Thornton Chartered Financial Planners founder and managing director Sharron Sutton received national acclaim at the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Public Trust Awards held in London.

She was the winner of the ‘Building Public Trust in Financial Services Award’.

This is an accolade made to an individual from inside the life insurance, pensions and long-term savings profession, who has made a significant impact by championing the issue of public interest, either among internal staff, across the profession as a whole or with the wider public.

The judges detailed Mrs Sutton’s achievements during the awards ceremony.

They said: ‘As PersonalFinance Society (PFS) president for the year 2017/18 she advanced the practice and profession of financial planning so as to encourage PFS members and the wider personal finance profession, to embrace the use of such tools and techniques that may help them and their clients achieve excellent outcomes.

‘Part of this was the formation of the PFS Financial Planning Practitioner (FPP) panel where she was able to help select and lead an amazing panel of volunteers made up by some of the leading practitioners.

‘She has ensured that the panel’s focus is inclusive, with the aim to unite the profession.’

Mrs Sutton said: ‘Since starting Thornton’s in 2000, I have always held the deep-rooted belief that financial planning is an essential part of everyday modern life and that, as an industry, we need to make it more inclusive to help people from all walks of life.

‘Whilst winning an award is always a special moment, for me it is just part of what must be a constantly evolving theme that our profession focuses on, and constantly challenges itself to keep improving.’

Mrs Sutton was not the only local winner at these prestigious national awards.

These are busy times for Mrs Sutton. Business News in our sister paper the Isle of Man Examiner reported earlier this year that Thornton had decided to move from its base in Athol Street, Douglas, to a new home in the historic St John’s Mill building.

Having held various meetings and seminars at the St John’s Mill building, just past the popular Tynwald Mills, a chance meeting with the trustees and management team of the popular venue led to talks about taking the under-utilised top floor.

As reported in the Manx Independent Claire Whitelegg of the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority also won the Building Public Trust Consumer Marketing and Awareness Award following her excellent work in delivering a hugely successful Family Finance Day last October among other notable initiatives.