A NORTH-EAST engineering company has received a national award.

Express Engineering, in Team Valley, Gateshead, won the Business Growth Award at the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards after seeing turnover hit £30m for the first time in its 40-year history.

The firm specialises in precision engineering for the aerospace, defence, subsea oil and gas, and power regeneration industries.

The firm bought Northern Precision Engineering in 2011, saving about 40 jobs, and now employs 230 staff, including 34 apprentices. It also has 50 members of staff in its Brazilian manufacturing operation.

Managing director Nigel Davison said: “A great deal of credit for this award must go to our people, who have been focused and flexible throughout.”