AN ELECTRICAL and mechanical engineering company is creating jobs to fuel its expansion.

Retroflo is looking to grow after securing a number of contracts and working with a number of major firms.

The business, based in South Hetton, County Durham, employs nearly 30 staff, but says it wants another 11 to cater for its rising workload, and is also looking to move to a new base.

Known for electrical project consultancy, design, commissioning and maintenance, the firm has seen turnover rise from £60,000 to £1.7m.

Founded by directors Andy Laundon and Lee Bishton, it has supported companies including Northumbrian Water, Persimmon Homes and Seymour Civil Engineering, and was also previously accepted on to the framework for Sunderland City Council.

Mr Laundon, operations director, said: “Nothing is impossible for us, and I think that is what makes us different.

“If a client has the will and want to make something work, we will work hard to engineer a solution.

“Where some companies walk away from a project thinking it can’t be done, we work hard to show that it can be.

“Lee and I had worked in the industry for a number of years before setting up Retroflo, so we had a lot of existing relationships, which assisted with the initial launch of the business.

“From then on, it’s been hard work and determination to get to where we are today.

“When we gain a customer they stay with us, and that’s down to being honest and doing what we’ll say we do.”

Mr Laundon added the company is now involved in the design and project management of a 16-storey apartment block, in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

The work, for Corona Properties, focuses on energy efficient and renewable developments, combines solar, wind power, hydroelectricity and ground source heat pumps, with bosses saying it will be the greenest building in the UK.

Retroflo will design and install control and automation systems, along with the renewable technology, with work due to start on site next year.