Featuring: UK Finance Awards 2026 Nationwide Vehicle Contracts: Most Trusted Vehicle Leasing Company 2026 RS Data Tech Ltd: Best Credit Agency 2026
UK Finance Awards 2026 Phone: 01283 365204 Website: smenews.digital Sofi Parry Senior Editor No information contained on or in this website constitutes investment advice or an offer to invest or to provide management services and is subject to correction, completion and amendment without notice. Neither AI nor any of its associated entities are authorised to give financial advice of any nature nor are they regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Prior to making any investment, AI recommends that any prospective investor should consult with its own investment, accounting, legal and tax advisers to evaluate independently the risks, consequences and suitability of that investment. AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. SME News is proud to announce the UK Finance Awards 2026, a programme dedicated to recognising excellence, innovation, and achievement across the nation’s dynamic financial services sector. From high growth fintech start-ups and specialist advisory firms to established banks, lenders, wealth managers, and insurance providers, these awards celebrate the organisations and professionals shaping the future of finance across the UK. Championing Progress in UK Financial Services The UK finance sector remains one of the most influential pillars of the national economy, contributing over £170 billion annually and supporting millions of jobs across the country. As a global financial hub, the UK continues to lead in areas such as banking, asset management, insurance, and fintech innovation. Looking ahead, the sector is set for continued evolution, driven by digital transformation, regulatory developments, and changing consumer expectations. Sub-sectors such as fintech, digital banking, payments, wealth management, alternative lending, and insurtech are experiencing significant growth, with technology playing an increasingly central role in service delivery. At the same time, firms must navigate challenges such as economic uncertainty, regulatory complexity, cybersecurity risks, and the need to maintain trust and transparency in a competitive market.
Contents 4. Nationwide Vehicle Contracts: Most Trusted Vehicle Leasing Company 2026 5. Found-U LTD: Best Boutique Finance Recruitment Consultancy 2026 – London 6. Odyssey Contractor Solutions Ltd: Best Contractor Payroll Provider 2026 7. RS Data Tech Ltd: Best Credit Agency 2026 8. Oxygen Consultancy Ltd: Best Corporate Treasury Consultancy 2026 – London 9. LaSu Payroll Services: Best Payroll Consultancy 2026 – South London 10. Just Advice Solutions Ltd, trading as Absolute Military: Best Military Insurance Provider 2026 11. Funding Circle: Leading SME Business Finance Platform 2026 12. Tweed Wealth Management: Wealth Management Firm of the Year 2026 – Scotland
UK Finance Awards 2026/ 4 Most Trusted Vehicle Leasing Company 2026 A trusted vehicle leasing company since 2002, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the leading independent vehicle leading providers in the UK today. To date, it has arranged more than 180,000 vehicle leases, and helped individuals and businesses to access affordable new and used cars and commercial vehicles. As the company is recognised as part of our UK Finance Awards 2026, we caught up with Donna Kelly, its head of marketing and communications, for more. Offering personal contract hire and business contract hire across more than 600 makes and models, all supported by expert advice and a simple digital journey, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts makes it intuitive and straightforward for its customers to secure the best car and van leasing deals. Its approach allows customers to compare vehicles, tailor their lease, and receive instate online quotes complete with clear pricing. From its home in Didsbury, Manchester, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts works closely with manufacturers, dealers, and finance providers, allowing them to secure competitive rentals, exclusive stock, and offers that are only available through its network. The trust that the company has been recognised for is something that sits at the heart of the business, and the team here recognise that leasing a vehicle is a significant financial commitment, so they make sure that customers understand everything and receive impartial guidance. Its core values, an extension of this, see the customer put first, its team act with integrity, and the company add as much value as it can to the lives or operations of its customers. There is also the ongoing goal of improving the experience it provides, something which has seen Manchester’s trusted vehicle leasing company build long-term relationships and maintain the highest service standards, even as the business has grown. “Our commitment to compliance and good customer outcomes is reflected in our 100% BVRLA compliance audit pass rate for four consecutive years and our fifth consecutive Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award.” With the process of navigating new and used car leasing becoming increasingly digital, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is further set apart by the helpful, human support that it provides. Donna explained: “Our technology makes leasing quicker and simpler, but customers can still speak to experienced people when they need help. Every customer has access to dedicated support, personal guidance, and proactive updates throughout their leasing journey. This combination of digital convenience and human expertise has helped us achieve a customer retention rate of 67% and a Net Promoter Score of +66.” Other impressive figures, such as 97% of customers saying its communications are clear and easy to understand and the 86 industry awards the company has been recognised with over the years, add to the distinction of