THE North-East's shellshocked employment landscape has received a much-needed fillip after two firms revealed expansion plans.

Engineer ADM Pressings aims to open a factory in Spennymoor, County Durham, while craft business Crafter's Companion is eyeing a move to Newton Aycliffe.

ADM's proposals focus on a £1.5m move to Green Lane Industrial Estate, which it says will create dozens of jobs.

Crafter's wants to leave its existing base in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, and take up Aycliffe's former Holiways car dealership.

The plans represent a refreshing lift when put against the wider regional jobs front, which has endured a miserable six weeks.

Thousands of posts have gone after the liquidation of Redcar steelmaker SSI UK and the slowdown of the steel industry, while thousands more could go at tax offices across the North-East.

Miner ICL UK also cutting hundreds of potash jobs in east Cleveland, while 700 contractors' posts have been hit after Air Products suspended construction of a factory at Billingham near Stockton.

According to ADM, which works on doors and made bonnets for limited edition lightweight Jaguar E-Types, its plans will deliver at least 25 jobs, including management and supervisory roles.

It added the plant will look after painting and powder coating of parts for vehicles.

The proposals are due to be scrutinised by Durham County Council planning officials tomorrow (Thursday, November 19), with the authority already recommending they be approved.

In its application, ADM, which has bases in Gateshead and Newcastle, says it needs to grow to meet clients’ growing demands.

It said: “The project will create over 25 new positions and allows for expansion of assembly and pack operations that will offer the opportunity for further jobs.

“The location in Spennymoor also provides good transport links from our existing manufacturing facilities to our biggest customers in the Midlands.

“Over recent years, customers have showed an increased interest in buying higher level assemblies, which are ready to fit directly to the final product on their production lines.

“This means the supplier needs to have the ability to surface finish and paint products and complete the final assembly of components.

“In order to offer this increased level of service, we need to establish a new facility to accommodate the additional processes.”

ADM's expansion is reflective of the strong North-East automotive supply chain, which includes scores of companies that send parts to firms, such as Sunderland-based Nissan.

Nifco UK, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, is looking to build a third factory in the region to capitalise on a £50m ten-year contract to make parts for Ford’s new low emission engines.

Earlier this month, TRW opened an extension at its factory in Rainton Bridge, Houghton le Spring, which bosses say will help deliver 130 jobs and Redcar's ElringKlinger (GB) is also growing after securing contracts with Jaguar Land Rover.

In a report referring to ADM's growth, Steven Pilkington, the council’s senior planning officer, said the proposals would be good for Spennymoor.

He added: “This development represents an investment opportunity, would bring jobs into the county and enable the expansion of an established firm in the North-East.”