TL Dallas, an independent insurance broking and risk management specialist, has expanded its Cockermouth team with two new appointments.

Based at Lakeland Business Park, TL Dallas has tripled its team size since the office opened in May 2023.

The latest additions include industry veteran Karen Coombe and apprentice Talia Frazer.

With 40 years of industry experience under her belt, Ms Coombe is a former colleague of current TL Dallas staff Heather Wood, Lynne Taylor, Emma Irving and Philip Jackson.

In her career, she has worked across various sectors of general insurance, with her focus for the past decade being on agricultural insurance.

Ms Coombe said: "I originally joined Commercial Union Insurance Company in 1978 before moving to CH Jeffries in 1982 and remained with the company through various acquisitions.

"I retired in June 2023 but missed working and when the opportunity arose to join my former colleagues at TL Dallas, I couldn’t resist returning to the insurance world.

"TL Dallas is a place where my core values of being a first-class community broker can be lived out."

Ms Frazer, a former student of West Lakes Academy, is taking part in the Level 3 Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship programme, run by training provider, Davis Group.

Ms Frazer said: "I always knew that I wanted to do an apprenticeship as it offers structured training, practical experience and hands on knowledge from people with a vast amount of industry experience.

"I wanted to work in a professional environment, where I can develop my business skills working directly with clients, so insurance is a great fit for me."

Polly Staveley, managing director at TL Dallas, expressed her delight at the new appointments.

Ms Staveley said: "It really is a dream team in Cockermouth and clients from all industry sectors across Cumbria have welcomed our personal and experienced approach to insurance broking.

"It’s also very rewarding to be attracting the next generation of insurance professionals like Talia, through our apprenticeship programme and we are looking forward to seeing the business continue to thrive in Cumbria."

Operating 11 other offices across the UK, the fourth-generation family firm, owned by its management and staff, provides insurance services across various sectors.

The workforce at TL Dallas is bolstered by more than 165 employees, complete with an in-house claims consultancy division.