FATTY acids are to boost employment in the Selby area.

Nutraceuticals company, Efamol Ltd, a world leading specialist in the field of Essential Fatty Acids, has decided to base its headquarters at Selby's Brackenholme Business Park, creating ten jobs.

Husband and wife team Robert and Norma Jackson and fellow bio-entrepreneur Peter Clough recently bought Efamol from Nutricia International, a subsidiary of the multinational firm, Royal Numico NV.

The trio spotted the potential of Efamol's products, which are based on essential fatty acids and include marine oils and evening primrose oil. Although the company is starting small with just ten jobs, the business has plans to expand in the future. This could see the creation of more bioscience jobs in the area.

Mr Jackson said: "Efamol has almost thirty years' prominence in fatty acid research, product development and marketing. We aim to continue that work by bringing new products to market in the future.

"Our primary objective for the next two years is to consolidate Efamol's presence in the 26 countries in which we are currently represented and to double our present turnover. Simultaneously, we shall be re-establishing the clinical research activities that form the basis of the Efamol product range. After that our programme of expansion can begin in earnest," he said.

Dave Taylor, marketing director of york-england.com, formerly the York Inward Investment Board, said: "We're delighted that Efamol has chosen the attractive rural location of Brackenholme Business Park in Selby to be the launch pad to build on its success. Efamol's pedigree makes it a fine addition to the bioscience community in North Yorkshire and we're expecting new research into nutritional products to get under way in the near future."

York-england.com aims to encourage firms to invest in York and North Yorkshire. The organisation was created to promote York as a location for businesses, but in October its remit was expanded to include Selby and the rest of North Yorkshire.

Updated: 11:26 Thursday, February 12, 2004