfolios on smartphone or tablet.

Highly commended: Capital Asset Management

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Lee Robertson, CEO and Petronella West, Director, Private Clients, Investment Quorum
• Kate Silverton
• Hugh Evans, Head of Sales and Marketing, FNZ

Best platform for adviser service

Winner: Ascentric

Sponsored by IFDS

Based on marks awarded by advisers

This award is for the platform that gives the adviser firm the best support in the crucial areas of service and administration, including initial implementation and training of advisers, registration of assets on and off the platform and all aspects of ongoing service. Advisers voted by awarding marks on a number of categories including initial implementation and training of advisers, registration of assets on and off the platform and all aspects of ongoing service agreed by Rayner Spencer Mills.



In third place: Transact. Highly commended: Parmenion.

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Matthew Brown, Chief Operating Officer, IFDS
• Hugo Thorman, Managing Director, Ascentric
• Kate Silverton

Best fund platform

Winner: Skandia Investment Solutions

Sponsored by FE

Based on voting by advisers This is for platforms that offer a range of funds, wrappers, aggregation, online access for trading and viewing – those we used to call fund supermarkets. Advisers voted for the platform that offers scope, functionality, excellent administration and support.

In second place: FundsNetwork

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Gary Wheeler, Sales Director, FE
• Peter Mann, CEO, Skandia UK
• Kate Silverton

Best open architecture wrap platform

Winner: Ascentric

Sponsored by iShares

Based on voting by advisers.

As for the fund platform but offering non-rebate remuneration so that non-commission paying products can be included e.g. cash, equities, investment trusts, ETFs – those we tend to call open architecture wrap platforms.

In second place: Transact

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Pollyanna Rhodes, Vice President, BlackRock iShares UK Advisory
• Hugo Thorman, Managing Director, Ascentric
• Kate Silverton

Platform of the Year 2012

Winner: Seven Investment Management

Sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management

Platform of the Year is the most hotly fought award each year.

In judging Platform of the Year, the judges looked for a platform that has shown real progress over the last 12 months. That may involve adding significant assets, but equally it may involve new developments, new functionality or simply showing a real understanding of adviser requirements and staying on top of the fast-changing landscape.

Judges also looked for engagement with the adviser community - anyone worth the award must show that they are out there at the coal-face with the advisers that support them, working out how to improve outcomes for all involved. They also look for a clear set of values - is it clear what it's like to deal with that company and do they hold true to what they say they're going to do?

The shortlist was: FundsNetwork, Nucleus, Seven Investment Management, Skandia Investment Solutions, Standard Life Wrap.

Our winner is a company who, without making a big song and dance about it, has made real improvements in its outward facing proposition. Its pricing is competitive and it has been very open about its path to RDR, especially its view on unit rebates. Advisers using it report that it is willing to go the extra mile and that it really understands what advisers are all about. Despite that, it supports them and its culture of openness and transparency, coupled with really focus and expertise, makes them worthy winners this year.

Highly commended: Nucleus

• Nick Cann, Chief Executive, Institute of Financial Planning
• Chrissy Shuttlework, Head of UK Financial Institutions Team, Aberdeen Asset Management
• Pete Wyatt, Head of Platforms, Seven Investment Management
• Kate Silverton