AN electricity supplier has told how it was prompted to move to the North-East by a go-ahead council.

Paul Cuttill, corporate services director for the London Electricity Group, was speaking at an event staged by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Small Business Service on economic regeneration.

He said Sunderland City Council's business and investment team helped London Electric transfer part of its customer services operation from the capital to Wearside, becoming the first company on the Doxford International Business Park in 1996.

"We considered 28 locations and, in deciding which to choose, looked at the quality and availability of the local workforce, suitable property, and the level of support from the local authority. The City of Sunderland understood from the start that speed was essential and provided a single and efficient one-stop shop approach.

"As a result of having a total package of support in place, we were able to have staff in post a year after the decision to relocate to Sunderland was taken."

Mr Cuttill said follow on support from the council had enabled London Electric's Doxford International contact centre to grow from 450 staff to more than 1,100 in five years.

Tom Hurst, Sunderland council's principal business investment officer, who helped to set up Doxford International, said the people of Sunderland should be proud of their part in thesuccess story.