Nationwide Vehicle Contracts. Whilst it is proud of these numbers, perhaps the greatest accomplishment for the company is building a business where its people and its culture are both critical areas of success. For instance, almost half of its workforce have been with the company for ten years or more, meaning that customers get direct access to experienced team members with an extensive knowledge of vehicle leasing. Yet, with such long tenures comes the risk of people getting stuck in their ways, and it would be easy for Nationwide Vehicle Contracts to lose sense of just how quickly the industry around it changes. Thankfully, it avoids this, and innovation is something it has long strived for at every turn. Be it reducing processing times by 17% and errors by 26% using AI tools or becoming the first UK leasing broker to introduce a used vehicle leasing proposition (giving customers access to ex-lease models with rentals up to 30% lower than newer models), everything the company does is designed to strengthen its core leasing business and gives customers more choice, value, and flexibility. To this end, it aims to build on its Loyalty Lease Offers programme, working with more manufacturers, dealers, and finance providers. Donna added: “Our aim is to make loyalty an increasingly important part of our customer proposition and give existing customers more reasons to lease with us again.” Even though people do not need another reason to lease with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts again – the more than 180,000 lease agreements it has arranged on the back of its trust-led approach and knowledgeable support speak volumes in their own right – it is good to know that the provider named Most Trusted Vehicle Leasing Company 2026 remains as committed as ever to making sure that its customers remain delighted with their decision. Contact: Donna Kelly Company: Nationwide Vehicle Contracts Web Address: https://www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/
For SMEs, recruiting for finance and accountancy roles is incredibly tough. These are some of the most important positions for a business to fill, and what they need is a small pool of candidates who meet the brief, not dozens of people who do not. This is why Found-U, a specialist finance and accounting recruitment business working with growing London SMEs, delivers just three candidates per brief. Every one of them is relevant, and could easily get the job. Dominic Seabrook, the man behind Found-U, told us more about this finance recruitment agency in London. Best Boutique Finance Recruitment Consultancy 2026 – London Dominic Seabrook, a 15-year veteran of finance recruitment, established Found-U after seeing the same problem time and again: recruitment going wrong because it became a numbers game. From too many CVs and too many vacancies to too little time spent understanding the people involved, these oversights were making recruitment a nightmare for businesses at a critical stage in their growth. This is why Dominic built Found-U the other way around, with fewer assignments and much more attention. As for what this looks like in practice, this accountancy recruitment agency in London ensures that every client gets a proper conversation around their business, team, and what they are trying to build, not simply a job listing forwarded onto a database. Every brief then gets a shortlist of three candidates, each an ideal fit, with Dominic handling every element of the search himself, from the brief right through to the offer. There are many benefits to partnering with Dominic and Found-U for SME recruitment, something reflected in the company’s values of quality over volume, personal accountability, and honesty. As Dominic explained: “If I’m not the right person to help, I’ll say so. Also, candidates get real feedback even when they don’t get the job, because they’ve invested their time and deserve something useful back. And if a placement doesn’t pass probation, I find a replacement free of charge.” Most agencies offer no such promises. Guided by this approach, Found-U’s specialist finance and accounting recruitment for SMEs covers everything from newly qualified accountants to management accountants, finance managers, group financial accounts, and finance analysts. Around 80% of the work Found-U secures across these areas comes from referral, which only happens when clients and candidates alike trust Dominic to get the results that they seek. Discussing the importance of this, Dominic told us: “Most of my clients are growing SMEs, typically businesses where the finance function is still being built or reshaped. One wrong appointment in a small finance team is felt immediately.” To help businesses avoid this fate, Dominic works closely with relevant senior figures such as the CFO, finance director, head of finance, or even the founder. The unrivalled understanding this gives him means that every CV Dominic sends is worth the time of the person reading it. Of course, the hiring company is just one side of the equation, and Dominic puts equal time and effort into preparing and supporting candidates. From helping them to ace an interview, regardless of if it is behind a camera or in an office, to making sure that candidates know the specifics of the role (such as expectations around hybrid working patterns), Found-U benefits from Dominic being deeply involved with both parties. The ongoing leveraging of this approach has seen 2026, Found-U’s third year, be its best to date, outperforming its first and second years combined. 2026 also saw the launch of the new Found-U website, which makes viewing live roles much easier and gives people a taste of what it is like to work with Dominic through video testimonials from clients. As for what is next, Dominic hopes to continue building Found-U as a business that delivers, around the responsibilities that come with two sons under the age of five. What really shines through when looking at this deliberately selective, deliberately founder-led finance recruitment agency is how much Dominic is enjoying the journey, and how much this is shaping Found-U. Be it the Found-U podcast he has recently launched, this giving candidates an honest view from the other side of the interview table, or the Substack he is writing featuring practical insights on the finance and accounting job market, everything that Dominic Seabrook does radiates real knowledge and true passion. As a result, we are delighted to recognise his specialist finance and accounting recruitment for SMEs by featuring Found-U in the UK Finance Awards 2026. Contact: Dominic Seabrook Company: Found-U LTD Web Address: https://found-u.co.uk/
