The oil and gas industry in the north-east of England has been given a further boost after £4 million worth of new contracts were awarded to several companies there.

Just days after the charity TTE Technical Training Group confirmed that it is to invest millions of pounds for training youngsters looking to break into the industry, it has been announced that Gateshead-based Express Engineering has reached an agreement to supply sub-sea components.

Under the deal, the engineering firm will supply the parts to Teeside-based Aker Solutions as well as to FMC Technologies as both look to expand their North Sea operations.

William Barclay, head of sales with Express Engineering, commented to the Northern Echo: "This demonstrates the continued confidence which Aker Solutions has in our products and services, and underpins our accelerated growth plans to increase our capacity and capability to support the oil and gas industry in the North-East."

These latest contracts have pushed the amount invested in the North Sea oil and gas industry over the past 12 months past the £11 billion mark, while the region is also in talks with its Norwegian counterpart aimed at further cooperation, which is expected to create hundreds of new jobs.

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