SOLAR panel business Sumec UK has expanded after moving to new headquarters at Escrick Business Park.

Sumec has taken on five new staff and installed an eight-kilowatt solar power generation system on its warehouse roof, five months after making the move to a new 10,000 sq ft warehouse in December 2012.

By the end of April the company already employed 17 people and it has plans for further expansion as it explores new markets in the renewable energy sector. It hopes to increase staffing to 20 by the end of 2013.

The company, which was originally a subsidiary of power tool business Sumec’s European operation, gained its independence in 2010 and has focused on the renewables sector. The offices also house a studio where a Sumec team designs power and garden tools.

Steve Hall, sales manager, said the business was also looking at the potential of wind power generation as it looked at avenues for growth in the renewables industry.

He said the solar power system they had installed provided power for the office and to recharge its electric fork-lift truck, as well as providing cash into the business through the feed in tariff.

The company can also compare the performance of the two different systems to provide information for customers.

He said: “The move to Escrick Business Park has proved a real catalyst for growth. The quality of the space is excellent and there is real community feeling about the place. What’s more, we’ve been able to complete our fit-out programme using exclusively local professionals and tradespeople and we’ve been delighted with the quality of workmanship.”

Escrick Business Park, owned by developers S Harrison, now has about 150 jobs in its 23,000 sq ft of warehousing and 16,000 sq ft of offices. Phil Hill, of S Harrison, said they were signing up more tenants to move onto the site. He said: “It’s a thriving new business community with its own private crèche on site and such good access and parking, it has proved a real winner for ambitious growth businesses.”