UK Finance Awards 2026/ 6 Best Contractor Payroll Provider 2026 Based in the centre of Birmingham, Odyssey Contractor Solutions is a payroll provider supporting recruitment businesses, subcontractors, and hirers from across the UK. The firm provides umbrella PAYE employment, CIS subcontractor payment services, and practical compliance support, removing risk and complexity across these areas through its blend of experience, technology, and a supply-chain focus. Daniel White, the founder and managing director of Odyssey, was on hand for more following the firm being featured in our UK Finance Awards 2026. Playing a pivotal role in building the future of the contracting industry, Odyssey Contracting Solutions looks to make the journeys that workers, recruitment businesses, and hirers undertake seamless, offering contractor payroll and CIS services delivered with ease and confidence. The firm has rapidly established itself as the trusted payroll partner for contractors, freelancers, and recruitment agencies across the UK since it opened its doors in 2024, with efficient solutions tailored to today’s flexible workforce. Odyssey’s services cover everything from CIS payroll for construction subcontractors to fully managed umbrella payroll for agency and temp workers. Irrespective of the client or their working arrangement, the firm believes payroll should be transparent. This is why it has built its solutions for the needs of both agencies and the workforce, striking a balance between needs that are slightly different. Where agencies/hires want reliable payroll with less risk and due diligence, workers want accurate pay, easy explanations, and available support. By combining structured digital onboarding with a highly personal service, Odyssey sees that contractors receive clear information on everything from holiday pay and payslip deductions through to employer costs, whilst agencies receive transparent employer-cost breakdowns, compliance documentation, and proactive account support. Besides this mix, what sets Odyssey apart is its blend of small-company responsiveness and robust governance. As Daniel explained: “Staff are fundamental to Odyssey because technology can improve payroll, but it cannot replace judgement, empathy, or accountability. We have deliberately built a small team where people are trusted with responsibility and can see the direct impact of their work across contractors, recruitment businesses, and hirers.” Its team are also integral in supporting Odyssey’s success in a market that is undergoing a significant period of change. With HMRC scrutiny and expectations increasing, and agencies becoming more conscious of the financial and reputational risk created by poor payroll practice, supplychain decisions are more consequential for businesses in the umbrella and recruitment space than perhaps at any point in their history. Automation is also beginning to shape the market, but Odyssey remains cautious about the opportunities it provides. Automating risk, never relationships, Odyssey’s stance is that, whilst routine onboarding, validation, reminders, and the movement of data can all be automated, an experienced, friendly, and helpful person is still needed for complex payroll or compliance. This ethos, which again reflects the firm’s ability to strike a perfect balance, is the foundation of the controlled, responsible growth it is working towards for the rest of 2026 and beyond. Daniel added: “We want Odyssey to grow, but not at the expense of service quality or governance.” This all feeds back to why the firm was founded in the first place: to create a different model in a market that has had well-publicised problems concerning the likes of opaque deductions, non-compliant arrangements, and poor communication. Ushering in a brighter future through its combination of compliance, transparency, technology, and human service, Odyssey is certainly achieving what it originally set out to. In closing, Daniel summarised: “We do not view payroll accuracy as the finished product; it is the baseline. Our purpose is to make the journey of the worker, recruitment business, and hirer better. We want contractors to receive clear information, useful support, and the freedom to focus on what they do best, while agency and hirer partners receive evidence that their workers and supply chain are being looked after properly.” These words capture the essence of a firm that, whilst only just beginning, is already having a massive impact. Ultimately, whether a client is managing CIS subcontractors or placing staff across multiple sectors, Odyssey provides scalable, outsourced payroll solutions they can trust, ensuring they receive the accuracy, flexibility, and exceptional service they expect from a dedicated contractor payroll provider. As it is named Best Contractor Payroll Provider 2026 in this year’s UK Finance Awards, we are delighted to champion Odyssey Contractor Solutions for its recruitment supply chain compliance and contractor payroll and CIS services. Contact: Daniel White Company: Odyssey Contractor Solutions Ltd Web Address: https://www.odysseycs.co.uk/
