A CORBRIDGE business has been awarded chartered status by the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Garth Thompson Wealth Management is one of only 703 financial planning businesses worldwide to be awarded this prestigious title.

The firm was founded in 2008 by Garth Thompson, who has worked in the financial services industry for 30 years in the North-East. He initially worked at Lloyds Bank in management, having graduated from Newcastle University in 1989.

Garth said: “In our line of business, it’s absolutely crucial that our clients feel able to put their trust in us.

“We always aim to deliver the highest level of professionalism and achieving chartered status demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the standards we have set.”

In addition Garth and his colleague Lee Watson were both awarded personal chartership. Lee has since gone on to the next stage achieving fellowship status.

The company is also committed to investing in and nurturing the careers of its broader team. Susan Snowdon, from Prudhoe, one of the company’s paraplanners is embarking upon a programme which will see her retraining as a financial planner. Once she has done so, she will also work towards personal chartered status.

“We’re very proud of our achievements this year and we know that our hard work will benefit our clients,” Garth said.

“I’m very proud of everyone in the practice, but of Lee in particular, young people like him are the future of our business.

“We pride ourselves on building long-term relationships with our clients and Lee’s work ethic fits in with that perfectly.”

The firm is made up of five financial planners, nine administrators and paraplanners and is based within the Shawwell Business Centre.