SPECIALIST building firm CA Group has launched its first major recruitment drive since the downturn after it won several new contracts.

The County Durham company, which has built massive warehouses for blue chip clients including Sainsbury's, Vantec, Veolia and Marks and Spencer, recently secured work on a £50m distribution centre in Mansfield for Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct.

In addition, the company based at Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland, has confirmed that it has been contracted to supply materials for a Crossrail project, on behalf of train builder Bombardier.

Formed in August 1983, CA Group has worked on a wide range of landmark buildings, from BBC Media City in Salford to Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club's Amex Stadium.

The company is looking to fill ten positions, including two apprenticeship roles for a draughtsperson and technical engineer, as well as roles in the office team and manufacturing department, taking staff numbers to about 205. ?

Its rising confidence reflects the significant turnaround being experienced by the construction industry as a whole, which was ravaged by the recession.

Neil Alderson, the commercial director for the company, said: “For those businesses that survived the economic downturn, the past year has brought welcome relief, as growth has commenced. With growth, however, comes an increased need for skilled workers who are up to the job.

“Our workforce is responsible for the conception, design, manufacture, installation - and everything in between - of our innovative warehouse solutions. Many of the roles held within the business require highly specialised training; something which we are keen to encourage and develop in-house.”

According to Mr Alderson, apprenticeships have proven to be an extremely successful route for CA Group. The company supports 11 trainee positions ranging from sheet metal work, to business administration, quantity surveying, IT, mechanical and electrical engineering, and technical drawing. These offer a mixture of in-house and external training and, in many cases, include day-release for college attendance as well as the achievement of an NVQ level diploma.

He concluded: “It’s certainly been a challenging decade for the construction industry but we are optimistic about the future. CA Group is at the forefront of innovation and our focus on sustainable construction, together with our expert and dedicated workforce, ensures we are in an excellent position to meet the needs of businesses for years to come. We look forward to welcoming those new team members who will be an integral part of this exciting next phase.”