Broker sees trading profit rise 8% in half year results.

See also: Colosso comes out fighting

Heath Lambert has reported an increase in its trading profit of more than 8% in its interim results.

The broker said trading profit for continuing operations was up over 8% to £9.2m in its half year trading results to 30 June 2008, compared to the same peiod last year.

The group’s national business also saw a year on year income increase of 3% and a 35% increase in trading profit.

Income for Retail Personal Lines rose by 7% and the transportation division saw income increase by 23%.

Speciality wholesale construction income increased by 15%, whilst financial risks increased 12% and private medical rose 23%.

The company said it had achieved "consistently high renewal rates and retained key accounts while also adding new business wins to its prestigious client list".

Last month, Heat Lambert was appointed as broker for the ten-year Crossrail project.

Heath Lambert added that it "continued to attract high quality people", with 150 people joining in the first half of the year.

Adrian Colosso, group chief executive for Heath Lambert, said: “Heath Lambert has continued to make steady and consistent progress and has improved the overall quality and performance of the Group.

“During the year we have restated our intention to simplify how and where we do business, completed the sale of the non speciality wholesale operations and taken the final steps in our objective to become a UK focused retail insurance broker and speciality wholesaler.

"Working with UK companies in the UK, we continue to handle the insurances for UK owned businesses with multinational reach, maintaining and building on our relationships with partners and clients around the world.

“We continue to develop our effective distribution channels, expand our product portfolio and have restructured some of our divisions to further enhance our integrated client offering.

“Our aims for the rest of the year ahead are simple, more of the same; hiring quality individuals, broadening our geographic reach and continuing to expand our client base and exceeding their expectations.”