ACTIV Technology, which emerged from the ashes of the ill-fated Convergent Telecom, of Pocklington, is bracing itself for a boom in the wake of the ban on hand held mobile phones while driving.

The sale and installation of hands-free car kits is a major part of the business of the mobile communications firm which has just moved into new premises in Pocklington,

As the boom intensifies, Mark Blakeston, managing director, is recruiting six more people to add to the 56 on the payroll - and further recruitment is expected

The company's new base is a 4,000sq ft building in Halifax Way, Pocklington Industrial Estate, near Convergent's former headquarters.

The move into new premises marks the beginning of a major phase in the life of the company, which was formed from the engineering division of Convergent Telecom in June

Mr Blakeston said: "I am from Pocklington - I was educated at Woldgate School and now live in Driffield, so it was important to me to base the business here, even though we are very much a national company, with clients from the Isle of Skye to the Channel Islands.

"We have been operating out of temporary premises since the summer, but despite the success of our first few months, the time has come for to move on and continue to establish our own identity as a new company in a new building," he said.

The new Activ Technology premises includes a 160sq m mezzanine level for the firm's expanding technical operations centre. Here telephone account managers receive calls from customers and despatch orders for repairs, installation or equipment to the company's field engineers.

Also featured in the building is a fitting bay, for those customers interested in while-you-wait expert installation of hands-free mobile phone car kits, satellite navigation equipment, reversing aids, and accident blackspot detectors.

"There will obviously be a cost benefit to customers in using our fitting bay rather than a field engineer for installation of in-car equipment," he noted.

With the sale and installation of hands-free car kits a significant part of Activ Technology's business, the company is well-placed to capitalise on the new legislation banning the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving.

But the company's location - on the A1059 York to Hull road - also gives the company a further business advantage. Mr Blakeston said: "We are virtually the only place outside the centres of York and Hull where you can buy a mobile phone.

"We are completely independent, so we can offer packages for all the networks, including newcomer 3, at factory outlet prices."

Updated: 12:19 Wednesday, December 03, 2003