HELMSLEY financial planner Jeremy Deedes has been named as one of the Top 20 practitioners in the UK at the Money Management Financial Planner of the Year Awards.

Mr Deedes, who is a sole practitioner based at Bondgate, Helmsley, was announced as the runner-up for the saving for Children Planner of the Year Award at a glitzy ceremony held at the Dorchester Hotel in London.

It is the second year running that Mr Deedes has met with success at the awards, having won the Personal Pension Planner of the Year title last year.

Hundreds of practitioners throughout the UK entered the awards, and Mr Deedes was one of 20 to receive a certificate and £500.

To enter the awards he was required to submit a case study of 2,500 words in his chosen category. He was then short-listed to attend an interview in London to present his case-study to a panel of three judges comprised of Janet Walford, editor of Money Management Magazine, James Martineau, director of financial planning firm Morton-Wilson and Jackie Elliot, training executive for the Association of Investment Trust Companies.

Mr Deedes, who has nearly 20 years experience in financial services, said: "I am delighted to be the runner up in the Saving for Children Planner of the Year Award. With the advent of the Child Trust Fund introduced by the Government this year and the rising cost of education, saving for children is becoming an increasingly important area in which to plan."

Updated: 10:05 Tuesday, October 28, 2003