A FINANCIAL services company that has created 160 jobs in West Malling has officially opened its new offices. Jupiter Unit Trust Managers, a leading UK fund manager, celebrated the opening of the eco-friendly building at Kings Hill with a party.

Jupiter has moved from London to take advantage of the attractions of Mid-Kent. It has recruited nearly 100 people locally, with the rest moving from London. The company, part of the German banking group Commerzbank, is keeping its corporate headquarters in Grosvenor Place, London.

The new 35,000 sq ft two-storey building in Tower View has plenty of room for further expansion and job creation. Jane Petkovic, joint managing director, said: "Jupiter's phenomenal business growth over the past five years has brought about considerable expansion of our administration department, to the point where we had outgrown our old offices.

"By opening these new premises, we are able to accommodate further expansion in pleasant, environmentally sound surroundings, and with continuing access to a highly-skilled recruitment pool within the Kent area," she said.

The building has a passive ventilation system instead of conventional air conditioning, bicycle storage, showers and a minibus link to West Malling station to encourage staff to use public transport. The Building Research Establishment has awarded the building a "very good" environmental rating.