ONE of the region's longest established insurance brokers has added seven members to its team and expanded into Scotland to deal with increasing demand for its services.

NC Insurance has appointed Nick Fletcher and Ryan Greenwell as broking assistants, Lea Hillary, Craig Donnelly and Danny Herron as account handlers and Suzanne Smith as account executive, to its Gateshead team. The firm has also appointed James Watt as branch director in Scotland.

NC Insurance's new employees, as well as its three apprentices, now make up a total of 28, which it is looking to increase further.

Mark Burdett, the sales and marketing director at NC Insurance, said: “From giving apprentices the opportunity to learn new skills and have a career, to the recruitment of highly experienced professionals, I am genuinely excited about the team we’re putting together and how our clients and business partners will benefit."

NC Insurance, which is the longest established insurance broker in Tyne and Wear with 85 years worth of practice, has also had staff successfully pass insurance examinations.

It aims to progress towards Chartered Status with three members completing their Certificate in Insurance, two part qualified and another three completing their Award in Insurance in the past month.

Brian Stonehouse, education secretary of the Insurance Institute of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, said: “The news that NC Insurance had so many staff pass this number of exams is phenomenal.

“It is unusual to see so many members of staff sit these exams, especially with 100 per cent pass rate.”