A NORTH-EAST green energy company has launched a recruitment drive after completing its latest landmark project in the region.

Newton Aycliffe-based Revolution Power, suppliers of renewable energy products and services, is planning to take on six workers, which is expected to include two more apprentices.

Managing director Wayne Richardson admitted that training apprentices can be "a bit of a nightmare" but he remains firm believer in nurturing the next generation of skilled installers and designers.

"The way I see it is that someone placed their faith in me when I was starting out my career, so its only right that I give apprentices a step on the jobs ladder," said Mr Richardson. "It is time consuming to take on apprentices but seeing them gradually build up their skills base can be very rewarding. Our plan is to recruit an apprentice every time we take on a fully qualified tradesman."

Revolution recently put the finishing touches on a six-month project to help the Newbiggin Maritime Centre cut its carbon footprint. The Centre now boasts 10 square metres of solar thermal, 1000 square metres of under-floor heating and 20kW solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate energy in the 2.5m building and save approximately 11,463kg of carbon dioxide emissions every year.

The company, which has been running for six years, doubled its turnover to more than £1m over the last 12 months and hopes to be generating £5m by 2014.

Revolution has won a major contract to supply a sheltered housing project in York for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It has also worked on Durham University Science Department, the Meadow Well Community Centre, in North Shields, North Tyneside as well as schools and colleges across the country. It recently started work on an eco homes project in Newcastle.

Mr Richardson added: "We are really raising our profile on a national level and bidding for bigger and bigger contracts. That doesnt mean we have lost sight of smaller domestic installation work, but we have focussed a lot of effort to ensure our sales department could take the business forward. That has reaped rewards in the last six months. There are opportunities out there and we are well placed to win more work and create more job opportunities in the region.

"It was a genuinely rewarding experience to be carrying out this work for the Newbiggin Maritime Centre, working closely with the team and our clients to make sure that all the work met our highest standards and the clients requirements and expectations,"

"The renewable systems installed on the Maritime Centre will not only benefit the environment but will help maintain low running costs during times of escalating energy prices."