The Stockbridge Technology Centre has made its first research appointment to assist with long term contracts, since purchasing its Cawood site, near Selby in February 2002.

Chief executive Graham Ward said: 'We said when we became independent the year before in April 2001, we could really only expect to gain longer term contracts after we purchased the site and our customers had confidence in us. We are now beginning to reap the rewards.' The new appointment of Andrew Cheer as project manager will help cover the specialist work with pesticide companies, with the identification and testing of replacement pesticides needed because of the gaps being created by EU legislation pressures.