A DORCHESTER-based company specialising in offering expert financial advice is celebrating 40 years in business.

PJ Aiken Ltd, located on Trinity Street in the county town, was first launched by Peter Aiken in 1974 as an insurance brokerage and financial advisers, before deciding to solely concentrate on the financial advice as that side of the business boomed.

In the past 40 years the company has gone from strength to strength and now has customers from all over the United Kingdom, but it still operates from its Dorchester base.

The journey hasn’t always been easy for the company though, with owner Peter Aiken tragically dying at his office desk in 2005. Katrina Gregory then took over the day-to-day running of the firm, before finally purchasing it in 2006, becoming managing director and steering it through the economic recession to its 40th anniversary.

Now managers and staff have an exciting year of celebrations lined up, and Mrs Gregory pinpointed those staff as the reason the company has reached the milestone.

She said: “The continued hard work of the staff has helped the company achieve the success that it is today. “We are so successful because we have an excellent team of staff who always deliver a personal bespoke service to all clients.”

“The 40th anniversary will be celebrated continually through-out the remainder of the year and we plan to have an open day for clients.

“The substantial client base that PJ Aiken Ltd has is proof the company has succeeded in establishing itself as a forerunner in financial services, offering professional independent finan-cial advice to all their clients.”

Mrs Gregory also said a firm like PJ Aiken was beneficial for Dorchester, as it employed local people, and after such a long time based in the county town they were part of the local community.

She added: “I believe that our business success is excellent for the town. We have been here providing financial services for 40 years and hope to be here for at least the next 40 years. The expansion programme has meant that we have been able to employ more staff and we always support other local businesses wherever possible. We also support local charities and see ourselves very much as part of the local community and intend to remain in the county town of Dorchester.”