A Cumbrian accountancy firm has promoted three members of staff.

Dodd & Co, which has offices in Carlisle and Penrith, has also announced that Simon Kirkbride is the firm’s newest partner and that it has welcomed 14 new trainees.

In its Penrith office, Linette Hall has been promoted to tax department manager and Victoria Tait will become small business manager. Ricky Taylor, who joined Dodds in 2016, has also been promoted to client manager at the Carlisle office.

Ms Hall, originally from Essex, has worked for Dodd & Co for 18 years and is qualified as a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser.

She said “I have been in the tax team for all of my time at Dodds and have always enjoyed assisting with the recruitment and training of our talented new starters. I look forward to my new role as our growing team meets the challenges of a constantly changing tax system, continuing to provide excellent pro-active service to all of our clients.”

Ms Tait came to Dodds on a placement year while at university in 1993 and officially joined the company in 1996.

She works within the family businesses team. She said “I’m absolutely delighted to have been promoted, I am lucky to work with such a great team.

“I’m really looking forward to a new challenge for the year ahead.”

Mr Taylor, who lives in Kirkbride with his wife Danielle, has been part of Dodds tax team for over two years.

He said “When I first started at Dodd & Co, it was made clear to me that there would be opportunities to progress throughout the firm and I would like to thank the partners for their continuous support with my development.

“I am really excited about my promotion and am looking forward to starting in my new role.

“I already have a good relationship with a number of clients and I am keen to expand my portfolio.”

Alison Johnston, staff partner at Dodd & Co, said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce these internal promotions.

“It’s superb to have such a strong and established team here at Dodd & Co and brilliant to see staff achieve progression within the firm.

“Being able to offer promotions to three members of staff who have a combined service of 43 years accentuates the success of our ‘grow your own’ culture, which we are known for.”

The firm employs 170 staff across its two offices and more than half of the 50 partners and managers have been with the company for over 10 years.

More than a third of them have been with the business for over 20 years.

The company said nearly all of partners and managers in the accounts and tax departments hold level seven professional qualifications.