SGS United Kingdom Ltd, one of the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification companies, has bought Shepton Mallet digital company i2i Infinity Ltd in readiness to bid for future contracts at Hinkley Point C (HPC).

The company already operates from a base at Worle Parkway providing audit services and has now opened an office in Shepton Mallet following the acquisition of i2i Infinity.

This expansion into the South West also includes the creation of a new business development team in response to feedback received from a recent HPC Routes to Market workshop attended by SGS managers at the Somerset Energy Innovation Centre.

Neil Hunt, SGS business development manager for industrial services, said: "Attending the workshop gave us a clear idea of the demands of the Hinkley Supply Chain and what we needed to do to become a part of it.

"It quickly became clear there was a need for a greater presence in the area to enable SGS to have an increased focus on identifying and bidding on upcoming work packages for Hinkley Point C.

"The next step will be to take part in the Hinkley C Supplier Induction Programme as 80 per cent of previous delegates are already either bidding on contracts or have won work at HPC."

Mr Hunt said it was important SGS did all it could to maximise its opportunities to win work at Hinkley Point C and attending the induction programme and workshop meant it would be in the strongest possible position to be successful.

Founded in 1878, SGS is recognised as a global benchmark for quality and integrity, and has more than 97,000 employees, across a network of more than 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

The acquisition of i2i Infinity Ltd gives SGS an opportunity to act as the facilitator of global trade compliance and the partner of choice for digital solutions.

SGS already provides government and institution services, which will be complemented further by i2i Infinity Ltd.

The company is the leading provider of Electronic Certificates of Origin in the UK and has provided customs compliance services to exporters and chambers of commerce using innovative proprietary software solutions for more than 30 years.

The Shepton Mallet office is located at Harvest Court, in Park Road, and will also accommodate the expansion of SGS Industrial Services division into the region, which provide asset management services covering the full life cycle of an asset's life.