Opening its doors more than a decade ago, RS Data Tech’s proposition has developed significantly over the years. Access to credit reports, scores, and other such information still remain at the heart of what it does, but its focus now is much broader. Today, its customers can benefit from everything from credit monitoring and alerts to personalised guidance, educational content, support understanding credit information, and other such services designed to help them stay informed about their financial wellbeing. At the heart of RS Data Tech’s offering is an awareness of just how quickly financial technology can change – and consumer expectations along with it. This is why Cody and the team never fall into the trap of believing that something which worked historically will still work today. Thus, they constantly put their brands, technology, customer journeys, communications, and partnerships under review, identifying areas where things can be made much simpler and more valuable. “Credit information can feel complicated or intimidating, so our responsibility is to present it in a way customers can understand and use.” The company’s customers come to it from a wide range of backgrounds, and this is a big reason why RS Data Tech avoids treating credit information as a one-size-fits-all solution. Whether a person is looking to apply for a mortgage or finance, better understand their credit report, or simply take better charge of their finances, RS Data Tech helps them all by making financial wellbeing and credit monitoring understandable and useful. As effective as the company’s suite of consumer credit information services is, it would be worth very little without the team of people delivering it. As Cody explained: “Technology can automate processes and make information more accessible, but financial services still requires good judgement, accountability, and genuine human support. Many of the improvements we make originate from conversations between our customer service, product, commercial, and technology teams, rather than from a boardroom.” Following this, RS Data Tech and its brands have been on a continuous evolution over the years, driven by the culture of responsible innovation that the company has built. Any new technology introduced across its credit monitoring services should have a real impact on either making things more simple or more valuable, rather than being introduced just because it is new. It is with this mind that RS Data Tech is looking to continue to strike that balance between what customers can get and how simple they can get it. Cody told us: “We see significant potential in bringing different areas of a customer’s financial life together more intelligently. That means continuing to develop our use of credit data, open banking, and personalised digital experiences, while also expanding the practical benefits available through our brands.” As for the longer term, he continued: “The goal is that somebody joining one of our brands several years from now receives substantially more value than somebody joining today – just as the service customers receive today has developed considerably from what we offered several years ago.” In a world where people will use a credit service once and then forget about it, RS Data Tech is unique in that it provides customers with tools and insight they need to access helpful support throughout their financial journey. The direct insight the company has through its brands means it can continuously come up with new ways to ease the friction that exists, improving journeys and services alike. On the back of this, we are delighted to name RS Data Tech the Best Credit Agency 2026 in this year’s UK Finance Awards. Commenting on this well-deserved win, Cody said: “Receiving another award is particularly meaningful because it represents recognition over time rather than for one isolated achievement. We see recognition such as this as encouragement to continue developing rather than as a reason to become comfortable with what we have already built.” More on how to partner with the team can be found at the link below. Contact: Cody Silvester Company: RS Data Tech Ltd Web Address: https://rsdatatech.com/ Based in Manchester, RS Data Tech is a UK financial technology business specialising in consumer credit information, financial education, and digital services, all of which have been designed to help people better understand and manage their financial position. Through its consumer brands – UK Credit Ratings, Credit Score Pro, and Student Checker – RS Data Tech provides customers with access to both their credit information and a range of tools that make this information more accessible. Cody Silvester, its commercial director, was on hand to tell us more. Best Credit Agency 2026
UK Finance Awards 2026/ 8 Best Corporate Treasury Consultancy 2026 – London Just as oxygen is essential to the performance of our bodies and brains, Oxygen Consultancy helps businesses perform at their best. Improving liquidity, securing appropriate funding and optimising banking arrangements, this independent consultancy works alongside business owners, CEOs, CFOs and other financial leaders to help them make better financial decisions. Its success in delivering tangible outcomes has earned the company the title of Best Corporate Treasury Consultancy 2026 – London in the UK Finance Awards. Some of the most important decisions a business makes concern how it is funded, how it works with its banks and how effectively it manages its cash. Oxygen Consultancy brings together corporate advisory, debt advisory and treasury optimisation expertise to help clients make those decisions with greater confidence. Its debt advisory work ranges from raising new finance and refinancing existing facilities to funding acquisitions and reviewing borrowing structures. Oxygen helps businesses develop a credible proposition to identify the lenders best suited to their requirements. Treasury optimisation is about making sure businesses are getting the most from their banking arrangements. Oxygen reviews