The boss of the university computer network Ukerna has visited the site of its new £5m headquarters at Harwell, a state-of-the-art 16,000 sq ft building being developed by Coventry-based Deeley Properties.

Tim Marshall (pictured, left, with Pat Moroney, a director of builders Deeley Properties) the chief executive of Ukerna, visited the building, where up to 100 people will be employed when it is finished in February 2007. Ukerna, which provides the IT network that links UK universities, will move in early next year.

Mr Marshall said: "Harwell is internationally renowned as a world class centre of excellence for research and development.

"It is the perfect base for Ukerna and I am very pleased with the way work is coming along on our new headquarters.

"It is going to be a very modern new building giving a very collaborative atmosphere for all who work there. The Ukerna team is very much looking forward to the move."

Mr Moroney said: "Harwell's reputation as an international centre for research and development organisations continues to thrive."

He added: "It was great for Tim to come across to see how the new building is progressing and it will certainly create a great new base for UKERNA."

The Library and The Terrace units at the Harwell Business Centre still have vacant units, from 1,900 sq ft to 50,000 sq ft.