WYN Construction is adding 20 more staff to its 60-strong team, thanks to a £1.4m contract.

The project, for ground working at the new DSS building in Longbenton, North Tyneside, will include construction of ground floor foundations, basement, under-floor drainage and concreting the upper floors.

The DSS contract is the latest in a line of wins for the engineers, from Cornsay Village, County Durham.

Combined with business won at Durham City Millennium Project Footbridge, Earls House Hospital and St James' Park, the latest contract has pushed the company's growth up 20 per cent in the last year, with turnover now at £4m.

Development of the business has been largely due to establishing a reputation for bringing projects in on time and on-budget.

Improved business planning, with the help of Lloyds TSB Commercial's relationship manager Barry Schofield, has also been a factor.

Ollie Cowie, managing director of Wyn, said: "With the bank's business strategy service, Barry Schofield has provided excellent support, which has brought a new perspective to our business. We are in the process of putting into place a whole host of new ideas.

"Wyn Construction deserves its reputation for quality work for the successful projects the company has completed at St James' Park, The Stadium of Light, The Centre for Life, The Glass Centre, Prince Bishop's Shopping Centre and in York with Vodafone."

Wyn has been established for 12 years.