After graduating from Durham University and completing postgraduate studies at the University of Wales, our Managing Director, Richard, began his career in insurance, underwriting personal insurance policies for Zurich Insurance in Cardiff. On moving to Gateshead in 2007, he began to find his niche, specialising in helping Third Sector Organisations, SMEs and arranging professional indemnity cover.

He has excelled in his field, is proud of his industry and is committed to raising standards in the sector as a whole. Richard is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and Chartered Management Institute and is both a Chartered Insurance Broker and Chartered Manager. He is a past-President of the Insurance Institute of Newcastle upon Tyne, and served on the CII’s National Forum. As a result of his work with insurance’s professional body he was invited to join the advisory board of the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience at Durham University, in which capacity he served from 2014 to 2019.

Richard is also a keen supporter and past-trustee of several charities, including The Insurance Charities.  He is a volunteer canoe instructor with both the Scouts and Sea Cadets in his spare time. In 2022 he completed his MBA at Northumbria University, achieving a Distinction.

Winner of the inaugural Women in Insurance Rising Star award in 2019, Clare has blazed a trail since joining the industry in 2016. She was the recipient of the Chartered Insurance Institute’s prestigious Building Public Trust in Insurance award in 2021 and she was listed as an Elite Woman in Insurance in 2021 and 2022.

Living in Gateshead since graduating with a Languages degree from Newcastle University in 2004, Clare spent a decade in the teaching profession.

She now manages all aspects of business development; including marketing, the active social media accounts, networking and strategic development. She gained her Certificate in Insurance in 2017, a Postgraduate Certificate in Insurance and Risk Management in 2020 and an MSc in Strategic Leadership and Chartered Manager status in 2022. She uses her interest in and passion for risk management, resilience and business support to train, educate and mentor others in the local business and charity sector through talks, workshops and one to one provision. Contact us to discuss booking Clare’s services.

Clare is committed to community development and volunteers for several local charities. She has an interest in equality & diversity as well environment & sustainability and can be found weekly at her local ParkRun striving for a Personal Best!

Paul is originally from Jarrow and went to University in York before becoming the Transport Manager at a chemical recycling company where he also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies. He also spent many years in the Territorial Army, rising to the rank of Captain.

Paul later worked for a logistics company and then moved into purchasing at a lifting equipment company.

He enjoys the outdoors and is also a keen historical fencer in his spare time.

Following some years of being a full-time dad, and volunteering at his local church, Paul is keen to get to grips with his new challenge at Talbot Jones Ltd. As Operations Manager, Paul supports the broking team to be able to respond efficiently and effectively to client needs.