A BUSY engineering firm has recruited 10 new employees – and is on the look-out for more workers.

Longwood Engineering, which provides screens used in pipework by the water and waste water industry, said it had been able to take on the new staff as a result of healthy order books – and was still looking for engineers or graduate engineers to train over the next year.

The company, based at Silver Street, Aspley, expects to confirm orders worth more than £5m over the next new months.

Major contracts recently awarded include a £1.1m order to upgrade the screening facility at Edinburgh’s main treatment works through Biwater Plc and a £1.5m deal from Severn Trent Water, awarded on the back of the excellent standard of work previously undertaken by the firm.

Longwood Engineering – formerly part of the Parkwood Mills Group – was the subject of a management buy-out during its centenary year in 2003 when the firm also moved to its current premises.

Alan Taylor, a senior manager at the time of the buyout who became managing director last year, said the firm’s reputation was founded on providing competitively-priced, high quality products backed by more than 100 years of engineering history and a team of highly experienced engineers.

He said: “We are clearly delighted to be securing these significant contracts, particularly in such uncertain times.

“But we are very aware that we operate in a highly competitive industry and therefore the idea of resting on our laurels is out of the question. Continual innovation is paramount to the sustained success of Longwood Engineering.”