THE adaptability of the North-East workforce was a key factor behind one of the UK’s largest construction firms bringing an initial 200 jobs to the region, with scope to expand further.

Balfour Beatty said its new service centre, at Quorum Business Park, Newcastle, will bring its accounting, payroll and buying services into one office.

The firm already has plans to create additional jobs at the site by offering their customer service expertise to other companies.

The firm has taken a tenyear lease on the premises, which can accommodate up to 400 people. It will be ready for occupation in November and is expected to be fully operational early next year.

Ian Dawson, who will head the centre after being recruited from IBM, said: “The North- East offered us a number of things: a highly-skilled, adaptable workforce; a superb office which is served by excellent transport links and the opportunity for expansion.

“We are already looking at offering these services to other business, so it was essential that we could recruit staff who are flexible in a range of skills.”

Quorum development director Fergus Trim said: “We are pleased that high-quality buildings such as this are enticing major plcs like Balfour Beatty to our region.”