areas such as bank charges, deposit returns, foreign exchange, card acquiring costs and wider bank account structures. It also looks at payments, cash pooling and sweeping arrangements to identify opportunities to improve efficiency or release liquidity. Good financial planning sits behind both. Forecasting, modelling and liquidity planning help management teams understand where the business stands, what it needs and what choices are available both now and in the future. A robust financial plan also strengthens conversations with lenders when new funding or refinancing is required. Oxygen works with growing and established businesses, particularly those whose financial needs have become more complex but which may not need a full-time treasury specialist. Companies with experienced finance teams can also benefit from additional support when dealing with a refinancing, acquisition or significant review of their banking arrangements. The starting point is always to understand what the client is trying to achieve. From there, Oxygen looks at where existing funding or banking arrangements may be getting in the way. That might mean reviewing facilities, assessing liquidity, benchmarking banking costs or simply challenging whether products and structures that have been in place for years are still appropriate. Oxygen’s advisers bring significant experience across corporate banking, treasury and financial management. They understand how banks assess businesses, how products are structured and where there may be room to negotiate better terms. Importantly, Oxygen is independent. It is not tied to a particular lender or solution, so recommendations will be based on what works best for the client. The consultancy operates with a small core team, supported by a network of experienced specialist advisers. This gives Oxygen the flexibility to bring in the right expertise for an assignment without building a large permanent team. It also means clients can access senior, experienced people when they need them. Technology is changing financial services rapidly, and Oxygen sees opportunities to use it to improve the way it works. Artificial intelligence is part of that picture. Rather than replacing specialist expertise, AI can help with data analysis and routine work, leaving advisers more time for interpretation, judgement and conversations with clients. People, however, remain at the heart of the business. The recent addition of Sarah Shepherd, a Chartered Accountant, has strengthened Oxygen’s financial modelling, corporate advisory and resilience planning capability. Her expertise helps businesses prepare for important decisions, including refinancing, acquisitions and changes in funding requirements. For Oxygen, this is a natural development of what it already does. Bringing financial planning, debt advisory and treasury optimisation together means the team can help a client understand its position and then help it act. For growing and mid-market businesses, the attraction is straightforward: access to specialist expertise as and when it is needed. Whether the priority is securing finance, improving deposit returns, reducing banking costs or putting in place a more effective treasury structure, Oxygen’s focus is on practical solutions that produce measurable financial benefits. Commenting on the award, a spokesperson for Oxygen Consultancy said: “Winning Best Corporate Treasury Consultancy 2026 – London is important recognition of what we have built so far, but our focus remains on the same thing that has driven Oxygen from the beginning: delivering tangible financial outcomes for our clients.” Contact: David Brook Company: Oxygen Consultancy Ltd Web Address: https://www.oxygen-consult.com/
When navigating the complex landscape of payroll, it is imperative that companies can rely upon the support of a professional who understands the varying regulations and calculations. Enter LaSu Payroll Services, a leading payroll consultancy that has built its reputation for serving as a trusted partner to clients across the country, combining unrivalled payroll accuracy with a strong focus on top-tier customer service. We heard more from Owner and Director Laura Wood below, as LaSu Payroll Services is named in the UK Finance Awards 2026. Best Payroll Consultancy 2026 – South London Founded in 2018 by Laura Wood and Sue Burnett, LaSu Payroll Services is a small payroll bureau originally based in South London, but has also been Pembrokeshire based since 2021. Fully regulated, insured, and AML supervised since its establishment, the consultancy provides bespoke outsourcing solutions to small- and medium-sized organisations across the UK that enable them to remain compliant with Payroll, Statutory, Contractual, and Pension legislation. LaSu Payroll Services serves clients across various business sectors nationwide, including care, housing, land and property, hospitality, and education, as well as small dental practices. Many clients opt to receive a fully managed service from the consultancy, which spans full start-to-finish payroll encompassing all calculations, HMRC submissions, a self-service portal for the employer, and an employee app that provides access to payslips and documents, payments, pension assessments, and pension management. With degrees in payroll management and a First-Class Honours in applied business and management, gaining the best work based investigation award 2018, Laura Wood boasts more than two decades of payroll and pensions experience gained predominantly in large global organisations and payroll bureaux. This unrivalled expertise has earned the Director status as a Chartered Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, the highest level within the industry. Specialising in customer relationships, Sue Burnett is known for her keen eye for detail and passion for problem-solving. She has built up more than 40 years of experience within the payroll industry through running