A KNUTSFORD technology business has received almost £50,000 from Cheshire East Council to help secure jobs and growth.

Moorfield Nanotechnology, which produces equipment for the research of graphene, has been helped by the investment and business engagement team to relocate from its home base in Plumley to the Parkgate Industrial Estate and secured almost £50,000 from the regional growth fund.

The funding has allowed Moorfield to redevelop and refurbish its 5,000 sq ft premises into a ‘world-class’ manufacturing and design facility.

Jon Whitehead, managing director of Moorfield Nanotechnology, said: “The support and funding we have received via Cheshire East Council has been invaluable in helping us move to Knutsford, to secure our future growth and help us to create three new jobs in the very near future.”

Moorfield, who featured in the Guardian last summer after providing a world-renowned artist with their ground-breaking ‘clean tent’ to help send a sculpture into space, is now producing equipment that is used to research graphene.

Graphene is set to become the next ‘wonder material’ because it is light, strong and flexible.

Moorfield have played a key part in the development of graphene and supplied equipment for the Nobel Prize in Physics-winning research team at the University of Manchester, who discovered it in 2004.

Councillor Don Stockton, Cabinet member for regeneration said: “We are committed to supporting businesses to grow across the Borough. Moorfield Nanotechnology is a perfect example of the type of high-growth, hi-tech business that we are delighted to have in Cheshire East and we will do all we can to support their continued success.

“This shows that Cheshire East is a great place to do business and that this is an outstanding location to be based.”

Cheshire East provides a free service that enables businesses to access information on commercial sites and independent advice and information to help organisations make considered choices on where they relocate. This service was a key element in Moorfield’s choice of location.

As of April 1, all business support services previously provided by Cheshire East have been supplied by the Skills and Growth Company, a new arm’s length organisation of the Council.