Eight people work at a company which has been praised by the Chief Minister for its ’exceptional innovation in a highly competitive world’.

Howard Quayle MHK was speaking at the official opening of the offices and headquarters of Myzone at Gordon House on Prospect Hill, Douglas.

New ideas and innovation were now vital for success, added Mr Quayle who was accompanied by health minister David Ashford and education minister Dr Alex Allanson.

Mr Quayle said: ’Myzone has shown that a really good idea, imagination and digital skills are becoming a necessary requirement in today’s world, and that we all need to follow their example and seek out new ways to use technology.

’This is a really good success story and I am delighted to have been asked to officially open the company’s head office in the Isle of Man.’

Created in 2011, Myzone is a wearable heart rate-based system that uses wireless and cloud technology to track physical activity, wherever people chose to exercise.

The technology focuses on the effort people put into exercise, rather than their level of fitness. It puts the fun back into activity by monitoring heart rate, calories and time exercising and converting these into Myzone Effort Points (MEPs) - the harder people work out, the more MEPs they earn.

Following the opening ceremony, Myzone donated 40 of its MZ-3 heart rate monitoring belts to FC Isle of Man. The club’s founder, Paul Jones, and commercial director Ty Smith received the belts on behalf of the club.

Phil Whittam, group chief financial officer of Myzone, told Business News that the new office is three times the size of its previous base in Ridgeway Street.

He said it was likely the firm would need more staff as Myzone increases its presence across the world.

Myzone already is in 85 countries but Mr Whittam said there was room for expansion in South America.

There had been a surge in the use of Myzone products during the pandemic lockdown, with people from around the world using the technology to alleviate loneliness by connecting with others and sharing their workouts.

Mr Whittam said: ’Much of the growth of Myzone is due to its accuracy and in the way that it engages communities. It’s ideal for anyone who wants a fun and motivating wearable as well as for schools, corporates, hospitals, professional sports clubs or leisure centres.

’By making exercise fun and not a chore, Myzone helps people to improve their fitness, lose weight, and generally feel better.’

Myzone is currently in 85 different countries.

Earlier this year during the island lockdown Business News reported how , through Myzone, operators could connect and engage with their members working out remotely in the same way as they would in a club session.

It brought ’an entirely new level of engagement to the digital space’.