CONSTRUCTION is under way at Bede plc's new headquarters at Belmont Business Park, in Durham.

The company, which floated on the Stock Market last November, raising £30m, is moving from Bowburn to a new 27,000sq ft facility at the park to house its head office and the operations of Bede Scientific Instruments.

The move is expected to create about 30 more jobs, adding to its current workforce of 90.

The custom-built factory, with expanded clean production facilities, demonstration and application laboratories, and office accommodation, is expected to be ready by November.

The ceremony was attended by local MP Gerry Steinberg, Pete Cocker, from the Government Office for the North-East, Stuart Watkins, from County Durham Development Company, and Bede chief executive Dr Neil Loxley.

Mr Steinberg said: "Bede should be very proud of what it has achieved over the past few years in supplying x-ray characterisation equipment to a very turbulent industry.

"The company exports more than 86 per cent of its products, so the fact that it has chosen to stay in the North-East proves that the region is a good base for growing companies, with a plentiful source of skilled and dedicated people."

Dr Loxely said: "The ground-breaking ceremony has coincided with the distribution of the company's first annual report.

"The outlook for the group is positive, and the new building will be pivotal in helping us to maintain a strong position in the semiconductor market, as well as to develop new products for other markets."