PRECISION engineering company Ford Component Manufacturing is increasing its workforce as it prepares to increase turnover by 30 per cent.

The family-owned company on South Tyneside, which produces specialist parts for the aerospace, automotive and engineering sector, has also been nominated in the Manufacturer of the Year awards.

Geoff Ford, chairman of Ford Component Manufacturing and of South Tyneside Enterprise Partnership, said: "The nomination came out of the blue and comes at an exciting time for us as we begin a period of expansion."

The expansion will help to secure the long-term future of the company, which employs 200 people.

It is also training workers as the company moves into production of more complex parts.

It is creating another 20 skilled jobs, including engineering roles and opportunities for apprenticeships.

That investment, combined with a general upturn in the market, will see turnover increase by nearly 30 per cent to more than £11m within the next financial year.

In addition to the assembly work, the company plans to continue investing to develope high-volume operations at its plant in Hebburn.