FISITA, an international organisation for members of the automotive engineering profession, is to relocate its global headquarters to a new business park near Stansted Airport.

The body, which was established in 1948, is due to move into new-build offices on the M11 Business Link development in November.

FISITA says the move, from its existing offices in Percy Street, London, will both meet a need for additional office space to support its long-term growth and provide a more flexible and accessible meeting hub for its international members, through its close proximity to the airport.

Chief executive Chris Mason said: “I am delighted to have received board support to relocate FISITA’s headquarters to Stansted.

“This move gives us the space and improved connectivity with members required as we continue to modernise and develop services to our members around the world, positioning the organisation positively to move forward and deliver our recently approved plans for 2020 and beyond.”

FISITA president Paul Mascarenas added: “As an international membership organisation, FISITA needs to be well connected and accessible for our members.

“The Stansted head office will provide our UK based team and members with a modern environment in which to work for many years to come. This is a smart move for our organisation and we are looking forward to becoming a valued part of the local community.”

FISITA says, as part of its commitmen to playing “an active part of the local business community”, it will be recruiting four people as a result of the move and will continue to look to the local employment catchment area.

The organisation was originally founded in Paris as the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Ingénieurs des Techniques de l’Automobile.

It links the national automotive engineering societies in 37 countries, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and staging major events including the FISITA World Automotive Congress, the FISITA World Automotive Summit and EuroBrake, the world’s largest braking technology conference and exhibition.