AN international insurance broker has opened a new office in Richmond.

RK Harrison Insurance Services Ltd (RKHIS) is part of the employee-owned RK Harrison Group.

It offers specialist insurance to private, rural and commercial clients and chose Richmond because of the large number of farms, estates, and rural enterprises in the area.

The office is in Aske Stables, Aske, and is led by Edmund Sword. It follows the opening of a branch in Sevenoaks, Kent, in September. The company’s other offices are in Salisbury, Leeds, Glasgow and Birmingham as well as the main offices in London and Bedford.

The group was founded in 1882 and handles more than £1.2bn of client premiums annually. It is currently the sixth largest producer of direct premium income to Lloyds and employs 650 in the UK with offices in Bermuda and Miami.

In the financial year to June 30 the group generated revenue of £92m, a 21 per cent increase on 2010/11 and the 12th consecutive year of growth.