PHOOEY to mere speculation that York is "the Cambridge of the North". There's no argument. It's a fact.

And if proof was needed that York's national reputation is growing as a high tech honeypot just like Cambridge you would find it in the arrival in York of a new northern outpost of Elecheck, the fast-expanding electronics testing firm whose head office is based in... Cambridge.

No sooner has its managing director Iain Cruickshank opened an office in Tower House Business Centre, Fishergate, when he has recruited seven electrical engineers and a sales manager and has plans to take on six more staff by Christmas.

"It's like a home from home," said Mr Cruickshank who is fascinated that the Cambridge's St John Innovation Centre in which his firm incubated is replicated at the Science Park next to the University of York. "York has the same historic feel and the same aggressive development of science-based firms as Cambridge."

He is also appreciative of the speed with which Paul Murphy, chief executive of the York Inward Investment Board acted. He said: "The help provided by the Inward Investment Board was tremendous, enabling us to achieve in 14 days what would normally have taken 14 weeks."

Elecheck operates nationally, providing a range of electrical testing services, from testing mains supply cables in power stations for National Power and fixing wiring in buildings to using portable testing equipment in factories, offices, laboratories, universities, chain stores and schools.

It looks after 1,200 properties including Tesco, the BBC, Habitat, William Hills, and Vision Express.

And York, he said, was also the natural choice of venue for the north not just because of its high tech credentials, but also because it was nationally central, with good road communications.

The firm's arrival was cue for rejoicing by Anna Rooke, project manager for Science City York. She said: "It shows that Science City York is about creating a wide range of employment opportunities for local people with all types of skills. It also demonstrated that York is an ideal environment for businesses which want to grow."

Mr Murphy, announcing that other Cambridge firms were inquiring about following in Mr Cruickshank's footsteps, said: "It has been a pleasure to work with Elecheck - exactly the sort of fast-growing company we are aiming to attract to this city.

"Its choice of York as its northern base proves that we are now a real magnet for high technology companies."