large, complex client payrolls across in-house payroll manager roles and payroll bureaux, where she was often relied upon for maintaining and retaining relationships with “at-risk-of-leaving” clientele. Together, they lead LaSu Payroll Services with a focus on delivering exceptional customer service and tangible results. Whether a client manages one employee or a team of a few hundred, the consultancy treats every client with equal respect and importance. Laura told us, “We do this because pay is personal and important; behind every payslip is an employee waiting to be paid the correct amount on time. Quite often our team work very long hours during peak periods, but we do this to ensure that our clients employees can fulfil their individual financial commitments” New to the team in 2026 are Alex Jedwab and Steve Wood. Alex has provided specialist support for multiple new client implementations as the number of payrolls that the consultancy run has more than doubled since the start of the year. Steve has also joined the team recently during this busy time to check implementation data and data quality. This organic growth has come predominantly from client referrals and recommendations, even winning clients over well-known larger payroll providers due to LaSu Payroll Services recognised high level knowledge, proven security controls and its policies in place. In order to maintain this leading service, LaSu Payroll Services continually seeks new ways to improve its systems to minimise manual input and risk of error. Over the last 12 months, the consultancy has successfully changed its payroll software product with absolute zero disruption to its clients. This change has ensured that the system can be accessed from any device, providing flawless business continuity to clients. Now, Laura and Sue intend to continue streamlining LaSu Payroll Services’ processes while investing in systems that can give a quicker turnaround for their clients. This unwavering commitment to unparalleled customer service and real, tangible results has earned LaSu Payroll Services the trust of countless clients, underpinning its well-earned recognition as South London’s Best Payroll Consultancy 2026. One client wrote, “I highly recommend LaSu Payroll Services. I am only a small enterprise, and the amount of time and effort they have taken to help me set everything up properly and the patience they have shown with the questions and delays on my side is something that you do not see much nowadays. I highly, highly recommend LaSu Payroll Services. First class service at a very fair and affordable price.” While another shared, “I can honestly recommend the services that LaSu Payroll Services provides. Laura and Sue are extremely knowledgeable and experienced payroll professionals. I have worked with them and truly admired their passion for what they do and determination as they go above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction. From my experience within the payroll industry, I can safely say that it is not easy to find a reliable payroll provider that cares for their clients’ needs. If you are looking for one, look no further.” Contact: Laura Wood Company: LaSu Payroll Services Web Address: www.lasupayroll.co.uk
UK Finance Awards 2026/ 10 Best Military Insurance Provider 2026 Navigating insurance as a member of the Armed Forces community can be exceptionally challenging due to the unique risks associated with military service. With the trusted support of a specialist broker such as Absolute Military, however, members of the community can feel peace of mind that they and their families are protected for life. We heard more from Managing Director Steve Anderson below. “Absolute Military is built around the people who serve. Everything we do starts and ends there.” Located in Kent, Absolute Military is a specialist insurance and financial services broker catering to serving personnel, veterans, reservists, MOD civilians, and their families. The organisation provides Personal Accident cover, Kit Insurance, Life Insurance, Serious Illness and Critical Illness cover, Mortgages, ISAs, and Travel Insurance. This service is delivered through a model the team calls Clicks and Camp, a front-end and garrison-based field force of 14 advisers who go to units, training establishments and welfare offices in person, supported by a digital platform that lets a serving person transact and manage cover from anywhere they are posted. Absolute Military’s client base consists of serving members of the British Armed Forces and their families, many of whom are young and have never had a regular salary before. Within weeks of starting training, they receive money in their account for the first time and suddenly face financial decisions that most civilians do not encounter until much later in life. “This is the reality we design for; a community with specific financial risks and specific needs,” Steve told us. “We started Absolute Military in November 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, because we believe the Armed Forces community deserved financial services built around the people who serve. Not adapted from civilian products but built for military life from the ground up.” Absolute Military co-designed its Personal Accident product with input from serving Royal Engineers, building the offering to address everyday military injuries that the market’s legacy product paid nothing for, such as ligament tears, dislocations, tendon rupture, heat stroke, and cold injury. The product costs £3.79 a month, and is rated by Fairer Finance as the most comprehensive and best-value cover in the market when benchmarked against competitors each month. This is not the only area in which Absolute Military leverages strong partnerships; the organisation understands the importance of industry relationships, and works in close collaboration with a cohort of specialists to develop and deliver exceptional products. This includes