A COMPANY that gives its staff time to study for qualifications has seen nine employees come through with flying colours.

Time spent studying during working hours has paid off for the BiB Group workers, in Darlington, who have gained professional certificates in their fields.

Daniel Laws, already an independent financial advisor and pensions specialist with BiB, achieved the top level advanced financial planning certificate, making him an authority on taxation, inheritance tax planning, corporate and private pensions and corporate financial planning.

BiB Financial Services colleague Louise MacPherson gained a CF1 certificate in financial planning, which qualifies her as a financial advisor.

Mr Laws, who is based at BiB's office in Northgate, said: "The company has given us the time during working hours to study and paid for our courses as well as offering financial incentives to encourage us to progress and become qualified to the highest level."

Motor insurance underwriters Andy Jones, Colleen Gray, Gill Wade and Lisa Reeve gained certificates in insurance from the Chartered Institute of Insurance, as did Mark Williams, who works in farm underwriting, Rob Dale from sales support and Matt Hodgson, a member of the commercial broking team.