The director of a Cheltenham-based financial planning company has won Financial Adviser of the Year - South West, at the national 2019 Women in Financial Advice Awards.

Louise Oliver of Piercefield Oliver won the award, which celebrate the achievements of women working within the financial advice community as well as the broader financial services sector.

Attracting in excess of 1,100 nominations, it was the decision of a 30-strong panel of judges to award and praise Louise for her work. The judges said: "Louise provided mentoring, support and education, with a clear passion for inspiring more women into financial services."

After receiving the award, Louise said: "I am absolutely delighted to have been recognised by my peers in the financial services sector. To win Financial Adviser of the Year - South West is a great privilege.

"There are not enough women in financial services, and I work extremely hard to encourage and inspire not only females, but teenagers and graduates to learn about and consider career paths in this sector.

"We have a great team at Piercefield Oliver and it is with their support that I have been able to achieve this accolade."

Ms Oliver and the Piercefield Oliver team regularly work closely with schools to help educate pupils on money matters. Louise recently gave a lecture to more than 170 students at Cheltenham College on Managing Money as part of their 'Futures Week'.

Claire Rowland, assistant head of the Upper College at Cheltenham College, said: "Louise is truly inspirational to our students, not only teaching and guiding them about a career in finance but providing encouragement and motivation especially to our female students. She is a great role model."

Stephen Willis, also a co-founder of Piercefield Oliver, added: "I am very proud of Louise, it is well deserved, she has been rightly recognised for all her great work both here at Piercefield Oliver and helping to educate the younger generations in money matters."

As one of a few female financial advisers in the UK Louise is often approached by women preferring to work with a female adviser.

The team at Piercefield Oliver specialise in providing a 'family office service' which incorporates individuals and families to help them to make informed decisions about their money, tax and legal affairs. This invariably includes services in relation to divorce, bereavement, probate and inheritance.

For more information on Piercefield Oliver please go to www.piercefieldoliver.com, call 01242 210969  or email info@piercefield.co.uk.