Dealing with the hassle of an insurance claim led to a new career for a sales professional in the waste management industry.

Karl Utley, from Weardale, has been awarded the Area Franchise for the North East of England by national insurance claims specialist Concept Building Solutions Ltd.

Concept project manages property insurance claims on behalf of the general public, getting quotes from people like builders, plumbers and roofers and arranging site visits for preparing estimates.

They can also organise emergency repairs, dealing directly with insurance companies.

Mr Utley said: "If you need to make a claim on your household insurance, the onus is on you to obtain several repair quotes from a variety of sources. This may be at a time when your house is under water or your roof has fallen in.

"I decided to join the Concept network when I realised just what a task it can become for the homeowner to make an insurance claim. These days people are very busy and do not have the time to sit on the phone dealing with lots of different people".

He recently completed his training at Concept's National Operations Centre in Clitheroe, Lancashire, and is supported by a claims management team at the company's office in Crook.