A MULTI-million pound development to provide firms with some of the most advanced business facilities the region can offer was officially opened yesterday.

The 30,000sqft Innovation centre at Kirkleatham Business Park, near Redcar, after consultants identified the need to provide more support for small and medium-sized companies.

Local MP Mo Mowlam opened the centre, almost a year to the day when work first began on the project.

She said: "When I was here last to mark the start of building work, I was excited that Redcar was being given the chance to benefit from such a welcome investment.

"Now I see it finished, I am convinced it will really stimulate business growth and help create skilled jobs for local people - and that has to be good news for all of us."

The centre was commissioned and built by business investors, UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE), and is already home to several tenants.

The project attracted financial contribution from development agency One NorthEast and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, and according to MD at UKSE, Vernon Smith, the scale of the project highlights the company's long standing commitment to the North-East.

"The Kirkleatham project follows hard on the heels of two other major capital investments for us in Sheffield and Scotland.

"Our experience so far is that this sort of high quality accommodation is much sought after by thriving young companies looking for the right environment to help them achieve their growth potential and we fully expect our success elsewhere to be mirrored in Redcar."

The centre has up to 40 fully serviced units available on easy-in, easy-out terms offering office accommodation and light industrial workshops for businesses in the area.