It is an iconic innovation centre set to spearhead plans to create hundreds of new jobs and transform former industrial land in west Norfolk.

Tenants have started moving into the King's Lynn Innovation Centre (KLIC), which will be the flagship building on the new Enterprise Zone site in the town.

And members of the business community and the public were yesterday? invited to the official launch of the £5m business hub, and to a free innovation exhibition, hosted by enterprise agency Nwes, which will manage the centre.

Kevin Horne, chief executive of Nwes, said: 'This building is the culmination of 20 years of knowledge. I'm proud to be Norfolk born-and-bred and this will become an iconic landmark in Lynn. It will make a big difference to west Norfolk.'

Alistair Beales, deputy leader of West Norfolk Council and cabinet member for regeneration, said: 'KLIC is at the heart of the Nar Ouse regeneration area, which means new businesses, new homes and new jobs for local people. It means existing local businesses, and newcomers to the region, will have access to the resources, support and professional space to help them flourish even further.'

The official handing over of the keys to the first tenant, Anglia IT Solutions, was carried out by Titan, a 9ft tall robot who has graced red carpets in Hollywood and featured in a Rihanna pop video. The company, which provides IT hardware and software solutions to businesses throughout the region, started out 13 years ago in Swaffham with just two members of staff, Terry Windsor and Jason Crown, who are the current joint bosses.

Mr Windsor said: 'We have 14 employees at the new office. It's a cultural change moving here, because when you work alongside innovative people, it's contagious and you get a buzz from that.'

As well as providing conference and meeting space for organisations, KLIC will be a centre of business advice and mentoring, providing start-ups, access to financial support, funding opportunities and networking opportunities with world-leading organisations. It was developed by a partnership of West Norfolk Council, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and Nwes.