NVT, the Lanarkshire-based IT company, is to open an office in London as a platform for "northshoring" business back to Scotland.

The group , which employs 90 at Bellshill and has questioned the large company bias of some public procurement processes in Scotland, says it has spent the past year researching the London market, and believes it can "comfortably beat exorbitant London IT prices".

It has appointed Gerry Hampsey, a senior sales director with European experience, to set up an office and then "take English business north to our 90-strong plant in Bellshill and provide an efficient Scottish service at competitive Scottish prices".

Tommy Mitchell, chief technology officer, said: "The current challenges facing IT managers revolve around reducing costs, decreasing operational management staff and optimising infrastructure, all of which can be supported through managed services."

Managing director Steven Park Brown said the appointment would help NVT strengthen its managed services operation, which includes recently launched cloud and network monitoring and storage services as well as a consultancy unit, in a bid to up its game.

The group last month unveiled a £500,000 contract with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, highlighting the SLCC's rigorous independent tender process outside the government's official framework.