Thomas Carroll says it will remain independent

In a sector becoming dominated by acquisitions, a Caerphilly-based broker insists it is flourishing in the local market and is definitely "not for sale".

Speaking at Weston-super-Mare, Rhys Thomas, managing director at Thomas Carroll Group, was strident in explaining why his firm would remain independent: "It is important to our existing people. Sustainable, profitable growth is a mantra we've adopted; we don't think any business can fail if it achieves (this)."

Thomas remarked that "offering something different" is the key to the 35-year-old firm's success, reflected by the setting up of its own consultancy group to help with management services, a team that Thomas reveals cheerfully was largely "stolen from Willis".

A member of broker alliance Unitas, Thomas Carroll has embraced technology and will put its personal lines policies on an aggregator in November. Many of the strategies for success will be familiar to brokers - a five-year plan, key partnership deals with the big insurers, an active recruitment scheme - but the all-encompassing way in which the staff are at the centre of these strategies makes Thomas Carroll stand out from the crowd.

Thomas said that investing time and resources into local causes and charities has helped the staff further Thomas Carroll's brand. Further to targeting schools and universities, the perks offered to staff, including birthdays off work, Indian head massages and free gym membership, have helped them receive between five and 10 CVs weekly.

Despite the soft market, Thomas Carroll has retained the vast majority of its clients and boasts 100% of the value that it started with in 2007. However, the real key to the broker's success, according to Thomas, is that its employees enjoy working for the firm.