Heath Lambert is looking to open an office in Glasgow in a bid to expand its presence in the Scottish market.

Alan Carnegie, managing director, Scotland at Heath Lambert, said the move would be significant for the company by opening up an "untapped" market.

Heath Lambert currently has offices in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Carnegie said a Glasgow office was important if the company wanted to develop it business outside these regional areas.

"For local authorities and west coast industries, we need a presence in the Glasgow area," he said.

Carnegie would not say when the office was expected to open. "It is under review," he said.

"There have been lots of CVs, but the priority is to get the people. We are not rushing into it."

Heath Lambert also announced the strengthening of its Aberdeen office with the appointment of Shaun Buckett as a commercial account handler. Formerly with Aberdeen-based broker Central Insurance Services, he is due to start this month.

The company has been gradually rebuilding its Aberdeen team after a shake-up of staff in the past months, including the loss of four staff to Central Insurance Services (see box).

Carnegie said Heath Lambert would recruit further staff where necessary as the business expanded.

Heath Lambert's areas of strength in the region include the offshore industries; property owners'; sports, leisure and entertainment; warranties and transportation.

Aberdeen broker buys rival and announces new team
Scottish broker, Aberdeen-based Central Insurance Services, has acquired the book of business of long established Aberdeen insurance broker DW Ferrier & Co.

It also announced the appointment of a team of former Heath Lambert brokers.

Neil Kerr, former executive director at Heath Lambert, is joining the broker with colleagues Duncan Mackenzie, Jim Stuart and Bob Taylor.

It is understood they left Heath Lambert in September last year. Dave Thomson, managing director of Central Insurance Services, said: "These significant acquisitions underline our ambitious growth and development plans for the short, medium and long term.

"The people involved are highly experienced in the industry, and their knowledge augments our existing expertise, particularly in the oil and gas, food and logistics sectors. "

Central Insurance Services is the third largest broker in Scotland.

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