Accountancy firm David Allen is welcoming Neil Edmondson to its financial services team .

The firm, which is based in Dalston, near Carlisle, said Mr Edmondson’s appointment reflected the growing demand for its work.

Mr Edmondson, 41, has been in the financial services industry for more than 22 years and won the Outstanding Achievement category in the 2017 City of London Wealth Management Awards.

Having initially worked within a local building society, he moved on to work for two national advisory firms in the last 16 years.

As well as a diploma in financial planning, he holds several advanced qualifications to provide advice in all areas.

Married to Alison, he has two daughters – Faye, 11, and Maisie, nine.

Having taken a break from exams while his children were young, he is now aiming to gain chartered status within the next 12 months.

Mr Edmondson, who lives in Kirkoswald, said: “I’m looking forward to joining the enthusiastic and experienced team at David Allen.

“During times of uncertainty it is normal for clients to be nervous and sometimes anxious, and I firmly believe that the role of an adviser is to provide support, context and understanding at times like this to make sure clients make the best decisions for them.”

Steve Balmer, managing director and independent financial advisor, said: “This is an exciting time as we grow our team to meet the demand for all our services that we offer.

“We know it is a very difficult time for our clients at this moment and bringing in the calibre of adviser such as Neil will only improve the service.”