life and serious illness provider Vitality, national bereavement signposting charity AtaLoss, and financial guidance service MoneyHelper. At training establishments, Absolute Military provides free Kit and Personal Accident cover to every recruit, with zero excess and no payment details required. This is a cost carried by the organisation, not a revenue line, as it believes that no recruit should ever be uninsured during the first weeks of service because of price. In an industry first, Absolute Military has launched the Absolute Academy, a 10-module financial literacy programme delivered through its app. The programme covers pay, budgeting, debt, insurance, saving, and scam prevention, using real Private solider pay rates and real product prices. On completion, recruits receive a named Certificate of Financial Literacy signed by Chairman Johnny Timpson OBE and Managing Director Steve Anderson. Moving forward, Absolute Military faces an exciting period of growth and development. The team is currently preparing to launch app-based life insurance sales that will enable soldiers to protect their families in a single digital journey. At the same time, the organisation is working towards Fairer Finance Clear and Simple Mark accreditation for the Academy. In January 2027, Absolute Military will launch its Service Fund proposition, which Steve describes as “a new way of serving the military community that goes beyond insurance products.” Absolute Military’s FCA mortgage permission was granted in July 2026, meaning that the team can now serve soldiers across protection, insurance, savings, and home ownership from one regulated firm without referrals, third-parties, or gaps in the service. The organisation’s developing AI capabilities position it for further growth by providing a guided protection journey to soldiers who may never walk into a garrison briefing, as well as the newly-built Absolute Blue, a proposition for the police and blue-light market that will enable the team to extend the same platform into a new community. Named the Best Military Insurance Provider 2026, Absolute Military is looking to the future whilst building on its successful past. “Everything we have built in five years was built because it needed to exist,” Steve concluded. “Because the people we serve needed it. That has not changed, and it will not.” Contact: Steve Anderson Company: Just Advice Solutions Ltd, trading as Absolute Military Web Address: www.absolutemilitary.co.uk
Focusing exclusively on getting UK SMEs fast access to the finance they need, Funding Circle offers business finance that backs businesses and their people to succeed. Its solutions range from small business loans of up to £750,000 to a FlexiPay line of credit up to £250,000 for smoothing cash flow, as well as a cashback business credit card that gives up to £2,000 back for the first six months and then 1% uncapped afterwards. All of these business finance products have been designed with SMEs in mind. The dedication Funding Circle has to driving SME success can be seen in everything from the way its teams talk to each other to how quickly they say yes to a customer. For example, 73% of applicants get an instant decision when they request a business loan or a business credit card with the company, and they can find themselves funded in as little as 24 hours. What makes this success all the more rewarding is that the customers accessing this fast business funding are the SMEs that keep the UK’s economy moving. From restaurants and interior designers to delis and indoor rock-climbing centres, those who come to Funding Circle for support are often established businesses looking to enhance their growth through fast, straightforward finance, not complex, drawn-out application processes from banks. Its difference is seen through Funding Circle combining speed with human understanding, with its six-minute online application and usual 24-hour turnaround being underpinned by the option to have a real person at the other end when a business needs one. The other big differentiator that sets the company apart from traditional lenders is that it is not a single-product lender, with its variety of options making it a partner to businesses at every stage, one that grows alongside them as their needs progress. On an internal level, what makes Funding Circle stand out are its people, ‘Circlers’, who are central to everything it does. Commenting on this, Lisa explained: “We’re proud to have been named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2026, which reflects how hard we work to maintain a space where every Circler can thrive.” This extends across everything from its ‘People Pact’, a commitment to growing fast, belonging together, building better, and being different every day, to a culture where innovation and ‘squiggly careers’ are favoured. As AI reshapes both the financial services landscape and the threat landscape in equal measure, and the world economy remains uncertain, the teams behind Funding Circle are more committed than ever to seeing that UK businesses have access to the stable, accessible, and affordable finance they desperately need to thrive. With the last 18 months or so yielding record-breaking results for the company, which in the first half of 2026 alone grew its year-on-year revenue by 50%, it is able to support more small businesses than ever before. Beyond this, the aim for Funding Circle is to become an even more meaningful part of its customers’ lives and their businesses’ journeys, offering them financial support that goes beyond a single moment and is instead there whenever they need it. Lisa told us this means continuing to scale its FlexiPay and cashback card offerings, as well as expanding into further distribution channels, fostering new partnerships, and deepening its investment in AI (which Funding Circle already uses responsibly) to help decisions become smarter and faster. In closing, Lisa added: “We’re genuinely