AN engineering company is planning to expand as it targets worldwide contracts.

Project Design Group is looking to recruit additional engineers and designers.

Bosses say the company is planning to grow its workforce from four to 13, as it has a number of projects in the pipeline in both the UK and abroad.

The firm, based at the Queens Meadow Business Park in Hartlepool, works with companies in the engineering, nuclear, marine and shipbuilding, oil and gas, utilities, renewable, petrochemical and offshore sectors.

Project Design Group, based at the UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centre, is run by Hartlepool-born Andy Rhodes, who returned to his hometown after 18 years to set up the company.

“We are pleased with the progress we’ve made in our first year although it has been a lot of hard work,” he said.

“There hasn’t been much spare time to devote to marketing but with the first year under our belt we are now looking to take on additional engineers as we continue expanding, especially into the petro-chemical sector. "

Mr Rhodes added the fact the company delivers the entire project from design to completion is "giving it the edge in a competitive market".

“Currently, a lot of our work comes from the North East but we work across the UK and on global projects.

“We know that the potential to expand is there and our aim is to become an industry leader."

Project Design Group has previously carried out work for Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, Conoco Phillips, Subsea and Total.

Paula Addison of UK Steel Enterprise, the Tata Steel business support subsidiary, said: “We were very happy to welcome Project Design Group here in 2016 and are pleased that they are doing so well.

“We know that the first year for any business is very hard work with a lot of things to think about.

“Our aim here is to take the worries about premises and services off the shoulders of our tenants so they can concentrate all their time on establishing and growing their business.”

Mr Rhodes added: "As Hartlepool people we all really appreciate having this quality of office space, facilities and support right on our doorstep."