20 jobs created as electricity network operator invests £800k in new technology

A North Yorkshire provider of remote sensing and asset management services to electricity network organisations around the world, is creating 20 new jobs after making an investment in new technology.

NM Group, based in Knaresborough, has purchased an £800k aerial scanning system. This was part funded through a £66k grant from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

This equipment uses special sensors and is attached to aircrafts to enable scanning of large areas of topography for use by electricity network companies.

David Langworth, chairman of NM Group explained: “This investment has strengthened the business to the extent that we’re now able to create 20 new jobs at our Knaresborough headquarters.

‘We already have offices in the USA, Canada, Australia and Oman and we believe we will be able to strengthen these markets as well as look at new export opportunities in other countries. We’re proud of our diverse and international workforce and we do not see that changing in a post-Brexit world.“

At NM Group’s Knaresborough office, 70 people are employed from all over the world including Eastern Europe, Africa and India.

Mr Langworth added: “As a growing international business benefiting the regional economy with our headquarters in the Leeds City Region, it has been great to receive the LEP’s grant and we are appreciative of the help we have received from Harrogate’s SME Growth Manager, Alistair Forbes, throughout this process.

“NM Group is also pleased to be supporting the LEP’s #LetsTalkRealBusiness campaign which is led by what business owners say they want; straightforward no-nonsense support and advice about the issues relevant to them.”

Councillor Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, commented: “NM Group is a fantastic business and a great example of a local company not only boosting the regional economy but also making a positive and significant contribution on a global stage.

“The investment in this new technology and the subsequent creation of jobs represents significant growth in a priority sector company in North Yorkshire.”