On Friday, the WDS team traded spreadsheets for an evening of celebration at the annual Walters Awards. This year’s event was held at the beautiful Oulton Hall in Rothwell — a stunning venue that set the tone perfectly for a night of appreciation, laughter, and a lot of dancing.
It was a feel-good evening from start to finish – beginning with the Walter Awards presentation, and ending on the dancefloor, complete with a disco and a hugely popular photobooth capturing some brilliant moments. An evening that reminds you just how special the WDS team is. Here are this year’s Walter award winners and why they shone.
Newcomer of the Year – Izzy Foster
Izzy has made an impression from the moment she joined WDS — in fact, even before. A week before her first official day, she was already on the stand at the Wensleydale Show, chatting confidently with clients. She clicked with the team straight away.
Since then, she’s proved herself to be a quick learner with maturity beyond her years. Whether she’s calling clients for information or politely chasing debts, Izzy does it with professionalism, calmness, and a friendly tone that clients appreciate.
Her line manager says they would be lost without her — and it’s easy to see why. Izzy has become a reliable, proactive, and genuinely valued member of the team. We’re excited to see what’s next for her.
Best in a Supporting Role – Rhea Ogden
Rhea is one of those people whose impact is everywhere, even if she doesn’t always realise it herself.
She has a way of supporting others simply by being there — encouraging, kind, and always ready to help. She’s assisted multiple offices, departments, and teams, introduced new processes that help WDS run more smoothly, and played a huge part in making our events enjoyable for everyone.
Her enthusiasm is infectious. If you were at our summer event, you’ll remember her joy while coordinating the team — she somehow kept everything organised while having the time of her life.
In just a year, Rhea has become a much-loved and highly respected part of WDS. This award couldn’t be more deserved.
Breakthrough Artist – Brandon Conway
Brandon’s past year has been a standout one. He joined WDS without years of experience behind him, but you’d never know it from the progress he’s made.
His confidence, business awareness, and willingness to learn have impressed colleagues across the firm. Many have been surprised to find out he hasn’t been doing this role for years — that’s how naturally he’s taken to it.
What really sets Brandon apart is how he’s built relationships with clients. Gaining the trust of long-standing clients is no small task, but he approached it by listening, understanding their goals, and identifying how WDS could support them even further. The results speak for themselves in his growing portfolio and the strong relationships he’s nurtured.
Brandon is also already taking on new challenges, including stepping into Funding Solutions — a sign of his ambition and drive.
Employee of the Year 2025 – Terry Ogden
Terry is the definition of resilience, growth, and turning challenges into opportunities.
Over the past year, he’s has built a thriving tax advisory and compliance team from the ground up. When the 30th October Budget arrived with major changes, Terry dived straight into the detail, ensuring we could support clients with clarity and confidence. He delivered seminars, joined partner events, and guided countless clients through important decisions.
His work didn’t just help clients — it opened doors for WDS, creating opportunities for meaningful planning and long-term support. And alongside all of this, he has built a growing tax team around him. What began as one person is now a department of 8.
Looking back to his second interview two years ago, the question was whether we could keep him busy. Two years later, he’s transformed the shape of tax at WDS — and we’re incredibly proud to celebrate him as our Employee of the Year.
A Fantastic Evening with a Fantastic Team
The Walters Awards are always a highlight of the WDS year. They’re a chance for us to reflect, recognise the people who make the firm what it is, and enjoy each other’s company away from the day-to-day.
Congratulations to all our winners — and thank you to everyone who came together to make the evening so memorable.
Here’s to doing it all again next year.
