Hi-tech firm Pace Micro has relocated its UK sales and marketing team from Saltaire to Stevenage.

The company, which employs more than 1,000 people at its base in Salts Mill, says the move will bring it closer to southern-based core customers such as BSkyB and On Digital.

The new marketing centre features a number of meeting rooms with state-of-the-art presentation facilities, an executive wing and advanced product demonstration facilities.

Opening the Stevenage office, Pace chief executive Malcolm Miller, said: "Pace is a Yorkshire company and this is an essential element in its character and values.

"However, we are also a leading company in the digital receiver and decoder market worldwide.

"The new offices will allow us to meet our core customers in a professional environment which is easy to get to."

Pace has already manufactured over 6,500,000 analogue receivers and almost two million digital set top boxes for distribution in more than 80 countries.

Although it's 10-strong sales and marketing department have made the move down South the company has reassured staff its manufacturing, research and development divisions will continue to be based in Saltaire.

A spokesman for Pace said: "It doesn't follow that the rest of the operation will move to Stevenage as well. Salts Mill is the perfect location for us, in terms of transport links and working environment.

"When customers do visit our headquarters and take a look around they are very impressed. These new offices are only a small part of the company."

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