AN insurance firm has marked 15 years in its Colchester office.

Hiscox, based in Middleborough, marked the milestone anniversary last week.

The firm set up base in Hiscox House in May 2004 with just nine staff.

Now 15 years later there are more than 300 people working in the building covering ten different aspects of the business.

Since setting up the firm has raised £205,000 in support of charities including North Essex Mind, St. Helena Hospice, Headway Essex, Essex Air Ambulance.

Last year they raised £36,534 for Colchester General Hospital’s neonatal unit.

The money will go towards purchasing a special incubator to enable the sickest babies to survive.

A spokesman for the firm said: "It has proven to be a fantastic place for people to launch and build a career, developing talent and supporting people in their career is something that we are very proud of.

"We celebrated last week with cake, balloons, desk drops and a few words to mark the occasion on Friday afternoon.

"We are investing in the building this year to continue to make it a great environment to work in.

"Our people have given us a very clear steer on what is important to them which has informed where we will focus our investment."