A pioneering regional business website has launched a dedicated video channel which is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK.

TheBusinessDesk.com has set up the video channel which will host news, features and events coverage, to broaden the offering to its 60,000 registered users in Yorkshire, the West Midlands and the North West.

Video content has been used by the publisher since its launch in 2007 but now the new TheBusinessDesk.TV platform on the homepage will showcase the latest videos created and link through to a selection of recent footage.

The company is also encouraging businesses to submit high quality video footage to bring extra depth to its reporting of news and events.

TheBusinessDesk.com's founder David Parkin announces the launch of the new video channel.

David Parkin, founder of TheBusinessDesk.com, said: “As a digital media we are able to take advantage of the latest technology to make news as engaging and informative as possible.

“We see video as the next step to bringing regional business news to life, but we have been waiting for demand to increase and technology to improve in order to bring it within reach of the business media market, and we feel that now is the right time.

“We already video about a dozen events around the UK every month, and we are adding resources to ensure that we will have several new videos each week, ranging from coverage of local business news stories, events and round table discussions, to other ‘lifestyle’ videos, such as luxury car reviews and leisure content relevant to our readers.

“We are using the most accessible technology possible and although we are launching the channel today, the library of videos we are offering is going to multiply over the coming weeks, and will be followed by a fully searchable archive of content, that will build over the coming months.”

TheBusinessDesk.com’s three regional portals attract more than 250,000 visits each month.

A video by David launching the new channel can be viewed at youtube.com