A SOFTWARE engineering firm is looking to create up to 50 new jobs in York as it opens a new research and development centre in the city off the back of "snowballing demand" for its products.

Anaplan, which provides businesses with a digital platform for financial planning, has relocated from Hawk Business Park near Easingwold, to the office within the newly redeveloped Bonding Warehouse.

As well as doubling its office space to 9,000sq ft the company is looking to double its team of developers to around 90 engineers to handle all product development for global company.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Anaplan was founded in 2006 by York software engineer Michael Gould, who worked from home in Yearsley, for four years before commercialising his invention in 2011.

Since its incorporation, Anaplan has experienced rapid growth, and now boasts more than 20,000 users, 11 offices in seven countries, and a customer list that includes HP, Aviva, Britvic and Procter & Gamble.

Mr Gould, who is now British chief technology officer at Anaplan, said: "We’ve taken the company a long way from its conception in my barn in York.

"Despite our global presence, we strongly believe in the growing pool of technology talent where it all started for us, right here in York.

"We will continue to keep our core development here, in what is rapidly evolving into an increasingly recognised hub for innovation.

"Thanks to the success of initiatives like DotYork, the growing tech community here will only go from strength to strength. We hope our investment in the city will speed its growth.

After tripling growth over three consecutive years Anaplan has 11 offices worldwide including sales offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Europe and the US, with plans to open a base in South America.

Fred Laluyaux, chief executive of Anaplan said: "It is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit high-calibre engineering staff in California, and we’ve long believed that the North of England offers a substantial, and untapped, source of great engineering talent.

"In particular, the region has a strong heritage in financial software: the core planning products of SAP and IBM were both built around applications developed here. From this perspective, increasing our investment in York is the best way we can maintain our technology leadership."