Five months into taking over a Norwich commercial insurance business, its new owner has pledged to branch out the firm into a national network of offices.

Knowlden Titlow Insurance Brokers (KTIB) was bought by Robin Plaster in May this year.

He says he has since revamped the front office side of the business, recruited two telesales staff and a web designer, created a new website, weinsureanyfirm.com,

The firm has also taken on Michael Buse, previously head of sales and marketing at national firm Towergate, who will become a member of the board of the firm in December.

And, as well as a rebrand, around the New Year it is planning to open an office in York.

It is all part of Mr Plaster's plans to double the firm's premium income from �15m to �30m in five years.

'We have got the front end in place and now the idea is to grow,' said Mr Plaster.

'We are also looking at acquisitions. I can't think of many firms in East Anglia I wouldn't want to talk to.

'And we are going to develop other sides of the business.'

They have already launched a specialist unit called Splash, which offers insurance for swimming pool builders. Others are 'on the drawing board'.

Another innovation Mr Plaster is bringing in is running a paperless office and giving customers access to their services and the opportunity to communicate with the firm online or via SMS.

After opening the York office, Mr Plaster has his eyes on having offices in Liverpool, near to where he previously ran a firm he helped found, and London, amongst other locations.

KTIB, which now has 35 staff, specialises in technically challenging insurance, which doesn't make it the cheapest but Mr Plaster says it wins work because it is technically competent and offers a local service.

It was formed to provide insurance and risk management 20 years ago by John Knowlden and Jon Titlow, who remain directors at the firm.