The Asset Finance Connect UK Conference & Awards (formally International Asset Finance Network) saw the sixth presentation of awards for innovation in the auto and equipment finance sectors. These awards recognise outstanding contributions to the industry, highlighting how technology is being used to create new business opportunities and transform daily life.
The awards are assessed and voted on by an independent panel of industry experts, and are designed to showcase best practice and true innovation, and to acknowledge those organisations and individuals who have committed to making a real change in approach.
This year’s awards included a number of new categories, in response to the changing and challenging conditions of the past eighteen months. These included an award for Best Response to Covid-19 and the ESG Award, both of which acknowledge the impact of external forces on the asset finance industry. There were award categories reflecting the developing trends within the industry, including awards for Subscription Product Development and Pay per Use/Pay per Customer.
Also handed out on the night were the long-established award for CEO of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement award, while the awards reflected the need to nurture and encourage new talent into the sector, with a Diversity category, and a special ’30 under 30’ award, given in conjunction with the Leasing Foundation.
The full list of award winners is:
| Category | Status | Company |
|---|---|---|
|
Best response to COVID-19 |
Highly Commended | Propel Finance |
| Best response to COVID-19 | Winner | Hitachi Capital Business Finance |
| Customer journey excellence | Winner | Tomorrow's Journey |
| Diversity 2021 | Winner | BMW Group Financial Services |
|
Process Improvement and Intelligent Automation Sponsored by VIP Apps Consulting |
Winner | Bluestone Motor Finance |
|
Environmental, Social and Governance Standard Award |
Winner | QV Systems |
|
FinTech Innovator Award Sponsored by HPD Lendscape |
Highly Commended | Funding Xchange |
|
FinTech Innovator Award Sponsored by HPD Lendscape |
Winner | Findustrial |
| Pay per use/pay for outcome finance development 2021 | Winner | Capitas Finance Ltd |
| Digital direct 2 customer development 2021
Sponsored by Teamwill |
Highly Commended | iVendi |
| Digital direct 2 customer development 2021
Sponsored by Teamwill |
Winner | QuickFi by Innovation Finance USA LLC |
| Rate for risk innovation 2021 | Winner | CrediCar |
| Subscriptions product development 2021 | Winner | Tomorrow's Journey |
| Over All Winner - Innovation & Development
Sponsored by Q2 |
Winner | QuickFi by Innovation Finance USA LLC |
| European Auto Finance Community best in class 2021 | Highly Commended | ALPHERA Financial Services |
| European Auto Finance Community best in class 2021 | Winner | MotoNovo Finance |
| European Equipment Finance Community best in class 2021 | Winner | Sopra Banking Software |
|
UK Asset Finance Community best in class 2021 |
Highly Commended | Hitachi Capital Business Finance |
| UK Asset Finance Community best in class 2021 | Winner | Simply |
| Lifetime achievement award 2021
Sponsored by Alfa |
Winner | Nathan Mollett, MD - Asset Finance, United Trust Bank |
| CEO of the Year 2021
Sponsored by Alfa |
Winner | Mike Dennett, CEO, BMW Group Financial Services |
