A manufacturer of electrical testing kit has opened a new office in the county as it tries to recruit high-calibre engineers.

Megger, which employs 230 people at its factory in Dover, has launched a site at Kings Hill, near West Malling, to house its development team.

The company, which marked the 50th anniversary of its factory in 2016, aims to “double in size every five years” according to managing director Graham Heritage in an interview last year.

Marketing and sales director Bryan Phillips said: “Our Kings Hill base will house a satellite development team and initially we are looking to employ around eight engineers on site in a mix of disciplines – mechanical, hardware, software and a site lead.

“We intend to use the first year to hone the operation of our new base and will then review a further expansion.

“Kings Hill fitted the profile we wanted in terms of locale, with a better reach for engineering talent and yet close enough to Dover to be integrated into our development structure.”

Former airfield turned community and business estate Kings Hill is managed and developed by $7 billion real estate company Liberty Property Trust.