A CAR bearing manufacturer’s £27m expansion will gear up young apprentices for success as it creates 45 new jobs, with more than a third of those for trainees.

NSK Bearings Europe is investing £23.5m into its Peterlee facility, after being awarded a £3.5m Region Growth Fund grant from the Government.

As well as an on-site training centre established for the firm’s 400-strong workforce, the investment will see improvements made to its production line and warehousing.

Plant director Keith Brain said: “We are delighted that our investment proposals have been supported by the Government, which has secured this growth for the North East region. “The plant at Peterlee will see new production lines, an upgrade to our warehousing facilities and the introduction of a Skills and Learning Centre in the plant.

"This is excellent news to everyone that works at Peterlee.”

The 45 jobs will be phased in over the next three to four years, including 17 apprentices on a three-year programme of in-house and college-based training, leading to permanent staff jobs.

The new production workers taken on will also receive NVQ training, where appropriate.

NSK Bearings Europe Ltd has been in Peterlee, County Durham since 1976, producing automotive bearing products.

The Japanese-owned, multi-billion pound firm, has 200 sites in 27 countries, with four in the UK, including one of the firm’s 12 research and development centres.

Founded in 1916 as Japan’s first ball bearings manufacturer, the company has grown and diversified and is now a designer and manufacturer of automotive bearing products, and precision machinery and parts, as well as mechatronic product.

The news of the investment in the Peterlee site has been welcomed by the community, with two other businesses in the town – Caterpillar and Actem also benefitting from the Regional Growth Fund.

Grahame Morris, MP for Easington, said: “NSK is one of the area’s best established employers and has an excellent track record as a good employer and investor in our manufacturing base with the North East.

“The creation of 45 new jobs on the back of significant investment is excellent news. Given the scale of job losses in east Durham from the manufacturing sector I would like to see more support for jobs and growth from central Government.”