AN energy efficient lighting manufacturer whose clients include Google and Bank of New York is set to quadruple its premises as it becomes the latest company to move into the Tees Valley Enterprise Zone.

Durable Technologies Limited, which designs and manufactures systems for the commercial and education sectors, will create nine new jobs as part of its expansion plans at Hartlepool’s Queens Meadow Business Park.

Now based at the UK Steel Enterprise Innovation Centre, the move will see the size of the firm’s premises increase four-fold to 2,400 sq ft.

The company was formed in 2007 by Alex Carter and his wife Lorraine. It quickly built up clients including Google, Aer Lingus, Bank of New York and Balfour Beatty, with its success recognised this year when it won Exporter of the Year at the Hartlepool Business Awards.

Company director Alex Carter said the incentives provided by the enterprise zone would help enormously to grow the business.

“Over the next five years we aim to increase our workforce from four to 13 and we are confident of breaking into new markets. The Enterprise Zone assistance will also enable the company to expand its product range by investing more in research and development.”

Earlier this year Omega Plastics and Propipe Limited were the first companies to move into the business park, which is one of 12 enterprise zone sites across the Tees Valley.

Companies moving into the Queens Meadow site benefit from business rate relief for the next five years. Enterprise zones were set up with the aim of boosting growth and creating jobs.

Stephen Catchpole, managing director at Tees Valley Unlimited, the local enterprise partnership which run the Enterprise Zone, said: “It is encouraging to see that the incentives offered by Tees Valley Enterprise Zone are acting as a catalyst for companies, such as Durable Technologies Limited, to grow and develop.”