A NATIONAL communication network services company is to become the first occupier in a new Tees Valley office development, which will see the creation of jobs in the area.

Map Group, which has a turnover in excess of £30m and operates from 14 locations across the UK employing 750 staff, is moving its head office to the Westland Way Business Park, on the outskirts of Stockton.

Map has acquired the recently-completed George Stephenson Court building, which will house between 50 and 60 of its staff. One of Map’s biggest customers is Virgin Media, which has its Teesside base nearby.

Its office comprises 16,000sq ft of space over four floors, but initially, one floor will be sublet to Henderson Insurance Brokers, which was previously based in Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Dave Keighley, managing director of Map Group, said: “The demand from businesses for broadband and network services has increased rapidly and our number of contracts is increasing fantastically.

“This has had a knock-on effect on our head office functions which have had to grow to support the rest of the business.”

Westland Way Business Park is owned by TM Urban Developments Ltd.