excited about the road ahead for UK SMEs, and about being the finance partner that helps them get there.” This lived sentiment, which is shared right across the company, has played a huge role in our decision to celebrate Funding Circle as the Leading SME Business Finance Platform 2026 in this year’s UK Finance Awards. More on its small business loans and fast business funding can be found below. Contact: jo.casley@fundingcircle.com Company: Funding Circle Web Address: https://www.fundingcircle.com/uk/ One of the biggest problems that small- to medium-sized companies face in today’s corporate landscape is securing the finance they need to grow. Putting an end to their struggles, Funding Circle is the UK’s leading finance platform for small businesses. Since 2010, it has helped more than 135,000 SMEs to borrow, spend, and pay later. Along the way it has extended £18 billion of credit, generating £7.9 billion in UK GDP contribution last year alone. Following its recognition in the UK Finance Awards 2026, we caught up with Lisa Jacobs, Funding Circle’s CEO, for more on its support. Leading SME Business Finance Platform 2026
UK Finance Awards 2026/ 12 Wealth Management Firm of the Year 2026 – Scotland In 2013, husband-and-wife duo Alison and Chris Welsh founded Tweed Wealth Management in Edinburgh. Although it was just the two of them, they had a clear and simple mission: to help people feel confident about their financial futures. A lot has changed in the last 13 years, but one thing that remains is that mission. Today, it is upheld by a team of 30 looking after more than 2,500 clients and £450 million in assets. We caught up with Alison for more on how Tweed is invested in its clients. Comprising forward-thinking financial planners for individuals, families, and businesses alike, Tweed Wealth Management takes a holistic approach to planning the financial future of every client. It looks at the bigger picture, matches its service to the situation, and delivers every aspect of financial planning based on what the client needs. So, whether a person is looking to begin their investment journey, wind down their corporate career, reduce their tax liability, or simply manage their wealth better, this team can help. As it works to make financial planning clear, collaborative, and centred around the life a client wants to live, Tweed has spent more than a decade building a comprehensive service portfolio that today covers every aspect of business and personal wealth management. All of these services are based on the client, and this is why every journey of scaling a business and strengthening trust begins with listening, so that the team may truly understand the priorities, values, and future plans of the person or business in front of them. From here, Tweed uses a combination of psychometric risk profiling and visual cashflow modelling to turn these in-depth conversations into a detailed financial plan. This, Alison explained, is the most rewarding part of what the team here do: “There’s no better feeling than seeing a client’s face when they realise they can retire sooner than they thought, that their business sale will allow them to pass something meaningful on to their children, or that they finally have a plan that makes sense of everything they’ve worked for.” Relationships remain at the heart of Tweed’s work, and its success in keeping this intact as it has grown comes from a knack for building the right systems. For example, the company’s bespoke Salesforce is home to more than 300 fields, with the information gathered going beyond the technical data it needs for advice to cover the little details clients care about. This means that, no matter who picks up the phone, clients feel known and cared for. And it shows. Tweed’s score on VouchedFor is an impressive 4.9/5, and all of its advisers have received ‘top rated’ status in the last couple of years. These numbers mean a great deal to the team here, who pride themselves on doing what they say they will do, treating people as individuals, and giving them peace of mind when it comes to their financial futures. All of this makes Tweed stand out in a sector where money is usually all that talks. “There are lots of firms that can manage money. What makes Tweed Wealth Management different is that we’ve built a business designed around people.” The strengths of this approach can be seen in the values-driven growth Tweed has achieved over the last couple of years especially, including expanding through acquisition and strengthening its presence in key locations, as well as launching its dedicated Sports Division to support professional athletes through the unique challenges of short careers and sudden life transitions. The latter especially is a major source of pride for Alison and the team, as it was developed with input from former athletes to make sure that it was relevant. Against the backdrop of these initiatives, Tweed has continued to grow and develop its team, thanks to its in-house Tweed Academy, which helps build technical skills and enhance communication across the team. Here, every new colleague is paired with a mentor, and quarterly reviews are held to guarantee people are learning from one another. Every new colleague was onboarded through this system, which reflects the technical excellence and client care that this company has built its leading reputation on the back of. In closing, Alison told us: “We are not just building a bigger firm, we are building a better one. A firm where growth strengthens the relationships we have with clients, where technology supports – rather than replaces – human connection, and where the ultimate measure of success is the confidence and trust that our clients place in us.” More on Tweed Wealth Management can be found at the web address below. Contact: Alison Welsh Company: Tweed Wealth Management Web Address: https://www.tweedwealth.co.uk/
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