A DOMESTIC appliance repair company is planning a recruitment drive to keep pace with demand, bosses have revealed.

0800 Repair hopes to create at least 30 jobs in a bid to build on record turnover.

The plans come just months after the firm revealed a five-year deal to support energy provider Npower, with officials at the time saying that agreement would bolster its workforce by a similar number of posts.

According to the business’ latest proposals, its staffing increase will take its number of white goods engineers to the 150 mark, with bosses also hoping to lift annual service calls from 200,000 to around 230,000.

The company is part of Houghton-le-Spring’s Pacifica Appliance Services, which is a subsidiary of Pacifica Group, and finance director Scott Pallister said it was primed for a healthy 2018.

He said: “We are set to deliver another strong year within Pacifica Appliance Services, and the group, following a positive and hugely successful 2017.

“Demand has continued to rise, which has contributed to the growth of the business and the necessity to expand our workforce and engineering network.

“Continued investment in our infrastructure has allowed the group to operate at a high level and we are looking to hit the ground running in 2018, while maintaining and building on our high levels of customer service.”

Pacifica Group previously operated out of Chester-le-Street but switched to Houghton-le-Spring, between Durham City and Sunderland, after experiencing strong growth.

Its Npower deal includes the provision of boiler and cavity wall insulation, and has helped take revenues beyond £40m, which Kevin Brown, group managing director of Pacifica Group, said reflected its growth intent.

He added: “Each of our subsidiaries are now operating nationally and we are looking to build on this momentum with further acquisitions that will strengthen our position and deliver continued growth.”