One of Scarborough's leading businessmen has been appointed to the board of york-england.com - the business organisation set up to attract inward investment to North Yorkshire.

He is Peter Wilkinson, director of the Pindar group of companies and vice-chairman of Scarborough's Future - the town's urban renaissance project.

His appointment underscores how far - literally - york-england.com has come since it stopped being the York Inward Investment Board in 2003 and began to spread its wings geographically.

Chief executive Imelda Havers said: "Not only will Peter bring a wealth of business experience to our organisation, he will also help us expand our services to the Scarborough area and help us put the North Yorkshire coast on the map for potential investors.

"We are recruiting a manager for this area and are excited at the prospect of having a more high-profile presence there.''

york-england.com, offers a one-stop service to potential investors providing access to planners, developers, education and training providers as well as local employers.

The appointment has been welcomed by Ray Williamson, head of economic development at Scarborough Borough Council.

He said: "We need to put Scarborough on the map. Working alone, we can only do so much to attract inward investment.

"By working with york-england.com we benefit from their experience, infrastructure and the organisation's reputation with investors at a national and international level."

Mr Wilkinson, who helps to organise Scarborough's Ambassadors' Dinners, the regular event for the North Yorkshire business community, said that Scarbough had all the facilities needed to attract subsidiaries of international companies.

"It is also an ideal location for light industry, hi-tech companies, particularly in bioscience or for call centres given the pool of qualified staff already available in the area," he said.

Updated: 12:08 Wednesday, February 09, 2005