Dorset County Council pension fund has appointed Epic Investment Consulting to provide it with independent advice. It is a breakthrough for the firm, whose financial backer is Equity Partnership, led by Jo Welman, former chairman of Brit Holdings, the insurance company.

Epic, founded by Chris Edge, has a panel of nine advisers whose services it makes available to pension funds wishing to comply with the UK Myners report on institutional investment without relying on advice from consultants.