A NEW tomorrow for a world-beating Basingstoke company has begun with the formal opening of its new headquarters.

Television presenter Maggie Philbin officially opened the new headquarters of prosthetic and orthotic products manufacturer Chas A Blatchford & Sons.

Ms Philbin, who has been presenting the recent BBC One series Bang Goes the Theory and is a veteran of the TV show, Tomorrow’s World, had a tour of the site.

The new headquarters at Kingsland Business Park, just off Wade Road, includes the Endolite Technology Centre and the company's new flagship Blatchford Private Clinic.

The company is also still operating from its Lister Road site.

Ms Philbin said she was honoured to open the new offices.

She said: “The work that happens here touches the lives of thousands of people all over the world. And if you are working with an organisation like this, that must make you feel incredibly proud.”

She added: “The engineering and the quality of work that is done here makes a massive difference to people's lives.”

Thrilled with the smart new premises, chief executive Stephen Blatchford, said: “When we were planning this £2million project, I had not fully realised just how positive a change to our work environment the building was going to be. The open plan offices for the whole building have an extremely friendly atmosphere.

“The extra lab space, warehouse space and technical assembly space means that we now have the environment to support our continuous growth over subsequent years.

“These facilities give us the resources to continue to produce innovative high tech leading-edge products that will bring real benefits to amputees.”

The company has a close relationship with Ms Philbin, as it has supported some of the local TeenTech events she spearheads all over the country.

Their purpose is to inspire students about careers in science, technology and engineering.

Ms Philbin said: “They are lighting the fire for many young people who wouldn't otherwise understand the difference that engineering can really make.”