Laser firm boosts city's prospects

BUSINESS leaders have welcomed a multi-million pound expansion of a York-based hi-tech firm as the latest success in the county’s ongoing attempts to cope with the decline of traditional industry and survive the aftershock of the recession.

MDL Laser Systems – which operates across Europe, Africa and Asia – has submitted plans to expand its base at Northminster Business Park, to turn it into a world headquarters creating as many as 100 new jobs and generating a potential turnover of 30m.

The company is one of many to set up in the city after a major drive to attract financial services and the science and technology sectors to North Yorkshire in the wake of a decline in the traditional manufacturing base.

Experts have welcomed the announcement – saying the city’s growing international reputation as a business centre needs to be seized upon to help drive the county’s economy over the next 20 years.

Shaun Watts, president of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “This announcement signals that York is open for business.

“At a time of increasing unemployment the news that the expansion will create many additional jobs is very welcome.

“I’m sure it will play a role in leading our county out of the recession, as well as proving to investors that York is a great place for business.”

Councillor Steve Galloway, executive member for city strategy for York Council, said: “This is a perfect complement to the way we have tried to diversify the economy here.

“I have seen some radical changes to the economy over the last 40 years and major manufacturing industries like sugar, glass, railway and confectionery disappear altogether.

“These new industries have grown at a much better rate than we could have hoped 10 years ago and are key to helping keep employment rates down in York as we come out of the recession.”

In 1999, York Council set up Science City York to insulate North Yorkshire against the decline of traditional economies and promote the growth of bioscience, creative industries, and IT and digital opportunities across the county.

More than 35,000 workers are now employed across science and technology-related sectors in the county and almost 30 per cent more work in creative industries than in agriculture.

There are also now more than 2,800 science and technology-based businesses in North Yorkshire with the county’s creative and digital output forecast to increase by 55 per cent to almost 1bn by 2016.

Nicola Spence, chief executive of Science City York, said: “MDL is a world leader in its field and the fact that it has chosen York for its headquarters is indicative of what is happening in the area.

“Despite the recession, we have helped more than 200 businesses set up in the area and created thousands of jobs.

“I am delighted at the news and it confirms North Yorkshire’s position as a place to do business.”

MDL, which develops eye safe laser measurement technology used for measurement and navigation systems, is putting its plans before a York Council planning committee next Thursday.

The proposed two-storey building would include a laser testing room on its roof and have a 200m long laser testing range.

The company says in 2008 its turnover was 10m, but this is expected to grow to 30m by 2013.

MDL spokeswoman Amanda Finn said: ”We have been based here since September 2006 and are delighted to make York our headquarters.

“One of the main reasons we located to York was the wealth of recruitable talent in the area and we have been very impressed.”