One of York's biggest employers was today celebrating record sales at home and abroad.

Life assurance and pension giant Norwich Union Life announced record sales in the UK in the first three months of 2001, while its parent group CGNU plc also said its sales worldwide had hit record levels.

Norwich Union Life, which employs about 2,400 staff in York where its headquarters is based, is the leading UK life company with a market share of over ten per cent.

Describing the quarterly figures for the UK as "excellent", its chief executive, Philip Scott, said: "These sales results are positive evidence of the strength of the business that we have created."

They were particularly pleasing when they believed the market overall was still "reasonably flat".

He said: "I think the growth that we have achieved is very sound, and that job security (in York) is definitely enhanced when a company like ours can produce growth in its sales faster than the market place."

Mr Scott added: "These results show that our company is growing strongly, is satisfying its customers, and that has to be good news for the local economy."

In the UK new business sales were up by 22 per cent at £2.2 billion, compared with £1.8 million in 2000.

Individual pensions sales at £325 million increased by 69 per cent over the first three months of this year, and group pension sales were up nine per cent at £201 million.

But Mr Scott also pointed to success in Europe, particularly in Spain and Italy, saying it was important, and something in which York people could take pride.

Updated: 11:52 Thursday, April 19, 2001