Offshore Group Newcastle 'to create 1,000 jobs'
A Tyne and Wear company which builds foundations for wind farms has said it is to create up to 1,000 new jobs.
Engineering firm Offshore Group Newcastle (OGN) made the announcement after receiving a £640,000 government grant.
It said the funding would help it to build foundations for offshore wind farms at its site in Wallsend. The company already employs 1,200 workers.
OGN chief executive David Edwards expressed "delight" over the grant.
The firm will use the money to build the foundation structures for large wind turbine generators in waters over 30 metres (100ft) deep.
The steel jacketed foundation, Triton, will be designed and developed by its subsidiary Aquind, at OGN's new purpose-built facility at its Hadrian Yard in Wallsend.
Construction of the prototype will begin later this year.
Mr Edwards said: "We are delighted to have been selected for this grant. Government support is especially vital in the early stages of project development.
"This grant is important for the development of Aquind, and is fantastic news for Tyneside and the North East."
OGN was founded in 2010 and works within the offshore oil and gas and renewable energy industries.