MELKSHAM accountants and financial planners Old Mill have been praised following accreditation to a top industry standard for the third year running.

Staff at the firm’s offices in Melksham, Wells, Yeovil and Exeter are celebrating after again meeting Standards International’s stringent financial planning standards.

Old Mill has completed the certification programme for BS 8577 – the only best practice standard for financial advice and planning firms.

Operations manager Matthew Clark says he is thrilled Old Mill’s work to maintain its high standards has once again been recognised.

“We are delighted to have learned that we have been awarded the BS8577 by Standards International for the third consecutive year,” he 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 region, so we are incredibly proud to be part of such a select group.”

The quality accreditation programme was developed by Standards International, industry experts and consumer representatives including the British Standards Institute and Which? and is supported by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Old Mill first achieved BS 8577 in 2015 and is one of only 25 in the UK and the largest of just three practices in the South West to have gained the accreditation.

Darren Weeks from Standards International was responsible for assessing Old Mill and praised the firm for their 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.”