WORKERS made redundant by Korean electronics company Samsung are being invited to apply for jobs at a rival manufacturer.
Atmel, based at Silverlink, near Wallsend, North Tyneside, is creating about 150 jobs as part of a £100m investment programme.
The US company took over the former Siemens plant in October 2000, and has since invested more than £350m in the facility.
The jobs are expected to take the total workforce to about 700 by the end of the year.
More than 400 workers were made redundant from Samsung's operations at Wynyard, on Teesside, two weeks ago.
Many of them already live in the Wearside area, within commuting distance of the Atmel site, along the A19.
Ross Forbes, head of human resources at Atmel, said: "We are interested in talking to anybody who has worked in the manufacturing sector.
"There is no reason why former Samsung staff shouldn't apply for the jobs at Atmel."
He said that Atmel was planning to attend a jobs fair being held at Samsung next month.
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