A HI-TECH German company has chosen Kent as its launchpad for a push into the UK market.

Partec UK plumped for Canterbury because its chief operating officer Jane Wood was born in the city and a student at Simon Langton School for Girls.

The business, based at Canterbury Enterprise Hub on the University of Kent campus, is expected to create three jobs at first, with the possibility of more to come.

The business specialises in measuring devices for the life sciences sector, providing technical, scientific and sales support for Partec Flow Cytometers and reagents.

Flow cytometry is a technique for counting, examining, and sorting microscopic particles suspended in a stream of fluid.

The firm’s technology is used in biotechnology sectors such as human healthcare, microbiology, industrial applications, food quality control, agrosciences and aquaculture.

The Canterbury business will distribute and calibrate the German-made equipment.

Ms Wood paid tribute to hub director David Butler for making the process so easy. "He was very helpful," she said.

"We chose to locate our UK office in Kent because of the superb facilities at the Canterbury Enterprise Hub. The offices and lab space combined with excellent support from the Hub Director meant that this was the perfect location to get our business up and running in the UK."

Inward investment agency Locate in Kent welcomed the move. Paul Wookey, chief executive, added: "We are delighted that a global company like Partec has chosen Kent as a headquarters for its business in the UK."

Kent is home to several leading life sciences businesses including Pfizer, GSK, Abbott Laboratories, Murex Biotech, Remel, Genzyme and Smiths Medical International.

Canterbury Enterprise Hub works with highly innovative and high growth potential start-ups to increase their success in the county and offers tailored business support services, access to finance and flexible easy-in/easy-out office and laboratory accommodation.

The UK office is part of Partec’s expansion programme which has seen it open in France, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, Kenya, Botswana and Cameroon and operate through subsidiaries and distributors in 60 countries worldwide.